"First target."
Xia De thought to himself.
Little Philip walked straight towards the three people at the door. This handsome young gentleman smiled and greeted Princess Ajelina, then asked in an exaggerated tone:
"Oh, it's Lord Hamilton? You brought it. What gift is this? Did Duke Carina help you choose it?"
This was an obvious provocative act, but he didn't expect that when he finished saying this and looked at Xia De, he found that Xia De was not angry at all. Instead, his eyes were shining and he looked somewhat excited.
How do you feel
she asked in Shad's ear with a chuckle.
"I've been in this world for so long, and I finally met someone with such low IQ! I was wondering, how could everyone in this world be so rational! I finally met someone like this!"
The stranger immediately sensed something. Although he knew that the other party was provoking him because of Miss Carina, he was still willing to respond:
"This is..."
He pretended not to know the man and asked hesitantly. People who noticed the movement at the door immediately gave the answer:
"Mr. Hamilton, this is Daniel Philip, the eldest son of the Marquis Philip."
Xia De nodded, pretending to understand the reason for the provocation:
"So... So, sir, what did you give away?"
Shard himself had the title of knight, so he could be addressed as "Sir", but little Philip had not yet inherited the title, so he was addressed as Sir by him.
The brown-haired young man also understood the meaning of his words, but still replied with a smile:
"I just came back from the New World last month and brought with me a top-quality ruby mined from the New World. I asked a craftsman to polish it and present it to Her Highness Ajelina."
When he smiled, his eight teeth were perfectly exposed. As he spoke, he took out a red velvet box from his pocket. When he opened it, he found a ruby of very good quality.
Ajelina wanted to say something for Shade, but Dorothy, who noticed that Shade was a little excited at the moment, gently pulled her. The little princess looked at Dorothy suspiciously, not because she was surprised by her behavior, but because she felt that she was a bit like her sister.
"It is a beautiful gem, but it does not look as big as the pearl I gave to Queen Diana last year."
Xia De also replied with a smile, and the people who noticed the "conflict" here immediately said:
"Yes, the pearl Hamilton took out last year was in the shape of a perfect sphere, half the size of a fist, and Queen Diana often took it out to admire it."
This is an acquaintance that Xia De met while playing Rhodes cards.
"I think it's a bit old-fashioned to always give gifts like gems and diamonds, so I brought this this time."
Shade said, pointing behind him.
Daniel Philip blinked. He had been in the New World for many years and was not very familiar with the banquet last year, so he decisively brought the topic back:
"Mr. Hamilton, why don't you show us what Miss Carina has chosen for you?"
"No, no, I swear in the name of Mr. Liming, I found this myself."
Xia De said, and then asked the little princess:
"Your Highness, look..."
"Then let me see what gifts Hamilton of Rheed has brought."
With Ajelina's permission, the wooden box containing the statue was quickly opened. Then the statue with broken arms, whose slightly twisted posture made its half-naked body form a very harmonious and graceful spiral upward posture, appeared in the brightly lit banquet hall and was displayed to everyone under the illumination of crystal chandeliers and gas lamps.
"It is said that this statue was excavated from ancient ruins. Although it looks a bit old and there is no master's name to complement it, I think its artistic level is worthy of Her Royal Highness the Princess."
He said softly, and the people around him lowered their voices and whispered about the statue. Ajelina looked at Shad's birthday present with a blushing face, and Dorothy pursed her lips and looked at the statue. She actually wanted to keep it, but she couldn't steal her sister's birthday present.
As for Daniel Philip, he looked at the statue with his mouth slightly open. The only criticism of this gift was that it was an anonymous statue without a maker, but this point had been raised by Shade himself. Anyone with a good taste would not doubt the artistic sense of this statue, so he pursed his lips and said to Shade:
“What a nice gift.”
Then he presented his birthday present, turned around and left.
"I thought he would say a few more words to me. I was ready to throw out the white gloves."
A moment later, Dorothy took Shad's arm and walked into the banquet hall together. The statue that had caused so much discussion was temporarily moved to a separate gift storage room. Listening to Shad's words, Dorothy looked at Shad as if he were a big boy:
"I don't know why you're so excited today. Is Ajelina turning seventeen so worth getting excited about?"
