The three royal family members in conversation soon noticed Xia De. Delarion's two Princes, Marius Cavendish and Derrick Cavendish, showed surprised expressions, then said separately:
"Look, it's Hamilton of Thunder Jeed."
"Good morning, Knight, are you waiting for your father's summons?"
They could all recognize who Xia De was just by his face and enthusiastically shook his hand. Leia, of course, also greeted Xia De, but only referred to Xia De as "Hamilton Knight" and did not shake his hand, appearing as a very reserved lady.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
Xia De also took off his hat and saluted the successors of the kingdom.
"Who is Father talking to now?"
Marius Cavendish, who was twenty-eight this year, asked the eunuch attendant, who respectfully said:
"Marquis Cornell is inside."
Marquis Cornell currently presides over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the kingdom, and Xia De had seen him in the newspapers.
"I guess it must be about Margaret Anjou's upcoming visit."
Derrick Cavendish, who was thin and even shorter than Leia, said:
"I received news that she was originally planning to visit by train, but now Carson Rick has changed her mind."
"Will she also take a ship and land from Coldwater Port or other ports?"
Leia asked. When she returned in the Summer, she had left Carson Rick by ship.
"I heard that they paid a high price to borrow a steam airship from the Creation Church."
Derrick Cavendish, wearing glasses, said to his younger sister:
"This kind of diplomatic visit also has a competitive nature; perhaps the other party wants to gain an advantage over you."
Leia's expression remained unchanged:
"Considering political factors, it seems she is coming with a political mission, wanting to exert pressure in advance. Those southerners are truly naive."
"Hamilton Knight, what does Father want you to do?"
The eldest, Marius Cavendish, asked Xia De again, and the other two also looked at him curiously. Xia De shrugged:
"Sorry, I don't know either."
He looked at the eunuch attendant in the red coat, who shook his head slightly.
"Knight, I read the latest issue of 'hamilton detective story collection.' Traversing the streets and alleys in a city filled with steam and smog, fighting evil and upholding justice, a Detective's life is truly rich and interesting."
Marius Cavendish said again, patting Xia De's arm:
"If you have time, you can come to my literary salon and share some of your stories with my friends; we are all very curious about you."
If Angelina's salon wanted to invite Xia De, it was simply the little Princess wanting to show off her social connections to her friends. However, this Prince's invitation must have political implications. The Outsider was not a fool, so he smiled and nodded at this moment:
"If I have time, I will definitely go."
"She" laughed in Xia De's ear.
"Knight, our sister Mona is getting married next week. Has Lady Jia Lin Na given you an invitation?"
Derrick Cavendish also asked enthusiastically:
"If not, I can give you one; it will be very lively."
"The Duchess has already invited me."
Xia De replied again. In fact, Miss Jialinna had not mentioned this matter yet; Leia had told him.
"Then we'll see you at the wedding. Grand Aunt trusts you very much, and I think we can also become friends."
The two Princes exchanged a few more pleasantries with Xia De. During this time, Leia did not actively communicate with Xia De, and Prince Marius Cavendish even explained with a smile:
"Leia is usually like this, unsmiling and cold to strangers. Please don't mind."
"Of course I won't mind."
Xia De said, trying not to look at Leia, while Prince Derrick joked again:
"In this respect, she is quite similar to Lady Jia Lin Na."
Even without looking at Leia, Xia De knew that Princess Leia must be angry.
Seeing that the meeting between the King and the Marquis was taking a long time, the Princes bid farewell and left with their servants. Leia, before turning to leave, gave Xia De a helpless smile, then followed behind them, leaving along the corridor covered with red carpet.
Xia De looked at Leia's back, wondering what his image was among Tobesk's nobles due to the rumors of "Duchess's lover." Then he thought that Miss Jialinna had never had any intimate scandals with any man after she became an adult, and since she became involved with Xia De in the Summer, she seemed to have ignored other men.
"They wouldn't really think I'm Miss Jialinna's future husband, would they?"
Xia De thought hesitantly, looking at the eunuch attendant again, who showed him a humble smile:
"Knight, His Majesty might still talk with the Marquis for a while. I think we still need to wait."
The Outsider nodded, recalling in his mind how he had so miraculously become involved in the political center of the kingdom step by step over the past six months.
After waiting for a full extra hour, the door to the King's study finally opened. The white-haired old gentleman who emerged from inside was Marquis Cornell.
He held a document bag in his hand, and upon seeing Xia De at the door, he actually recognized him. While the eunuch attendant entered the study to ask if Xia De could enter, the Marquis politely exchanged a few pleasantries about the recent weather with Xia De, then meaningfully patted his shoulder. After finding Xia De's muscles firm and his stance stable, he even praised:
"Today's young people are no worse than those of my youth."
