Europa Universalis 1867: Start by inheriting an armory

Richard sat in the brass sitz bath, letting out a comfortable tremor.

Hot water covered his waist and chest until the water level was flush with his collarbone.

The water temperature was just right; the heat slowly seeped into the muscles from the skin's surface, gradually melting and diluting the stiffness and soreness in the body.

He rested his head on the back support of the bathtub, closed his eyes, and the raised support made Richard imagine that he was soaking in a giant slipper.

A dark-colored rug was laid around the floor to prevent splashes of water from seeping into the carpet underneath.

The fire beside the bathtub was burning brightly, the crackling of the firewood mingling with the steam, and Richard hadn't felt this comfortable in a long time.

He used a sponge to soak up water from the basin and wiped his shoulders and chest.

He was moving a little hastily; there were people waiting for him below.

Aunt Susan's goose should be roasted by now, and the Christmas pudding will be on the table soon. He pressed the sponge against his face, rubbed it hard, and then grabbed the bar of soap mixed with lavender essential oil from the shelf next to him.

Just then, there were two soft knocks on the door.

"Young Master," Harold's voice came through the wooden door, "would you like some hot water?"

"No, thank you," Richard replied.

"Of course, young master."

The footsteps faded into the distance.

Richard washed himself clean with soap, stood up from the bathtub, and dried himself off.

He then dressed neatly, draped his tuxedo over his shoulders, and straightened his bow tie in front of the mirror.

What followed was a family dinner that wasn't too grand, but was important enough.

Richard walked slowly down the stairs, and the Christmas tree stood in the corner of the living room.

It was a real fir, its crown pruned into a perfect conical shape, its dark green needles glossy and wet as if they had just been washed by rain.

Candles fixed to small candlesticks, candies wrapped in colored paper, and nuts coated with gold dust hung on the branches.

Louise sat gracefully at the dining table, wearing a pale blue dress without any crinoline; the fabric draped down her body, forming a soft, natural fold at the edge of the chair.

Two full pearls dangled from her earlobes, gleaming warmly in the candlelight.

She smiled slightly when Richard came down.

"You're finally done washing?" she said. "I thought I'd have to call someone to come and rescue you."

Richard walked to the dining table and pulled out a chair.

"I'm a pretty good swimmer, at least I'm not in danger of drowning." He picked up the glass of port that had already been poured and took a sip.

But speaking of danger... his gaze shifted from the wine glass to the Christmas tree covered in candles.

Flames flickered among the branches, and near the needles, the heat baked the edges of the needles until they curled slightly and turned from dark green to charred yellow.

"What if... what if it catches fire?" he said.

Harold had somehow appeared beside the restaurant: "Young Master, you don't need to worry. There are three buckets of water in the restaurant; you can use them at any time."

Richard glanced at the bucket, then sat down, still shaken.

Aunt Susan came out of the kitchen carrying a huge silver platter with a roasted goose, its skin brushed with honey and butter, resting on it.

The maids behind him carried other plates containing meat pies and Christmas pudding.

The meat pie was baked until the edges were crisp and brown, and the pudding was dark brown, topped with a layer of brandy sauce, resembling a miniature hill.

Aunt Susan placed the plate on the table, straightened up, and wiped her hands on her apron.

She was smiling happily, simply because she saw Richard sitting at the dining table.

"Young master, I've slipped a sixpence into the pudding," Aunt Susan said mysteriously. "Whoever finds it will have good luck next year."

Richard and Louise exchanged a smile and said in unison, "Thank you, Aunt Susan."

Aunt Susan laughed even harder, the wrinkles around her eyes crinkling together.

She turned and walked back to the kitchen, with the maid following behind.

Louise picked up the silver knife from the table, twirled it between her fingers, and looked at Richard.

"Why don't you cut it first?" she asked.

"You're going straight to dessert? I thought you'd be more particular about the rituals of meals." Richard was somewhat surprised.

Louise shook her head: "Even eating breakfast at the palace had someone teach me how. Now that I'm at home, of course I can do whatever I want, and besides..."

She stared at the pudding: "This is the main course of dinner."

"Okay." Richard picked up the knife and cut the pudding in half.

The blade sliced ​​through the dark brown skin, revealing a filling of raisins and candied fruit.

He cut a piece for Louise first, then cut one for himself.

The two of them were eating pudding.

The pudding was sweet, but not cloying; it had more of the aroma of brandy and the fruity fragrance of candied fruit. Richard chewed it, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

"How was it?" Louise asked, looking at him. "Did you get the silver coin?"

Richard swallowed the pudding in his mouth: "No. I ate too fast, I probably swallowed it."

Louise was taken aback, then covered her mouth with the back of her hand and laughed.

Richard looked at her smiling eyes and the small patch of delicate skin at her neckline, bathed in the warm glow of the candlelight, and blurted out two words.

"Thank you," he said.

Louise stopped. "What are you thanking me for?"

"Your patience with me," Richard said, bowing his head and poking at the half-eaten pudding on his plate with his fork, "though I don't know why you'd condescend to be here."

He forked a piece of pudding, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly.

"Where else could I find someone as knowledgeable as you?" Louise said, resting her chin on her hand. "And I really enjoy the peace and quiet here... and your company."

Richard looked up and saw that Louise's face was flushed.

Just as he was about to say something, something hard pricked his teeth.

"hiss."

Richard stopped talking.

"You ate it?" Louise's eyes lit up, and her voice rose a notch.

Richard spat the sixpence coin out of his mouth and placed it on the table.

"Congratulations, young master," Harold said with a smile.

Louise leaned back in her chair and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Looks like someone's going to have a really good year."

Richard rubbed his cheek, picked up the sixpence from the table, wiped it with a napkin, and said as if giving an acceptance speech, "Thank you all for your support."

But he didn't look very happy, Louise noticed.

"You look very uneasy," she said.

Richard paused, then put the napkin aside.

"Is it that obvious?" He gave a wry smile.

"You're always like this," Louise said. "You think about too many things."

"This is probably because... I have too many things to think about."

“Sometimes,” Louise took a sip of her drink, wetting her lips, “you just have to let things happen naturally; trying to control them will only consume you.”

"I can't just sit there and wait for good luck to fall into my lap."

"Hmm," Louise hummed softly, picking up her fork and poking at the pudding on the plate in front of her.

"Inspiration, like this sixpence," she said, "is hidden in this unassuming pudding."

Richard's gaze shifted thoughtfully between the pudding and the silver coin.

Then his eyes gradually widened.

"Have I ever told you... that you're a genius?" Richard said with surprise.

Louise tilted her head. "What's wrong?"

"You have no idea what you did for me. You solved the chicken-and-egg problem."

Louise tilted her head back with a touch of pride: "Oh well, I can't help it. I'm just always this talented."

Richard nodded. He didn't tell Louise what kind of chemical reaction had occurred between her casual remark and his plan. He simply picked up the silver coin from the table and held it in his hand.