As winter gradually drew to a close, it was ti for the Typhon embassy to depart from the Cecil Clan.
In the Autumn Palace, the farewell banquet had been set, and the band played soft and cheerful lodies in the corner of the banquet hall. Under the magic crystal lamps, the shiny tal cutlery and the swaying wine glasses glittered charmingly, creating a light and peaceful atmosphere that lifted the spirits of every attendee.
Matilda Augustus, dressed in a court gown, stood at the end of the long hall. Rebecca, also attired in formal court dress, ran up with a plate of small cakes to greet the foreign princess warmly, "Matilda! You’re leaving today, aren’t you?"
In the past several days, Rebecca and Matilda hadn’t t often, but Rebecca, being cheerful and easygoing, quickly ford a connection — or rather, a one-sided acquaintance. In their few interactions, Rebecca was pleasantly surprised to find that this Typhon princess had a good grasp of mathematics and the magic field, not just a projected image of intelligence. Hence, they soon found common topics to discuss.
And having that common topic successfully bridged their relationship — at least that’s what Rebecca believed.
"I’ll write you letters," Matilda smiled, looking at this ’Cecil Gem’ who was so different from the noble ladies she knew. They had similar status but lived in completely different environnts and developed completely different personalities. At first, Matilda felt uncomfortable with Rebecca’s vibrant and carefree deanor, but after a few etings, she found this lively girl to be quite likable. "Though Aldernon and Cecil Castle are far apart, we now have trains and direct diplomatic channels. We can continue our discussions via letters."
She smiled at Rebecca, who returned an even more sincere and brilliant smile.
Matilda felt a slight sense of regret — upon first encountering Rebecca, she knew this overly youthful girl was actually a significant founder of modern magical technology. She noticed Rebecca’s innocence and sincerity and once wished to glean so valuable secrets about advanced magical technology from her. But after a few interactions, their exchanges remained solely on pure mathematical issues or conventional magical and chanical technology.
This seemingly straightforward girl was not as defenseless as she looked on the surface; she was just aptly clever.
With Rebecca’s radiant smile, Matilda’s slight regrets lted away.
"When you write, be sure to tell more about Aldernon," Rebecca laughed, "I’ve never been so far away!"
"Of course, and should you have the chance, I would be delighted to host you in Aldernon," said Matilda, "It’s a friendly city, and from the Obsidian Palace, you can see very beautiful misty landscapes."
Rebecca showed a hint of longing, then suddenly glanced behind Matilda with a very happy expression: "Ah! The ancestor has co!"
Matilda imdiately turned around and saw Gawain Cecil, tall and imposing, dressed in royal attire, walking toward them with a smile.
This Typhon princess imdiately stepped forward gracefully to greet him, "Greetings, Great King Cecil."
Gawain smiled as he accepted the greeting, then glanced at Rebecca standing beside him and casually asked, "Rebecca, you haven’t caused any trouble today, have you?"
"No, no!" Rebecca waved her hands quickly, "I was just chatting with Matilda!"
"Rebecca is a truly wonderful friend, and her knowledge about mathematics, machinery, and runes deeply impresses ," Matilda said politely and naturally shifted the topic, "Also, thank you very much for your hospitality these past days — I experienced firsthand the enthusiasm and friendliness of the Cecil Clan, and witnessed the prosperity of this city."
"I hope this experience provides you with a favorable impression for a new era between our two nations," Gawain nodded slightly, then signaled to an attendant nearby, "Matilda, before saying goodbye, I have prepared gifts for you and Emperor Rosetta Augustus — a personal token from , which I hope you’ll appreciate."
The upper aristocracy’s farewell gifts are a traditional etiquette with a long history, and the content of the gifts is usually swords, armor, or precious magic supplies, but Matilda instinctively felt that the gift from this legendary pioneer might have a special distinction, so she couldn’t help but show curiosity as she watched the two attendants walk forward — carrying exquisite boxes, which from the size and shape, clearly couldn’t hold swords or armor.
Very soon, she saw what Gawain Cecil’s gift was: a book, and an oddly-shaped tal cube.
Both items were intriguing, and Matilda’s gaze fell first on the tal cube — compared to the book, this tal cube seed more perplexing. It appeared to be composed of a series of neatly stacked smaller cubes, with each surface inscribed with different magical symbols, resembling so sort of magic tool, yet its specific function wasn’t evident.
"It’s called a ’Rune Cube’, a gift for you," Gawain explained, "Initially sothing I made in my leisure ti, later modified by my chief Runemaster Jenni. You can think of it as a toy or a tool for training the mind. I know you’re interested in mathematics and runes, so it’ll be quite fitting for you."
At Gawain’s gesture, Matilda curiously picked up the tal cube called a "Magic Cube" from the box and was surprised to find it’s much lighter than expected. She twisted one of the cube’s faces and imdiately felt it beco heavier in her hand.
Though not a Mage herself, Matilda, knowledgeable in magic, imdiately realized the reason: the cube’s initial "lightness" was due to so weight-reduction rune, and as she twisted the block, the corresponding rune was interrupted.
This cube must have a small Magic Web Unit inside providing energy, and the sequence of small blocks composing it allows the runes to form a variety of combinations, enabling the wondrous magic power to quietly flow within the lifeless steel’s motion.
