The same night, Backlund, Sodela Palace.
Audrey, wearing a gorgeous palace dress, was sitting in the lounge, waiting for the party to start. There was a newspaper on her knees, with the death data of Great Smog that had just been compiled today printed on the front page.
"Twenty-three thousand people..."
She murmured to herself, folded the newspaper and put it on the coffee table next to her, unable to bear to read it anymore.
Thanks to the timely and generous donations from the nobles and the royal family, and the full assistance from major churches, Great Smog no more humanitarian Catastrophe appeared in the past half month. The victims lived in temporary resettlement houses and received barely enough food to prevent them from starving to death or freezing to death on the streets. However, there are still a large number of young children and elderly people who have not survived the plague and infectious diseases after the haze.
And the royal family is still holding New Year's Party...
She had no intention of accusing the royal family of being extravagant and wasteful. After discussing with the church, they had temporarily canceled the fireworks show beside Tussock River and the float parade of Empress Borough. They even included a charity donation link in this evening party. Compared with before, they have saved a lot.
But...
Audrey Close your eyes, exhale, and adjust your negative emotions.
She has a more important task later.
There was a knock on the door, and Madam Catherine, who was also dressed up, walked in, pulled Audrey up, and hugged her gently:
"Baby, you're going to surprise everyone tonight."
She took her daughter's hand and walked out of the lounge to the second floor of the party hall.
Below are Backlund almost all the nobles above viscount, as well as a few invited Rich Merchant. They are holding wine glasses or standing quietly, waiting for the appearance of today's protagonist.
Audrey adjusted his mood, put on the mask named "Spectator", stepped forward, and handed his hand wearing white gauze gloves to Queen who was waiting beside him.
The latter led her up to the raised platform on the second floor and looked at the guests below.
"Everyone, in the past half month, Backlund has experienced the darkest period, but in these days, we still have the most dazzling gem that can illuminate this darkness. Her beauty, Wisdom, etiquette and character are all impeccable.
"I formally introduce her to you, Miss Audrey Hall."
With that said, she stepped aside and gave up her seat to Audrey.
Taking a deep breath, Audrey walked to the railing and faced the silent crowd below.
She suddenly found that at the front of the crowd, her father Earl Hall and her eldest brother Hibbert were looking at her quietly with encouraging smiles.
This gave her the last bit of courage.
"Good evening, thank you all for participating in today's New Year's Party," she said with a perfect smile, facing the stunning gazes, "I originally prepared a speech for the coming-of-age ceremony, but just now, I threw it away after seeing the statistics about Great Smog in the newspaper."
"This city is bearing the suffering of countless people and their expectations. In the streets and alleys of East Borough, homeless people and orphans have no clothes to cover and live without support. Half of the factories in Docklands and Factory District have not yet started operating. A large number of workers are unable to pay the rent and are displaced. This is a... natural disaster, but one that is still relevant to each of us.
"On behalf of my father, Earl Hall, I hereby call on everyone to work together to build a Relief Fund to send a ray of hope to these suffering people, so that no one will be lost due to cold and hunger in the winter after the disaster and in the following days."
There was silence in the party hall.
Most people had not been notified before and still thought that this was just an ordinary New Year's Party, drinking and chatting as usual, blessing the noble children who came of age in the new year, and then rushed back to their warm mansion before the zero o'clock bell rang.
At this moment, Audrey's sudden suggestion surprised them.
"Papa -"
The first person to applaud was actually Queen next to her, which surprised Audrey. When her father informed her of the process of temporarily joining the party, she thought that the most likely person to object was the royal family. Unexpectedly...
Earl Hall's smile remained unchanged, and he clapped his hands gently to encourage him. The eldest brother Hibbert raised the wine glass in his hand to pay tribute to the little Princess at home. Several Earl Zs with high status, and Rich Merchant, who did not have a title but was invited because of his well-off family background, also took the lead in applauding or toasting. Audrey noticed that these people were all believers of Evernight Goddess, just like his father.
With Queen's signal, Earl Hall and other nobles took the lead, and other guests soon joined the party, causing the party hall to turn from silent to noisy in an instant.
Audrey's smile was still on his face, but he was thinking and analyzing quickly in his heart.
My father should have informed the royal family of this move, but not most of the nobles... However, the great nobles who are followers of Evernight are cooperating. Is it Church of Evernight who is behind this initiative?
Thinking of Hanged Man's analysis of the situation after Backlund Great Smog in "Tarot Club", Audrey seemed to understand something.
But why did my father let me make an initiative at the coming-of-age ceremony? Didn't he always ask me not to get involved in these things? Could it be that because they know that I am Beyonder, I should try to get closer to Church of the Evernight Goddess and be protected by them?
Alfred joined the army, Hibbert served in Atmospheric Pollution Investigation Committee, and may enter the political arena. My father hopes to leave a safe channel for me... This is contrary to my idea. I originally hoped to increase my strength as soon as possible and protect my family in Catastrophe like Great Smog. How come I was protected by them again...
She tried to use Mr. Hanged Man's method of analyzing things to guess the true meaning behind her father's actions, and quickly got several plausible answers.
