Chapter 883: Re-visiting Lake View Manor

Although the church wedding is the most important ceremony for the two people getting married, for the invited guests, the wedding banquet that can last until dawn the next day is the most important thing of the day.

Wedding banquets are different from ordinary banquets. Their purpose is just to enjoy and celebrate, so they don't even require wearing too formal clothes.

On the way back to St. Deran Square from the church, "Dorothy" told Xia De about the dress code, which surprised Xia De, who thought he would just go out after resting at home:

"Such a high-standard party, don't need to wear formal dress?"

"Weddings have never been a particularly serious occasion, and there are many interesting little games at this kind of wedding banquet, and wearing too formal clothes will even make it inconvenient to move."

Retsia said, Xia De didn't know why she didn't change back with Dorothy, but of course he wouldn't be stupid enough to ask about this.

"Then what do I need to wear? Can I wear ordinary clothes?"

Xia De asked again, Retsia answered with a smile:

"Of course not, you must also have some taste, otherwise you will be laughed at by others. The clothes I prepared for you, you really just stuffed them into the cabinet without even looking? I know you won't like the retro robe-style clothes that are popular recently, so I prepared clothes similar to black formal wear that you like the most."

Thinking of the venue of the ball, Xia De asked with some worry again:

"Will Dr. Schneider and Priest Augustus appear in the manor tonight?"

Retsia asked suspiciously, and then said:

"How could the doctor appear there?"

"As for the priest, I heard from my mother that the Eisenberg family sent invitations to the five churches, but because this wedding was held at the Peace Church, the other four churches shirked the banquet. Someone will probably accept the invitation in a private capacity, but Priest Augustus should not come. Dorothy went to the doctor yesterday to contact the academy and ask when the parchment she ordered would arrive, and happened to meet Priest Augustus at the doctor's place. The priest has been busy with the audit of the church's financial statements at the end of the year recently and has no time to attend this kind of banquet that lasts until late at night."

"Then I can rest assured."

Xia De nodded while holding the cat.

"Rest assured? Oh, I understand."

Retsia naturally also thought of the things that once happened at Lake View Manor:

"How could Tobesk always be so unlucky? I think you don't need to worry so much."

The two took a carriage back to Xia De's home. After returning home, Retsia exchanged with Dorothy again, letting Dorothy return to her own body. Xia De didn't know how the two girls allocated their time today, but he heard Dorothy complain that Retsia didn't change her clothes before letting her return:

"Re-grooming and dressing is very troublesome."

Although she said so, she still hummed a song and changed into the dress for the banquet at Lake View Manor. It was a light purple long dress, the style was relatively simple, and it was indeed convenient for activities. Of course, the high heels were changed to a pair of relatively low ones, the hairstyle did not have many changes, but the hair accessories became diamond-encrusted butterfly shapes.

When returning home, it was already three o'clock in the afternoon. By the time Dorothy finished re-grooming and dressing, Mia's nap was already over. The two did not delay any longer, and took a carriage at the street corner of St. Deran Square, and went to Lake View Manor by Schluch Lake.

After kicking that foot out on a summer night, Xia De never came here again. After half a year, under the sky where the moon and the sun appeared at the same time, seeing the manor by the lake again, he felt a lot of emotion for a while.

The scale of Princess Mona's wedding banquet was no smaller than the outdoor banquet at Lake View Manor in the summer. Although it was already early winter, because the first snow had not yet arrived, the night temperature could barely be accepted, so this banquet was held indoors and outdoors at the same time.

When Xia De first jumped off the carriage and saw the manor under the setting sun, large tents had already been set up in the courtyard in front of the manor, and the tents were connected to each other by ropes full of colored flags. This banquet will be very lively, and there will be various different activities in each tent.

According to the news Dorothy heard from Retsia, the royal family even asked the Astrologer Association about the weather tonight in advance, confirming that tonight is one of the best weather nights recently.

"Then does the Astrologer Association know when it will snow?"

Xia De asked with a smile, and greeted the gentlemen passing by. Although Xia De didn't know most of them, a simple greeting is a kind of politeness.

"Prophecy is not omnipotent, and the Astrologer Association does not often predict the weather."

Dorothy said, and went to the fence door with Xia De, and stepped on the red carpet laid on the walkway. There were also flower petals on these carpets. Just looking at the decorations and dress of Lake View Manor seen so far, the cost of this banquet would definitely not be less than 5000 pounds.

