Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 354 The Arrival of August

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In accordance with her promise, at dinner that day, the Princess hosted a banquet for Shard at Sophia's Mansion's dining room. Silver dishes were spread across the table, and because of this, Shard became acquainted with a wider array of dishes and experienced the extravagant lifestyle of the top aristocracy of the era. Compared to dangerous adventures, this was what truly "broadened one's horizons."

This world's species were very similar to those from his homeland, and the different cooking techniques provided him with some entirely novel flavors. The dish that left the deepest impression on Shard was the "Coldwater Port Ice Fish"—the stewed fish was placed in piping hot fish soup, but its belly surprisingly contained frozen cream, and within the frozen cream was caviar.

The combination of the cooling and warming flavors mingled with the freshness of the fish, bringing the tastes of the fish, cream, caviar, and soup to their pinnacle.

Unfortunately, Shard didn't like caviar, so he didn't enjoy this dish.

Compared to this intricately prepared fish, Shard preferred the white bread served as a side dish. He had eaten so much bread in this world, but it was only now that he truly tasted the flavor of home.

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By the light of the candelabrum, Lecia noticed Shard's stunned expression and thought something was amiss with the bread, so she immediately had the Maid beside her check the bread.

Shard shook his head, indicating that the Maid did not need to come over:

"Thank you very much, Lecia."

The Princess blinked, not understanding what Shard meant, but seeing his happy face, she didn't inquire further. After all, Shard always seemed to be a man with secrets.

During the middle of the dinner, a middle-aged man dressed in the Draleon Army uniform quickly walked in after knocking on the door. He bowed his head to hand Lecia a folded letter, then turned to leave without once glancing at Shard.

Shard didn't pry into others' affairs, but Lecia volunteered the contents of the letter to him:

"It's a letter from Tobesk. My father intends to sign a new trade agreement with Carsonrick next week, allowing the export of regulated type III special alloys. Oh, this special steel material is a primary material for steam cannon barrels and the pistons of high-powered steam engines. Although both countries can manufacture them, Draleon's craftsmanship is a bit superior."

As she spoke, Ms. Hers, a middle-aged maid standing behind Lecia, handed the Princess a box of matches. Lecia apologized with a nod to Shard and rose to stand by the window, while the young Maid who had been standing by Shard's side handed her an empty plate.

Lecia used the lit match to ignite the letter in her hand and then placed it on the plate, making sure all the paper turned to ash before turning back to the dining table.

She said nothing, and Shard asked nothing. Having the surname Cavendish brought not only a noble lineage, substantial fortunes, and unimaginable power but also such matters, which Shard understood.

"Come to think of it, of all the Circle Sorcerers I know, only Miss Galina seems to lead the most leisurely life."

[But she bears the curse of a Witch.]

"She" reminded softly in Shard's ear, and he nodded, swirling the grape juice in his wine glass:

"Indeed, no one's life is perfect. My life now is good enough."

By the time Shard returned home dripping wet, it was already eight in the evening. After dinner, Lecia had wanted Shard to stay a bit longer to discuss the "Little Match Girl" with her, but Shard was worried about his cat at home and Dorothy was also house-sitting for him, so it wouldn't be convenient for him to get back too late.

As he walked up the stairs, Dorothy, holding Mia, stood at the top of the second floor, looking down after hearing footsteps.

Seeing that it was indeed Shard coming back, Mia became extremely excited. She broke free from Miss Writer's hand and hopped down the stairs, but upon getting closer and noticing Shard was soaking wet, she hesitated on the higher steps, turned around, and made her way back up, only to be caught by the chuckling blonde lady:

"Good evening, Shard. Look, your cat really has no conscience. Oh, tell me, did you by any chance swim from your basement all the way to Coldwater Port?"

"You guessed right."

Shard wiped his hair with a towel he had left on the shoe cabinet:

"Have you had dinner?"

"Of course, I have. Lecia told me she was inviting you to eat, so your cat and I had to fend for ourselves."

"Mia isn't my cat, not yet."

Shard whispered, and walked into the second-floor room with Dorothy.

She wasn't planning to stay any longer; the night had grown late. After quickly packing her personal belongings, Dorothy, who had helped with house-sitting, prepared to leave.

But before she left, she mentioned something:

"Do you know what your Mia likes to do when you leave her alone at home?"

"Probably just lying on the couch and sleeping?"

Shard guessed.

"No, no. Today, when I was at your place, she acted very strangely."

The two stood in the downstairs hallway, Shard planning to see Dorothy out before he took a shower.

"What happened to her?"

