Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 1078: Winter Fire

Chapter 1078: Chapter 1078: Winter Fire

Just as Shard had mentioned, no one could believe that the Ace Agent, "Grey Eagle," who had accomplished countless great deeds, now rested in such an unknown corner. His story, all his past, no one would ever have the chance to know again.

"Margaret, please say something for Detective Sparrow."

"Grey Eagle, on behalf of the Anjou Family, thank you for your contribution."

The princess gently said, reaching out to touch the tombstone:

"I also thank you on behalf of Shard... Rest in peace in a foreign land; may your spirit find eternal rest. In the name of the Royal Family, although I cannot grant you honor and wealth, the heroic spirits of the Anjou Family’s ancestors are with you. Your story ends here, God bless your soul."

She softly praised the True God, "Lady of Creation," respectfully drawing the Holy Emblem below the clasp of her cloak at her chest. Then she removed her ring and handed it to Shard, who dug a deep pit beside the grave and buried the princess’s ring next to Detective Sparrow as the honor he deserved.

Margaret looked at Shard:

"In the name of Margaret Anjou, I appoint you as Grey Eagle."

"You are just a princess; you don’t have that authority."

Shard corrected her, then pointed to himself:

"I don’t need your appointment."

He said very seriously:

"Because I am the one who has inherited all as the Grey Eagle. But from now on, Grey Eagle will be loyal only to you, my princess."

He bowed to Princess Margaret, and the princess nodded gracefully:

"Having seen the loyal agent, let’s return now."

Without looking again at the detective resting in foreign soil, they turned and walked into the snowy night.

"You know, Shard, if it weren’t so disrespectful to kiss in front of someone else’s tombstone, when you called me ’my princess’ just now, I wanted to continue kissing you."

In the darkness, only their soft whispers could be heard.

"When we return to the carriage at Canary Estate, you can do just that... Can you return that note to me about the bomb, perhaps I can use that note to exchange for many things for myself."

The girl in the hood tapped Shard:

"I’m leaving tomorrow. Will you miss me?"

The young detective’s soft laughter was almost inaudible:

"Perhaps not long from now, Margaret, you will see me in unexpected places."

"Is that so, right now I just hope... the carriage ride back could be slower."

When they left Canary Estate, it was 7:34 in the evening, and when the carriage stopped one street away from the estate, it was 9:56 on Tuesday night, quite a bit later than Shard had originally estimated.

But even though they had already delayed quite a bit, they still did not return to the estate immediately. At the princess’s request, Shard had to kiss the Southern Nation girl about to return home again in the snow.

And when they were ready to return along the original route, climbing over the back garden wall, they unexpectedly encountered Sir Plisha, who also seemed to be returning from outside. As a member of the visiting group, he shouldn’t have left the banquet so easily.

Sir Plisha walked hurriedly and didn’t even notice Shard and Margaret who had entered the garden earlier. At this moment, the two were sharing a final kiss goodbye, startled by the knight, and hid in the corner of the garden watching as he rushed past, unaware of their presence.

"What’s the knight doing so late?"

Shard wondered in surprise, but Margaret kissed him again, asking for a last farewell:

"Don’t see me off tomorrow, Knight, I’m afraid I won’t want to part."

She pushed Shard, as if giving herself the courage to part from him:

"In the summer, I hope to see you in Velindale... Farewell... Remember to wipe off the lipstick."

Saying this, with reddened eyes, she quickly left, leaving only Shard standing there with the suitcase.

He sighed softly, turning the suitcase into a toy in the dark:

"A thousand pounds, huh."

After walking forward a few steps, a new figure suddenly stepped out. Purple eyes seemed to shine in the unlit garden. Luviya must have just entered the garden because there was no snowfall on her shoulders.

"I just saw Princess Margaret leave with tears in her eyes."

Luviya said with a light chuckle, then, fixing her gaze on his eyes, added:

"Don’t tell me the almost healed wound on your mouth has nothing to do with her."

"It does. She said, let me become her only kissing lover, and I am still the Grey Eagle, loyal only to her as Grey Eagle."

Luviya showed a mocking expression on her face:

"Another girl who wants it both ways, eyeing the Witch Apprentice position but still entangled with a man. If she hadn’t met you, her fate would have been destined to be tragic. Young girls never understand that being too greedy only harms themselves."

Shard fell silent for a moment:

"I’m sorry."

