Melissa could hardly be called well-informed, but she was, after all, a student at Backlund Technical University.
Living in Backlund, the "City of Cities," also meant she had far better access to news than when she had lived in Tingen.
Even so, she had only recently learned of the Crimson Empire through the newspapers.
Her understanding of the country went no further than its being an ally of Loen, a rising nation that had just established diplomatic relations with the Loen Kingdom.
For a student like her, the Crimson Empire had felt very, very far away.
But now, its donation had suddenly brought it much closer to her.
It all felt like a dream to Melissa.
When she arrived at the laboratory entrance, she ran into her classmate and friend.
Eudora.
Though the young woman studied mechanics, she adored poetry and had considerable talent for it.
And a miracle had happened to her!
Melissa had even heard that her leg would have to be amputated to save her life.
Yet before long, she had reappeared in public, her mangled leg restored to its original state, as though it had never been injured.
"Melissa."
Eudora waved. Once Melissa came closer, she rose onto her tiptoes and pointed into the laboratory. "Look, the Crimson Empire's exchange delegation is here."
"There's a very handsome gentleman among them. That one-Mr. Reg."
Following Eudora's finger, Melissa saw a tall, slender young gentleman.
He wore a double-breasted coat and a half-height silk top hat. His eyebrows were long and straight, and a captivating light sparkled in his azure eyes.
Many of the young women were utterly smitten with him.
Melissa merely thought him good-looking; she was not enthralled like the other girls.
She found intricate, precision machinery far more appealing, far more fascinating.
She even longed