’For this Southern Count, a man directly under the Royal Family, to be so eager to court the Northern Territory and offer a tangible partnership benefiting the Monte Territory... it was happening right after Alonso made his shocking declaration. This doesn’t align with the Count’s reputation for greed. His motives are likely far more complicated than mere commercial gain.’

’Perhaps he has sensed the coming storm and is looking for more support and a way out, both for himself and for the Royal Family he serves.’

The banquet continued, filled with melodious music and a dazzling array of delicacies.

Margaret chatted and laughed merrily from the head seat, while Murphy sat among the guests, silent as an abyss. Meanwhile, the distant Iron Ridge Mountain Range and the declaration left by that mysterious Marquis hung over everyone’s heads like the Sword of Damocles, a constant reminder that this peace might just be the brief lull before the storm.

...

The garden party was the main event of the afternoon.

Amidst the meticulously manicured garden scenery, elegant entertainments such as riddles, short-range archery, and music and poetry readings were set up for the guests’ amusement.

The performers of the Flame Circus had also erected their brightly colored tents on a wide, open lawn. The distant, melodious sound of an accordion and the crisp jingle of bells drew in children and curious nobles alike.

Margaret, holding Eleanor’s small hand, was the first to step into the garden.

Eleanor seemed to have recovered her energy from her afternoon nap. Her dark eyes sparkled, full of curiosity about everything around her. When she saw a curly-haired little dog in a funny vest performing arithmetic in front of a distant tent, she couldn’t help but stand on her tiptoes to get a better look. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Do you want to go see, dear?" Margaret asked softly.

Eleanor nodded vigorously, then seemed to remember something. She looked up at Murphy, who stood silently beside her. "Father... Lord Count O’Connor, do you want to come see the little dog do math with us?"

Murphy looked down at her and shook his head slightly. "You two go on and have fun."

Margaret smiled, not insisting. She simply gave a few quiet instructions to Annabelle, who stood waiting nearby, before leading Eleanor toward the circus tents.

Soon, the excited cheers of children and Eleanor’s clear laughter could be heard from that direction.

Murphy didn’t join the garden party. Instead, he chose a viewing gallery on slightly higher ground. From there, he could overlook most of the bustling garden and had a clear view of the lively scene in front of the circus tents.

He leaned against a gallery pillar, his gaze sweeping casually over the crowd, occasionally lingering for a moment on Eleanor’s excited little face.

The garden party lasted for nearly three hours.

As the setting sun began to paint the white spires of Taymer Palace in shades of gold and red, the guests were gradually led toward an Observatory on higher ground behind the palace.

This was the final part of the evening’s celebration, and also the "special surprise" Margaret had promised Eleanor.

Unlike the Observatory where Murphy and Margaret had been alone, this one was a standalone, circular stone building perched atop a small hill, offering an exceptionally wide field of view.

As they stepped onto the final stair, the heavy oak doors closed behind them, instantly shutting out the clamor from outside.

The interior had a high ceiling, and the dome was not solid. Instead, it was composed of several interlocking, retractable metal frames supporting enormous transparent crystal panels. At that moment, the panels were slowly sliding open, revealing the deepening, ink-blue sky.

Below, comfortable cushioned seats and small tables had been arranged, laid out with warm, spiced wine and delicate refreshments.

The guests who had arrived earlier chatted in low voices, waiting for the surprise to be revealed.

Margaret arrived last, leading Eleanor by the hand.

"Do you remember Mother saying that tonight’s surprise had to do with the stars?"

Margaret leaned down and whispered in Eleanor’s ear.

Eleanor nodded vigorously, her dark eyes reflecting the first stars appearing in the dome above.

Margaret straightened up and faced the crowd, her voice clear and resonant. "Thank you all for your presence and blessings today. For this final moment, allow me, in the name of a mother, to present my daughter, Eleanor, with a gift from the starry sky."

As her voice fell, she gently raised her right hand toward the open, starry dome, her fingers slightly spread.

In the next moment, a scene that made every guest hold their breath unfolded.

All the lights inside the Observatory were extinguished in the same instant.

But darkness did not fall.

In its place, countless soft, silvery halos of light, fluid as water, materialized from the walls, the floor, and even the very air of the Observatory, rising upward.

These halos were not static; they flowed and intertwined as if alive, slowly converging overhead.

Beneath the dome that everyone was gazing up at, the real night sky seemed to have been pulled closer.

Amidst the swirling halos, flowing strokes of light began to sketch out the unique constellations of this world, those passed down in ancient legends.

The "Azure Vault Turtle," carrying a giant shell of stardust as it slowly crawled across the heavens.

The "Fallen Watcher," formed by seven main stars and shaped like a broken spear.

The "Nether River Boat," said to ferry Wandering Souls and shaped like a ferryboat.

There was also the source of the Temeris Clan’s emblem, the "Eagle of Watch"—a pair of wings poised for flight, intricately formed from dozens of points of starlight...

And in the gaps between the flowing halos, one could even faintly discern the hazy patch of light representing the "Eye of Truth."

As well as the fine, mysterious trail of the legendary "Driver Star Group."

This was not a brilliant, oppressive explosion of power like Alonso’s, but a tranquil, grand, and gentle demonstration of the starry sky.

As the halos flowed, they even carried a certain rhythm that soothed the heart.

Eleanor was completely captivated.

She tilted her small face upward, her mouth slightly agape, and stood perfectly still, as if her entire soul had been drawn into that star-sea forged of light.