The carriage with gold and copper trim was moving along the road, moving forward slowly and steadily with few bumps.
This is the main road within the empire. The road surface has become very flat and smooth after being repaired and maintained by generations of nobles.
The white gauze curtains swayed slightly behind the car window, through which one could see the scenery of the fields outside. Large tracts of golden farmland were distributed on both sides of the road, and occasionally one or two small stone brick houses could be seen.
Inside the carriage, two girls sat opposite each other. One of them had small dragon horns and was taking a nap on the table, while the other was flipping through a collection of poems published in the empire in recent years, occasionally glancing out the window.
In this collection of poems in hand, the poets depict the power changes in the empire in recent years in a dramatic form. It mainly tells the story of the tragic love between a brave civilian knight and a noble girl, and is mixed with many surprising plots. It is widely circulated among the people and the nobility.
Although there is a big gap between this and the real reality, everyone likes to read such romantic stories. In today's world where cultural entertainment is relatively scarce, such poetry collections can be regarded as classics.
People are unwilling to believe that the empire suffered a total defeat on the battlefield, and would rather believe that this is a brief low point that is necessary, just like the tragic and beautiful classical opera.
Yes, how can people accept the fact that a country that has been strong for hundreds of years suddenly declines in an instant? I believe that many people must be feeling uneasy.
Combing the hair beside her ears, the girl gradually put down her book, leaned against the car window, and looked at the quiet and beautiful scenery outside the window.
The eastern plains of the empire remain as peaceful and tranquil as they were before the war.
——————
In the Emerald Forest.
A group of elves spread their transparent emerald butterfly wings and flew through the shade of the extremely tall trees. Their wings swept across the silhouettes of the summer sun, slightly reflecting the gradient of seven colors.
This is where the forest elves live. Many of them are scattered throughout this vast forest and mountains. The area is vast and sparsely populated, and it often takes a long flight to see the forest huts where the elves live together.
Compared to the ever-changing world outside, people here still live a peaceful life. Some elves ride on high-horned deer through the forest paths, patrolling this quiet world.
But the changes in the world are slowly affecting this world as well. Some roaming elves are beginning to carry mechanical bows, and some of them are using three-dimensional maneuvering devices to shuttle through the woods at high speeds. Foldable short blades are inserted into their leather boots, and even new water wheels can be seen along many rivers.
Although there was no roaring and noisy scene of industry and mechanization, the elves began to slowly accept the changes in the outside world in their own aesthetic way.
"I haven't been back for a long time. The forest has changed a lot." Atesi walked through the shade of the tall trees in the forest, drawing a long and swift S-shaped trajectory in the air.
"Your Highness has indeed missed a lot of things, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Princess Aetia has often complained to me over the years that she wished she had been the one to go east." A young female elf flew beside Aetia and answered the elf princess who had just returned to the forest.
"I feel like that guy is having a very easy and happy life in the East." Although they were separated by a long distance, Atesi's sister could still vaguely know her sister's mood.
The twin elves, Aitesi and Atheia, showed great talent since childhood and became princesses of the elves decades ago.
The princesses of the forest elves are candidates for queen, generally chosen from royal bloodlines, but more often based on individual strength. In fact, after so many years of reproduction, nearly a third of the forest elves can claim to be descendants of royal bloodlines, and the theory of bloodline is no longer a high priority among the elves.
"It was indeed a very interesting time." Aitesi recalled the trip to the East Continent. In the past ten years, she has visited many famous mountains and rivers and witnessed the cultural landscape that is completely different from the empire, which made her feel very excited.
If she had not vaguely sensed her sister's depressed mood in the last few years, she would not have rushed back.
"Okay, now can you tell me about the current situation in the forest?" As they got closer and closer to the Holy Tree Garden in the center of the forest elves, Atesi couldn't help but feel curious.
"Well, ah..." The elf female official sighed, and then began to speak slowly.
"First, it was the changes within the empire that caused the elves to return to their past state, where they were curled up in the depths of the forest."
"Although we are powerful enough, we cannot easily interfere in the internal affairs of the Empire, so as not to irritate the sensitive nerves of the humans. If we are not careful, it will stir up hatred between the two races."
"The Western Continent is currently undergoing rapid change. Many elven scholars have brought back the theories and texts of Klanthia, sparking much discussion in the forest."
"Some elves agree to embrace ideas and technology, some believe that we should only absorb the technological aspects, and some say that we should follow ancient traditions and maintain a pure and natural lifestyle."
"Several parties began arguing at the meeting, and Her Majesty the Queen remained cautious and did not express her views easily."
"In addition, several great nobles have begun to contact us, wanting to know our attitude and stance. It is foreseeable that civil war in the empire is inevitable." This is what makes the elves nervous and hesitant. It is also for this reason that some elven nobles have begun to promote new technologies to arm the elves.
Seeing that Aitesi was still a little confused, the elven noblewoman continued to explain.
"Those great nobles of the empire don't just represent themselves. Behind them are the shadows of the Four Dukes. With the royal family in decline, the Four Dukes are no longer targets we can easily offend."
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