Chapter 1564

This was not the first time Xia De had expressed his stubbornness. Although regrettable, the witch was not disappointed.

"I'm fine here; it was just an ordinary person. Is the matter at Yodel Palace finished? I heard from the newspaper that there was an important meeting this afternoon, right?"

"An important meeting is not as important as you." Shi Shi Misi Galina looked at Xia De:

"It seems you don't have any other travel plans today. Since so, let me comfort you. Accompany me to the banquet tonight; I didn't intend to go originally, but I remember we rarely dance together."

The banquet in the evening was held at the Villard Manor in the city. Nominally, it was Count Villard welcoming his relative, Count Dewey of Karsenrik, to Tobesk, but that Count Dewey was actually the leader of the second delegation from Karsenrik, and his status was about the same as the leader of the first delegation, that annoying Count Liu Yisi.

This banquet was actually instructed by the King, aiming to make private contact with the Karsenrik delegation to complete the final unofficial "tacit" agreement before the formal negotiations in the Green Lake area. Therefore, the grand banquet invited quite a few Karsenrik nobles stationed in Tobesk, and even the Ambassador of Karsenrik to Delarion was invited to attend.

This should be the first time Xia De attended a banquet of such a high standard as Shi Shi Misi Galina's partner. When the maids were helping him prepare his formal wear at home, Xia De was worried that he would see Lei Qianya at the banquet, but fortunately, Lei Qianya would not attend this banquet; only Angelina was required by King Larus III to attend.

Spring had arrived, and there was no need to consider temperature restrictions for the banquet held in the open air of the manor, so the ladies' evening gowns were no longer as bloated as in winter. When the lights were lit and the carriage stopped at the entrance of the manor surrounded by white walls after passing a slope, Xia De, who was the first to get off the carriage, discovered that the ladies' attire was very different from winter.

Of course, he did not forget to turn around and hold Shi Shi Misi Galina's hand very gentlemanly, letting her get off the carriage as well. The witch was wearing a red formal long dress today, with shiny silver threads sewn on the hem, which could better set off her tall figure in the light.

She looked in a very good mood, signaling Xia De to hold her arm and walk into the manor with her. She was not followed by maids; now Tifa and other maids had already gone to the lounge specially prepared for Shi Shi Misi Galina in the manor in advance, and she had to meet several guests in a while.

The guests who came to attend the banquet nodded to the Duchess continuously, and the beautiful witch, while stepping onto the red carpet in the manor courtyard, looked at the front yard decorated with five colors, the paper boats carrying candles floating in the slender waterways on the ground, and the tables with food, while smiling and saying softly to Xia De:

"Before knowing you, I never thought that one day, I would also attend an important banquet of the kingdom while holding a man's hand, just like my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother."

"There will be more such opportunities in the future."

Xia De also answered softly, which made the powdered cheeks of the witch look even more rosy.

Because it was nominally not a formal banquet, the atmosphere of the manor that night was very relaxed. In the past, when participating in such activities, Shi Shi Misi Galina always sat with familiar noble women to chat, but today, since Xia De was accompanying her, she could enjoy the atmosphere of the banquet like an ordinary person.

Of course, before that, Shi Shi Misi Galina met with the manor owner, Count Villard, first, and then through the introduction of Countess Villard, met her cousin, Count Dewey of Karsenrik. Compared with Count Liu Yisi, this tall and thin southern noble could clearly be called a qualified gentleman. Although there was a pretentious tone when speaking, compared with Count Liu Yisi, who was known as the "Pig of Willendale," this small problem was not a problem at all.

People holding wine glasses were exchanging greetings and chatting by the long table with cooked food and snacks in the courtyard. At this time, the Ambassador of Karsenrik also walked over. Although the outsider had come to this world for nearly a year, this was the first time he had seen this gentleman.

They were chatting in Delarion language, talking about the weather, food in Tobesk, and the itinerary of the Green Lake delegation, and then Shi Shi Misi Galina issued an invitation, inviting Count Dewey...

... to visit Yodel Palace tomorrow.

Xia De stood by Shi Shi Misi Galina's side as a foil, not speaking for the whole time, feeling that his smile was almost stiff. Fortunately, he could appreciate Galina Cavendish's side face at such a close distance, watching the warm night wind pass through the long tent illuminated by gas lamps amidst the background noise of the lively open-air banquet, blowing the red stray hair by her ear.

