It was as if everywhere she looked, the politeness and behaviour of ‘higher’ people that was called manners seemed hypocritical. During events with higher nobles, there was no such feeling at all, since she knew that every person she met there would eventually become a greater person and excel in what they do, or at least not brag like this about a serious political issue, even joking wasn’t to this extent.

  The fa?ade of the higher middle class and the hypocrisy that came with it was such a shocker to her, that she couldn’t fathom it and summarised it into weird. It was really niche, or it should be, because she saw the fighting lower class and the working middle class, only the higher middle class that tried every means to become higher class were behaving like this.

  ‘Alas, this is the difference between acting high and being high. The true upper class is closer to the lower middle class, even though they have advanced higher, they still work hard, at most they are somewhat relaxed like the middle middle class, but this higher middle class that tries everything to seem pompous, able and well off is just a cheaper and superficial version of the true upper class. Hmph, I wish they would see how it feels to have generation after generation of your ancestors die in experiments, in fights… or during prophecies.’

  She had read many records and she knew that in fact, of the sixteen higher families of the Kran Empire, none one of them reached their status by being lazy and inheriting. Each and everyone had fought hard all the way.

  They are the true nobility, the one she stood by and the reason for her eternal name. These small nobles that act like this are a joke in her eyes, she disdained calling them noble, she’d rather honour a mortal that works hard than an extraordinary that acts like this.

  Looking around, she saw quite a few that had a similar detest, but they were dressed rather simply. She ignored this and went further, no one stopped her and even if they looked at her, they would look away soon again. Her image would disappear from their mind and they would only have the memory that they saw a young girl on the street that gives off a bit of a unique vibe.

  She arrived at the front of the train station and took out her emblem, the process was quick and she was given a ride and description. Transportation was free for nobles as long as they showed their sigil, naturally she didn’t need to pay.

  Taking the guide, she entered the station and saw that there was a single train. Several trains would take off daily, at least one would go towards the larger regional cities of the major nobles, so there was no issue with her waiting. The station would operate for exactly twelve hours a day, eight trains that cross sixteen cities and half an hour between each train.

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  Adele had checked the times previously already, so there was no issue with this. It only took a few minutes until her train arrived, they would have ten minutes to enter, some more time to choose their room, and then the train would take off just a few minutes before the next train arrives at the station, making it a fluid motion and ensuring no noble has to wait long nor rush.

  The trains of this age were all locomotives that had a certain old rustical and mechanical feeling, but there was also wonderful energy all around it. Adele was a bit surprised to see it, only now did she feel truly that she was in a magical world, which is a bit of a joke considering she can cast spells.

  She entered the train, inside there were was a large space, to the left and right the floor was spacious and people could walk leisurely, at the door of each compartment there was a number of how many people were in there.

  Even nobles have to specifically book a private compartment, people that take the last minute ticket have to take these open compartments. In fact, it wasn’t so bad, at most four people would have to fill the small room, and there were far less people taking the train than there were rooms, so it wasn’t unusual for several compartments to have only one person sitting in them.

  Adele entered early, so she was able to take an empty one. Inside, there was a large layout of two couches, a table in the middle and beds in the back. It looked a bit cramped for a room but extremely spacious for a moving train.

  The reason there were group compartments instead of single ones is because many times nobles travel with servants or with other nobles, so they would often sit together rather than be alone. Even if this situation isn’t ideal for many, it can be said to be the best option for everyone. Additionally, if one travelled alone, then there would be gender specific restrictions.

  Many people might think it’s childish to separate females and males, but times have proven that it is better to do so in a situation where you will spend several days together in a small space. The only reason this works somewhat is because most nobles know each other, at least the ones that regularly use the train, so it’s not an atmosphere of total strangers for most people, only a rare few don’t know anyone, but most of the times they are left alone out of respect.

  Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case for Adele. Apparently it was a time where many people took the train, and a lady in long dress entered her compartment. Behind her was a maid that looked elegant and kind, like a shadow of her lady. The lady approached Adele as she entered.

  “Dear young lady, would you be welcoming of a guest?”

  Adele looked at her, her face still stiff with no expression, her skin a tone of jade porcelain that seemed to fade at the edges, the only colour on her persona being her violet eyes. She replied in an indifferent voice “Do as you please.”