Chapter 889: Raisins and Darts

The two princesses appeared in the courtyard because Princess Lei Qianya invited Princess Margaret to take a walk in the courtyard to see the scenery of the Delarian Kingdom's noble banquet, which could also be considered a way to manifest Delarian's national strength.

Naturally, there was no lack of young people gathering around the princesses for various purposes, but they did not approach when the princesses were talking to Mr. Shi Shi Misi and Baron Fuller.

After the two old gentlemen heard that Marquis Da Vinci, the Deputy Minister of Finance of Delarian, had also come, they left together to visit him. Taking advantage of the fact that there were not many people around the princesses at this time, Xia De said to Princess Lei Qianya with a natural expression:

"Your Highness, I heard that you have a handwritten copy of 'Summer Night Collection'. My companion, Shi Shi Misi Dorothy Louisa, is very interested in that book. I wonder if you could lend it to us to read."

"Of course."

Princess Lei Qianya understood this "code" and was very happy that Xia De could take the initiative to mention 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 will send a maid to find you."

She said with a serious face, and Xia De nodded immediately:

"Thank you for your generosity."

This conversation was to make the invitation in a while not so abrupt.

Princess Margaret on the side heard their conversation and was very curious about it:

"A handwritten copy of 'Summer Night Collection'? I have heard of this very famous collection of essays. Can I also take a look?"

Xia De touched the cat on his shoulder and turned his face to the other side. Princess Lei Qianya's expression changed instantly, but she quickly recovered to normal:

"If you are interested, I will send that book to you tomorrow as a thank you for that bottle of red wine."

After finishing, she also glanced at Xia De and found that Xia De was turning his head, as if he were interested in the champagne tower in the tent on the side. So, her lowered left hand lifted her skirt slightly, revealing her left foot wearing high heels in the dark. Taking advantage of no one paying attention, Princess Lei Qianya kicked Xia De lightly. But when Xia De looked at Princess Lei Qianya again, the Princess acted as if she had done nothing, inviting Xia De to join the conversation again.

Although it was the wedding banquet of the 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 in the banquet was Duchess Shi Shi Misi Jia Lin Na Cavendish, but Shi Shi Misi Shi Shi Misi Jia Lin Na was still chatting with Shi Shi Misi Sylvia on the third floor. So, apart from the bridegroom and the bride, the princesses and princes of the Cavendish family, as well as Princess Margaret of Anjou who came to visit the city, were the true protagonists of this banquet.

After the two old gentlemen left, Xia De had not chatted with the two princesses for too long before the local young noble youths and ladies gathered around again.

"Mr. Hamilton, I remember you are Sir Shi Shi Misi's neighbor?"

Princess Lei Qianya asked, pretending to be curious, and Xia De nodded:

"Yes, we all live in St. Deran Square, not far from the Yodel Palace."

"Oh, I have also heard of St. Deran Square."

Princess Margaret smiled:

"It is said that it is one of the most expensive places in all of Tobesk."

"Yes, Your Highness. There is even a joke about St. Deran Square."

A voice came from the crowd around. Xia De looked over; it was a gentleman in his twenties whom he was very familiar with but did not know, wearing a red coat:

"It is said that government officials in Tobesk like to live in St. Deran Square after retirement. Because only by living there is it possible not to be continuously monitored by MI6."

"Why?"

Someone asked again, so the gentleman wearing the red coat said:

"Because the land price is too expensive, and MI6 cannot afford to buy houses nearby, so they cannot monitor for a long time."

People laughed, and Princess Margaret and Princess Lei Qianya also cooperated by revealing smiles.

This kind of behavior of mocking housing prices and land prices was something everyone loved to see. Even Xia De revealed a smile, but then thought in his heart:

"Yes, senior civil servants like my neighbor Mr. Shi Shi Misi who must know many secrets of the Kingdom, even after retirement, should be continuously monitored. Near his house, I think there should also be MI6 agents appearing occasionally... where would they be?"