Shi Shi Misi Galina's ears seemed to be turning slightly red, and then she put her hands behind her back and pinched Xia De lightly, clearly warning Xia De not to look at her so explicitly.

Xia De then looked away, and then heard someone calling his name softly. So, he temporarily left the people talking, and then found that it was a Karsenrik woman he didn't know who was looking for him.

"Her Highness Margaret sends her regards to you, Mr. Hamilton."

That lady in her thirties wearing a blue long dress greeted in a low voice, and stuffed a letter to Xia De, before using a normal voice:

"I am the sister of Countess Dewey, very glad to meet you, Mr. Hamilton. I have seen your performance in the Ring City Riding Competition in the newspaper; seeing you in person is indeed more impressive than described in the newspaper." This lady even asked for Xia De's blessing written on paper for her two nieces, before leaving satisfied. Xia De put the letter away and returned to Shi Shi Misi Galina's side. They were already talking about the import and export trade issues between Delarion and Karsenrik; this topic was probably caused by tariffs.

"It has been ten years since we signed the previous version of the tariff agreement. At that time, the plan for the agreement was negotiated for a full half a year. I was acting as a secretary at the meeting at that time and remembered the situation at that time very clearly."

Count Dewey said with a smile:

"At that time, for the fiscal subsidies of Karsenrik for wheat, industrial alcohol, and special air bags for Mark-type special steam engines, your Delarion side demanded to impose higher tariffs; just this point was negotiated for two months."

"Besides these, there are actually the transmission shafts of large steam engine ships and special subsidies for steam airships; the Delarion side also had great opinions."

Xia De, who stood by Shi Shi Misi Galina's side, spoke up, and smiled at the Duchess's very surprised expression:

"But later it was discovered that Delarion also had subsidies for special alloys, so the two sides reached mutual understanding in the agreement, and finally reached terms that both countries were satisfied with. I believe that this Green Lake negotiation will also have satisfactory results, just like ten years ago."

He raised the wine glass in his hand slightly:

"Before the tariff agreement ten years ago, wasn't it also full of noise, but we still walked through it safely." Count Dewey nodded very unexpectedly:

"Is this Hamilton of Rejiede? Yes, you are very right; we must have confidence; confidence is more precious than gold."

Until politely saying goodbye to the two counts and starting to enjoy the atmosphere of the open-air banquet with Xia De, Shi Shi Misi Galina couldn't help but ask curiously:

"How did you know these things? Even I only learned about the information of that meeting ten years ago." "Oh, Galina, you must not treat me as a man with no ability who eats soft rice by your side." Xia De said, adjusting his bow tie:

"Since I am standing by your side, of course I will not lose your face. Although I am not interested in politics, it does not mean that I don't understand anything." "But you still didn't answer how you knew those things."

The witch asked curiously, looking at Xia De's handsome face under the gas lamp light in the courtyard. Xia De explained softly:

"One of the members who participated in the tariff negotiations on behalf of Delarion that year was my neighbor, Mr. Shi Shi Misi, the former Chief Financial Secretary of the Kingdom. And I know some things about him."

Actually, it was Xia De who obtained some important life memories of old Mr. Shi Shi Misi and old Mrs. Shi Shi Misi after defeating the twin monsters in 【Past · Sixth Era】. And the reaching of that tariff agreement was one of the most important political achievements in Mr. Shi Shi Misi's life. Xia De had read it once in his memory, and with the memory enhancement of the "Silver Moon Library" and the help of "her," he...

... was able to say it casually just now.

"Xia De, you always appear to know everything; then do you know what I am thinking now?"

The witch asked with a smile, and stopped with Xia De to look at the magician invited to perform "Steam Magic" in the courtyard. This kind of magic usually involves complex machinery, so it is also called "Mechanical Magic," and at this time the magician was trying to make a bird assembled from mechanical gears fly.

"What you are thinking about is also what I am thinking about."

Xia De said softly, and then was patted on the arm by the witch; she blamed him coquettishly:

"Really, how can you think about those things here? You dissolute man."

She smiled in the night, under the courtyard gas lamp light, and in the crowd; that appearance looked even younger and more charming than usual, and Xia De even felt that his heart had been moved.

So, following his own heart, Xia De suddenly kissed Galina on the side face lightly, which made the blush look even more gorgeous. She did not blame Xia De for his rudeness, but covered her mouth and laughed softly with her head down. At this moment, her figure simply overlapped with Lei Qianya completely.