Under the purple eaves of different heights, the white stone walls show light white and light orange mottled squares in the sunlight. This is the headquarters of the Carites Chamber of Commerce and a new post-war reconstruction site. Compared with the past, it looks more spacious.
It is tidy and the buildings are taller and more elegant.
Because of the construction of warships and muskets during the war, the Chamber of Commerce has achieved very high profits over the years, and has also developed rapidly. The number of people is nearly five times that of the past, and it has become one of the largest large-scale chambers of commerce in southern Crancia, and has great influence on the surrounding areas.
Has a strong influence.
Standing in front of the door of the Chamber of Commerce, Lorraine Hill could not recognize the place where he used to live, because the changes were so great.
The first is the gate. In the past, the walls and doors were only seven or eight meters high. Now they are built like a fortress. The white gate pillars are extremely thick and stand on both sides. There are two purple spire watchtowers on the top. There are several scattered among them.
There is a small shooting hole. There is a heavy steel grille on the top of the main entrance that can be dropped. The thick wooden door is rarely closed, but looking at the strength of several fingers thick, it is estimated that even small artillery cannot open it.
In order to cover up the overly solemn atmosphere of the door, the door leaf and the walls on both sides were covered with light purple vines, some of which were blooming with unknown flowers, white and purple, dotted on the walls and doorposts.
"Hello, does this lady have anything to do with our Chamber of Commerce?"
Seeing that Lorraine Hill had been standing motionless at the gate, a guard came over to ask. He was wearing steel-colored armor, holding a halberd in one hand, and wearing a small lacquered night flower badge on his chest.
"I want to find Ms. Chelsea." Lorraine Hill recalled her acquaintances from the chamber of commerce in the past, and the one who had the deepest impression was naturally the head maid Chelsea.
"Mr. Chelsea is currently in a semi-retired state and rarely sees outsiders. Do you have an appointment?" the guard asked patiently.
"This, um...just give this to her." The girl thought for a while, then took out a piece of paper and wrote her own handwriting.
Looking at the ordinary note in his hand, the young guard hesitated, but finally nodded.
"Please wait a moment." After saying that, he walked towards the concierge behind the door.
Squeak——
Pushing open the closed wooden door, a slight snoring sound could be heard immediately. Lying on the table in the concierge was a guard taking a nap. He looked to be in his forties and had a lot of beard on the side of his face.
"Wake up, Boss Rupert." The young guard who came in shook the sleeping boss.
"Uh, what's wrong? It's not time to change shifts yet." He rubbed his eyes and looked at the colleagues in front of him.
"There is a girl outside who wants to see Mr. Chelsea, but there is no appointment. She said that she can just give her this note."
"That's it. He's probably a salesperson or some other handyman. Hey, I've seen this kind of routine too many times, ha~." He yawned, still looking a little sleepy.
"But that girl, how should I put it, is very unusual. I don't think she is a liar or anything." The guard recalled the girl in a light white dress with a faint feeling of affection and admiration.
"Ha, have you fallen in love with her?" He opened his mouth and smiled.
"Okay, let me see what she wrote. Hey, let me tell you, the more beautiful a woman is, the more careful she has to be, just like back then..." As he spoke, he suddenly got stuck.
.
"This..." Looking at the familiar and elegant handwriting on the note, he suddenly remembered something and stood up suddenly, startling his companions. Then he didn't care about anything, quickly put on his helmet, and
He pushed aside his companions and walked out quickly.
"Is that girl still there?" he said as he walked, his tone a little excited.
"It should still be there, what's wrong?" Seeing Rupert, the old man from the Chamber of Commerce, so excited, the guard also became a little nervous.
"Nothing, is it that one?" After the two walked out of the door, Rupert pointed to the girl waiting quietly outside the door.
"Yes, it's her."
"Okay, very good. Young man, you did a very good job today. It can even be said to be the best thing you have done in the years of working in the Chamber of Commerce." He looked at the girl standing quietly and patted his companion.
On his shoulders, the words became more and more exciting and exciting.
"This..." Before the guard could react, Rupert strode outside. Seeing this, he couldn't help but quicken his pace to follow.
"Lord Lacey, you are finally back!" Rupert took a closer look, but he couldn't recognize anything yet. This was Miss Lacey, the former leader of the Chamber of Commerce.
Seeing the somewhat familiar face in front of her, Lorraine Hill didn't react for a moment. It took a few seconds to remember from her memory that this person seemed to be a guard who had been there when she was at the Chamber of Commerce.
But he was still young at that time and didn't have so much beard on his face, so the girl didn't react at first.
"It's Rupert, long time no see."
