When Countess Giafil of Lamute found her liege in the domed garden aboard the Dawn Angel, the owner of the Empire's newest Titan was dressed in a simple, youthful white dress. She stood behind a flowerbed full of precious Dragonheart Orchids, watering the flowers in all their splendor with a watering can as she hummed a tune.
Most of her golden hair, which fell to her waist like a waterfall, was hidden beneath a large white sunhat. The golden cords hanging from the hat had been braided into a decidedly homey plait. And so the divine young beauty, who seemed to have been blessed by the holy light of dawn from the moment of her birth, now had a touch of the girl-next-door about her.
But why was she wearing a sunhat? The countess glanced up at the dome. Equipment simulating blue light hung from its peak, but beyond the transparent crystal structure, the sky was still full of stars.
Brunhilde had already popped her head up from behind the flowerbed. A smile played on her lips, but her eyes held a trace of amusement and coldness. "Hehehe. Gilly, it looks like the news isn't very good. Otherwise, Ostana would be the one showing up here, not you. Tsk, that poker-faced old hag just loves picking on decent people like you."
Giafil nodded slightly. "Yes, Your Highness. At King Vellent's request, the Privy Council has just concluded an emergency meeting. Of course, since you were ill, Ostana and I attended as your representatives."
The countess's tone was light, but she was clearly making an effort to sound carefree.
"It's about the New World, and that Ring of Miracles..."
"I don't really want to hear it. Any decision made by the Privy Council while I wasn't there is meaningless. If King