Chapter 286: Chapter 282 Restless
Spring comes to Langton earlier than to the Northern Territory, so while there is still a lingering chill in the Northern Territory, Langton is already in a season of warmth and blooming flowers.
Young noblewomen gather in groups for excursions and picnics, enjoying afternoon tea and savoring delicious snacks on the lawns cleaned by servants. This kind of life is perhaps what a noblewoman should live.
Rather than like Perfikot, who spends all day in the laboratory, accompanied by alchemy and machinery, perhaps now with the added unpleasant smell of petroleum?
However, to Eldest Princess Annie, she would rather stay in Perfikot’s alchemy laboratory than wear a dress that looks light but actually constricts her breath while heavy as can be just to have afternoon tea.
As one of the Empire’s most informed individuals about the entire doomsday winter, Eldest Princess Annie clearly knows how urgent the Empire’s time is, and how many tasks she has to complete.
If she had the time for afternoon tea, Eldest Princess Annie felt she could accomplish many things, at least finish the official duties accumulated from the past week.
Rather than like now, having delayed work for an afternoon, making the already mountainous workload pile up even higher.
However, she also has a reason she must attend, abandoning the more comfortable and customary knight attire and military uniform for a proper noblewoman’s dress, even pinning a small hat on her head like Perfikot once did.
The reason is simple, because today’s tea party is personally hosted by Her Majesty the Empress.
"What’s the matter, Annie? You seem restless. Is the chair uncomfortable?" Her Majesty the Empress, wearing a serene smile, teased Annie while elegantly holding her fine teacup.
Facing her mother’s teasing, Eldest Princess Annie could only sigh with a bit of annoyance and say, "The corset is too tight! I really can’t fathom why humans invented this!"
The Eldest Princess was complaining, while the court ladies around her secretly laughed.
When they were young, they had the same thought, but once they reached a certain age, encountered men, and felt their predatory gaze when they saw a slender waist, they understood why corsets became popular.
Even though every year in Langton, noblewomen faint from breathing difficulty due to corsets, some even break ribs from being squeezed too tightly...
Yet noblewomen still use corsets, and the court ladies would only abandon them if their figures severely altered and became too tight to wear.
In a sense, society is both absurd and cruel, where women harm themselves to please men.
Even the lofty Eldest Princess in the Empire cannot but succumb to the societal norms, which makes Eldest Princess Annie want to retreat to the Northern Territory for some leisure.
Unlike Langton, the Northern Territory doesn’t have these bothersome rules and annoying tea parties. She could discuss topics of real significance with Perfikot and do more valuable things.
Eldest Princess Annie already knows that Perfikot will begin expanding immigration and constructing settlements in the Northern Territory this year, knowing that Perfikot surely needs support and assistance.
But now she cannot lend a hand, as the Empress has limited her, insisting she attend this tea party.
This makes Eldest Princess Annie drink tea absentmindedly while contemplating how to recruit more valuable talents from Langton to send to the Northern Territory.
The Empress naturally noticed Eldest Princess Annie’s inattentiveness and suggested pointedly, "As a princess of the Empire, tea parties are also an important official duty. If you only regard sitting here and drinking tea as boring, you will naturally find them hard to endure.
But you need to understand, Annie, tea parties can often serve as informal meeting occasions, where less formal gatherings can occur, discussing topics that aren’t so serious or can’t be discussed in formal settings.
I haven’t taught you these things in the past, but now, as the Empire’s eldest princess and the face of the Royal Family’s future, you must learn them."
Upon hearing the Empress’s words, Eldest Princess Annie could only resignedly adjust her posture and muster a slight smile.
She certainly understood the Empress’s meaning, but Eldest Princess Annie indeed found it hard to adapt to such occasions, and today didn’t seem to have any topics suitable for such semi-formal discussions.
However, just as Eldest Princess Annie was puzzled, a palace attendant suddenly reported the arrival of Duke Gloucester.
This made Eldest Princess Annie show an astonished expression, looking with surprise at Her Majesty the Empress.
She hadn’t expected the Empress would invite Duke Gloucester for tea, nor inform her.
"So this is the theme of today? And I was unaware?" Eldest Princess Annie showed some dissatisfaction, apparently feeling deceived and angry.
"Annie, the Empire’s military intelligence bureau is already in your hands, you should learn to use it for information." The Empress didn’t say much, but simply advised Annie.
Upon hearing this, Annie was slightly surprised, but she quickly controlled her expression, maintaining her composure at the level expected of an Empire princess.
After all, having received comprehensive court etiquette education from a young age, Eldest Princess Annie didn’t like it but had learned it nonetheless.
"I hope I’m not interrupting your enjoyment?" Duke Gloucester greeted everyone present with a gracious and elegant demeanor until he came before the Empress to offer a hand-kiss.
"Please sit, Duke. I heard you just flew back to the Empire mainland directly from the New Continent?" The Empress remained graceful and composed in inquiring Duke Gloucester.
"Yes, indeed. The Flying Airship is truly a remarkable invention; it significantly reduces the time needed to arrive from the Empire mainland to the Northern Territory, which is both meaningful and crucial for the current Empire." Duke Gloucester answered the Empress’s inquiry with a slight smile.
"Is that so?" Eldest Princess Annie showed a thoughtful expression, though the answer already appeared in her mind.
"Yes, Your Highness the Princess, for the people of the Empire it greatly fulfills its role." Eldest Princess Annie, hearing Duke Gloucester’s remark, also displayed curious interest.