Chapter 13.1

Over the distant fields, a black line stretched, with small boxcars trailing one after another in a line.

“Haha, Edith, is this your first time seeing it? That’s called a train.”

Johan seemed to notice where my gaze was directed and took it upon himself to explain.

“Unlike carriages, it’s a means of transport capable of moving a large number of people at once. It’s a project His Majesty the Emperor is enthusiastically pushing forward.”

But, of course, what I was curious about wasn’t what a train was, but why such a world would need trains.

“But we have carriages, warp booths, and teleportation. Why is His Majesty laying down railroads?”

Johan pinched my cheek as if he found me adorably unbearable.

‘I’d rather you hit me, really.’

Knowing Johan’s true nature, a moment like this was the most nauseating.

Just the touch of his skin made my skin crawl, but I managed my expression like a pro.

“My dear young lady, not everyone is as fortunate as you. For women of the lower class who must go to work despite not owning a carriage, or men who haven’t even learned basic teleportation magic.”

Johan turned his gaze back outside the window, muttering to himself with a tsk.

“Pitiful lives indeed. His Majesty is truly kind to even consider them.”

As someone who once had to squeeze into the overcrowded hell of public transport, I felt personally attacked, but I had more pressing concerns.

“Then, can anyone ride the train? Anyone at all?”

“Hm? Well, it’s currently being run on a trial basis for free. The train is a novel invention, so the lower classes are quite terrified of it. There’s even a rumor that riding a train can cause infertility in women. Making it free for everyone to ride is an attempt to change that atmosphere.”

‘Wait, then next time I can just escape by train?’

Of course, having finally escaped the hellish estate for the capital, I really, really, really didn’t want to die anymore.

I wanted to sprint straight to a happy ending.

But it’s best to be prepared for contingencies.

If anyone can ride the train, then just getting to the station means I could then disembark at the farthest stop and…

‘Oh, there’s tracking magic.’

I caught myself getting excited.

If only my family hadn’t been able to pinpoint my location like they had planted some kind of GPS on me, I could have escaped long ago.

But in the capital, there might be a chance to learn how to thwart that tracking spell.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to know.’

After quizzing Johan about the operation of trains, I stored the information away.

The train, moving at a similar pace to the carriage, continued to clatter in the distance for a good while longer.

We parted ways at a crossroads near the capital.

‘Goodbye, see you again.’

Soon after, the carriage passed through the sturdy city gates into ‘Kriya,’ the heart of the great Claremont Empire.

* * *

I was sure my heart fluttered when I received the invitation, beautifully written in fancy gold script.

“Let’s check one last time. When a gentleman requests a dance, which hand should you… Miss, are you listening?”

“Wait, isn’t that too much powder? Men don’t like it when you look as cheap as a street woman. Oh, Edith, I’m not saying you look cheap.”

Caught between the nagging Jane and Johan on our way to the ball, I was half out of my wits.

‘Oh, I already want to go home.’

It couldn’t possibly be easy.

I was starved for nearly a week just to appear fragile as a lily.

The corset was tightened around me as if I were a shoelace on an athlete’s sneaker, regardless of whether I could breathe.

And there were a million etiquettes to remember.

Thankfully, Jane’s lower status meant she couldn’t follow me into the ballroom.

“I’ll return to the mansion and wait there, Miss. As long as you do as I’ve taught, there will be no problems.”

Instead, Johan was to escort me for my high society debut.

“Shall we go then, my lovely sister Edith?”

Johan extended his hand with a grin, and needing real support, I took it without complaint.

Though I walked like a drained zombie, the sight of the grand palace entrance where the ball was being held automatically drew gasps from me.

“Wow…”

The massive entrance doors, twice my height, were a masterpiece.

Clouds, lightning, and wind were delicately crafted across the entire door, with the royal family’s symbol, the sun, radiating out from the handle.

And then…

‘Oh my god, is that all gold?’

As if not to be outdone, precious magic stones, more valuable than gold in this world, were embedded everywhere, shimmering brightly.