To be honest, this is the first time Greya is performing in front of so many people.
After all, the opera house in the Royal Capital has ticket and seating limitations, whereas this temporary outdoor stage does not.
Although there are a large number of people, the scene is quite orderly, as Greya can see soldiers in uniform maintaining the order.
Unlike the soldiers from other territories, who lean and hunch their backs, relying on armor and weapons to intimidate, the soldiers here stand straight, heads held high. Just standing among the crowd makes them very striking, not to mention that these soldiers are tall and sturdy, exuding a dignified presence.
Moreover, maintaining order does not rely on intimidation; the locals evidently show considerable respect for these soldiers, and no one would be foolish enough to provoke them.
To be honest, upon seeing these soldiers for the first time, Greya even began to suspect whether the Governor here has started to keep male companions like those nobles in the Royal Capital who chase trends.
However, upon spotting the cutesy couple in the front row, Greya knew that this was unlikely.
Before the opera even started, Lena was already drowsy, her dazed eyes hugging Lind’s arm and resting on his shoulder, ready to sleep.
Lind waved to a servant to bring a cloak to cover himself and Lena, resting his head on Lena’s.
This formed a sharp contrast with Tia, who was elegantly seated beside them.
They appeared to be completely disregarding etiquette, more like a honeymooning couple, but recalling the rumors about this Governor, perhaps true nobility is not about following etiquette but defining it.
Most people in this territory are the same, unaware of the etiquette for watching an opera. When Greya took the stage with a magical amplifier, the entire audience erupted into cheers and applause, creating a lively noise. However, Greya did feel the enthusiasm of the crowd, a completely different sensation from performing in a theater.
The first opera performance quickly concluded, with no conspiracies or hints; everyone was enjoying the story. Of course, those in the back probably didn’t really understand what had happened, but at such times, atmosphere is all that matters.
After all, this is one of the few entertainment activities in the territory. In the past, not to mention listening to operas, even going out to exercise during winter was unthinkable.
Greya was touching up her makeup in the temporary backstage. Thanks to the soldiers’ protection, no one dared to rush in.
Usually, at this time, nobles would approach the backstage through various channels to seek an audience or send flowers, but Greya completed her makeup knowing that this time, there likely wouldn’t be anyone coming backstage. Unable to hold back, Greya greeted the person in charge and slipped out of the backstage resting area.
After asking the soldiers nearby, she found Lind and Lena in a corner of the park, gesturing about something.
“If we use the current raw color sand magic power container, it probably can’t carry this thing.”
Lena was squatting in the sand with a branch, drawing rudely alongside Lind.
“And the weight is still too heavy; the power of the engine wouldn’t be enough for long-distance transport,” Lind nodded.
“It’s still the efficiency of converting magic into kinetic energy that is too low. We must continue to optimize the algorithm, but we can use the magic obelisks in various places for replenishment. In that case, we might be able to cover the territory entirely.”
Looking at the simplified version of the otherworldly train on the ground, Lind felt he was being too ambitious, ready to sprint a hundred meters right after learning to walk. After all, the application of magic engines in the territory is still at a stage of brute strength.
However, Lena was extremely excited about Lind’s idea, diligently working out several plans overnight.
The final result is feasible, but each stop requires charging at the local obelix, and to reach a stage where it can be used for travel and civilian purposes, it may have to wait until the next generation of magic engine is developed.
It wasn’t until Greya was stopped by a guard that Lind noticed this major star was actually taking a stroll during her break.
“Is there something you need?”
Lind’s attitude remained indifferent, and Greya’s appeal to him wasn’t even as strong as the simplified train she was drawing with Lena.
Come on, that’s the first train from another world!
“Lord Governor, I wanted to talk to you about the pox.”
The guard glanced at Lind, who nodded slightly, allowing Greya to enter.
“I heard that the number of pox patients in the Royal Capital is increasing, is that right?”
The three found a secluded corner and began to chat.
“Yes, and most are children and young people. So Lord Governor, if you have a method to treat the pox and special medicine, I hope you can sell some to me.”
In fact, there wasn’t any special medicine; it was just some herbs disguised to make them look like Holy Water. The treatment process resembled the now-stylized aesthetics of the Graywhite Territory, characterized by brute force and hard piling.
Within Lind’s control range, it was fine, but if Greya took it back to the Royal Capital, it would likely be exposed as Holy Water immediately.
After contemplating, Lind refused, “I only protect my subjects.”
Before Greya could say anything else, Lind directly said, “There’s still time until the next performance; come with me.”
Soon, Lind brought Greya to a church built in imitation of the Cathedral of Saint Cecilia, though it’s currently just a mini version.
“Lord Governor.”
Flora came out to greet them, bowing humbly.
“I told you not to be too formal.”
“This is necessary etiquette.”
“Alright.”
Lind sighed and said, “Gather everyone here.”
Greya was somewhat perplexed about what Lind wanted to do, only to see masked sisters gathering slowly in the hall, alongside many commoners with their faces wrapped in bandages or also wearing masks.
When Lind let these people take off their masks, Greya finally understood, as they had familiar scars on their faces or other parts of their bodies; though they had healed, it’s not difficult to imagine the kind of torment these people had gone through based on the active scar areas.
“What is this?”
Greya looked at the young sisters and the bowed commoners, both shocked and pained. At that moment, she remembered where she had heard this name before.
The Saintess of the Northern Border.
Although Flora had been criticized harshly in the Royal Capital and no one cared about her previous status as a quasi-Saintess, she was still a well-known figure, and Greya could vaguely connect Flora’s scarred face with the images reported in the newspapers before.
Lind casually recounted the events that occurred at the Cathedral of Saint Cecilia, then gently remarked, “Think back; didn’t the pox start showing up only after the demon clan entered the Royal Capital?”
In an instant, details in Greya’s mind seemed to click together.
“Ugh!”
Listening to Flora’s recollections of the symptoms at the time, and recalling that she had once supported the demon clan, Greya couldn’t help but dry heave.
In the subsequent performances, Greya did not have a good state, even though the audience below remained very enthusiastic.
Sometimes it’s like this with people; once they deduce a suspicion, many details will unconsciously match up. Greya was now completely convinced that the demon clan was the one who spread the pox in the Royal Capital, and they even used demon children as carriers to infect themselves.
Fortunately, the transmission of this pox lacks stability; just thinking about it puts Greya in a state of lingering fear.
The next day, when Lind returned to the mansion to have lunch and then discuss the current mine-related issues regarding the train with Lena, he found Greya at his dining table, enthusiastically discussing something with Tia.
“Hasn’t the Nightingale Opera House already left?”
Lind frowned and pulled out a chair to sit down.
“Weren’t you the one who asked to keep two teachers here to teach opera?”
“I don’t remember your name being among those two teachers.”
“That’s right, but the evil Governor coveted Miss Nightingale’s sweet voice, so she was detained for that reason.”
Greya elegantly raised her knife and fork, looking at Lind.
At least in the short term, Greya did not want to return to the Royal Capital.