"Why apologize to me? If I couldn’t tolerate such things, I should have given you a lesson back when I discovered Lecia Cavendish and Dorothy. They don’t realize how incredibly fortunate they are to have met you against all odds, but I understand."

She snorted, crossed her arms and stood side by side with Shard, looking in the direction where Princess Margaret had left, allowing the snowflakes to turn her hair white:

"This is fine too; at least in Carsonrick, we have a loyal and reliable worldly ally. Lovers who can only kiss... huh, truly greedy."

After the ridicule, she looked at Shard again:

"The ball is about to start, and tonight, you don’t have any other dance partners, do you?"

Lecia is attending an important meeting at Yordle Palace tonight, said to be related to His Majesty’s year-end public address due to some statistical issues; Miss Sylvia can’t possibly dance with Shard at such a public event, even if she really wanted to; and Princess Margaret, who just left, has already said her final goodbye.

"Of course not."

Luviya nodded and, rather arrogantly, asked again:

"Don’t make that face, is dancing with me something that makes you unhappy? Shard, I just hope that if you ever plan to become the shadow ruler of the Old Continent, you inform me in advance, so I can also make preparations for managing our home."

"Sorry, what?"

"Nothing."

She took Shard’s hand:

"Come on, let’s go dance. Also, I’m staying over at your place tonight..."

Staring at Shard’s purple eyes, they seemed to truly be glowing:

"Remember to tell me what you did with that princess during the two hours you were gone."

(Iluna in prayer...)

The visiting group, including Princess Margaret, ultimately left on this Wednesday morning.

As per the arrangement, Shard didn’t see the princess off at Tobesk Train Station, but instead stood with Luviya on the railway side outside the station, watching the train pass before them, heading into the distance.

"Let’s go back."

Shard said to the girl with purple eyes. Last night’s snow continued until midnight, and though it had stopped, standing outside in this weather still wasn’t a good idea.

"I just didn’t expect you really wouldn’t go for a last farewell."

Luviya looked quite well today.

Shard gazed off into the direction where the train had gone:

"The steam hover zeppelin should land in Huntington City around Saturday morning; by then, I can even go to greet it, so why say goodbye now?"

Turning to leave with Luviya:

"Continuing our earlier conversation, you talked so much with Miss Sylvia at last night’s banquet, it’s a pity she’s not the next-in-line Chosen One?"

"Yes, unfortunately, she’s not. But she is quite intelligent; you might want to consider becoming her apprentice, it would be beneficial for you."

Luviya also sighed, as the two walked around the low wall by the station to the street, preparing to take a carriage back:

"The two known contenders currently remain Lakin Prisia and the Vice President of the Truth Society. Choosing this time’s Chosen One is indeed difficult."

Shard agreed with her.

They boarded a carriage at the street corner, but instead of having the driver take them back to Saint Delan Square, Shard directed to head towards Mr. Booker’s library.

Two days ago on Monday, Shard and Sir Prisia, who already boarded the train, retrieved the "Book of the Fool" from there. Shard had promised to find time to visit the unfortunate book collector.

Luviya had also heard Shard mention this, even knowing that Shard acquired a relic book, intending to give it to her as a Year-End Festival gift.

The carriage soon arrived at its destination, but even before Shard could step out of the carriage at the street corner, the driver’s surprised voice was heard:

"Oh, what happened here?"

"What is it?"

Jumping from the carriage, Shard looked up and was shocked to find that the original location of the library had been burned down to ruins. Smoke still rose from the wreckage, and the buildings on both sides of the library were also severely damaged, evidently having just been extinguished.

The burning scent was incredibly pungent, and everything was in disarray, with large patches of ice formed on the ground.

A fire truck pulled by four black horses was parked in front of the ruins. The hose of the red-painted fire pump, driven by a twin-cylinder steam engine, was still dripping water onto the muddy ground.

The air was cold but damp, and city firefighters in thick crimson uniforms were checking the points of origin in the ruins, while police officers on both sides of the street were inquiring with neighbors. Spectators watched the scene with keen interest, and the plump shop owner next door lamented the unfairness of fate with wailing complaints. Even passing pedestrians would momentarily pause to look at the situation here, and the idle onlookers loudly discussing the disaster in a Tobesk accent already informed Luviya of what happened here:

"Fire?"

Luviya stepped down from the carriage, standing beside a stunned Shard, frowning slightly as she gazed at the scene before them.