【Is it possible that it is you?】

"She" asked with a chuckle.

The temperature tonight was indeed a bit low, and the two princesses would not stay in the courtyard for too long. But it was indeed very lively here. The candles on the dining table and the gas lamps in the courtyard made everything around seem to be shining. At the lively wedding banquet, everyone could find things they were interested in. The group did not continue to talk for too long by the long table, and soon it was time to divide the cake.

Mr. and Mrs. Aisibo Ge, amidst the congratulations of the people, held the silver dinner knife together and symbolically cut the five-layer cake. Soon after, servants came to continue dividing the cake.

Mia, standing on Xia De's shoulder, looked at the cake with glowing eyes, but for the sake of this cat's health, Xia De did not give it this food. The two princesses accepted Mr. Aisibo Ge's kindness and each took a very small piece of cake, but Xia De noticed that they were just holding the plates and were not actually eating.

After cutting the cake, interesting banquet games were also held by the long table in the courtyard.

Among them, the one that surprised Xia De the most was the "Catch the Devil" game.

First, a shallow bowl was filled with raisins, and after soaking the raisins in brandy, the brandy was ignited. The happily dancing blue flames soon illuminated the faces of the people around. And the people participating in the game would take turns reaching their hands into the flames to grab a burning raisin and eat it as quickly as possible before their fingers and tongues were hurt.

This was a quite dangerous activity, but people seemed to be accustomed to it and were also very happy. Even if someone got hurt and screamed in pain, it would only make the surrounding guests laugh, and then others would continue to reach their hands toward the burning brandy.

Even Princess Lei Qianya and Margaret were not surprised by this kind of game. Clearly, this was a reserved item at the wedding banquet.

And in the "Catch the Devil" game, the person who could eat the most raisins could also obtain a gold-plated brooch in the shape of a raisin as a reward. What Xia De was very glad about was that he only needed to prove "strength, wisdom, and charm" and did not need to prove his "courage."

Therefore, in order not to make himself look so stupid, he did not join this dangerous but stimulating game, but instead was invited to conduct another game by the table with the princesses.

The attire of the two princesses showed that it was not suitable for activities with large movements. The new game in the courtyard did not require too much exercise because it was throwing darts.

This was not the common kind in taverns where, under the gaze of a group of people, one threw sharp darts at a small target, but a very creative one that made a human-shaped target as tall as a person, with a small red circle on the forehead, heart, and left and right kidneys, each representing a target. And apart from these four targets, other positions of that human-shaped target that was set up were separated by black dashed lines, and some small requirements were written in each place, such as chanting poetry or praising the moon. If one hit these positions, one needed to execute these requirements.

Xia De really did not understand why people would like this kind of human-shaped target, but in short, he was also invited to join this game.

Because the two princesses were present, Mr. Randolph Aisibo Ge, who had finished cutting the cake, did not leave but replaced his old butler as the host of the game.

The dart game here would last all night. Guests who wanted to try, as long as they could hit any of the four circles, could obtain a gold-plated brooch in the shape of a dart.

Princess Margaret's interest seemed very high, and she even discussed with Princess Lei Qianya who among them should go first.

That human-shaped target was set up beside the long table. Finally, Princess Lei Qianya stood on a path on the side of the walkway about five or six steps away, and amidst the lively discussion of the people, she took the lead in picking up a dart:

"I hope my luck is good enough."

The Princess said with a smile, then threw it lightly. The dart flew toward the target shakily, but it did not pierce any of the four circles, but hit the right leg of the target.

The red ink on the right leg part wrote "Praise the Moon," so Princess Lei Qianya really chanted a short poem.

Next was Princess Margaret. She also performed similarly to Princess Lei Qianya. Although the dart finally pierced into the target steadily, it only pierced into the position of the right eye.

