Thus, Xia De, who had originally intended to blend into the crowd, gained the privilege of standing at the front of the platform. Although it was still in the admission check phase, most of the important figures who were supposed to arrive had already done so.
Heads adorned with hats swayed, craning their necks from the platform towards the direction where the railway extended, hoping to be the first to see the train arrive.
Although Tobesk City in early winter had not yet welcomed its first snow of the season, the morning temperature was already quite low. Elderly gentlemen were dressed in fur-collared velvet coats, and ladies' skirts were no longer as thin as they were in the Summer.
Priest Augustus was still dressed in his clerical robes, but Xia De keenly noticed that this robe was a thickened version.
Although Bishop Owen did not come, Xia De knew most of the clergy sent by the Dawn Church this time. After some polite exchanges, Xia De then asked Priest Augustus:
"Good morning, Priest, did you arrive so early?"
"Any later and we would have been blocked outside."
The Old Priest complained to Xia De in a low voice:
"I've never understood since I was young, can't this kind of formal welcome ceremony be held indoors?"
"Cough, cough."
Father Nicholas, who was nearby, coughed twice, signaling Priest Augustus to speak more quietly.
"There should be a special welcome party, right?"
Xia De asked again, and the Priest pursed his lips:
"Of course there is, but it will probably be in a few days. Today's banquet is a private reception by the Cavendish Royal Family.
But don't worry about having nothing to do; in the next few weeks, you will definitely receive many party invitations. The last time Tobesk City was this lively was six years ago when the Anjou Royal Family sent the contemporary king's brother, Prince Andre Anjou, to visit. At that time, a large banquet was held almost every week in the City."
The two talked about past events, while people around them conversed in small groups, discussing news and rumors related to the visiting delegation.
Although the Church did not know what the Truth Society ultimately wanted from Princess Margaret, to protect the Princess, they had already released news that someone intended to harm the Princess, providing Delarion with a reason to cooperate and increase security measures. Therefore, the black thunderous sound at the farewell banquet in Huntington City, which almost half the City could hear, was now being spread as someone having detonated a steam bomb at that time.
This kind of ambiguous news, spreading to Tobesk, became increasingly outlandish. Priest Augustus, of course, did not know that Xia De was involved in this matter, and even laughed as he told him about those strange rumors, such as more than half of the Princess's entourage being agents sent by Gray Gloves for protection.
Soon, Father Nicholas, who was leading the Dawn Church's team this time, was sought out by Queen Diana to inquire about the Year-End Festival celebrations—Queen Diana was also a Dawn believer. After Father Nicholas walked away, Priest Augustus suddenly stopped the topic, and seeing that no one around was paying attention to them, he whispered:
"Xia De, I wanted to ask earlier. Why do you have a strange smell on you?"
"A strange smell?"
Xia De was startled and turned to look at Mia on his shoulder:
"Are you saying Mia smells like a cat? Oh, sorry, I'll give her a bath when I get back."
"Meow?"
Those amber eyes stared at Xia De.
"No, no, your cat doesn't smell."
The Priest shook his head. Xia De pondered for a moment, then asked somewhat sheepishly:
"Are you talking about perfume? Maybe I accidentally got it on me in the carriage on the way here."
"No, no, it's not perfume, it's a strange smell."
The Old Priest said again, so Xia De pulled up his collar and sniffed:
"Impossible, I took a bath after waking up this morning."
"No, no, I'm not referring to a physically existing smell."
Priest Augustus continued to lower his voice, wiggling his nose at Xia De, the old man looking even more puzzled:
"To me, it's a very familiar smell, but I just can't remember what it is."
Xia De thought for a moment, putting both hands on his waist, and imitating Mr. Bernhardt from last week, he waved his hands up and down twice, simulating the action of wings:
"Is it related to this?"
This referred to an angel, and the Priest understood. He hesitated for a moment:
"Not sure, and the smell on you is very faint. Xia De, did you go to a very strange place over the weekend?"
"I went to Huntington City in Carson Rick. The matter you just discussed is related to me, but it wasn't a steam bomb; I was struck by lightning... That's not important. I also brought you local pastries; I'll give them to you when we leave later."
Xia De said, and the Priest nodded, a bit puzzled:
"Huntington City? You went to another place again? I wish that City peace."
Priest Augustus never figured out what the smell on Xia De was, but he was certain it wasn't the remnants of the primordial angel he was searching for.
At 10:17 AM, when the locomotive, representing a steam engine, finally appeared in the distance north of the platform, the people standing near the edge of the platform immediately cheered, unsure whether they were welcoming the foreign delegation or celebrating that they no longer had to endure the wind.
The Royal Army band, which had been waiting on the platform, immediately picked up their instruments. With the trumpet sounding a high-pitched prelude, the brass music spread in all directions, announcing to everyone that the delegation led by Margaret Anjou had officially arrived.