Under the afternoon sunshine, the girl with blond hair and white skirt answered quietly, her voice still as quiet and reassuring as before.
When Rupert's claim came out, it attracted many guards at the gate. Soon, everyone gradually realized that among the surprised colleagues, the news of Miss Lacey's return was like growing wings, flying around
The news spread within the Chamber of Commerce. There were sounds of running and cheers everywhere.
"Really? Is the eldest lady really back?" An old man with some gray hair stood up from the table piled with books and drawings, with a look of surprise on his face.
"Really, it has spread everywhere and everyone knows it." An employee wearing a white shirt and holding a book under his arm replied excitedly.
"Quick, take me to meet Miss Lacey. It's been more than ten years, and I don't know what she looks like now. Is she married or has children? She is probably a mature lady now.
." The old man sighed as he walked.
"I think back then, we fought with the other three families in Tisiphone. That night, the entire Hopeland was almost destroyed by us."
"You don't know how beautiful and smart Miss Lacey is. Back then, there were countless young men in the Chamber of Commerce who secretly admired and liked her."
"But the eldest lady is not an ordinary person like us. She will not stay in a small place like Carites for a long time. After that, she went to distant places. After that, she only came back with letters a few times to reassure us."
Several people walked through the corridor in the middle of the mansion and walked quickly outside. Looking out from the window next to the corridor, there were figures surging everywhere in the courtyard of the Chamber of Commerce.
Amidst the commotion, a large number of people inside the Chamber of Commerce crowded towards the gate.
Seeing more and more people in front of him, Lorraine Hill felt a little flustered, but he couldn't stop and separate these excited people.
Just when she was at a loss, a clear voice sounded from behind her.
"You all take a few steps back to prevent the eldest lady from getting worried." The head maid in a black and white uniform walked slowly over and stood beside the girl. She pushed up the glasses in front of her nose and scanned the crowd with a warning look.
Everyone gradually calmed down.
In the Carites Chamber of Commerce, there is no employee who is older and more prestigious than the head maid. She became acquainted with Angus when she was young and later joined the Chamber of Commerce. It can be said that she has witnessed the success of this Chamber of Commerce.
All processes exist.
Seeing that the scene gradually became quiet, the head maid bent down beside Lorraine Hill and saluted.
"Welcome back, Miss."
"Well, we're back again, Chelsea." The girl looked at the still healthy head maid in front of her, and felt a little joy and nostalgia in her heart.
At that time, she had just left the Tisilan Mountains and did not understand many situations in the world. It was this head maid who accompanied her, answered her questions, and taught some details about the management of the chamber of commerce.
After the two reminisced about old times, under the protection of a group of guards, Lorraine Hill once again entered the long-awaited chamber of commerce.
It was night, and the Kalites Chamber of Commerce was brightly lit, with lights and decorations everywhere. There was even an open-air stage and dining tables set up in the central courtyard.
In the splendid hall, the lacquered night flower chandeliers hanging from the top are extremely bright, and golden candlelights are lit in every corner of the hall. A long table is set on the previously empty stone floor, and a purple flower is placed on the main seat at the end of the center.
's throne.
The main body of the throne is made of dark sandalwood with a soft color, and the back of the chair is dark purple like night flowers, with black flower-like wooden nails inlaid in the center, embellishing the deep purple chair back like stars.
Now the long table is filled with all kinds of sumptuous delicacies, with neat square wooden chairs on both sides. On both sides of the hall, nearly a hundred maids in black and white uniforms stand on both sides. They lower their heads, bend down and salute, welcoming
The people who were seated arrived.
Looking at the scene in front of her, the girl who walked into the hall couldn't help but think of the scene when she first arrived in Hopeland. It was also that night when she confirmed the identity of Angus's successor in the Chamber of Commerce and began to take charge of the Chamber of Commerce.
"Welcome, Lady Lacey~" All the maids spoke together, and then showed sincere smiles. Compared with other places, the Carites Chamber of Commerce has indeed provided more stable protection for its employees. This is also the case. Everyone is sincerely grateful for this
Miss Lacey.
Wearing a black and purple night dress, with golden hair falling on her shoulders, Lorraine Hill walked slowly to the passing throne. She gently touched the object left by Angus, and the girl felt a little like a dream for a moment.
Feel.
I never expected that a chance encounter that year would have such a profound impact later on.
Angus, Elaine, Seres, Chelsea, Jelinek, Rachel, etc., the faces in my memory gradually blurred over the years, and before I knew it, nearly ten years had passed.
What will happen in the next ten years? Maybe by then, some faces will slowly disappear and will never be seen again.
Life is like a journey, always moving forward and always separated.