She smiled and complained to Princess Lei Qianya that the four red circles were truly too small, then summoned a servant to send over red wine, took a light sip, and considered it as completing the requirement of "drinking red wine."

Since the two princesses were here, people who wanted to leave a good impression on them also joined the game one after another. After Princess Margaret, the younger brother of the bridegroom, Mr. Aisibo Ge, Maka Aisibo Ge, who had acne on his face, appeared first.

He also played the gift-opening game on the other side of the long table, wearing a strange antenna-like hair clip on his head. He tested it twice with a dart, then threw it out fiercely, but the dart did not even pierce into the target but flew straight into the empty shrubbery on the other side, causing people to burst into laughter.

After the young Aisibo Ge retreated with a flushed face, Xia De walked out. But what he needed to do first was to find someone to take care of his cat. As a result, before Xia De could find a maid, the cat was quite conscious and stretched its two front paws toward Princess Lei Qianya in Xia De's arms.

Xia De almost broke into a cold sweat at that time. Fortunately, Princess Lei Qianya smiled and praised Mia's cleverness, then naturally took over the cat.

The frightened Xia De took the dart and walked behind the horizontal line on the ground, raised the dart, and looked at the target. The sound in his ears was still so clear amidst the noise of the crowd.

【A bit lower.】

Even though his eyes could see the target, he still needed help.

"I am a bit curious, can other people's 'other self' also exert such 'auxiliary aiming' effect?"

Xia De thought curiously, looking at the target:

"After all, apart from sorcery like sunlight rays that attack in a straight line, most sorcery of the spirit and energy radiation types needs aiming."

"She" just chuckled but did not answer. Xia De did not care either. Confirming that his strength was adjusted well, he threw the dart in his hand nimbly. So, under the gaze of a circle of people around, the dart pierced into the heart position of the target very accurately. Xia De revealed a smile at the corners of his mouth, but did not retreat immediately, but asked for another dart, threw it lightly, and hit the forehead position of the target accurately.

"Truly not bad."

Knowing Xia De's goal tonight, Princess Lei Qianya praised.

"Mr. Hamilton, are you very good at this kind of game?"

Princess Margaret also asked curiously, and Xia De nodded:

"Yes, Your Highness, my profession is a detective. Because of the professional need, I have mastered skills like tracking, boxing, Gwent, darts, etc."

He said softly, originally thinking that this would be enough, and saying more would make him appear too arrogant. He did not expect Princess Lei Qianya to smile and ask at this time:

"Knight, since you are so good at darts, and there are still two targets on the target, how about trying again while blindfolded?"

After finishing, she looked at Princess Margaret, who also smiled and nodded:

"Yes, but there is no need to have too much pressure; this is just a banquet game."

"Of course, Your Highness, it is an honor to be able to perform for you."

Xia De said, very glad that Princess Lei Qianya knew how to cooperate so well.

People's interest was very high. The fact that Xia De had won first place with Princess Ajelina in the horse race just now was also discussed by people.

Mr. Aisibo Ge soon let the servant take over the black blindfold, and Xia De, who was blindfolded, still beautifully hit the remaining two targets on the target with the sharp-tipped dart.

When he took off the black cloth covering his eyes, the people around applauded one after another. Princess Lei Qianya hugged Mia and revealed a smile, and Princess Margaret praised softly:

"In Huntington City, I also met a gentleman from Delarian who could throw three coins into an empty wine glass after being blindfolded. Perhaps I should introduce you to each other."

"What is that gentleman's name?"

Xia De asked, pretending to be curious.

"Sherlock Holmes."

Princess Margaret said, reaching out to touch Mia, who was being held by Princess Lei Qianya, but was blocked by the cat's claws.

"Sorry, Your Highness."

Xia De apologized hurriedly, then took back the cat. Princess Margaret shook her head slightly, but she was even more interested in this "social butterfly" of Tobesk in the rumors in front of her.

7017k ===== CHAPTER 890 =====