According to the plan, the two were going to go directly to Leicia, as neither girl wanted to waste a single minute of the precious Red Butterfly Day. But when they saw Leicia, she was accompanying Queen Diana, talking to two noble ladies in front of the huge painting of the previous king in front of the banquet hall. Standing next to her was Raphael Birmingham, the son of the Duke of Birmingham, whom Shad had seen in the photo of Director Anros.
"Oh, look who's here? Hamilton from Rejade. There seemed to be a lot of activity outside the door just now. What are you doing?"
Queen Diana smiled and asked Shad to come over, then took the initiative to explain:
"Shad, this is the Duchess of Birmingham."
The noble lady with a white chest and a pearl necklace nodded slightly and looked at Xia De.
"This is Raphael Birmingham, the Duke's eldest son. You two are about the same age, so perhaps you will have some common topics."
Raphael Birmingham also had red hair, but the color was far less prominent than the Cavendish family. Their family was distantly related to the royal family, and it is said that this was the reason for their red hair.
"Second target."
The gentlemanly young Birmingham shook hands with Shad, who introduced his female companion tonight, Dorothy. Everyone had heard of the fame of this female writer. With the publication of the Carsonrick-language version of Hamilton's Detective Stories in the South, Dorothy might not be the most famous female writer, but she was definitely the fastest-earning female writer of this century.
Mrs. Birmingham took little Mr. Birmingham away temporarily, while Queen Diana continued to talk with Dorothy. Leithia gave Shad a helpless look, and it seemed that they would have to stay here for a while.
The atmosphere of the banquet was quite lively. Although His Majesty the King did not attend, people could still feel the importance the royal family attached to this birthday party. A nine-layer cake was placed in the middle of the banquet hall, and champagne towers decorated the surroundings. When most of the guests had arrived, Miss Carina also appeared here, and together with Queen Diana, Resia and several other princesses, surrounded Ajelina and asked the little princess to thank the guests for coming.
At this time, Dorothy finally said goodbye to the queen and stood beside Shad. Shad wanted to say a few words to Dorothy, but someone behind him called Shad's name softly:
"Mr. Hamilton."
Turning around, he saw the third person he had contacted tonight, Mr. Henry Mafar, the son of Duke Mafar. The short young man spoke to Shade in a low voice, nervously:
"Excuse me, would you like to play Rhodes later?"
"Um?"
Shade was stunned for a moment before he stretched out his hand to shake hands with her. He caught a glimpse of Dorothy looking at him with a scrutinizing and "warning" look, and immediately said:
"No, I have other things to do tonight."
Although Mr. Mafar was a little disappointed, he still nodded:
"That's a shame, but you're right, business is more important. I look forward to meeting you at the poker table someday, so I won't bother you any more."
He said goodbye politely and left. By this point, Shad had already met all three possible marriage partners of Ajelina and had a preliminary impression of them. Daniel Philip was arrogant and arrogant, and was hostile to Shad because of Miss Carina's affairs; Raphael Birmingham was modest and kind, and looked like a qualified gentleman; Henry Mafar seemed a little introverted, but liked to play Rhodes, and... ...
Shad looked in the direction where Mr. Mafar left and found that he had met up with a beautiful brown-haired girl, and they seemed to have a very close relationship.
"And he already seems to have someone he loves."
Of course, no matter what happens to the three of them, the most important thing tonight is the Day of the Red Butterfly.
After Ajelina thanked the visitors for coming, this grand birthday party officially began with the melodious sound of the violin.
Shad and Dorothy found Ajelina again. While Queen Diana was away, Ajelina led the two out of the banquet hall and into the lounge area above the banquet hall. She arranged the innermost room for them according to Leisia's request. Leisia had not arrived yet, so Shad and Dorothy arrived first.
Ajelina reluctantly used her key to open the door for them, but she stopped them at the door and did not let them go in. Instead, she turned around and said softly:
"Shad, thank you for your birthday present. I like it very much."
Dorothy watched this scene with a smile on her face. She didn't have any feelings. Shade shook his head, looked around, and made sure that there was no one in the corridor before he told Director Anlos about his mission more than an hour ago.
The little princess nodded to show that she understood, and she took the initiative to write the report for Xia De. At this time, another door across the corridor also opened.
Tifa, wearing a black and white maid dress, walked out of the room:
"Mr. Hamilton, can you spare some time? Miss wants to talk to you about something."