As a guest invited to the ball, it was considered “proper” to tidy up one's appearance a bit before heading out.
After having a quick bite to eat, Wayne first took a shower, styled his hair for a while, and changed into his favorite, most handsome formal suit.
However, when compared to Inessa and Lina, who walked downstairs holding up their skirts, Wayne felt like he hadn't prepared anything at all: “Are you two going to be the main characters tonight?! Why are you dressed so lavishly?”
No wonder he hadn't seen them all afternoon, and Emma even had to deliver their dinner to their rooms.
With exquisitely styled hair and makeup, light-reflecting jewelry and accessories, and evening gowns that still pursued classical complexity in this era,
while still not overly generous, compared to their usual attire, it was already a form of “showing off” in a dual sense.
This style, if worn by Olivia, would actually be her non-campus “daily state,” but for Inessa and Lina, even Wayne hadn't seen it much.
It was certainly stunning,
but the last time they attended a ball, they weren't “trying this hard”...
“So, do you know why I didn't want to go? If you don't want people whispering behind your back about your financial situation, then the ‘war’ among ladies is actually very cruel, especially here in the South.”
Lina, walking ahead, saw Wayne's reaction and promptly rolled her eyes. “If it weren't to prevent them from groundlessly doubting the Detective Agency's ‘strength,’ would we go through all this trouble? I'll give you a chance to rephrase.”
Wayne's gaze swept over both of them, and he was now looking at Inessa, who held a bouquet in her hand. Hearing Lina, he immediately and dutifully led the applause: “Absolutely beautiful, like a shining star in the night sky.”
Amidst the echoing applause from nearby Agents, the two exchanged glances. Inessa nodded slightly, responding to the compliment with the subtle, reserved etiquette allowed in this era.
“That's more like it.” Lina, beside her, also nodded with satisfaction.
Then she lifted her skirt, twirled in place, her hair swirling and a fragrant breeze wafting, then lifted her chin, “What about me?”
Wayne's gaze was drawn back by her movement. “You too.”
“Is that all you can say?!”
Lina's specially styled brows furrowed, and Peter the Spider also peeked his small head out to watch the fun.
Wayne quickly added, entering the “flattery mode” of ball socializing in advance: “Truly moving beauty is always so difficult to describe in words.”
“Hmph.”
Lina snorted, reluctantly accepting it. She linked arms with Inessa beside her. “Let's get in the carriage.”
Wayne bowed like a waiter, making a “please” gesture. After the two women passed, following behind them was Emma, the little girl, who was helping carry a guitar case.
“Wait a minute. Does that need to come too?” Wayne remembered that he had given that to Inessa to hold her large gun.
“It's a habit,” Inessa explained briefly, looking back. “It's not very convenient when wearing a gown, but we can put it in the carriage later. If anything unexpected happens, it's at least better than using the ‘unsealing’ emblem given by the Exorcist Association.”
Hmm...
Compared to a living “battleship,” a mere bolt-action rifle doesn't seem to be much of a “problem”...
Seeing Emma looking a little strained, Wayne reached out and took the guitar case. “I'll carry it.”
...
The mayor's ball was not held in a “manor” but in a “mansion” within the city.
Judging by its ambiance, it felt somewhat like a “high-end club” or “private club,” but not like “one's own home.”
Various carriages were parked all along the courtyard inside the wall, making it lively but not crowded. Guided by the servants, the scene was orderly and effortless, suggesting it wasn't the first time such a ball had been hosted.
Wayne offered his arm, allowing Inessa and Lina to gracefully alight from the carriage. By this time, a servant had already approached, quickly verified the invitation, and then announced: “Partners of the Wayne National Detective Agency, Mr. Wayne, Miss Inessa, and Miss Lina, have arrived.”
Upon hearing the announcement, the mayor and his wife, who were waiting at the main entrance of the mansion as per etiquette, quickly concluded their small talk with the previous guests and repositioned themselves.
“The most notable detective in the newspapers recently, the ‘Scourge of Evil’ rising from the academy.”
Although the mayor, who was over forty, was meeting Wayne for the first time, he had clearly, as per custom, prepared general greetings for the invited guests in advance.
After praising Wayne, his gaze then turned to Inessa and Lina. “I didn't expect the other two partners of the Detective Agency to be such beautiful young ladies. Your arrival makes tonight's scenery even more enchanting.”
The mayor's wife cooperated perfectly, expressing admiration and praise beside him.
Wayne's response, of course, was humility and reciprocal praise. The small talk quickly ended, and after entering, the three, like other guests, separated by gender if not a couple, heading to their respective gathering places.
At one end of the ballroom, some of the early guests had already gathered in small groups of three to five, engaged in conversation.
At this time, the ball hadn't officially begun. Compared to “socializing,” most interactions were still among acquaintances, except for those introduced by a middleman.
After scanning the room and not seeing any familiar faces, and knowing the ball would last all night, Wayne wasn't in a hurry to socialize. Like other unattached guests, he either found a place to wait or found something to do.
Wayne chose the latter. He strolled around for a bit, seemingly looking for acquaintances, passing by various groups of people. In reality, he was discreetly eavesdropping on what others were discussing, using it to pass the time.
The current conversations among the guests were mostly trivial gossip or mutual flattery, largely uninteresting. As he passed by one particular trio, Wayne finally heard a topic that slightly piqued his interest. He casually took a glass of wine from a servant's tray, leaned against a wall nearby, and pretended to be admiring the view.
“I heard that Mr. Basque of the Beaton Family has recently ‘re-emerged’ in social circles. Given his relationship with the mayor, I wonder if he'll be attending tonight?”
“He should. The mayor's term is almost over, and I heard he might lower his standing to run for State Assemblyman. The Beaton Family is very likely to express their support at this time.”
This trio seemed like “an old bird introducing a rookie to another old bird.” Listening to the two old birds' conversation, the rookie asked, “Isn't the mayor running for State Assemblyman a promotion? Why do you say he's lowering his standing?”
The old bird guiding him patiently replied, “If it were the mayor of a small city, then running for State Assemblyman might be considered a promotion. But for the mayor of a large city like Richmond, the custom is to seek re-election until retirement, or to run for Governor or Federal Assemblyman when qualified—although administrative power theoretically defers to legislative power, a big city mayor can directly mobilize far more resources than a state-level Assemblyman. No one would willingly take a step backward.”
The other old bird also nodded. “From what I understand, the mayor's current approval ratings are not optimistic. And during his term, there was first the Cathedral assassination, and then continuous murder cases a few days ago. He probably knows it's difficult for him to advance further, and even the probability of successful re-election doesn't seem high now.”
The first old bird expressed regret: “That's a bit of a shame... The Beaton Family finally managed to push the mayor into office, a last glimmer of the Whig Party, but the sun is setting after all.”
“Be content. The State Assembly's discourse power is now held by the representatives of those slave owners. If things go wrong, the mayor might even have difficulty running for State Assemblyman.”
“Hmm... What if the electoral districts were redrawn? I heard that in the western mountain regions of the state, there's a strong opinion against the current situation where plantation owners dominate state affairs.”
“Difficult. The redrawing of electoral districts itself is handled by the State Assembly. Since they hold the dominant power, they won't pass any plan unfavorable to themselves.”
Wayne also gained a lot of new knowledge from the side.
So, after a town mayor becomes a “city mayor,” there are so many different paths for promotion...
He hoped the mayor would work harder and try to become the Governor of Kankakee sooner. If the Detective Agency expands its business to the west then, it would be very comfortable.