"How do they all know me? I remember I don't have any frontal photos circulating outside."
Xia De quickly received permission to enter the study. After tidying his collar, he stepped into the study.
This was still the same room where Xia De was summoned in the Summer after he blocked a bullet for Queen Diana on the street. The study was very large, with the desk placed in the middle of the study, and the King's back was to the colorful floor-to-ceiling window behind him, making the room appear empty yet extremely oppressive.
Although the last time he came to see Larus III, the Outsider had no special reaction, this time he inexplicably felt a bit unable to look up. This was not because Xia De was awed by worldly power after coming to this world; it might be related to his intimate relationship with the other party's daughter.
"Long time no see, Hamilton of Thunder Jeed. Have you been waiting long outside?"
"Long time no see, Your Majesty. No, just a moment."
Whether it was because of Leia, or because the other party paid him monthly, Xia De behaved with extreme respect:
"I wish you good health."
"Let's talk business."
The King, who was shorter than Xia De and wore a crown, had the eunuch attendant by the desk move a stack of documents to the bookshelf by the wall. He capped his golden fountain pen, then finally looked up at Xia De.
It had to be admitted that this series of actions made him look extremely majestic:
"Chief Anlos recommended you to me, believing you to be an exceptionally excellent agent of MI6. Now, there is a very tricky task that needs to be entrusted to you. This task is allowed to fail, but no leakage of information is permitted."
"Please trust my loyalty."
Xia De said, and then the Gray Gloves' slogan "Eternal Loyalty" somehow popped into his mind.
"Yes, Hamilton of Thunder Jeed, your loyalty is indeed beyond doubt; the Duchess of Saladill can vouch for you."
The King nodded slightly, took the documents handed back by the eunuch attendant who had returned from the bookshelf, and casually placed them aside. In fact, besides Xia De, the King, and the red-robed attendant, there were also two armored guards inside the door, but the latter two were no different from statues.
"The intelligence you obtained about Mi Fort during your time as a Great City Player was very accurate. MI6 almost caught a big fish... almost."
Larus III seemed to recall an unpleasant memory, and his brows furrowed slightly.
Xia De knew that the King was very dissatisfied with MI6's actions in Mi Fort. It seemed that MI6 later figured out which Carson Rick individual had appeared at the Mi Fort train station that day.
Coincidentally, it was he who had diverted the MI6 agents at the Mi Fort train station that day, allowing that foreign Princess to leave in time. Perhaps it was because Xia De had obtained that valuable intelligence, proving his worth, that this task was given to him.
"I wonder if the Gray Gloves will have 'Gray Headed Eagle' do anything during the Princess's visit."
Xia De thought to himself, and almost immediately, Larus III behind the desk actually mentioned "Gray Headed Eagle":
"The latest intelligence, intelligence known only to Chief Anlos and me, is that Margaret Anjou may contact Gray Headed Eagle during her stay in Tobesk..."
Xia De was startled, and amidst "Her" laughter, he thought:
"How do I not know?"
"...You need to contact Margaret Anjou in social settings and find out who she has contacted during her visit to Tobesk."
This work was, of course, not only being done by Xia De; Xia De's colleagues would certainly also be working hard. But only someone like Xia De, who was ostensibly unrelated to MI6, could appear in social settings, and seemed to have a way with ladies, was suitable to carry out this operation openly.
MI6 agents secretly contacting a Carson Rick Princess, if discovered, would be an international scandal. Therefore, this task was personally discussed by the King with Xia De. It was likely that not many people knew about Xia De's mission besides him and Chief Anlos.
"I understand."
Xia De nodded.
Larus III emphasized again:
"We believe that Carson Rick's Gray Gloves will also act during this period. Specific arrangements and the help you need, just tell Chief Anlos. Duchess Jialinna speaks highly of you, and I don't think you will disappoint us."
"Yes."
Xia De nodded again, considering whether arresting himself was a feasible plan.
Thus, Xia De and Larus III's second private meeting ended simply. He received verbal encouragement, accepted a rather significant task, and was given a verbal promise that "if you perform well, you can be promoted after this matter is over."
Around "Princess Margaret Anjou's visit to Tobesk City," a series of plans and conspiracies would unfold. And the Outsider, living in Saint Delan Square, which offered a direct view of Yodel Palace, was swept into the waves of politics due to his generous salary.
PS1: It needs to be explained here that besides Angelina and Leia's personal servants, no one knows about Xia De and Leia's relationship, so to Outsiders, Xia De is currently only the lover of "the Duchess of Saladill."
PS2: It's still double monthly votes, please vote, please vote.
