Accustomed to being the center of attention, Katelina wore a reserved smile before the crowd. She seemed far more composed than a girl not yet twenty.
But she was uneasy with the girl running around in front of her holding a Magic Stone, especially since that girl was "Rose."
"What is she doing?" Katelina asked softly.
"Filming us."
"Filming... like a Magic Film?"
Katelina's first concern was whether she looked perfect enough.
"More or less, but it won't be shown on a big screen."
"And him?"
Katelina pointed at Barr. He was filming them, but he was filming Evelyn too.
"No idea..."
Annan called Barr over and asked, "What are you filming?"
"Material for a new article!"
"What kind of article?"
Barr considered it. "How about 'Jack Finds New Love, Rose Cruelly Abandoned'?"
Katelina covered her mouth. "How can you say that!"
Annan understood. The more eye-catching the story, the better Kindred Spirits would sell. Still, he explained to Katelina, "It's fine. He doesn't work on the Newspaper."
"What's a Newspaper?"
Katelina knew nothing about the new things in Free City. She had come here solely for the Magic Film.
"It's a way to publish timely writing. You can read news from all over the world in each issue, including news from Flower Capital."
"That's incredible..."
Katelina's astonishment had less to do with the Newspaper's potential than with how much the outside world had changed while she'd been absorbed in acting these past few years.
More than the Newspaper, she cared about "Rose."
After the opening ceremony, the gathered guests poured into the Gold Depository, and Annan took the opportunity to introduce Katelina and Evelyn.
"Miss Evelyn, your performance was wonderful," Katelina praised her. "You brought to life a sheltered noble young lady who longed to see the outside world."