When Xia De woke up on Monday morning, fine snow was falling outside the window; Tobesk's winter was always snowy.
“Another Monday.”
Xia De yawned and got out of bed. After washing up, he was about to go downstairs to get the gift box, planning to open this week's gift before breakfast, but he didn't expect to hear the sound of a door opening downstairs.
“Oh?”
He walked down the stairs curiously and saw Dorothy, dressed in heavy winter clothes, patting the snow off herself.
The Golden-haired girl wore a red coat, a scarf around her neck, and there were snow marks on the toes of her ladies' long boots:
“The weather is really cold.”
She complained, then shook the lunchbox she was carrying in her left hand:
“Good morning, Xia De, I brought you breakfast.”
“Good morning, Dorothy, do you have something to do coming here so early?”
Xia De asked with some concern, but the Golden-haired girl shook her head:
“It's nothing important. I'm going to follow you all day today. Leia asked me to supervise to make sure you don't forget about tonight's event.”
As she spoke, she also laughed.
Xia De was also happy not to have to prepare his own breakfast.
He, the Writer, and Mia went to the dining room, chatting about tonight's play while eating, but just as breakfast was finished, the downstairs door was knocked:
“Who would visit you so early? I thought I was the only visitor today.”
Dorothy asked curiously.
“Princess Margaret.”
Xia De shrugged:
“I have something to discuss with her.”
“Is it something I can know about?”
“Of course, but it's related to Ring術士. Are you sure you want to reveal your identity?”
The Writer thought for a moment, then followed Xia De downstairs with him.
After opening the door, descending from a carriage, with her light golden long hair braided and coiled at the back of her head, and wearing a dark red thick cloth long dress, waiting with a cold face for her maid and coachman to settle the fare, was indeed Princess Margaret Anjou.
“Good morning, Detective.”
She said to Xia De, who opened the door, then was quite surprised to see the Golden-haired girl holding a cat behind Xia De. After observing her attire, she then said:
“Good morning, Miss Louisa.”
“Good morning, Your Highness, no, Miss Mary.”
Xia De corrected himself. From Princess Margaret's attire, he knew she didn't want too many people to know she had come to Xia De's place.
The young Detective moved aside from the doorway. The foreign Princess nodded to her maid behind her, who then got into another carriage and left. She was going to find a way to cover up the Princess's itinerary for the day.
Margaret Anjou did not immediately enter Saint Delan Square Six. She stood on the second step of the stairs, looking up at the full view of the house, and then pursed her lips and entered the house.
She wasn't thinking about why the female Writer appeared so early, but rather guessing whether Miss Sylvia's “apprentice” also lived in a similar building.
The three of them went to the second floor. Because the dining room and living room had no partition, Princess Margaret could easily tell that the young Detective had just been having breakfast with the Golden-haired girl.
She made further guesses about their relationship, and coupled with the rumors about Xia De and Miss Jialinna, Her Highness the Princess felt she had a new understanding of the Detective today.
“I invited Her Highness the Princess here to discuss some matters. Dorothy, you also know this lady.”
Xia De introduced, then said:
“Your Highness, this is Miss Dorothy Louisa. I think you should still remember her.”
“Yes, we met at Lakeview Manor.”
Princess Margaret nodded, observing the decor of the living room. It was clear she was very curious about the place.
“By the way.”
The Writer smiled:
“Xia De and I are Ring術士 in the same group.”
Xia De raised an eyebrow. Although he was somewhat surprised by Dorothy's action, on second thought, it was nothing. Margaret Anjou could not leak their identities.
On the contrary, Princess Margaret was also a little surprised:
“Oh, Miss Louisa, you are also from Saint Byron's. So you appearing here so early, your relationship with Knight Hamilton is indeed unusual. That explains it. Then, Detective, have you revealed my identity?”
“Of course not, I promised to keep it a secret.”
Princess Margaret nodded, and said with a serious expression:
“Alright then, Miss Louisa, please allow me to reintroduce myself.”
She took off her white glove and extended her hand to Dorothy:
“Margaret Anjou, a fourth-year student at Success Higher Medical College, but I should be able to advance to fifth year this winter.”
Princess Margaret's visit on Monday was to inform Xia De about Sir Prisha, but it was clear she had no intention of leaving immediately, but rather wanted to inquire about Xia De's investigation into the “single Sorceress.”
She was very friendly to Dorothy. The two had met at Lakeview Manor through Leia's introduction and had always gotten along well.
And students from the Three Great Academies were ostensibly partners who could cooperate with each other, so when she spoke with Xia De, she did not avoid Dorothy.
