In the room, the half-enclosed stove burned wood, emitting faint scents of trees and the smell of smoke, bringing a unique sensation.
On the sofa by the stove, Tilan, having just bathed, rested her slightly damp feet near the fire, watching wisps of steam rise like curling smoke while the flames warmed her soles, bringing a slight comforting touch.
Outside the house, the world was piled with snowflakes. It was the end of August, yet the Southern Hemisphere was still in winter, the complete opposite of the north.
After the steam on her feet had evaporated, Tilan withdrew them, putting on warm, long socks, then moved the stove closer to her desk to warm the surrounding area.
Reclining in a comfortable chair, Tilan flipped through a book in front of her, occasionally picking up a pen to write or draw, to make some notes.
Two hours later, Tilan set aside the book and notes, reclined in the chair with her legs pulled up, feeling the warmth of the chair's side, then lay on her side to watch the glowing flames in the stove. A hint of sleepiness washed over her, her eyes half-open, and then she fell into a quiet sleep, her chest rising and falling gently.
Since the patent war ended a month ago, the struggle between Edith and Saint Yingo had temporarily subsided, both sides reassessing and pondering future possibilities, and whether they could afford the cost of initiating a large-scale patent war, among other concerns.
'Yimi Corporation,' despite losing a great deal of property and capital, had gained some advantages by consolidating the patents of the two companies. After Yimi officially took over the company, many businesses on Edith's side provided financial and manpower assistance, donations for new factory construction, and building up of production lines, which allowed 'Yimi Corporation' to recover quickly.
Of course, this assistance wasn't without cost, and Yimi had to cede some shares and reset the board members to establish the new 'Yimi Corporation.'
Things were slowly getting back on track. With the support of the members of Edith's camp, 'Yimi Corporation' would likely return to its former capacity by next year, and its line of products would be even more competitive, certainly not inferior to 'Grey Mountain Rock,' a subsidiary of the 'Universal' group.
Taking advantage of this lull, Tilan had a rare chance to relax, to read a book, daydream, and occasionally take a peaceful nap, free from overly complex thoughts.
Seeing the young lady asleep, the maid silently guarding at one side of the room brought over a thin blanket to cover her and then partially lowered the curtains to avoid the glaring white snow outside.
The wood cracked and popped as it burned, with occasional sparks flying and quickly dissipating. In the courtyard outside the window, snowflakes drifted, with heavy snow occasionally sliding off the trees and falling onto the snowy ground.
Even though humanity had entered the space age, they still cherished such natural beauty, perhaps a genetic instinct, akin to the comfort and solid sleep during rainy days. In ancient times, predators didn't hunt in the rain, implying a safe environment.
Humans had only developed civilization for a few tens of thousands of years, and in the past, humans and many other mammals of the Synapsid ancestors lived under the harsh oppression of dinosaurs, probably leading a life similar to that of a mouse. Therefore, Synapsids mostly lived fast and died young, and due to survival pressure, often lived during the night or underground, which is why they lost trichromatic vision and became able to see only in black and white. Today, the trichromatic vision of some mammals is actually an evolutionary reappearance that isn't perfect. Some animals, like canines, still have dichromatic vision, able to see only in black and white.
Furthermore, the once flourishing Synapsids were reduced to just the mammals, the sole survivors after over a hundred million challenging years.
The evolution and transformation of life are sediments of history, as is the shape of today's civilization.
After a long nap, Tilan slowly opened her eyes, stretched her legs up, then languidly propped herself up to sit properly on a wooden chair nearby.
After thinking about her recent schedule and things she needed to do, the young lady stood up, changed into a comfortable and elegant winter dress, then put on her boots and left the house.
"Where are you off to, Miss Tilan?" the maid who helped open the door asked.
"To a friend's place," Tilan said with a light wave, bidding goodbye to the two maids before getting into the small aircraft waiting outside. The aircraft then took off, quickly carrying her over South First District, heading towards a distant location.
Leaving the bustling urban area of South First District, the quaint aircraft threaded through the cloud layers, its rounded body making it look somewhat adorable. Though not as fast as the larger military aircraft, its small size and ability to land almost anywhere made it convenient.
About an hour later, the aircraft landed in front of an ancient castle in a forest on a cliffside, descending slowly. The white walls of the castle were set against a backdrop of red leaves, creating a stunning beauty.
Jumping down from the aircraft, Tilan's feet crunched on the snowy ground, and she walked toward the castle. She hadn't taken many steps before the grand gates opened and several maids came out to greet her.
"Lady Tilan," they curtsied before looking up.
Though their hair colors varied slightly, these maids all shared the same vibrant red eyes, as beautiful as rubies, but also conveying a subtle aggressiveness.
The four maids escorted Tilan into the interior of the ancient castle, where it was significantly warmer. In the spacious and luxurious hall, the fireplace burned brightly, and two other maids brought steaming tea for Tilan, setting it on the coffee table in front of her.