"It doesn't matter."
Iluna looked up and smiled at Shade:
"There are no guests, but the environment of your home is very nice. Although I don't have a dress, you don't have to wear formal clothes. There is no phonograph and band, but I can hum dance music by myself. Shade, I am still good at singing."
As he spoke he stood up, and Xia De also stood up by holding on to the table.
The 17-year-old girl seemed to be in a good mood. She came to the living room faster than Xia De, then opened her hands, closed her eyes, and turned three times in the sunlight from the window. The hem of her skirt opened like a flower, and her figure came into Xia De's sight, swaying on the wall, sofa and cabinet.
She stopped and opened her eyes to look at Shade. Her brown hair seemed to be shining in the sun, and there was really light in her eyes:
"Mr. Shad Hamilton, may I ask you to dance?"
She held out her hand to Shad.
"Ma'am, it's my pleasure."
Xia De smiled and bowed slightly.
The two danced completely in the sunshine along with Iluna's humming. Then Shade sent Iluna, whose face was slightly blushing, to the intersection outside St. Teresa's Square, and the two walked in opposite directions.
Xia De put three spiritual crystals the size of rice grains into a paper envelope he had folded and went directly to Old John's Pawn Shop.
Since contacting the Guiding Light Priory and learning that Father John was also a member of the Guiding Light Priory, this was the first time Shade had met him. But after meeting, the two of them tacitly did not mention the Priory. After Father John teased Shade a few times about not seeing him recently, Shade poured the three small crystals on the counter:
"I want to put them on a ring, Father John, can you help me with that?"
You could go find a coppersmith or a blacksmith, but since Father John could help Dorothy make alchemical items, he should have no problem making the ring.
"You should go find the coppersmith. Let me take a look. Oh, the spiritual crystal? The purity is really good. Was it made by Schneider?"
The old man took out a tool box from under the counter, picked up one of the crystals with a pair of copper tweezers, and then pulled over a gas lamp. He put on professional glasses with retractable lenses and carefully examined the small crystals:
"Are you trying to make materials for spiritual magic? I've made similar things before, and I can also help you carve some patterns and runes on the ring to enhance the effect of these crystals. But when do you want to get the finished product?"
This means that Papa John has agreed to take on this business.
"It would be best if we could get it this evening."
"Are you in such a hurry?"
The old man took off the complicated lens on his right eye, thought for a moment and said:
"Then the price will be more expensive. 13 shillings, 3 pounds, 19 pounds, which price do you choose?"
“What’s the difference between these price points?”
“13 shillings, made of iron, I will only help you embed three crystals into the ring, you can come and get it at noon.
3 pounds, made of copper. I used alchemical techniques to process the ring to maximize the crystallization effect. You can pick it up at 2 pm.
19 pounds. I just happened to have customized a helmet for someone that could block their mind-reading abilities, and I still have some scraps left... Don't look at me like that. I'm not the type to embezzle customers."
Father John waved his hands hurriedly:
"It's just that when I was making the helmet, there were some scraps of special telepathic alloy left over, which is more than enough to make a small ring. This metal can shield external mental power, but it is also an excellent material for conducting internal mental power. Although the crystal ring made of telepathic alloy will not double the power of your magic, it will increase the casting speed, expand the range of magic, enhance the ability to withstand backlash, and slightly improve the effect of magic."
After saying that, he put down the things in his hands, looked at Xia De and knocked on the table, revealing the mercenary expression that Xia De was very familiar with:
"If you choose to make a ring out of this alloy, I'll charge you 19 pounds, but you can come pick it up this evening and I'll take care of everything for you. What do you think? What price do you want?"
“Do I have any choice?”
Xia De asked back, and as the old man smiled smugly, he said another word:
"cane."
"That would be seventeen pounds seven shillings."
Father John almost immediately said the price, which made Xia De a little confused:
"You're not going to quote a high price first, then wait for me to bargain, and then tell me the standard price?"
"How could I do such a thing?"
Father John raised his head slightly and puffed out his chest to deny it, then lowered his head to get the measuring tape:
"Which finger are you going to wear it on? Let me measure the size. I hope your finger is thinner, so I can save some materials. The remaining scraps may be used to make a small pendant and sell it to others."
"You're going to make a fortune someday."
"No, no, I'm more concerned about the civilization represented by the purchased items. As long as the gold pounds are enough to eat, it's fine."
Xia De didn't believe what Father John said at all.
