On the way to the Zog Factory, the merchants of the Northern Domain sat in their carriage, laughing triumphantly.
"You really called it. To think you could see that even that little chit is short on cash," one merchant said, fawning over the one who had been leading the conversation.
He stroked a ring made of some unknown gemstone, its translucent crimson seeming to hold the blood and sweat of countless people.
The Industrial Revolution was a time of savage, unchecked growth.
On one hand, productivity skyrocketed. New inventions that improved every aspect of life appeared almost daily, nurturing the seeds of a new social structure.
On the other hand, in an era without large-scale wars, severe famines, or major pandemics, the average lifespan still managed to drop significantly.
'We can never repay the King's kindness.'
"Of course. How old is she? She can't hide anything. I've crossed more bridges than she's ever seen roads. I knew what she was thinking with a single glance,"