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Shard pointed upstairs and asked with suspicion,

"Will it suddenly fly? Suddenly talk? Or suddenly have some supernatural abilities?"

He hadn't forgotten that this cat had once absorbed divine power.

"Of course not, why would you think that? Mia really likes going to room number two on the second floor."

That was the room where the collective suicide had taken place, and which now remained unfurnished.

"I have no clue what it wants to do. After following it inside, all I could see was it sniffing around everywhere..."

The blonde girl lowered her voice,

"Shard, you don't have a mouse hole at your house, do you?"

"Absolutely not, my kitchen can barely sustain me and Mia, how can it sustain mice? And Dorothy, do you really think that timid cat has the courage to go looking for mouse trouble?"

Dorothy thought about it and then laughed,

"Then there's no problem. Oh, when are you going next to see Lecia? Have you made arrangements with her?"

"I'll go again on Monday, there's nothing for me to do there at the moment. I'm still short 15 student credits, and even if I defeat another Evil God in Coldwater Port, I won't get any."

It was Wednesday night, two and a half days away from Saturday afternoon. Shard wasn't particularly anxious, since Priest Augustus had invited him for an adventure tomorrow, and Iluna was also returning. As long as he Secured an artifact of Scribe Level or higher and then offered the Mercury Vial, the 15 student credits were definitely achievable.

If all else failed, he could even ask for help from Miss Galina; the generous Duchess would surely be happy to help.

So Thursday arrived, and Shard woke up half an hour earlier than usual. By getting out of bed, he woke the cat that was curled up next to the pillow, which made it quite unhappy.

Today was the day Iluna would return from the Papacy of the Sun Church. The brown-haired girl had proved her status as The Chosen One with her brave performance during the Night of the God's Descent in Tobesk. Her return to the Papacy this time was firstly to receive rewards and secondly to discuss matters of The Chosen One with the old gentlemen stationed there.

The train was expected to arrive at Tobesk Station at 7:30 AM, but since trains of this era were never on time, Shard planned to head out a bit earlier.

He hurriedly took care of his breakfast, saw that the very punctual cat was still asleep, so he left cat food and sheep's milk at the dining table for Mia to eat later. Then, grabbing his newspaper and coat, he hurried out the door. Experience more tales on novelbuddy

The rain in Tobesk only lasted half a day yesterday, and this morning the roads had already dried completely. It is the first day of August; when Shard arrived in this world, it was the end of June, which was known as the Sunlight Moon, while the following July, which he had spent here, was called the Thunder Moon due to the frequent rains. August also has a pleasant name, the Month of Blossoms.

This is a mid-year month, and the last month of summer. The flowers bloom most abundantly in August, and various places in the Old Continent also have celebrations and customs centered around this.

Of course, such sights are unseen in the city.

It was only 6:20 AM when he stepped out, but as he sat on the carriage with the newspaper looking out, the city had already become busy. The lower-class citizens, hustling to sustain themselves and their families, could not afford to enjoy the mornings like Shard, whose work schedule was very flexible. This progressive and frenzied era's majority of accomplishments were actually made by these common folk accustomed to the five or six o'clock city mornings.

The carriage passed the street where Shard was shot half a month ago and dropped him at the entrance of Tobesk Station. Shard stood and waited at the post office entrance next to the station, and soon after, the purple-eyed Diviner arrived as well.

"Good morning, Shard!"

Hearing the greeting, Shard put his newspaper down and walked over with a smile.

"Anything big in the news?"

Luviya's mood seemed quite good today, showing no signs of the aftereffects from divination two days ago.

"Nothing much in the paper. The mayor's speech, the closure of some roads in the southeastern suburbs of Tobesk for maintenance, Peace Church collecting poetry for the ceasefire commemoration day... But there's news from Coldwater Port."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Does it have to do with seafood?"

Luviya asked, and Shard pointed to a newly opened roadside restaurant nearby:

"We could go there to talk; it's not something that can be explained in just a sentence or two."

Iluna was coming back from the Papacy, and her friends from the Circle Sorcerers team were also going to meet her, so Shard and Luviya had already agreed to meet her and her friends at the roadside restaurant after exchanging greetings.

Taking advantage of the waiting time, and the leisurely morning, both Outlander and Diviner sat at a window-side table discussing Shard's experience in Coldwater Port the day before. Although the city was still foggy, it was quite nice compared to rainy weather. Luviya carefully listened to Shard's stories until at 7:20 AM, a wave of travelers lugging baggage suddenly poured out of the train station.

The two looked out the window together:

"The train has really arrived early!"