After leaving his father who was very good at making money, Shad went to the University District Quill Pen Street to find Dorothy. In the evening, he planned to go to the Yodel Palace with Dorothy to attend the banquet. After all, Miss Carina would definitely be with other royal family members, and Luvia would be with the Prophet Association.
Because she had an important banquet to attend in the evening, Miss Writer had no plans to go out during the day. The girls had to prepare much more for the banquet than Shade.
After the landlady downstairs let Shad in, when Shad went up to the third floor, Dorothy was humming a song and choosing a headdress in front of the copper-framed floor-length mirror in the living room. Next to her were several metal hangers with pulleys, on which were skirts, shirts and other clothes.
Hearing Xia De's voice outside the door, he shouted and asked Xia De to push the door open and come in.
After Xia De entered the room, she asked again:
"I'm going to put my hair up in a complicated bun. Shade, which one do you think looks better, this butterfly-shaped ribbon or this sky blue ribbon with red rubies?"
She held two hair ties and gestured with her hair.
Xia De thought about it:
“They all look good.”
The blonde girl smiled:
"You would indeed say that. Xia De, what is it that you came to see me about?"
She put the hairband on the mirror and asked Xia De to help bring the shoe boxes at the door.
"Would you like to go to the Yodel Palace together tonight?"
"Oh, I invited Luvia to go with me. After we get to Silver Cross Avenue, she will go and meet up with the Prophet Association. Shade, you can also go with us."
"Okay, then where should we pick you up? Luvia's rented apartment, or your place?"
"Just come to my place."
Dorothy said, holding up her dress on the hanger with great interest, and gesturing in front of the floor-length mirror:
"I must remind you that the big pearl you are going to give is best given in a gift box."
She knew that Shad had a habit of putting jewelry and ornaments directly into his pockets.
"I'll get ready in a moment."
Xia De himself also thought of this.
"Also, Lecia asked me to tell you that she will definitely make time to meet you tonight. If you really don't have time, you can use my body."
Dorothy had no other purpose in attending the party, so she could stay with Shad the whole time.
"No problem. Is there anything else I need to be reminded of? Although I have attended several banquets, this is the first time I have attended such a grand banquet."
"Queen Diana will probably talk to you. Although it may just be a small talk to express her gratitude to you, you have to think about how to respond. Didn't she say last time that she would give you a Rhodes card? She may give it to you this time. In addition, you and Carina..."
She was originally happily choosing clothes in front of the mirror, but when this name was mentioned, her expression immediately changed. She and Leisia had basically the same attitude towards Miss Carina:
"... ...'s matter is now spreading like wildfire. Although this Duchess has never been close to men, she still has several prominent suitors in Tobesk. You must be careful of them causing trouble."
"Don't worry about that. I've accepted Marquis Grassley's invitation and will probably play Rhodes all night."
Shade has already made plans for tonight.
"That's good, but you have to make time to meet with me some writers and journalists in Tobesk. Because of detective stories, my career has taken a step forward. I want to bring the prototype characters of detective stories and discuss the details of writing detective stories with those writers and journalists."
In fact, it is just writers praising each other. A successful writer not only needs successful works, but also needs recognition from his peers. Dorothy's father is a university professor with many students. She has a great advantage in terms of recognition from her peers.
"No problem. I think I have time. Is there anything else you need to tell me?"
Dorothy looked in the mirror at Shad behind her:
"Are your clothes ready? Also, you need to take care of your hair."
"Don't worry, I'm prepared."
Dorothy in the mirror smiled at Shad:
"You're going to see Carina later?"
"Yes... I need to talk to her about something this afternoon. It's about the Light Spirit Rune. There's a twelve-ring warlock who can help me."
"very nice."
She said softly, the blonde still smiling in the mirror, Shade didn't quite understand what she was trying to say.
After staying for a while with Dorothy and having lunch with her, Shard returned to number 6 St. Teresa's Square.
On the way back, he also noticed some changes in the city today.
Queen Diana enjoyed a very high reputation in the Kingdom of Delarion. Although her birthday was not celebrated in a big way, there would be no national holiday, and there would be no military parade like the king's birthday, but small-scale celebrations were still held in the city. In open locations such as Saint Teresa's Square, Dawn Square, and Anthem Square, there were bands and parades hired by the royal family.
It was deserted when I left in the morning, but when I returned home in the afternoon, the front door was already bustling with people.