Sitting peacefully in this familiar seat, Lorraine Hill once again looked at the figures at the table. Some of them were familiar and some were unfamiliar, which made people sigh with emotion at the change of time.
"Let the banquet begin. I hope everyone will have a wonderful night together." Lorraine Hill rarely drank alcohol. She raised the glass of lavender liquid and congratulated everyone.
"Yes, our forever Miss Lacey."
Everyone seemed to have made an agreement and answered like this. The figures sitting upright were so proud and proud.
They are members of Carites, and they love this place. This chamber of commerce not only allows them to feed their families and have complete security, but also allows them to find their own value as the brand-new warships.
Going into the water, when pieces of beautiful and durable goods are released, there is always a sense of peace of mind and pride flowing in my chest.
Perhaps we shouldn't praise this eldest lady too much, but it is undeniable that without her appearance, this chamber of commerce would have disappeared ten years ago, and they still don't know where they would be.
"Then, let me raise a toast to Lady Lacey again!"
"drink!"
In the halls and courtyards, laughter and shouts never ceased. Today after the war, everything has finally settled down. They no longer move around to escape the war as they did in the past, and now it is finally time to celebrate.
It was night, the banquet lasted until very late, and Lorraine Hill's fair cheeks were slightly red from drinking. She kept listening to everyone talk about their experiences over the years, those who resisted in the war, those who traveled to other places and moved sadly.
In the past, the process of fighting and rebuilding on the island, the ecstatic scenes of watching the launch of the battleship, and the peaceful joy of finally returning to Hopeland.
"Thank you for your hard work." Holding the empty wine glass at his waist, Lorraine Hill leaned on the back of the seat slightly drunk, looking at the people sitting in front of him with hazy eyes. During the narration, some people slowly shed tears.
Tears, immersed in the emotion of remembrance and nostalgia.
Finally, when a little bit of white appeared on the horizon, the banquet was completely over.
After that, Lorraine Hill stayed in the Chamber of Commerce for a while. During this period, the branch staff heard the news of her return, and many people came over overnight. The banquet inside the Chamber of Commerce was held for nearly a week before it slowly stopped.
It's another early morning, in a quiet bedroom.
The girl's silver hair was scattered between the pillows, and her round shoulders were slightly exposed from her nightgown. Her body was still rising and falling slightly under the quilt. After a while, when the pale sunlight shone on her face, she opened her eyes.
fluttering eyelashes.
Is it morning? Lorraine Hill rubbed his eyes a little and sat up from the bed.
Since taking care of Chelsea, she seems to have become a bit lazy recently, and she no longer gets up as early as she used to.
Because the bed is so comfortable, maybe this is the magic power of the quilt, which can seal people inside.
The girl thought to herself, then got out of bed and started to change her clothes.
After a while, looking at himself in the mirror after dressing up, Lorraine Hill nodded slightly, that's it.
I have been staying at the Kalites Chamber of Commerce for nearly half a month. I have finally sorted out and dealt with various matters in the Chamber of Commerce, and I can have some leisure time.
Today she was going to visit Mrs. Philia, the former music teacher, and bring back the playful Eidolon and two birds.
After meeting Lan Lier, Feng Nai and others that night, considering that she was going to the Chamber of Commerce and it was inconvenient to take Ye Ling with her, she asked Ye Ling to stay at Feng Nai's house temporarily. Currently, Lan Lier and Ling Xin also
She lived there because Fengano's house was specially left for her by Mei Lu in the past. It was very spacious and had a large courtyard and garden, so it was very comfortable.
I guess Eidolon is going crazy these days.
The girl looked at herself in the mirror. Her silver hair slowly turned to gold. She then rolled it up and tied it with a light red ribbon. After getting ready, Lorraine Hill walked out of the room and finished her breakfast of coconut bread and raspberry juice.
, got on the carriage and headed towards the former residence of the Anemiyi Chamber of Commerce.
Before going to Teacher Filia, you have to go to Feng Nao's house to meet up with Lan Lier and others.
When she got out of the car, she looked up again and saw a woman who was also preparing to visit. The woman was holding an umbrella, wearing a dark green and pure white lace dress, and she was holding a child of about six years old.
Looking at that mature and graceful figure, Lorraine Hill shouted in surprise.
"Melu?"
Looking back, the woman looked at Lorraine Hill, and soon showed a knowing smile.
"Yes, it's me. Long time no see, Lacey."
"Come, call Sister Lacey." She reminded the child beside her softly.
The little girl with chestnut blond hair hid behind her mother and looked at Lorraine Hill a little nervously. After a while, she slowly walked out.