Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 1075: Stories in the Snow

Chapter 1075: Chapter 1075: Stories in the Snow

Shard chose not to take a carriage, but instead walked with Margaret, strolling on the deep dark streets:

"The destination isn’t far, just two blocks away."

Shard said, but Her Highness the Princess didn’t mind. She walked alongside Shard with her hands behind her back, occasionally turning to look at him, listening to him talk about the stories he encountered in this city.

"You seem to always run into unexpected events?"

There was no one else on the streets of the deep winter night, only two lonely figures strolling side by side. Margaret’s steps were slow, even knowing that the last moments of their time together would eventually come to an end, she still wanted to slow down this moment.

"It isn’t always. It’s the other friends I know who seem to always encounter various unexpected events. Like that Dr. Schneider you’ve met."

Thinking of the doctor, a smile appeared on Shard’s lips:

"And my friend at the church, yes, the one you met at the Opera House."

As they were talking, noise appeared at the intersection ahead. Shard stopped first, then gestured for Margaret to pause for a moment.

Soon, a group of people dressed in police uniforms ran over, seemingly chasing something invisible. They also saw the two by the street, one lady said something to the leading middle-aged man, then walked over to Shard alone:

"Shard, good evening!"

It was Iluna, dressed in a police uniform, looking slightly mature:

"See, just as we were talking, here you are. Good evening, Iluna."

Shard said with a smile, only then did Iluna notice who was with Shard. She was a bit surprised but quickly showed a smile:

"Really, don’t wander around here—we’re chasing an invisible fellow related to the new Keeper of Secrets."

The seventeen-year-old girl winked at Shard.

"It’s a blue creature that looks like a seahorse, moving by jumping."

Shard informed Iluna of what he had seen, then pointed to his eyes:

"Your eyes should see it too."

"Oh, yes."

Iluna nodded, glanced at Princess Margaret again:

"Then enjoy your time."

She bravely kissed Shard on the side of his face; seeing that Shard didn’t object, she backed up while waving goodbye, then jogged to catch up with her companions.

"She seems to have a very special identity in the church... Your relationship with the local pretty girls is quite decent."

They continued walking forward, Margaret jokingly teased.

"That’s not something to say lightly, Margaret. That girl just now is only seventeen."

Shard retorted, the princess laughed and shook her head, softly sighing:

"Seventeen... truly the best age... If you dare ask my age now, I’ll step on your foot with my boot."

She warned Shard, her eyes stealthily lingering on the spot on Shard’s side face that had just been kissed:

"Can you tell me the story about you and Princess Lecia Cavendish?"

"This... is a bit inconvenient."

Mainly because it would be inconvenient to explain how Shard seemed to be dating one person, but actually it was two. And if the story reached the latter half and involved Grace and Helen, it would be even more troublesome:

"But I do have a story that I told Princess Lecia before we confirmed our relationship."

Margaret leaned slightly closer to Shard, smiling as she looked at him:

"A love story?"

"Well... a shipwreck story."

Most girls love love stories, whether it’s in the Outlander’s hometown or here, whether it’s now or in the past; it’s all the same.

Strolling the streets of the deep winter night, their figures passed through the glow under each gas lamp, moving from darkness to light, from light back into darkness. The gentleman’s shoes and the lady’s long boots clattering against the ground had no sound in the profound night. Their intertwined shadows crossed the surface of windows, walls, and corroded street corner mailboxes, but in reality, the girl with light golden long hair gently watched the Outlander telling tales of his hometown.

Snow, at some unknown time, began to fall from the night sky, fine as fluff, covering the ground; merging their footprints together, making them seem not alone.

The foreign princess tilted her head to look at the storytelling young knight, the young Outlander also slightly turned his head to look at the Southern Nation princess:

"Is something the matter?"

"Please, continue."

The young woman gently shook her head, as if she wished to forever keep the smile of the Snow Knight in her eyes.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, but no one suggested returning to where they had started. Shard’s voice was not very clear amidst the snowy night, but for Margaret Anjou, it was enough to become her life’s most precious memory.

The ship in the story finally encountered the destined iceberg; and the two walking in the snow finally awaited the story’s conclusion.

"It’s a very sad story. I can understand why Princess Lecia likes this kind of story."

