The two princesses appeared in the courtyard because Leicia invited Princess Margaret to take a walk in the yard and see the scenery of the noble banquet of the Kingdom of Draerion. This is also a way to demonstrate the national strength of Draerion.
Naturally, there were many young people who gathered around the princesses for various purposes, but they did not come closer when the princesses were talking to Mr. Smith and Baron Fuller.
When the two old gentlemen heard that Marquis Da Vinci, the Deputy Minister of Finance of Delarion, was also here, they left together to visit him. While there were not many people around the princesses, Shade said to Leicia with a natural expression:
"Your Highness, I heard that you have a handwritten copy of Summer Nights. My companion, Miss Dorothy Louisa, is very interested in the book. I wonder if you can lend it to us to read."
"certainly."
Leicia understood this "code" and was very happy that Xia De took the initiative to bring up this matter:
"I happen to have that book with me, but I can't give it to you for the time being. When it's convenient, I'll send my maid to find you."
She said seriously, and Xia De nodded immediately:
"Thank you for your generosity."
This conversation is to make the invitation later less abrupt.
Princess Margaret heard their conversation and was very curious:
"A handwritten copy of Summer Nights? I've heard of this famous collection of essays. Can I take a look at it?"
Shade touched the cat head on his shoulder and turned his face to the other side. Leicia's expression changed instantly, but quickly returned to normal:
"If you are interested, I will give you the book tomorrow as a thank you for the bottle of red wine."
After saying that, she glanced at Shade and found that Shade was turning his head, as if he was interested in the champagne tower in the tent next to him. So she lowered her left hand and slightly lifted her skirt, revealing her left foot in high heels in the dark. While no one was paying attention, Leixia gently kicked Shade. But when Shade looked at Leixia again, Her Royal Highness invited Shade to join the conversation again as if she had done nothing.
Although it was a wedding banquet for a royal princess, in fact, neither the king nor Queen Diana came. They only attended the wedding ceremony at the Peace Church in the afternoon. Therefore, theoretically, the person with the highest status at the banquet was the Duke of Cavendish, but Miss Carina was still chatting with Miss Sylvia on the third floor. So in addition to the bride and groom, the princesses and princes of the Cavendish family, as well as Margaret of Anjou who was visiting the city, were the real protagonists of the banquet.
After the two old gentlemen left, before Shade could chat with the two princesses for too long, the local young nobles and girls came over again.
"Mr. Hamilton, I remember you were Sir Smith's neighbor?"
Leicia pretended to be curious and asked, and Shade nodded:
"Yes, we all live in Saint Teresa's Square, not far from the Jodel Palace."
"Oh, I've heard of Saint Teresa's Place, too."
Princess Margaret smiled and said:
"It is said that the land there is one of the most expensive places in the whole of Tobesk."
"Yes, your highness. There's even a joke about St. Teresa's Place."
A voice came from the crowd around him. Xia De looked over and saw a gentleman in his twenties who looked familiar but he didn't know him. He was wearing a red coat.
"It is said that after retirement, government officials in Tobesk like to live in St. Teresa's Square. Because only by living there can they avoid being monitored by MI6."
"Why?"
Someone else asked, and the gentleman in the red coat said:
"Because the land price is too expensive, MI6 can't afford to buy houses nearby and cannot conduct long-term surveillance."
Everyone started laughing, and Princess Margaret and Resia also smiled.
This kind of behavior of mocking house prices and land prices is welcomed by everyone. Even Xia De smiled, but he immediately thought in his heart:
"Yes, a senior civil servant like my neighbor Mr. Smith, who must know a lot of secrets of the kingdom, should be under constant surveillance even after retirement. I think there should be MI6 agents occasionally appearing near his home... Where would they be?"
Is it possible that it is you
she asked with a chuckle.
The temperature tonight was indeed a bit low, so the two princesses would not stay in the courtyard for too long. But it was indeed very lively here, with the candles on the dining table and the gas lamps in the courtyard, making everything around them seem to be shining. At the lively wedding banquet, everyone could find something of interest to them, and the group did not continue to talk for too long at the long table, as it was soon time to share the cake.
Amid the people's celebration, Mr. and Mrs. Ellsberg held the silver knife together and symbolically cut the five-layer cake. Then the servants came to continue cutting the cake.
Little Mia, standing on Shad's shoulder, looked at the cake with sparkling eyes, but for the health of the cat, Shad did not give it the food. The two princesses accepted Mr. Iceberg's kindness and each took a small piece of cake, but Shad noticed that they just held the plates and did not actually eat.
After cutting the cake, interesting banquet games were held at the long table in the courtyard.
What surprised Xia De the most was the game of "Catch the Devil".
First, fill a shallow bowl with raisins, soak the raisins in brandy, and then light the brandy. The cheerful blue flames soon illuminate the faces of people around. People who participate in the game will take turns to put their hands into the flames, grab a burning raisin, and eat it as soon as possible before their fingers and tongues are hurt.
This was a very dangerous activity, but people seemed to be used to it and were having a lot of fun. Even if someone got hurt and screamed in pain, it would only make the guests around laugh, and then others would continue to reach for the burning brandy.
Even Lecia and Margaret were not surprised by this game, as it was apparently a regular feature of the wedding banquet.