Matilda blinked, staring fixedly at the cube in her hand.
As if gazing at so miniature of Mage technology.
This is just a toy... yet it seems more than a toy.
Initially finding it odd to receive a "toy" as a gift, Matilda couldn’t help entering contemplation, her gaze then shifted to the other gift.
It was a book with a blue hardcover, looking not very thick, with gold-embossed hand-written letters on the cover:
"Society and Machines" — Gift for Emperor Rosetta Augustus.
"This is a recently compiled book by our scholars, which also contains so of my personal thoughts on social developnt and the future," Gawain said with a faint smile, "if your father has ti to take a look, it might help him understand the mindset of us Cecil Clan."
Matilda’s gaze slowly swept over these two items.
These are truly two unique gifts, each with deep anings worth pondering.
She smiled and instructed the attendants to take the gifts and store them properly, then turned to Gawain: "I will take your goodwill back to Aldernon—of course, along with the docunts and morandums we have signed."
"A new era of prosperity and peace starts from here," Gawain also smiled, taking a glass of red wine and slightly raising it, "it deserves a toast from us."
Matilda likewise raised her glass, the two sparkling glasses clinking crisply in the air: "For the new era of prosperity and peace."
...
The banquet was filled with joy for hosts and guests alike.
The train platform leading to the Duke of the East region, where the train carrying the Typhon delegation steadily glided, accelerated, and gradually departed toward the distant horizon.
Their departure and the agreent reached by both sides will dominate the headlines of tomorrow’s newspapers and beco a topic during casual conversations among Cecil Citizens, but soon will fade out of focus as ordinary people continue their busy and fulfilling lives. Apart from sharp-sensed rchants and duty-bound officials, not many will continue to pay attention to this matter.
Yet the long-term effects it causes, the potential change in the continent’s situation, will fernt slowly beyond most people’s awareness, seeping into everyone’s life bit by bit.
Rebecca stood on the terrace of Autumn Palace, fiddling with a small gold pendant — a gift from Matilda — she looked in the direction of the city’s edge and said with slight nostalgia: "They’re gone."
Gawain, hearing her, turned his head: "Do you really like that Matilda?"
"In normal circumstances, perhaps she’d make a good friend," Rebecca thought for a mont, then shook her head, "Pity she’s from Typhon."
With so curiosity, Gawain asked, "What if you didn’t consider her identity?"
"We could get along. She genuinely likes and is skilled in mathematics and machinery at least, it’s evident she’s researched seriously. But she’s clearly thinking about other things too, the knowledge in the Mage field... she claims it’s her hobby, but actually, the hobby might only account for a small part," Rebecca said, frowning slightly, "She lives way more tense than I do."
Gawain looked at this girl with so surprise: "You can actually sense such deep things?"
Rebecca imdiately waved her hand: "Ah, the way girls communicate, Ancestor, you wouldn’t understand."
Gawain wasn’t angry, just cast a sowhat affectionate glance at Rebecca, shaking his head: "That Princess of Typhon indeed lives more tensely than you, I can sense the constant tightness in her surroundings—she’s still quite young, not good at hiding it."
Listening to Gawain’s words, Rebecca seriously pondered for a mont, hesitantly murmuring: "Ah, Ancestor, do you think I should learn a bit too? After all, I am sowhat of a Princess, what if one day you lie back down..."
Halfway through her speech, she instinctively stopped, not daring to finish as she cautiously looked up at Gawain’s face—the progress of this girl lying in realizing so words shouldn’t be spoken before getting hit, but regrettably she said enough for the listener to ntally fill in the rest, causing Gawain’s expression to suddenly beco bewildered.
He looked at Rebecca, who shrank her neck, with a complex gaze, suddenly feeling a bit emotional—perhaps one day his reign will reach its end, yet Rebecca... might provoke him enough to rise again.
Thinking hard, he felt he should indeed strive to live, aiming to have reached the end of his reign by the ti he posthumously promotes this silly girl to queen...
Rebecca didn’t know what thoughts were swirling in Gawain’s mind (even if she knew, she’d probably have no comnt), she rely stared blankly for a while, then seemingly recalled sothing: "Oh, Ancestor, the Typhon delegation’s gone, next should be the Sacred Dragon Kingdom’s delegation, right?"
Gawain was sowhat surprised at Rebecca seriously rembering such matters, then nodded: "Byron has already departed north, besides constructing Northport, his another task is to welco the Sacred Dragon Kingdom’s delegation. Actually, according to the original plan, Sacred Dragon Kingdom’s envoys were to reach the southern borders before the Cold Month ended, but the both side’s correspondence negotiation delayed a bit, so now it appears they will reach the southern borders at least by the Revival Month. But that’s good too, can stagger with the Typhon Empire’s arrival, easing our arrangents a bit."
"How nice..." Rebecca squinted her eyes, smiled with a bit of anticipation, "They’re Maji’s clansn... wonder if we can make friends."
Friends...
Gawain’s deep gaze quietly contemplated this word.
With mysterious backgrounds, unknown where they connect with Talronde’s dragons, the Dragonborn... if they indeed could beco close within the Cecil Settlent, it would indeed be a good thing.
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