BXBX NOVEL Chapter 6 The Journey To Paris
Napoleon lay on the bed, feeling nauseous and dizzy. The sound of the waves crashing against the hull of the ship made him feel even more queasy.
He tried to distract himself by calculating the estimated time of arrival at the port of Toulon. The distance between Corsica and Toulon is approximately 323 kilometers. Assuming good weather and wind conditions, the brigantine speed will be 9 knots. Given those two values, it will take the ship 19 hours and 40 minutes to arrive at Toulon.
That means 19 hours of more suffering. Napoleon sighed and closed his eyes, feeling helpless. He had never felt so sick in his life, and the thought of spending another 19 hours on the ship was daunting. He knew he had to find a way to cope with his seasickness, or else the rest of the journey would be unbearable.
He contemplated, wondering how to cope with seasickness. And in an instant, a thought formulated inside his mind. The effect of his one ability granted by the Goddess of Fate.
"To cope with seasickness, one must stay hydrated to replace the fluid loss from sweating and vomiting…" Napoleon read out his thoughts. "So I just need water huh?"
Napoleon sat up and reached for the water pitcher on the small table beside his bed. He poured himself a glass of water and slowly sipped it, trying to calm his stomach. Aside from water, his mind also suggested that ginger could also help with seasickness, and he wondered if the ship\'s kitchen had any ginger tea.
Feeling a little better, Napoleon got up from the bed and decided to explore the ship. He walked up to the deck, taking small steps to avoid feeling dizzy. The sea breeze helped him feel a little more refreshed, and he saw the crew going about their duties, unfazed by the rocking motion of the ship.
As he wandered around, he spotted the ship\'s kitchen and decided to go in and ask if they had any ginger tea. Fortunately, they had and gave him a cup.
Napoleon held the cup of warm ginger tea and took a deep breath, savoring the aroma of the ginger. He took a sip and felt the warmth spread through his body. The taste was strong and spicy, but it was also soothing to his stomach.
Ginger is a natural remedy for nausea and vomiting, and it has been used for centuries to treat various digestive problems, including motion sickness. Ginger contains compounds called gingerols and shogaols, which have anti-inflammatory and antiemetic properties. These compounds help to reduce inflammation in the stomach and prevent nausea and vomiting.
Thanks to that tea, Napoleon was feeling a bit better and was able to enjoy the whole trip.
Nineteen hours later, the ship arrived in the morning. The sight of Toulon Port came into view and Napoleon felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had made it through the journey without any more bouts of seasickness. He took a deep breath of fresh air and looked around, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling port.
As the ship docked, Napoleon grabbed his belongings and made his way off the ship, thanking the crew for their hospitality. He was grateful for their assistance during the journey and for providing him with ginger tea, which had helped him overcome his seasickness.
Napoleon\'s journey was not over yet. He had to find a way to reach his final destination, which was Paris.
Since there are no steam locomotives in this era, Napoleon would have to take the old-fashioned but classier, horse-drawn carriages.
Luckily, there were horse-drawn carriages parked near the port, ready to take passengers to various destinations. Napoleon approached one of the carriage drivers.
"Good morning sir, how much to get to Paris?" Napoleon asked, his Corsican accent made the French coachman pause for a moment before responding.
"Paris? That\'s quite a journey. It will cost you 150 livre for a one-way trip, and it will take approximately three days to arrive, depending on the weather and road conditions," the coachman replied.
"150 livres," Napoleon repeated, his face frowning at the price of the trip. His father gave him 500 livres as an allowance for two months and the cost of transportation took 30 percent of that. He knew he would have to budget carefully during his stay in Paris.
"Alright, I\'ll take it. When does the carriage leave?" Napoleon asked, reaching for his wallet.
"The carriage leaves in an hour. Please make sure you have your belongings ready by then," the coachman replied, collecting the payment.
"Can I sit and wait inside?" Napoleon asked.
"Of course," the coachman opened the door of the carriage and gestured for Napoleon to get in.
Napoleon stepped inside and sat on the cushioned seat, taking in the sight of the carriage\'s interior. The walls were decorated with intricate patterns and the seats were upholstered with a plush velvet. It was clear that he boarded an expensive type of carriage.
He waited inside for thirty minutes, passing the time by opening his user interface while reading books.
Thirty minutes had passed and three other passengers boarded the carriage. With that settled, the carriage began its journey to Paris.
The first day of the journey was uneventful, and Napoleon spent most of the time gazing out the window, watching the French countryside pass by. He saw fields of wheat and sunflowers, picturesque villages, and small streams. The carriage ride was bumpy, but Napoleon found it comforting, almost like a lullaby.
As the sun began to set, the carriage stopped at a small village, and the coachman informed Napoleon that they would be staying overnight. Napoleon was relieved to stretch his legs and get some rest. The coachman took him to an inn, and Napoleon settled into his room for the night.
The next morning, Napoleon and the three passengers woke up early and resumed their journey.
The second day of the journey was more eventful than the first. The carriage encountered some rough roads, causing Napoleon to bounce around in his seat. The other passengers were also visibly uncomfortable, but none of them complained. Instead, they chatted amongst themselves, exchanging stories and jokes.
Napoleon listened to their conversation, trying to pick up on their French accents and improve his language skills.
The third day was a pleasant journey for Napoleon and the passengers, and the scenery is starting to change, from flat fields to the palaces and chateaux that surrounded the outskirts of Paris.
"We are arriving in Paris," the coachman announced from the front seat of the carriage, interrupting Napoleon\'s thoughts. Napoleon sat up, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness as he gazed out the window at the grand city before him.
The carriage entered the city through one of its famous gates, Porte Saint-Denis. The streets were filled with carriages, carts, and pedestrians hurrying about their daily business. Napoleon\'s eyes darted around, taking in the sights and sounds of the city.
As they made their way deeper into the city, the buildings grew taller and more ornate, and Napoleon felt a sense of awe at the grandeur of it all.
In his previous life, Adrian didn\'t experience traveling abroad as it is expensive. But now, he just arrived in one of the most popular cities in Europe, albeit 200 years behind.
"Paris…this is where I will make my mark…"