One week after the Moon Bay Bridge ribbon-cutting ceremony, on Monday, the 29th of the Month of Slumber—the last Monday of 1854.
When Shade woke up in the warmth of home, put on his slippers, and went downstairs with the energetic cat to collect the goat milk, he discovered that the gas lamps in the snow-covered square had already been hung with holiday decorations. The fountain shaped like a girl holding up a water bottle had also been freshly adorned. He knew then that 1854 was truly coming to an end.
News of the war was still spreading across the Old Continent, but the smoke of battle between the Sete Duchy and the Milson Duchy had yet to affect the capital's people's mood for the holidays.
The Year-End Festival was this Wednesday, but preparations certainly would not wait until the day itself. Although most people's year-end holidays would not begin until tomorrow, the traditional season of holiday preparations had actually begun last weekend.
Although there would be many guests and family members at home for this year's Year-End Festival, Shade himself did not need to prepare anything in advance. Galina had already arranged for the holiday ingredients to be delivered directly from her manor.
The maids were already handling the pre-holiday cleaning of the entire house, and Shade did not need to concern himself with the holiday decorations hung on the door or the outer walls.
Shade had asked a question at the time:
"So, other than Year-End Festival presents, what do I need to prepare?"
Leisha, who happened to be there as well, had smiled and given him the answer:
"Of course, prepare yourself."
Though it felt a little strange to do nothing, when Shade considered that he would otherwise have to clean the house and buy holiday supplies