Chapter 1 — Breakfast with the Royals
Morning sunlight spilled across the marble floor of Windsor Palace. Servants moved silently, setting the grand table in the dining hall. Silver plates, steaming tea, fresh bread — everything gleamed like a painting.
At the head of the table sat a man who looked like he'd been carved out of authority itself — broad-shouldered, sharp-eyed, and carrying the weight of command in every gesture. His hair was streaked with gray, and the golden crown beside him marked him unmistakably.
King Henry V of Britannia.
Beside him sat a woman of calm grace, her emerald gown glittering under the chandeliers — Queen Eleanor, gentle yet firm, the heart of the royal household.
And today, the last seat at the long table was reserved for their son — Prince Edward Arthur Windsor.
Edward took a steady breath before entering.
He was still getting used to walking in this body. His reflection earlier that morning had confirmed it: tall, slim, and… infuriatingly handsome.
"Prince material," he muttered to himself, tugging at the stiff collar. "I miss lab coats already."
As he stepped into the hall, every head turned.
"Your Highness," the servants bowed.
The king looked up from his paper. "Edward. You're awake at last."
His voice carried the same power that could command armies.
Edward bowed awkwardly — too deep for a prince, too scientist for a noble. "Y-Yes, Father. I apologize for worrying you."
The queen smiled faintly. "You collapsed in the forest, dear. We feared the fever had taken you."
Fever, huh? So that's the story. Lucky cover for a reincarnated scientist.
"I feel much better now," Edward said smoothly. "Just… a bit disoriented."
The king nodded, gesturing for him to sit. "Eat, then. We have much to discuss."
Edward sat, feeling the soft velvet of the chair and the invisible tension of royal life. The air smelled faintly of rose and tea — and pressure.
King Henry spoke first. "The Duke of Pembroke awaits your approval for the textile charter. You'll sign it after breakfast."
"Textile charter?" Edward blinked.
"Your memory still muddled?" The king's brow furrowed slightly. "It's the new weaving guild law. We must keep France from surpassing our cloth exports."
Ah, Edward thought. Weaving… cloth… production bottlenecked by manual labor.
His scientist brain sparked instantly. This world still runs on hand looms. If I could build a mechanical one…
[System Alert: New Blueprint Unlocked — Flying Shuttle (Tier I)]
Description: Revolutionary weaving device increases cloth production x3.
Edward almost choked on his tea. "Cough—!"
The queen leaned in. "Edward, are you alright?"
"Y-Yes! Just… hot tea."
He tried not to grin. The System was listening — responding to his thoughts.
A soft voice interrupted. "Your Highness, the Duke of Pembroke's daughter has arrived."
The door opened, and a young woman entered gracefully.
Golden hair tied in a braid, sapphire eyes that gleamed with intelligence. Her dress was formal but simple — someone who valued sense over excess.
Lady Charlotte Pembroke.
Edward's memory stirred — fragments from the original prince's mind. A childhood friend, politically important, and… possibly the first candidate for marriage.
"Your Highness," she curtsied. "I heard you were unwell. I brought your favorite tea blend."
He smiled gently. "You're too kind, Lady Charlotte."
She hesitated, studying him. "You seem… different today."
His heart skipped. "Different?"
"In a good way," she said quickly, cheeks faintly pink. "Your eyes seem… focused. Sharper."
Maybe because the old Edward was a spoiled prince, he thought. Now you're talking to a physicist in royal skin.
The king cleared his throat. "Edward, I expect you to attend court this afternoon. You must start preparing to lead — our allies grow restless, and the French fleet expands daily."
Edward nodded, straightening his back.
He didn't fully grasp this world's geopolitics yet — but he knew one thing: industry wins wars.
"I understand, Father. I'll handle it."
Henry's eyes softened slightly. "Good. You remind me of myself when I was your age."
That's probably not a compliment, Edward thought.
[New Quest Unlocked: "The Prince's First Step"]
Objective: Gain Influence in the Royal Court
Reward: Relationship Log (Unlocked)
After breakfast, as he walked through the palace gardens, Charlotte followed him quietly.
"You truly seem changed," she said again. "It's like you've… grown up overnight."
He glanced at her, then smiled faintly. "Maybe I finally realized what it means to be a prince."
She tilted her head, curiosity in her eyes. "Then what does it mean?"
He looked out over the capital — rows of rooftops, plumes of smoke from blacksmith forges, and carriages rolling on cobbled streets.
"It means," he said softly, "building something that will outlive me."
Charlotte's breath caught.
[Affection +5: Lady Charlotte Pembroke]
The System pinged silently in his vision, but Edward ignored it this time.
He had a kingdom to modernize.
And the gears of revolution had just begun to turn.
End of Chapter 1.