Xia De probably didn't know Sir Prisha's identity yet, but this time Princess Margaret proactively stated that he was also a Ring術士 and introduced the process of the Sir joining Success Higher Medical College.
She strictly kept the group's secrets, only revealing information that could be investigated in Weilandale City.
It was from this that Xia De learned that Laikins Prisia awakened as a Ring術士 at the age of 25.
Just like his achievements in academics and poetry, the Sir had a very high talent in Ring術士. Not only did his level increase quickly, but there were almost no failures when learning Miracle and spells.
During the annual exam week, he passed all the subjects he registered for with excellent grades, and he was extremely good at logical analysis and learning summaries.
“He successfully advanced to 5th Ring last week. The Sir is probably the smartest person I've ever met, but he's careless in most things.”
Princess Margaret said:
“He's always thinking about things none of us know about, often muttering to himself about who knows what. Even when he was in Weilandale, the Sir almost never acted with us.”
Although Xia De only wanted to collect the opponent's spiritual light, this description instead piqued his interest:
“Does Sir Prisha have a big secret?”
Princess Margaret looked at him vigilantly:
“Detective, I don't know what kind of commission you've received, but the Sir is in the same group as me, and I will not reveal his personal privacy and secrets.”
She did not mention Sir Prisha's Ring術士 system composition or any relic he possessed.
“You're probably overthinking it. I have no ill will towards the Sir.”
As Xia De spoke, Dorothy brought over the kettle and teacups.
Xia De had given her a hint earlier, and she didn't use the expensive black tea Xia De had bought, as that kind of black tea might make Princess Margaret think of a certain agent also in the nearby district.
“Speaking of which, Detective, are there any other strange people living in this nearby district?”
Princess Margaret thanked Dorothy, as if she had inadvertently thought of this topic:
“Male, usually not very noticeable, taciturn, and should have a legitimate livelihood.”
“Also a Ring術士?”
Xia De glanced at the study. All the information left by Sparrow Detective was there.
“No, just an ordinary person.”
“I don't recall anyone like that, but if needed, I can help you investigate.”
“No, no, that won't be necessary.”
Princess Margaret quickly shook her head. It would be bad if Xia De really found out something:
“Detective, you only need to investigate the Sorceress I mentioned. If you are truly interested in Sir Prisha, I can actually arrange a private meeting for you with him. The Sir is a very easy person to talk to.”
No sooner had she finished speaking, Xia De wanted to refuse, but at this moment, the bell downstairs rang again.
It was only eight o'clock in the morning, and the number of strangers visiting Xia De in one day was almost catching up to half a week's worth.
Leaving Dorothy to entertain the Princess upstairs, Xia De, with the cat at his feet, went downstairs.
After opening the door, he saw his superior, Chief Dak Anlos of MI6, standing on the steps. Xia De instinctively slammed the door shut.
“Oh!”
He took a breath, his slightly surprised expression turning into a smile, and he opened the door again.
Chief Anlos outside the door was wearing a very ordinary black coat, and his wide-brimmed hat was used to cover his face:
“What happened just now?”
The cautious gentleman asked, peering behind Xia De. Xia De then shook his head and pointed upstairs:
“I have guests upstairs, ladies. Let's talk on the first floor.”
Chief Anlos nodded with an unchanging expression, as if he hadn't heard anything.
This ordinary-looking but high-ranking gentleman followed Xia De through the door, stepped on the doormat a few times with his boots, and then turned into the living room on the first floor.
The two sat down on the sofa in the living room on the first floor. Although Xia De didn't often use the first floor, the maidens cleaned it diligently every week, so it was very clean.
He picked up Mia. Before Chief Anlos spoke, Xia De gestured for him to lower his voice and pointed upstairs. Dak Anlos nodded:
“It's nothing important. I originally wanted to meet you yesterday when you got your salary, but I didn't expect you to leave in the morning. This time I'm looking for you, there's actually nothing major.”
Chief Anlos tapped the wooden armrest of the short sofa with his finger:
“We've investigated and found that there's a group of Duchy separatists who want to make a move against Princess Margaret in Tobesk.”
“Duchy separatists” refers to organizations within the small duchies subordinate to Delarion that seek independent status for their duchies.
In this era of Delarion's prosperity, there was little difference between such organizations and so-called terrorist groups. Inciting war between Delarion and Carson Rick was their most enthusiastic pursuit.
“His Majesty asked me if there have been any strange people around Her Highness?”
“I'm sorry, this investigation has not gone smoothly. Honestly, the strangest person around Her Highness is probably me.”
Xia De said regretfully, which was the truth:
“Her Highness's schedule is very tight. I only saw her once this week at the Wednesday reading salon, and I unfortunately got gassed because of it.”