In the game of "Catch the Devil", the person who can eat the most raisins can also get a grape-shaped gold-plated badge as a reward. Xia De is very fortunate that he only needs to prove his "strength, wisdom and charm" and does not need to prove his "courage".
Therefore, in order to avoid looking so foolish, he did not join in this dangerous but exciting game, but was invited to play another game at the table with the princesses.
It was obvious that the two princesses were not dressed for activities that required large movements. The new game in the courtyard did not require much exercise because it involved throwing darts.
This is not the common practice in pubs, where a group of people are watching and throwing spiked darts at a small target. Instead, a very creative human-shaped target is made, with a small red circle on the forehead, heart, and kidneys on both sides, representing the target. In addition to these four targets, the other positions of the erected human-shaped target are separated by black dotted lines, and each position has some small requirements written on it, such as reciting poems or praising the moon. If these positions are hit, these requirements need to be fulfilled.
Shade really didn't understand why people liked this kind of human-shaped target, but anyway, he was invited to join the game.
Because the two princesses were present, Mr. Randolph Eisberg did not leave after cutting the cake. Instead, he replaced his old butler as the host of the game.
The dart game here lasts all night long, and guests who want to try can win a gold-plated dart-shaped brooch as long as they can hit any of the four circles.
Princess Margaret seemed to be in high spirits, and she discussed with Leicia who should come first.
The human-shaped target was placed next to the long table. Finally, it was Resia who stood on the path on the side of the trail about five or six steps away. Amid the lively discussion, she was the first to pick up the dart:
"I hope my luck is good enough."
Her Royal Highness the Princess said with a smile, then threw the dart lightly. The dart flew towards the target, but did not hit any of the four circles, but hit the target's right leg.
"Praise the Moon" was written in red ink on her right leg, and Leisia actually recited a poem.
Next was Princess Margaret, who behaved in a similar way to Leicia. Although the dart finally pierced the target steadily, it only pierced her right eye.
She complained to Lecia with a smile that the four red circles were too small, then called the servant to bring the wine. She took a sip, thus fulfilling the requirement of "drinking the red wine".
Since the two princesses were here, people who wanted to impress them also joined in the game. After Princess Margaret, the groom Mr. Asberg's brother, Maka Asberg, who had acne on his face, came out first.
He also played the gift-opening game on the other side of the long table, wearing a strange hairpin that looked like an antenna on his head. He tried twice with a dart, then threw it suddenly, but the dart didn't even hit the target, but flew straight into the bushes on the other side where no one was, causing everyone to laugh.
After the young Asperger left with a red face, Shade came out. But the first thing he had to do was to find someone to take care of his cat. As a result, before Shade could find a maid, the cat was quite conscious and stretched out its two front paws towards Leicia in Shade's arms.
Xia De almost broke out in a cold sweat at that time, but fortunately, Leicia smiled and praised Xiaomia for her cleverness, and then naturally took the cat.
The frightened Shad walked to the horizontal line on the ground with the dart, raised the dart and looked at the target. The sound in his ears was still so clear amid the noise of the crowd.
A little bit down.
Even though his eyes could see the target, he still needed help.
"I'm a little curious, can other people's 'other selves' also play this kind of 'assisted aiming' role?"
Xia De thought curiously, looking at the target:
"After all, except for magic that attacks in a straight line, such as sunlight rays, most magic that radiates spirits and energy requires aiming."
"She" just chuckled but didn't answer. Xia De didn't care. After making sure that his strength was adjusted, he threw the dart in his hand lightly. Under the gaze of the people around him, the dart pierced the target's heart very accurately. Xia De smiled, but didn't retreat immediately. Instead, he threw another dart and hit the target's forehead with a light throw.
“That’s really good.”
Leicia, who knew Shade's goal tonight, praised him.
"Mr. Hamilton, you are very good at this game, right?"
Princess Margaret also asked curiously, and Shade nodded:
"Yes, Your Highness. My profession is a detective. Because of the requirements of my job, I am proficient in tracking, boxing, Rhodes cards, darts, etc."
He said softly, thinking that this would be enough. If he said more, he would appear a little too arrogant. Unexpectedly, Leicia smiled and asked:
"Knight, since you are so good at darts and there are two targets on the target, how about trying it again with your eyes blindfolded?"
After saying that, he looked at Princess Margaret, who also smiled and nodded:
"Yes, but don't be too stressed, it's just a party game."
"Of course, your highness, it is an honor to perform for you."
Xia De said that he was very glad that Leicia was so cooperative.
People were in high spirits, and the fact that Shad had just won first place in the horse race with Princess Ajeelina was also being talked about.
Mr. Eisberg quickly asked the servant to bring a black blindfold, and the blindfolded Shad still used the pointed dart beautifully to hit the remaining two targets on the target.
When he took off the black cloth covering his eyes, the people around him applauded. Leicia smiled while hugging Mia, and Princess Margaret praised softly:
"I also met a gentleman from Delarion in Huntington. He was able to drop three coins into an empty wine glass after being blindfolded. Perhaps I should introduce him to you."
"What's that gentleman's name?"
Shade asked, pretending to be curious.
"Sherlock Holmes."
Princess Margaret said, reaching out to touch little Mia who was held by Leicia, but was blocked by the cat's claws.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness."
Shade apologized hastily and took the cat back. Princess Margaret shook her head slightly, but she was more interested in the rumored "socialite" of Tobesk.