Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1545: Lovers of the Bell Tower

In terms of area alone, the three most famous opera houses in Tobesk City can’t compare to the Wilder Opera House in Randall Valley. However, if you comment on the style and opulence, it’s clear that the opera house of the "Northern Pearl" is still a cut above the rest.

On an early spring night, there are quite a few people wanting to while away time and enjoy life at the opera house. The temperature has risen quickly, and within just two weeks, the feeling of winter has completely vanished. Even the night’s breeze carries warmth, one piece of evidence being the audience’s attire as they ascend the steps at the opera house entrance, fully transitioned to spring wear.

For Shard, the difference between winter and spring attire isn’t significant. Although Lecia has said this to him countless times, he still prefers the simplest black coat, even for formal occasions, merely swapping it out for a black suit.

Queen Maria’s Opera House, located on Swift Avenue, remains bustling on early spring nights. It’s not the gaslit streets that draw people in but the brightly lit opera house under the starry sky that attracts night owls.

The Outlander once saw in a tabloid that any singer, opera performer, or artist in Draleon considers it an honor to perform at Queen Maria’s Opera House. Only female opera singers like Miss Vanessa Benanis can casually use such a venue as their stage.

Shard arrived a bit late, and as he descended from the carriage, the next opera was almost starting. He jumped off, paid the fare, and took two steps for every three, hastening up the steps. As he neared the end of the stairs, he slowed, adjusted his tie, and entered the opera house foyer in a gentlemanly, non-hurried manner.

The maid arranged by Lecia led Shard up concealed side stairs within the theater to the third floor. She opened the door to the central room, and Shard expected to see Lecia or Angelina first, but to his surprise, it was another lady from the Cavendish family who rose from the sofa and glanced toward the door.

"Good evening, Shard."

Miss Galina said lightly, waving Tifa off to get some tea, while looking Shard up and down:

"It seems you really care about your date with Lecia. Look, you’re dressed so formally."

In reality, formal attire is required at the opera house, and most of Shard’s formalwear was arranged by Lecia, none of it cheap.

"Good evening, Galina. Um... I didn’t go to the wrong door, did I?"

Though surprised, Shard joked as he walked through the door.

"Of course, you didn’t go to the wrong door. I know you have a date with Lecia tonight, so I arrived early, murdered her, and waited here for you. Now, the poor girl is hidden in the wardrobe over there. Oh, Knight, why don’t you ever seek me out first?"

The red-haired lady feigned lamentation. Shard glanced around and didn’t see Lecia or Angelina, but he knew the witch was joking:

"Sorry, I..."

"I don’t need your apology. I consulted that purple-eyed diviner and found out you’ve almost never made any evening invitations yourself."

She laughed as she spoke to Shard:

"Now I understand. It seems you prefer the ladies to take the initiative, which is entirely different from the impression you left me in bed. But I must admit, Shard, I quite like that about you."

She reached over, pulling Shard to sit beside her. Around this time, Lecia and Angelina, who had returned from the washroom, appeared at the door:

"This is my date, and don’t say things like that in such a setting. The Cavendish family’s reputation will be tarnished, and Angelina is here too."

Her Highness the Princess spoke helplessly, though she didn’t insist that Miss Galina leave immediately. The Little Princess pursed her lips, suppressing her inner thoughts.

"If you want to be alone with Shard, perhaps you could schedule another time."

Lecia suggested, then greeted Shard gently.

"I thought you liked group dates."

Miss Galina teased, and a stifled laugh was heard by all.

All eyes, including the maid’s, turned to the red-haired Little Princess, Angelina Cavendish, who instinctively took half a step back. Lecia’s mouth twitched, and she gave her sister a "fierce" glare before sitting down next to Shard, lifting her skirt edge as she did so.

"So, Lecia probably asked me here tonight not just for a date."

Shard thought, accepting the teacup Tifa handed him and thanking her.

[Why do you think so?]

"Exaggerating a bit, if it were just a date, she might have already started a fight with Miss Galina by now."

In terms of personality, Lecia very rarely compromises proactively. Of course, that’s one of the reasons Shard likes her.