As Shard reached the end of the story, Margaret simply remarked. She was worried that Shard would ask her feelings about the tale, but he did not.

"But I don’t like this story."

Shard repeated what he had said last time:

"I never liked tragedies, in any form."

He sighed, white mist puffing from his mouth, a sight only winter can bring:

"Tragedies often forge beautiful stories, but I’m not a great artist or critic."

Margaret Anjou’s lips curled into a smile, she removed her gloves and reached out under the gas lamp light to catch the falling snowflakes. But she wasn’t sure if she truly caught any, because they were once again walking into the dark gaps between gas lamps.

This was rather a good thing for her, as she lacked the courage to see if the freshly formed, pristine snow would melt from her own warmth in the light.

"I don’t comment on tragedies and comedies, but that sad story might just be reality."

She slightly lowered her head, her somewhat red nose exhaling warm breath as well:

"Wanting to be together, but ultimately can’t be. Only in old age, can you use that sole precious thing to reminisce about the most important memory in a lifetime..."

Instinctively wanting to touch the adornment in her hair, she worried Shard might think she was alluding to something, so the gesture ended up as a soft caress of her hair tips:

"The snow in Tobesk is truly beautiful."

She slightly lifted her head in admiration again, Shard nodded, and the two continued walking forward. Her Highness the Princess wore a scarf, while Shard did not, and he watched the falling snow ahead:

"How about the snow in Velindale City?"

"Also beautiful, but in the end, it’s somewhat different from here."

Saying this, for some reason, the emotions in her heart had peaked. But she knew she could do nothing, being the Princess of the United Kingdom of Carsonrick, the future apprentice of the Grand Witch Miss Sylvia. No matter what identity, she couldn’t have any further relations with the young Knight beside her walking in the snowy night.

The three moons, behind clouds and fog, radiated a hazy and ambiguous glow. The moonlight was faint, but enough for mortals to see.

"I..."

She wanted to speak, to say something during this final chance, but couldn’t open her mouth in the end, because Shard suddenly stopped and held out a hand to block Margaret.

Shard squinted forward, seeing a young lady with an umbrella under a gas lamp twenty steps away, smiling at them.

Miss Pawo, dressed in a gown with black on top and red below, held a large silver book under her left arm, slightly admiring the two stepping through the snowy night:

"I really can’t bear to disturb you, so beautiful, so conflicted, so attached, so young..."

At this moment, she wasn’t disguised in the form of "Miss Witte," but was genuinely the Vice President of the Truth Society, Miss Pawo.

She lifted the umbrella and walked towards them from under the gas lamp, her short boots making faint sounds on the snow. Her nose was slightly red, clearly having stood in the snow for a while:

"Young people’s feelings are always so captivating. Your Highness, if I were you, I’d be more proactive. Aren’t there often similar scenes in those stories and dramas? If you don’t grasp his hand in time, he’ll soon be gone from your life forever."

"Madam, who are you?"

Even though Shard was well acquainted with Miss Pawo, he still pretended it was his first time seeing her, reaching for the gun at his waist.

The Female Sorcerer smiled and shook her head, addressing the Princess:

"Your Highness, I have no intention of exposing the story between you two, so may I have a private word with you? Oh, do you need me to introduce myself? On the last night in Huntington City, at the top floor of the banquet hall, you should have seen me."

Princess Margaret instantly remembered who she was, feeling a little panicked, but remained composed due to her trust in Shard.

"If I were you, sir, I wouldn’t take out that gun. Because I have no intent to harm you, I merely want to ask the Princess a simple question."

She rested the umbrella handle on her shoulder, spinning it with one hand, clutching the book with the other, stopping under the nearest gas lamp to them. In the snow, this appearance was eerie yet beautiful:

"Your Highness, ever since Huntington City, I’ve wanted to have a private conversation with you. But the teacher by your side..."

She looked at the young man and woman with an unwavering grin:

"Is truly formidable, I admit, I can’t beat her. Most of the time she’s with you, a few times I can’t find your whereabouts, and even fewer times, there are just too many church members around you. Oh, you probably misunderstood me, I honestly just want to ask you a simple question, yes, just a question. And now, can you answer me?"