Monday, the 12th of the Month of Rain Prayer, 9:30 a.m.
On the south shore of Green Lake, Mikella Blast Furnace City, caught in the vortex of conflict, remained under partial martial law. Police officers moved through streets and alleys posting Wanted Orders and searching for suspicious individuals, displaying their loyalty to the royal family.
Meanwhile, Green Lake City on the lake's north shore was unexpectedly peaceful, though it was once again shrouded in a hazy Light Rain. The rain was not heavy. Pedestrians passing the entrance of the Green Lake Inn hurried by, some not even carrying umbrellas.
In a corner on the 1st Floor of the inn, Little Mia, full from eating, lay on Shade's lap pretending to sleep. Shade unfolded a newspaper and read the front-page headline about the major event that had taken place in the city across the lake last night—
"Princess Margaret Assassinated!"
The incident had occurred after nine last night, yet this morning's paper already carried a detailed report and a black-and-white nighttime photograph of the Glass Bottle Opera House. The newspaper office had clearly received instructions as well.
Shade was holding the Green Lake City Morning News. Its front-page headline reported the assassination and explained at the end that the investigation was still ongoing. At present, it was suspected that the Delin Orr Restorationists had colluded with illegal cultists in an attempt to disrupt the negotiations between the two nations by assassinating the Princess.
When Miss Galina had explained the situation to Shade, she had mentioned that Delin Orr was the name of the duchy that had existed before the formation of what was now the largest county-level administrative region in southeastern Kasonlik.
After finishing the report, Shade picked up another newspaper beside the teacup on the table. It was filled with