Shard arrived a bit late, so shortly after he took his seat, the lights in the theater gradually dimmed, and the noise from the audience slowly decreased. The maid by the wall dimmed the gas lamp in the room a bit as well. Shard saw a female actor dressed in male attire walking into the spotlight at the center of the stage and starting to sing, so he curiously asked:

"By the way, what play is being performed tonight?"

When on a date with Lecia at the opera house, the opera was never the main focus, so seeing Shard’s lack of interest, Her Highness the Princess sometimes didn’t even mention the performance when inviting him.

"This play is an adaptation of a famous fairy tale."

Miss Galina, holding a small brass telescope connected to a metal rod, needed only to grip the rod to bring the telescope to her eyes:

"We usually refer to it as ’Lovers of the Bell Tower’."

"A young knight is summoned by the lord to attend a war against an enemy nation. His betrothed waves goodbye from the top of the city’s highest bell tower and watches as the knight rides away until he disappears over the horizon. The knight fights in the war and only many years later returns home. He gazes at the dilapidated bell tower and at the small window at the top, he sees the face of his unchanged maiden again. She remains just as young and beautiful."

Lecia said, and beside her, Angelina helped complete the final part of the story:

"The knight, dragging his aged body, climbs the bell tower and tightly embraces his betrothed at the top, swearing never to part. It was long after that people discovered the corpse of the knight, who died in battle at the frontlines, inexplicably appearing at the top of the bell tower, alongside the remains of the maiden who died of illness years before. The two skeletons had grown together in an embrace, and no one could separate them."

"Tsk tsk~"

Shard sighed softly:

"The power of vows? Or the power of spirits filled with emotion and reluctance?"

"Shard, don’t always use the thinking of a Circle Sorcerer to comment on fairy tales. It makes the story seem less romantic."

Lecia said with some displeasure and handed Shard a telescope, even though his vision didn’t really require it:

"Why is the knight played by a female actor?"

Shard asked again while the female actor in male attire performing the solo on stage was now putting on armor with the help of servants. During this time, an old man, looking like a butler, used recitative to explain the background, a mix of speaking and singing. His deep acting skills, combined with playful humor about how the "knight" still thinks of his lover even as he prepares to depart, created quite a pleasant opening atmosphere.

"This is a tradition of this play. Most of the time, the knight is played by a female actor. In her youth, Benanis often performed this play alongside Ciris Lathes. During the era when the Golden Dawn Opera Group gradually gained fame, Benanis’s adaptation of ’Lovers of the Bell Tower’ became one of their iconic pieces."

Miss Galina said, putting down her telescope to look at Shard. Seeing that he was indeed not very interested in the opera itself, she said:

"Let’s talk about business. Interrupting your date with Lecia was not my intention..."

In the dark, the other girl beside Shard clicked her tongue, while Miss Galina pretended not to hear:

"It’s just that you asked me to investigate the Edwards Family from Green Lake Town, and I need to confirm something. Shard, your investigation into this family really was just because your mentor, Miss Danester, the Thirteen Rings Female Sorcerer, asked you to assist with this, right?"

"Yes, why else would it be?"

Shard curiously looked at her. Although the lights in the box were mostly turned off, he could still clearly see the witch’s face.

"You haven’t encountered any strange women recently, have you?"

Miss Galina asked suspiciously again, and even Lecia looked at Shard.

Shard hesitated and shook his head:

"I barely managed to get out of bed last Saturday, so where would I meet any strange women? Oh, a lady did ask me to help find her cat on Wednesday, but that was Madam Sidil, a 53-year-old neighbor from 23 Saint Delan Square. Hmm... strange women, does it have something to do with the Edwards Family?"

The witch nodded, her expression somewhat grave:

"You know, while the surname Edwards isn’t very common, it’s not really rare either. After you wrote to me, I immediately realized that I personally know someone with the surname Edwards. Without asking her directly, I did some sideways investigation and discovered she really is from Green Lake Town."

"Not another witch, is it?"

Lecia suddenly said as she touched Shard’s hand in the dark, and Miss Galina nodded, looking into Shard’s eyes:

"Audrey Edwards, Fifth Seat of the Council, Eleven Rings, the Great Witch of Knowledge and Wisdom."