Chapter 1626: Chapter 1626

Preparations for the evening's banquet were required, so Jenkins left the antique shop at five in the afternoon. He had still managed to make two sales, and it was clear to him that since his return to Nolan, business at the shop had picked up significantly.

He first went home to change and then set off to pick up his companion for the evening. His original plan had been to invite Hathaway and Briny, which would have given him an opportunity to introduce them to the young ladies from the northern kingdom at the ball.

Hathaway, however, was engrossed in her "plan" and insisted on sticking to her own schedule. She had already invited Briny to a friend's estate outside the city to spend the evening enjoying the cool summer air. As a result, Jenkins’s only choice for a companion was Alexia.

After changing, he had a quick bite with Chocolate before taking a rented carriage to pick up the petite lady. Dolores was attending with her brother and sister and was still getting ready, so Jenkins and Alexia had to go on ahead.

A venue large enough for such a grand ball couldn't be found within the city, so the event was being held at the Doroman Estate, just outside its limits. The estate was a private property of the royal family in Nolan, though the Queen herself had never used it. If Jenkins were to one day truly inherit the throne, the estate would become his as well.

Throughout the journey, Alexia was engrossed in a small, palm-sized book, her head bowed in concentration. Jenkins glanced over and saw that it appeared to be a text on mechanical design. He chose not to disturb her, striking up a casual conversation with the coachman instead.

The coachman was a stocky, middle-aged man who claimed to have lived in the area his entire life. Sensing Jenkins was in a talkative mood, he launched into an enthusiastic complaint about the recent unpredictable weather and the fresh rumors of a killer stalking Nolan's dense nightly fogs. After that, the conversation turned to his younger brother, who had joined the army.

The coachman's brother lived in a small town farther south, outside of Nolan's conscription-exempt territory. As such, he had joined the army during the last recruitment drive and had already been sent to the front.

"Everything will be alright," the coachman declared, his voice filled with confidence. "I get a letter from him every two weeks. He tells me those southerners are no match for our boys. The war will be over soon, and he'll come back covered in glory, with plenty of spoils. If he’s lucky, he might even earn a medal."

"But from what the papers are saying, the situation at the front isn't quite so optimistic," Jenkins countered gently. "I heard that two weeks ago, on the central front, Cheslan launched a major offensive. In the end, neither side gained a clear advantage. With the Proud One's visit to the Fidektri Kingdom, things have come to a temporary stalemate... I hear the casualties on the central front were quite high."

Just as he said this, a carriage bearing a coffin rumbled past them. The driver, a Gravedigger from the Church of Death and End, recognized Jenkins and tipped his hat in a silent greeting.

"I heard about that one, yes," the coachman confirmed. "In fact, my brother had the honor of taking part in that very battle. I suspect the lad probably just spent his time firing a few shots from a trench, but he made it through the worst of it. He even sent home a photograph of himself in the trenches, holding up a newspaper to prove he was really there."

The coachman added with a chuckle.

Jenkins suspected the soldier's intention wasn't to display his courage, but to prove he was still alive—that his letters weren't written in advance. The newspaper was there to verify the date.

"That's good to hear," Jenkins said. "But I'm afraid the war will likely drag on for quite some time."

"Yes, yes, sir, I think so too," the coachman agreed. "It's just that the kings are holding a summit. I've heard it might end the war, but then again, some folks are saying the Proud One is only coming to Nolan to stir up trouble..."

The coachman rambled on, sharing bits of gossip he had picked up from unknown sources, and Jenkins responded in kind, offering his own half-serious thoughts on the war. Nearly six months had passed since the conflict began, and even Nolan, situated far from the front lines, couldn't escape its influence.

In truth, Nolan was faring quite well; for its citizens, at least, the war was not the central topic of discussion. But beyond Nolan—in other cities and villages, in the homes of commoners who had enlisted to change their fortunes, and in the households of nobles hungry for glory—the war was a subject that never faded. The conflict raging in the heart of the continent was like a single spark, sending embers of turmoil to every corner of the world.

Recently, rumors had begun to circulate that the Nolan Council was considering revoking the city's unique conscription-exempt status. The issue wasn't a lack of soldiers at the front, but rather the large number of families flocking to Nolan, using it as a sanctuary to evade military service.

The citizens of Nolan, for their part, were largely indifferent to the possibility of conscription. As a port city, many families already had sons or husbands serving as sailors in the navy. The able-bodied young men seemed to agree that risking their lives at the front for cold, hard cash was a better prospect than battling nature on the high seas or toiling away in factories, turning their blood and sweat into profit for the owners.

The people's morale was surprisingly high. They saw the war as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to elevate their own social standing and that of their families. The Fidektri Kingdom was, on the whole, stable, and its people were content with the internal order. So, when presented with a chance to transform their lives and the futures of their children through a short burst of effort, they did not object to that effort taking the form of an external war.

Jenkins held no particular opinion on the matter. His only wish was for fewer lives to be lost and for the conflict to ultimately conclude in a reasonably peaceful way.

In summer, the sun set late, but darkness fell quickly. When he picked up Alexia and they departed, the sky was still painted with a spectacular, fiery sunset. By the time they arrived at the estate's entrance, however, night had completely fallen. The lights illuminating the manor's courtyard were now the most brilliant beacon in the surrounding darkness.

The fare had been paid to the rental company in advance, so once the carriage came to a smooth halt, Jenkins was the first to alight. He then turned, offering his hand to Alexia and helping her down. Chapters fırst released on Nov3lFɪre.ɴet

A red carpet stretched from the entrance, where the great gates stood wide open. Decorative flowers adorned the fences. Jenkins led the way, with Alexia maintaining a position just half a step behind him. As they approached the main door, a servant waiting to receive guests bowed low and announced:

"Viscount Williamette, Miss Miller, welcome."

Upon hearing the announcement, the guests walking ahead turned toward the entrance, many of them offering greetings to Jenkins. Holding Alexia's hand, Jenkins smiled and nodded to the surrounding crowd. He moved swiftly through the courtyard, inhaling the rich fragrance of summer blossoms in the night air, and finally saw Queen Isabella in the garden behind the manor.