Chapter 3919

The news of Xia De's arrival had long reached Vigo's ears, so when the maids were helping her with makeup, she also urged the maids to be faster. In the end, it was Ms. Rolin, who had just recovered, who persuaded her:

"If the makeup is not beautiful, then it would be too rude in front of that gentleman."

Only then did Vigo have some patience.

However, after repeatedly checking her makeup and dress in the floor-to-ceiling mirror, and confirming that everything was very good and appropriate, Vigo was still a bit impatient. She drank a mouthful of essence blood brew placed on the dressing table, and then trotted to the study while holding her skirt.

In the witch's imagination, the scene she might see was probably Xia De sitting on the sofa reading a book, while her student was standing in a suitable position in the room with a straight face as usual, without saying a word.

The sound insulation of the study was very good, and she couldn't hear the sound inside when she arrived outside the door. Because this was her own home, Vigo naturally wouldn't knock on the door.

She stood at the door and tidied up her makeup again. After the maids behind her caught up, she turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. And before she could say the prepared polite words like "Good afternoon, kept you waiting," she first heard the heated discussion.

The major Miss McDonald was studying was not pure mechanical manufacturing, but "mechanics," and she verified what she had learned from both theoretical and experimental aspects, and therefore also had achievements in the field of mechanical invention.

It was only in the last few decades that universities were willing to grant degrees to women, so Miss McDonald attached great importance to her studies. Although what the outlander learned in his hometown was not this, because he also had a wide range of interests, discussing with Miss McDonald could resonate with this young girl.

Xia De didn't think Miss McDonald was not talkative at all. Perhaps she just hadn't found a good topic to talk to others before. The two talked very congenially and had views and opinions that could be exchanged in terms of academics, school life, etc.

Therefore, when Vigo pushed the door open, the two were still discussing that paper while sitting on different sofas. Xia De was holding the paper manuscript, asking about the specifications of the hand-drawn pictures required by the magazine, and discussing with the young girl whether "a printer capable of printing standard pictures such as line charts, bar charts, waterfall charts, etc." could be manufactured.

In Xia De's vision, it only needed to transform the existing printer, and then use specific changeable molds to make it capable of drawing standard academic pictures, and use specific means to let the printer switch templates, and each template could draw the required pictures through the operation of a series of gears and levers by adjusting the signal at the input end.

Miss McDonald was quite interested in this kind of machine Xia De mentioned, and analyzed its feasibility from a realistic level. But drawing line charts was simple, and once it involved higher functions such as calculus, it still required a lot of calculations.

The girl was just about to mention the secret project of the Karsinrik Royal Academy of Sciences in recent years, which was the difference engine, and then the door was pushed open at an inappropriate time.

Both people in the room were still enjoying themselves, and seeing that the person who entered was her teacher, Miss McDonald, who had forgotten the time, was startled and hurriedly stood up from the sofa:

"Teacher."

Although she didn't know what the two were talking about just now, Vigo still had a subtle feeling. However, thinking of Eve's promise to help her, Vigo thought this was her own student taking the initiative to help her get closer to Xia De.

She nodded gently, and then said to Xia De, who was wearing a formal suit, with a smile:

"Good afternoon, Mr. Watson, this suit fits you very well."

"Good afternoon, Vigo, this evening dress also fits you very well. Please allow me to compliment you, you are truly beautiful now."

The witch showed a confident smile. She drank a mouthful of blood brew just now to make her face not so white, just for this compliment from Xia De, in order to show her stunning feeling.

There was still some time before the banquet started, so Vigo talked to Xia De for a few more words. After the sunset outside the window only had the last colors left, the maid of the Fragrant Residence sent Xia De and Vigo to the Oakham Park Pavilion, which was also located in the Upper City, by carriage.

The pavilion was located inside the park, and this park did not allow carriages to drive in at will. Therefore, they still had to walk a distance in a while, but Vigo said the pavilion was not very far from the park entrance.

On the way, Vigo also explained the background and precautions of this charity banquet to Xia De in detail.

The initiator of the banquet was the wife of the local great noble Duke Luo Su. Xia De also encountered this surname noble when in Midhillburg, but the two had no connection.

After the war started, Duke Luo Su set off for the front line, so the Duchess hosted this charity banquet, assisted by the local Mayor, Mr. Norfolk. The invitation had already stated that the suggested donation amount for this banquet was 50 crowns — this was actually the minimum donation amount, and Vigo had already prepared a 100-crown check before setting off.

"I also do a lot of charity work usually, such as donating to the orthodox church, donating to public welfare organizations like the Snake Heart Hospital. I am a person with a lot of love."

She didn't forget to say this when introducing the situation to Xia De, and only then did she talk about Xia De's identity:

"When we went to see Professor Thorn, the identity I fabricated for you was very good. So you are still a young red wine merchant and travel writer from Willendale, and a pen pal of mine for many years. I will introduce you to acquaintances as a very good friend of mine, is that okay?"

