"Your Highness."

Alfred was the first to enter the main hall, followed closely by Lucan and Brandt.

Noticing Walter was already there, Alfred asked in surprise. "Walter, you’re usually the last to arrive. What brings you here so early today?"

"I couldn’t sleep all night because of the coal stove matter. I was too anxious, so I came earlier than usual." Walter replied, avoiding eye contact, clearly guilty.

"Hmph." Alfred sneered. He was certain Walter was up to something. Just looking at his shifty eyes, it was obvious his early arrival had ulterior motives.

Lucan glanced between the two and spoke. "Your Highness is busy with official affairs. Let’s not waste time and hand over our sealed bids."

Brandt, with his loud voice, added. "That’s right. Let’s each take out our sealed letters and let His Highness open them in front of us. I trust His Highness to be fair."

Simon smirked inwardly. Brandt was buttering him up; afraid he might show favouritism. Simon said. "I still have to visit the Engineering Department later, so go ahead and give me your letters."

Walter immediately handed over his letter, and the other three followed suit.

Simon organized the sealed bids and opened them one by one.

Walter’s bid was five caps per stove. Lucan and Brandt both offered three caps. Alfred, however, had bid six caps.

"Your Highness, what’s the result?" Alfred asked nervously. The Chandlier family had made a significant offer this time.

Simon spread the four letters out on the table. "I haven’t tampered with anything. It looks like the coal stove business goes to Alfred."

Walter’s face darkened. He hadn’t expected the Chandlier family to offer such a high price. Still, his real focus was the coal briquettes, not the stoves, so he didn’t care too much.

"Congratulations." Alfred stood up and cupped his hands toward the others, looking quite pleased with himself.

Lucan and Brandt showed little reaction. They had always known they couldn’t compete with the Chandlier and Goldwynd families in this matter.

The Goldwynd family-controlled coal. The Chandlier family controlled the canal trade. These were advantages neither of them had.

"Since Alfred has won, we’ll finalize the arrangements. I’ll have the Engineering Department produce the stoves; you can pick them up daily." Simon announced.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Alfred said joyfully.

With the coal stove business settled, the four men left to report back to their families.

Simon counted the silver notes in his hand, grinning. Technology monopolies really are the most profitable.

As an engineering student, he knew all too well what technological inferiority meant. In his previous life, countries without technology had to buy it from others, at whatever price was demanded.

Technology monopolies were an absolute goldmine.

And now, he had unlimited technological knowledge in his mind. Once he implemented it all, he could establish his own monopoly.

When that day came, he could simply sit back and collect wealth.

Roland’s round face was nearly lost in his wide grin. Since arriving in Brambleford, their prince’s residence had never been this wealthy.

"Roland, here’s a thousand caps. Prospecting for minerals is tough work, use this is for your expenses." Simon said, slapping two banknotes into Roland’s hands.

Roland’s smile grew even wider. "Since Your Highness earned this money, this old servant will gladly accept it!"

Simon shook his head helplessly. The residence had simply been too poor for too long.

After pocketing the silver notes, Roland asked. "Your Highness, if I leave to search for mines, who will manage the affairs of the residence?"

Simon glanced at him and said casually. "You’ve been protecting Ysabeau so much, don’t you already have an idea?"

"Your Highness is indeed perceptive. I can’t hide anything from you." Roland chuckled. "Joan and Ysabeau both served under Her Ladyship. They would never betray you. But Joan is timid and won’t be able to control the household servants. Ysabeau, on the other hand, is sharp and strong-willed. She’ll have no trouble managing the residence."

"Then let her handle it." Simon agreed. "You are my trusted aide. In the future, I’ll have far more important matters for you to take care of. You can’t be tied down with household chores forever."

The words trusted aide made Roland’s heart surge with emotion. With such faith from his master, he would willingly walk through fire and water.

The mining expedition was urgent. After going over some details, Simon began preparing for the journey. He also assigned ten loyal cavalrymen under Lancelot to accompany Roland for protection.

Now that he had money, Simon’s first priority was building the water-powered lathe workshop.

As a prince, he had absolute authority over his domain. He easily claimed a plot of land along the swiftest section of the Colt River, no one dared to object.

Next, he ordered Bjorn to post notices recruiting craftsmen. The planned workshop was 100 meters long and 15 meters wide, a major construction project.

With winter fast approaching, he wanted the workshop operational by spring.

Meanwhile, the Engineering Department worked overtime producing lathes, which would be moved to the new facility once it was built.

Coal stove production also continued. Since they were easy to manufacture, the Engineering Department could produce thirty per day.

The next day, the Chandlier family came to pick up their first batch. Although they had paid a high price, they were cautious, buying only a limited number initially to test the market.

As work pressed on, the weather grew colder by the day.

By the end of Simon’s first month in this world, a thick snowfall from the north blanketed Brambleford.

The snow was heavy and relentless. By morning, the entire city seemed buried beneath it.

"My Lord, look at all this snow!" Joan called out cheerfully.

Her cheeks were flushed red from the cold as she trudged through the snow, leaving deep footprints behind.

Simon sat at the entrance of his sleeping quarters, warming his hands over a coal briquette stove.

The temperature had to be at least minus seventeen or eighteen degrees Celsius.

In his past life, he had been a southerner. He had never experienced such bitter cold. Right now, he just wanted to cling to the stove and never leave.

Joan and Ysabeau, however, were used to the weather and played happily in the snow.

"My Lord, come join us!" Ysabeau called out with a grin.

"You two have your fun. I’ll just watch." Simon said, amused. Watching beautiful women play in the snow was entertainment in itself.

Joan and Ysabeau exchanged glances before suddenly scooping up snowballs and throwing them at him.

"How dare you!" Simon feigned anger, dodging left and right as the snowballs missed their mark.

The two girls giggled mischievously but abruptly stopped when they saw someone approaching from the front hall.

It was Chief Steward Baldwin.