It seems that I need to find a chance to talk to Hibbert, or send a letter to Alfred... She thought with some frustration.
"Audrey."
Queen next to her handed over an exquisite wine glass and signaled to her.
She calmed down, took it with both hands, raised the glass of a drink that looked the same color as champagne but was actually non-alcoholic, and said to the guests below again:
"Thank you again for attending this party and wish you all a happy new year."
Boom——
Fireworks exploded outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, and colorful lights reflected on the floor of the hall.
That night, Audrey officially became an adult socially and in his own heart.
Inside a low-rise house in Cherwood Borough.
Fors carefully arranged Sacrifice Ritual, and dedicated Radio Telegraph purchased from a citizen scientist to the mysterious Mr. Fool. A moment later, the proceeds of this transaction appeared on the altar: 15 pounds.
After seeing transactions worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds on Tarot Club, I always feel that this amount of money is a bit unreasonable...
Although she was thinking this, she quickly took the money in her hand, counted it once and put it in her pocket.
After removing the candles and releasing Wall of Spirituality, Fors walked out of the bedroom and returned to the living room. He was surprised to find that Xio had returned from East Borough.
"What are you doing secretly in the bedroom?"
This "Sheriff" who has been busy helping to maintain order and punish Criminal at East Borough in the past half month raised his head and asked, making Fors, who had just reached a deal through Tarot Club's channel, a little nervous, but seeing that his friend just asked casually, he relaxed again.
"I'm just imagining a new novel and studying the information obtained at University of Industry and Technology... What about you? Are you still helping those friends at East Borough, and that 'Sherman'?"
"Of course, there is still chaos there. Although the church and the police have been maintaining order and distributing relief items, in the streets, there are always those who try to re-establish the underground rules to cause chaos. Calling the police is useful, but fists are more effective."
Quinn yawned and replied.
"Moreover, in the past half month, I can clearly feel that the ability of 'Sheriff' has become more and more comfortable to use. Maybe these things will help me master the power of Potion."
she added.
This is because your behavior is in line with "Acting Method"... Fors said in her heart that she did not dare to leak the knowledge obtained from "Tarot Club" at will, so she could only find a way to secretly guide the other party.
Therefore, she has not stopped Xio from going to the East District to work as a vigilante, but she is somewhat interested in the "Sherman" she often talks about. It sounds like he is also a low-sequence Beyonder, and an "assassin" on the same path as Miss Queen of the Tarot Club.
It's a pity that this powerful Tarot Club member has now left Backlund... Well, Mr. "World" who asked me to buy Radio Telegraph was originally also in Backlund, but he also left recently. Is it because the major churches have increased their efforts to capture wild Beyonder during this period? Should I also consider going out and hiding for a while...
She was thinking wildly and looked out the window. There was a faint flash of light in the direction of Empress Borough in the distance. It should be that the nobles and rich people there were setting off fireworks.
Leaving the "Empress" and "world" of Backlund, where are you celebrating the New Year now?
Fors couldn't help but wonder.
January 3, Monday at noon, Backlund North Borough.
When Benson and Melissa passed by Saint Samuel Cathedral in a hired carriage, they found that a large number of people were queuing there, boarding the double-decker Public Carriage one by one. The scene was very chaotic.
"What's going on?"
Benson, who was wearing an old but decent coat, knocked on the baffle in front of the carriage and asked.
"The cleanup of East Borough is over. These people who temporarily live near the church have to go back there. After the New Year, many factories will reopen. If they go slowly, they may not be able to catch the out-of-towners who are flocking here... Sorry, I am not referring to you."
The coachman remembered that the two people he picked up at the train station were probably "outsiders," so he made a frivolous apology in the end.
East Borough, the most severely affected area in Great Smog...Melissa remembered the information he had read in the newspaper, turned away from the church, looked forward, and soon saw the house they had rented half a month ago.
After unloading the large and small luggage from the carriage with the help of the coachman, Benson said to his sister quite proudly:
"I heard that Backlund doesn't have many low-cost houses to rent anymore. As the impact of Great Smog has passed, the rent is almost 50% higher than last month, and it's hard to find a house."
"Okay, stop talking about your foresight every day. Besides, it cost us half a month's rent more. It's hard to say how much money we saved."
Melissa sighed, picked up his suitcase, and walked towards Klee Wood Street 28, the house where they would live for a long time.
Click——
Benson followed behind. Before he could take out the key, the door of the adjacent house opened from the inside. A young round-faced woman with long light blond hair walked out of the door. Feeling the eyes of the brother and sister, she turned her head slightly, looked here with her purple eyes, nodded politely, and then hurried towards the Public Carriage station at the intersection.
"That's..."
Melissa had already been stunned. She stared at the other person's back in a daze, until the light gold penetrated Public Carriage and left her sight.
Benson beside her sighed and gently hugged her shoulders.
"It just looks a bit similar. She has left. She is the same as...Klein."
Melissa blinked quickly, picked up the luggage again, and entered the house with Benson.
The short New Year's holiday is over and they are getting busy again.