Last time it didn't include the label "very good friend," but Xia De didn't mind this point:

"Of course it's no problem. Oh, speaking of which, there are also people I know at this banquet."

In the process of the carriage moving slowly, Xia De also introduced his friend Mr. Bernhardt, explained that he had placed the communication address at the Fragrant Residence, and explained Mr. Bernhardt's race and purpose of coming. This was not casually exposing the secret of that gentleman. Since Vigo was a local, she might be able to provide help for finding those missing blood-sucking species.

"No problem. Your friend can send the letter to my side.

But are there high-level blood-sucking species missing locally? I know there are many blood-sucking species locally, but I really haven't heard of this. After the banquet ends, I will go back and check. Before you came, I thought I knew my hometown very well, but after you came, this city also became a bit strange to me."

She tilted her head slightly, looking at Xia De's side face when he was looking at the scenery outside the carriage window, and secretly swore in her heart that she must not let the Speaker Adele Isabella discover such a big secret. Then she remembered her careful probing in the council last night, which didn't get the expected result, but she was not discouraged. She swore that she must catch the person in front of her:

"Speaking of which, what are your plans for tomorrow? Tomorrow night I..."

She wanted to issue an invitation to go to the opera together, but Xia De shook his head apologetically:

"I'm really sorry, Vigo, Saturday of every week is my busiest day. I have things I must do every week in the afternoon and evening. If there is nothing to do tomorrow morning, I probably won't come over."

Vigo expressed understanding. After all, Xia De couldn't always be very free:

"Then what about Sunday?"

"On Sunday morning, I have an appointment with an old gentleman to pick up a scheduled relic, so I will still come locally, just not sure if there will be other things by then."

Vigo was very satisfied:

"It doesn't matter, just go and do your things. But if you have anything, you can come to the Fragrant Residence to seek help at any time."

She had to attend the council meeting on Sunday night, so she didn't issue an invitation again:

"The spring of 1855 has just begun, Mr. Watson. There are still many, many surprises waiting for you to discover in this city. There are still long days ahead... I am very happy to accompany you to see the most beautiful season of Arcadia."

Her smile was as beautiful as a flower. It was not the gorgeous rose like Galina, not the introverted and mysterious violet like Ms. Feilian, but the white hyacinth with dense and drooping flowers, like a body curled up in illness.

The twilight had sunk. When Xia De reached out to support Vigo, who was covering her mouth and coughing with her left hand, to leave the carriage, the cast-iron gate at the entrance of Oakham Park was reflecting a cool silver-gray luster under the gas lamps at the park entrance.

On both sides of the gate, two rows of gas lamps lit up one after another. The warm yellow halo passed through the glass cover, casting round light spots on the gravel path of the park, pulling the shadows of the banquet guests walking inward to be slender.

Standing at the park entrance to welcome guests was the butler of Duke Luo Su. The servants led the guests inward one after another. And when that old butler saw Vigo Astley coming, he even took the initiative to walk towards this lady who looked very fragile:

"Ms. Astley, the Duchess has ordered that your carriage can take the side path to the pavilion. Please go back to the carriage quickly."

Vigo had been in poor health since she was a child, which was also something most local nobles knew.

But the black-haired witch shook her head:

"Thank the Duchess for me, no need this time. Attending a charity banquet, cough cough, how can one be special? And the weather is very good today, and I also want to take a walk with my male companion, this gentleman from Willendale."

The old butler didn't continue to persuade, but called a capable middle-aged maid to lead the way for the two. Although the Astley family had no noble title, their power locally could not be underestimated. Many people were nodding to Vigo and curiously looking at Xia De who appeared beside her.

The lit gas lamps outlined the road to the park pavilion. The breath of spring was already very rich at this time of year. In the cracks of the stone slab road, the newly emerged green grass carried the breath of moist soil, mixed with the faint fragrance of flowers from afar, infiltrating the nasal cavity in strands, which made Vigo, who was very good at making perfume, smile knowingly.

The two walked along the path. On both sides were neatly trimmed shrubs. There were still a few residual pale pink flowers hanging on the branches of the azaleas, with fine beads formed by night fog on the petals. Behind the shrubs, tall elms and oaks sprouted tender green leaves, and the sparse branches intertwined into a natural dome above the gravel path.

The quiet three-color moonlight spilled mottled moonlight through the gaps in the branches and leaves. The moonlight and the warm light of the gas lamps intertwined, and the light and shadow finally paved patterns of alternating depth and shallow on the ground.

Vigo and Xia De didn't speak when walking in such a night. Occasionally, the night wind blew, and the new leaves on the green trees on both sides rustled lightly, mixed with the low chirping of nightingales, making this spring night appear even more quiet and secluded.