'
The guards escorted us for about 200 meters before we saw a vast network of rails stretching out before us.
A long train was stationed there, reminiscent of those from my former world, around the 19th century.
Several men in white coats walked toward us, led by a sturdy-looking man with graying hair and sharp eyes.
It was Gedwin, their leader.
He approached and bowed respectfully before saying:
— Greetings, Your Majesty. And my regards to you as well, Lady Sienna.
Beside me, Sienna smiled proudly.
— I see you've completed the final installations of the train, Gedwin.
The engineer nodded.
— Yes, Lady Sienna. As requested, the train is finally ready.
This is just the first model—others are still in the design phase. But this one is fully functional and ready to operate.
Kaylen, intrigued, observed the machine with curiosity.
It was his first time seeing such a device, and the wonder in his eyes mirrored that of the others.
Nearby, Damian, his eyes full of stars, exclaimed excitedly:
— It's finished?! So now we can go inside the big machine?!
His enthusiasm brought smiles to everyone's faces.
Inside the white train, the elegant interior contrasted with its industrial exterior.
A brown carpet covered the floor, while crimson leather chairs and tables were neatly arranged.
Refreshments had been prepared on silver trays, creating a luxurious atmosphere.
We each took our seats.
Gedwin gave a slight bow and announced:
— I'll head to the control room to start the train.
Sienna then turned to Thornor, the dwarf blacksmith in our group.
— Thornor, would you like to observe how this invention works?
The dwarf's eyes lit up with interest.
As a renowned blacksmith, his instincts told him he had to witness such a mechanical marvel for himself.
— With pleasure, he replied in his deep voice.
They left the cabin to join Gedwin.
Meanwhile, Clotilde, seated with regal poise, gestured to a few maids.
— You there, fill our glasses.
— Yes, Madame! they replied in unison, immediately setting to work.
The train began to move gently, gradually picking up speed.
Damian, pressed against the window, shouted in delight:
— Woooah! I can see the seaside rocks!
Beside him, Sylena stared off into the distance, agreeing softly:
— Yes… it's amazing. You can see the sea from here… This train is like a mix of a ship and a carriage, but even faster.
I calmly sipped my glass of water while Gilbert, who had remained silent until then, spoke up:
— Your Majesty… I must admit, since I've known you, nothing should surprise me anymore. But this machine, this "train," exceeds all my expectations.
Kaylen crossed his arms and added seriously:
— Thanks to this, transportation between the six provinces will be greatly improved. Travel times will be drastically reduced.
A young maid, carrying a silver tray, respectfully approached Kaylen and offered him a cup.
— Here you go, Lord Kaylen. Your coffee.
He took the cup with a grateful smile.
— Thank you.
As we enjoyed the ride, Clotilde, sitting across from me, suddenly asked an unexpected question:
— When is the wedding with my daughter planned?
I nearly spilled my drink in shock.
— Pffft…
Raelia jumped, her face reddening with embarrassment.
— M-Mother!
Henri, who seemed to be expecting it, placed a calming hand on his wife's shoulder.
— Clotilde, my dear… Jonady only arrived in this world three months ago.
With the kingdom's situation and the conflict with Azulferia, they haven't had much time.
Clotilde gave a faint smile.
— I think there's been a misunderstanding.
She turned her piercing gaze toward me.
— I don't blame him. On the contrary, I'm simply bringing up the topic so that we can plan the wedding in the near future.
Then, she looked at me directly.
— Jonady… Are you ready for this?
I took a deep breath before answering confidently:
— Yes.
A satisfied smile spread across her lips.
— Perfect.
She straightened slightly and declared solemnly:
— In that case, we shall organize a grand wedding in one month, to celebrate your union.
A silence fell over the room, broken only by Damian's excited shout as he rushed to his sister:
— Big Sister's getting married?! I want to see that!
Henri, amused by his son's energy, nodded with a gentle laugh.
— Me too. To think that my little Raelia is becoming someone's wife… Time flies.
I turned to look at her face was as red as a peony but her eyes shimmered with genuine emotion—joy mixed with a gentle nervousness.
I gently took her hand and whispered:
— Don't worry it'll be a wonderful moment.
She nodded softly, a shy smile forming on her lips.
The train continued its journey across Ednia's vast landscapes.
In this joyful moment, none of us knew that the announcement of a future event would soon mark the history of the island kingdom of Ednia.