Queen Diana, surrounded by the Princess and Princes, led the Royal Family members, the Foreign Minister, and the Carson Rick ambassador along the red carpet towards the front of the platform. Reporters from major newspapers like the Tobesk Morning News and the Kingdom of Delarion Daily, who were allowed to take photos, excitedly fiddled with their equipment with their assistants. Some daring individuals even dared to jump directly onto the tracks to face the locomotive, wanting to risk capturing a photo of the smoking engine before the train arrived, to be used as tomorrow's newspaper's front-page picture.
Of course, as soon as they jumped down, they were cursed at and thrown back up by the Royal Army soldiers guarding the tracks. The nearby crowd burst into laughter, making the atmosphere even livelier.
The City was still foggy today, and with the rain shelter above the platform, the sun wasn't strong, so one could see the distant train without squinting. Xia De and Priest Augustus actually had two rows of people in front of them, but this didn't prevent him from directly seeing Queen Diana quietly conversing with Miss Jialinna, while Leia, in a golden dress, gazed at the approaching black train.
Perhaps feeling Xia De's gaze, the Princess, wearing a coronet, also turned her head. After her eyes swept over Xia De, she winked her left eye, her playful demeanor making Xia De somewhat suspect it wasn't Leia but Dorothy.
"They're here! They're here!"
At this very moment, even Priest Augustus seemed very happy. He placed his hand on Xia De's shoulder, then used the leverage to stand on his tiptoes and look forward. Xia De, being very tall, only needed to strain his neck to see the platform attendant waving a flag to signal the train to stop.
"Meow!"
The music, noise, and train sounds intertwined. Mia looked around at the people in confusion, then, somewhat scared, climbed down from Xia De's shoulder and was held by him with one hand, snuggled against his chest.
Clang, clang, clang ~
The huge black locomotive, spewing steam, finally entered everyone's sight, its noise almost completely overpowering the music. And as carriage after carriage roared past, the cheers of the crowd reached a new climax.
The train slowly decelerated, and amidst the grating metal screech caused by the steam brake, white steam mist erupted from beneath the wheels, momentarily making the bustling platform appear somewhat hazy. The special train had a total of seven carriages, and the exit of the fourth carriage stopped precisely opposite the red carpet.
After the train came to a complete stop, Queen Diana, accompanied by Miss Jialinna, approached again, and amidst the cheers, the pneumatic carriage door slowly opened.
First, a young attendant in a red coat, black trousers, and a boat hat jumped out, laying a wooden board over the narrow gap between the train and the platform.
Subsequently, the Carson Rick Royal Guards emerged and stood on either side of the train door.
Queen Diana, dressed in luxurious attire and wearing a golden crown, arrived at the car door amidst flashing lights, while Princess Margaret Anjou, in an elaborate and magnificent blue gown with a silver tiara and light golden hair braided and hanging behind her head, finally emerged from the carriage, supported by her maid with her right hand raised.
The crowd seemed to surge forward in the moment, but they were held back by a human wall formed by the well-prepared police and Royal Army guards. Calls and loud shouts, at this moment, exploded inside the station like steam bombs.
Xia De and Priest Augustus were also pushed forward a couple of steps by the crowd. They could both see Princess Margaret Anjou bowing to Queen Diana, after which the two, with their white lace-gloved hands, clasped together and conversed intimately. Afterward, Queen Diana introduced the other people beside her to the Princess.
The first to be introduced was, of course, Miss Jialinna. The Great Witch displayed the Duchess's elegance and maturity, and Princess Margaret bowed to her in greeting. The position of a powerful Duchess is higher than that of a Princess.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, more people from the Carson Rick delegation emerged from the carriage. The accompanying nobles remained there, and an area in front of the platform was cleared for Princess Margaret to deliver a very short speech.
During this time, Xia De did not pay much attention to the Queen and the Princess. Instead, he looked towards the carriage entrance but did not see Miss Silvia come out. However, he was certain that the Great Witch, the Thirteenth Seat of the Council, should be inside other nearby carriages, because the badge on his chest was already burning hot as if it were about to catch fire. Just now, when only Miss Jialinna was present, the badge wasn't this hot.
“It’s truly lively.”
Priest Augustus said loudly to Xia De. The Old Priest had to raise his voice to make himself heard by Xia De:
“I hope that the two countries can reach a new agreement this time, allowing peace to continue for a longer time. Oh, Xia De, I truly hope that the peace between Carson Rick and Delarion can be maintained forever.”
As a local, Priest Augustus, like most people in this City, regarded the mutual visits of the two countries' Princesses as an important sign of peaceful relations between the two nations. Although the Outsider had been in this world for half a year, he did not share their sentiments.
He was currently only thinking that since the welcome ceremony would end in the morning, he could try his luck in Huntington again in the afternoon.