The moon mark that Xia De left on the walkway in the courtyard in front of the manor in the state of "divinity overflow" on the moon night in summer had disappeared after half a year. It is said that Mr. Rundell, the thirteen-ring sorcerer of the Sun Church who decided to stay in Tobesk, used the power of the sun to offset the power of the moon.

When Xia De followed the crowd and came to the place where "Lady Lasoya" died again, he still couldn't help but sigh.

"What are you sighing about, Xia De, hurry up and follow me."

Dorothy urged in front.

They now have to go to the manor mansion first, send their gifts at the door, and then chat with the bride and groom for a few words before they can enjoy this banquet.

"Xia De, in a while I will go to meet my writer friends first, and then accept the invitation of the two princesses to discuss literary topics. You can turn around in the manor yourself, and then..."

The blonde girl's face was slightly red. At this time, the sun had not yet set, and the tents set up in the courtyard seemed to be preparing for dart games. Dorothy tried her best to suppress her trembling voice and said in a normal volume:

"Retsia Highness has a handwritten copy of 'Summer Night Collection', and around eight o'clock, she might invite you to watch it together."

"Okay."

Xia De said with a straight face, nodding lightly, making this conversation sound flawless.

"Before that, you can turn around at the banquet first. Besides the Rod card competition at ten o'clock, there are horse racing, fencing, darts, riddles, manor treasure hunting, and other interesting games... oh, Highness also asked me to tell you, if Princess Ajelina invites you to play together, please agree to her."

Xia De nodded slightly, looking curiously at the guests who had already arrived at the manor. The band in the tent in front of them was preparing. This is not the kind of band that performs in formal occasions or opera houses, but a band wearing strange clothes, which will probably play some folk songs.

"Yes, I will participate in these games. I want to prove my strength, wisdom, and charm here."

"Prove yourself? Are you preparing for a ritual?"

Dorothy asked curiously in a low voice, Xia De nodded lightly:

"You could say that. Speaking of which, because I want to prove my charm, I have to dance with the most beautiful girl at the party tonight. Dorothy, we agreed to dance together?"

"No, no, I am not the most beautiful girl tonight."

Although she said so, it could be seen that the blonde writer lady was very satisfied with Xia De's question:

"The most beautiful girl tonight is of course the protagonist of this banquet, Mona Cavendish, Retsia's sister... are you going to invite her to dance?"

She asked with a smile, and then curiously observed Xia De's expression, and sure enough, she saw Xia De's troubled look.

According to Delarion tradition, at the wedding banquet on the night of the wedding, if a young gentleman other than the groom invites the bride to dance, it can be directly regarded as a provocation to the groom. In the era before the steam era arrived, this was a vicious provocation that was enough for the groom to launch a life-and-death duel.

Even if the era is more open now, no one will do this kind of thing. Especially, the bride is a royal princess. If Xia De dares to do this, even if he is the ace agent of the Military Intelligence Service, King Larus III will not let him go easily.

"I have to think of other ways."

Xia De thought in his heart, but for that drop of divinity from the "Lady of the Lake," he had to complete this task tonight no matter what.

Speaking, the two finally arrived at the door of the Lake View Manor mansion. After sending the gifts, they officially entered the interior of the building.

The interior of the manor has also been redecorated, and there is no trace of the previous owner, the Crown family, at all.

Because of the connection with the cultists of 【Blood of Mercury】 and 【Lord of Blood Feast】, the Crown family has been erased from the title and completely disappeared from the history of the Kingdom of Delarion. But that was a matter of summer, and people might have already forgotten about it. After all, there are more interesting things happening in Tobesk every day.

Stepping into the magnificent hall, the bride and groom standing in the center with wine glasses recognized Xia De at once. But both sides just chatted for a few words. There were many guests coming tonight, and it was impossible for everyone to talk to the owner of the manor for a long time.

Xia De didn't say much either, simply expressed his blessings, and introduced his partner to Mr. and Mrs. Eisenberg.

Mona Eisenberg must know the rumors between Xia De and Miss Galina—it is impossible for any noble in Tobesk not to know, but she still smiled and praised the beauty of the blonde and blue-eyed writer lady, and said jokingly:

"Miss Louisa, perhaps you can use this banquet as a prototype for the story and write it into 'Hamilton Detective Story Collection'."

Considering the theme of Dorothy's detective stories, Xia De didn't think this was a good suggestion.

7017k ===== CHAPTER 884 =====