Morning came, there was no fog today, sky was clear, sun was shining through it.
I woke up late today to a quiet, empty house. After lazing around for a bit, I decided to check the living room, no one there. The dining table was empty too.
Feeling uneasy, I hurriedly changed my clothes, packed my belongings, grabbed my money, and rushed out to catch a carriage to the train station. Having already missed the first train, I was determined to make it in time for the second; otherwise, I'd face an even longer wait.
On the way to the train station, I came across several security guards patrolling the streets; some glanced at me, though the veil obscured part of my face. The road was paved with stones, littered with horse excrement. Children played in the park, while others, dressed for work, still bore the ash and soot from the previous day's labor on their dirty clothes. Their eyes held a hint of envy, yet they kept their heads high. Another group of children darted between carriages, selling newspapers.
"Today's news! The magnificent Markus Bourgeau has lost a duel against the Beatrice of the Joyous House!"
Curious, I purchased a newspaper from the lad. Its pages brimmed with columns ranging from sports to politics, yet my gaze settled upon the economic section. There, a scandal of considerable weight was revealed. The governing body had failed not only to collect a debt from a private firm, but had neglected even to record it, resulting in the loss of hundreds of recoverable loans. Of course, this was but the surface. The people already suspected what lay beneath, that their corrupt government had long since been bought. By subtle means they had siphoned funds from the treasury, enriching both private interests and the officials themselves.
The private firm that benefited the most from this was Magnificent Telecommunication, owned by the Magnificent Group.
I quickly flipped back through the pages of the newspaper to the sports section, where there was news explaining what happened with the duel that was supposed to take place between Joyous House and The Magnificent.
The news reported that House Joyous emerged victorious, winning the duel in the third round. By defeating their opponents, they secured qualification for the representatives.
To my surprise, they turned out to be the same group.
It wasn't unusual for them to join dual competitions, as it could boost their publicity and benefit them in the long run. But competing against a noble house? That was a bold move, even for them.
Maybe they had already sold the fight before...
The carriage was nearing the station when I noticed guards gathered around the station gate, seemingly blocking the entrance. I swallowed hard, shrinking into myself slightly.
As the carriage came to a halt, I carefully covered my face with the veil and, trying to avoid the guards, moved along with the others, blending into the crowd.
One of the guards moved toward the people entering the station. This one wore a slightly different uniform, his black attire bore a unique badge, unlike the others, with an extra stripe of shading.
"Please step aside. A VIP entourage is coming."
The others considered protesting, but defying a noble was a risk only the foolhardy would take.
I blended with the others, sidelined as an entourage passed through us, adorned in various exquisite clothes that only the richest of the rich could afford.
From velvet to silk dresses with narrow waists shaped by tight corsets, to jewels sparkling with diamonds that caught the attention of every passerby, reflecting the sunlight. White gloves, thin and almost sheer, paired with reticules draped elegantly over shoulders.
But someone still outshone them all. She wore a corset, neither too tight nor too loose, symbolizing her strength and independence rather than fragile vanity. Over it, she had a long coat, paired with a skirt beneath which she wore trousers. Her gloves were black, and her boots were heavy.
With each stride, she commanded an overwhelming presence, as if the air itself shifted toward her.
The guards, upon seeing her, bowed deeply.
"Lady Beatrice, your carriage is ready. The train shall depart at your leisure."
The rest of the crowd murmured; no one had expected a noble to be traveling today, let alone from this very station.
I was stunned as well. I prayed and hoped we weren't taking the same train. Of course, the noble would occupy all the first-class compartments, but even if our compartments were separate, there was no guarantee they wouldn't send their guards to inspect other passengers for suspicious behavior.
Train hijacking was a thing.
Train hijacking does happen, though it's rare. There have been instances where bandits have taken over trains, so people, especially those of noble descent, tend to be cautious when using trains as a mode of transport.
As the entourage boarded the train, the platform shifted from silence back to its usual bustle. People started boarding their trains, others waited on the platform, and some pickpockets and swindlers roamed around, bumping into unsuspecting travelers.
I had booked a ticket too and went to find my seat. I could only afford a third-class ticket, and the conditions were worse than I had imagined. There was no roof in this compartment, and seats were nonexistent. Instead, there were benches that weren't even secured or fastened. If the train moved, these benches would slide around as well.
The destination was quite far, but I had to endure. Cursing my luck, I stood near the door, at least finding something to hold onto to stay steady.
Though it wasn't completely safe, it kept me from falling off and meeting a grim end. I wasn't taking any chances; I was determined to earn that "no death" reward.
Finally, the train began to move as all the passengers boarded. The third class was the worst, completely packed with no space between people, everyone pressed shoulder to shoulder. There were railings on the sides, or else people would have already fallen as the train started. I was also pushed and shoved further into the crowd from the entrance.
Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, the people near me began pushing each other, and a fight broke out.
Barely moments had passed since the train started, and there was already a tussle in the overcrowded space.