While comforting the cat, who was somewhat unaccustomed to such a noisy environment, he was thinking about other things. At this moment, Princess Margaret's brief speech about “bringing peace” had also concluded, and reporters from Tobesk City and those accompanying the delegation were setting up cameras, preparing to take pictures.
Everything proceeded according to plan. Princess Margaret smiled and waved to the people, then selected three individuals from the crowd to ask questions.
“Greetings to the great Anjou Family! Your Highness, have you brought a new wine trade agreement? The people of Tobesk all love the red wine from the southern vineyards produced in Carson Rick!”
The first person selected was a middle-aged gentleman in old-fashioned formal wear, standing in the third row. If Xia De remembered correctly, that was Earl Orland.
“Yes, father gave me some tasks. I hope that Tobesk can also taste those sweet wines next Summer.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Earl Orland said loudly, then waved his hand and took out a book, handing it forward:
“Your Highness, this is a gift for you!”
The book was inspected before being handed to the Princess, who thanked him softly. Flashbulbs continuously flashed, recording Princess Margaret holding “Northern Pearl: Tobesk Forever.”
“Your Highness, greetings to you, I hope you enjoy this City. Will you visit the Tobesk City Art Museum during your visit?”
Laughter erupted from the crowd. The selected Old Priest was Mr. Leonardo, the local art museum director.
“Yes, I am very fond of Delarion-style oil paintings.”
The Princess spoke again and accepted a pretty brooch presented by the art museum director as a gift.
Flashbulbs continued to flash. The Princess had many more engagements ahead, so she could only choose one last person for a question. Margaret Anjou’s gaze swept across the surrounding crowd, and then she finally saw Xia De.
Both were startled, but it was clear that the Princess did not recognize this “Mr. Holmes.” Instead, she was surprised by the young gentleman's unique temperament.
“That’s Hamilton of Leijiede.”
Queen Diana softly reminded her, and so Princess Margaret smiled and motioned for Xia De to ask his question. Leia, who was nearby, also looked at Xia De.
However, Xia De had no intention of asking a question; he didn't even wave his hat.
But since he had been chosen, everyone in the crowd on the platform looked at him. Even Priest Augustus was curious to know what Xia De would say. So, Xia De composed himself and said loudly:
“Your Highness, I wish you a pleasant Winter in Tobesk. Peace and friendship are the bonds of human civilization, and the cornerstone of our era’s development. Do you believe that Delarion and Carson Rick will remain peaceful and friendly forever?”
Xia De's question was not abrupt, as it was the theme of her speech at the garden party when she left Huntington.
“Yes, I firmly believe in this!”
The light golden-haired Princess said, prompting applause and cheers from the crowd on the platform.
Xia De's question had ended. Suddenly, an inspiration struck him. He reached into his pocket and took out the shield-shaped jewelry box he had taken from the gift box that morning:
“To Her Highness Margaret Anjou, I hope you come with peace and leave with pretty!”
Amidst the laughter of the people, Xia De's jewelry box was delivered into the Princess's hands. She thanked him while opening it, and upon seeing the oval, flawless emerald inside, she, like Queen Diana and Miss Jialinna, showed a surprised expression.
The gem was not large, so its value was not particularly high, but the gem itself was indeed excessively pretty.
Flashbulbs flashed in bursts, and the ladies regained their normal expressions, smiling for the cameras. Xia De also knew that his first step in approaching Princess Margaret Anjou had been successful; “Hamilton of Leijiede” had been remembered by her.
He just really wanted to know if MI6 would reimburse him for that gem.
“You actually prepared a gift in advance, that’s quite good.”
Priest Augustus praised him with a smile beside him. Xia De responded while looking somewhat dazed at the Royal Family nobles standing in the flashing magnesium light, in front of the black steam locomotive, their jewelry sparkling.
“The Age of Steam, the Age of Change…”
The scene before them, though rare for the people of this world, was not entirely unprecedented. But the Outsider vaguely felt that this scene today might become an illustration in history books, and he was witnessing this scene within history.
“Is this civilization?”
“Yes, this is inspiration.”
A voice sounded in his ear, as if a warm breeze gently brushed past Xia De's ear. Amidst this noisy and bustling, yet exceptionally bright and vivid scene, Xia De felt as if he was watching the Silver Cross Avenue streetlights light up one by one in the evening. In the intensely real sensation that made his scalp tingle, he once again felt a new understanding of this world, the civilization of this era.
He was immersed in it, yet observed everything from an Outsider's perspective. A smile unconsciously appeared on his lips, and he cheered and applauded along with the people around him.
Just then, white doves, symbolizing peace, were released. Flapping their wings, they flew in flocks over the heads of the people, over the heirs of the Cavendish and Anjou families, over the noisy platform, and towards the sky above the City, which was shrouded in haze.
No one could know if the white doves would bring lasting peace, just as with the righteous god, father peace. Peace and war have always been inseparable.
