After the dart game, the two Princesses intended to return to the main house of Lakeview Manor to rest.
Xia De accompanied them, and then "coincidentally" met Dorothy in the banquet hall on the first floor.
The blonde Writer was not alone; she was with her Writer friends.
Xia De recognized most of them, but not the gentleman with southern features.
However, Princess Margaret recognized that gentleman.
He looked about thirty years old, with black hair tied into a very short braid at the back of his head, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, and sporting two pretty mustaches.
This image could be described as a typical "artist."
"This is Sir Prisia Laikins; his maternal grandmother and my grandmother were twin sisters."
Princess Margaret introduced him to Leia, and Mr. Prisia circled his right hand twice in the air, then bowed, pressing his right hand to his left shoulder:
"Good evening, Your Highness Leia Cavendish."
"Laikins Prisia?"
Xia De was momentarily stunned, then immediately realized:
"Guiding Moon?"
This was the Letter-based Ring術士 from Serex Higher Medical College who possessed the core Ling Rune of "Guiding Moon."
Although Xia De was with the Princesses, Leia did not abruptly introduce Xia De's identity because there were many people around them.
Although he did not shake hands with this gentleman, Xia De roughly judged that the other party should be a Five-Ring Sorcerer.
"Very good, first contact tonight.
After going back, I'll contact Daniste and have her give me the alchemical item for collecting Spiritual Light.
Next time we meet at another salon or gathering, I'll find a way to make him reveal his Destiny Ring."
Xia De thought silently.
Mr. Prisia seemed to sense something and looked at Xia De, only to find the young Knight was lowering his head, teasing the cat.
Sir Prisia's identity was a well-known Poet in Carson Rick.
He met Miss Swift, a Carson Rick Writer residing in Tobesk (Chapter 497), at the banquet.
Then, through her introduction, he gathered with Dorothy and local Tobesk Writers.
Although this was not a literary salon, both Princesses did not mind conversing with these renowned Writers and Poets.
The group sat on the sofas by the window in the large banquet hall on the first floor, with everyone gathered around the two Princesses, as they were the protagonists here.
Taking advantage of the time, Xia De introduced himself to Sir Prisia, establishing an initial connection.
At this point, Princess Margaret had already brought up the topic, discussing the recently popular Detective novel, "hamilton detective story collection."
She already knew that Xia De was the prototype for the story, but only now realized that the Writer was Xia De's female companion, and couldn't help but exclaim:
"This is truly a wonderful combination.
Miss Louisa, I imagine Hamilton Knight must have provided you with a lot of inspiration, right?"
"Yes."
Dorothy nodded, praising:
"Xia De is a very famous Detective in Tobesk, with no failed missions since he started his profession."
"No, no, I'm not really a famous Detective."
Xia De appropriately showed humility, and Dorothy's friend, the essayist Professor Gothe, immediately praised him:
"A while ago, I accompanied a friend to a funeral at the public cemetery in the East City, and I heard from the church that Hamilton Detective had solved the case of 'The Missing Third Gold Coin.'
He's truly amazing."
Professor Gothe was not only a university professor but also employed at Yodel Palace as a lecturer for the royal family's literature and grammar classes, so his praise carried significant weight.
Princess Margaret curiously inquired about that Detective incident, and Dorothy narrated the story after her "adaptation."
After removing Xia De's psychometry, she added the deductions she had arranged for the story.
The gold coin in the mouth of the dead body, the morgue that should have been inaccessible, and the father who willingly allowed his corpse to be desecrated for his child—these plot points caused people to exclaim repeatedly.
Although the lives of the nobility were prosperous, they were mostly boring, so such a thrilling story interested everyone, and even Princess Margaret, as a Ring術士, praised it:
"Detective stories can indeed be considered Knight legends that occur in the City."
The most famous games at the banquet, besides rhode cards, also included "riddles."
After Dorothy finished her story, people suggested using riddles to pass the time.
Leia's sister, Mona Eisberg, also happened to be there, so she presided over the game.
This was not a game originally prepared by the Manor, so there were no specific rules.
Everyone could take turns stating their riddles, and then everyone would guess together.
If it was guessed correctly, it would be the next person's turn.
If three consecutive riddles were stated that were not guessed, then it counted as a victory, and Mrs. Eisberg provided a bottle of red wine as a prize.
"Then I'll go first."
Leia said, glancing at Xia De to make him ready, then said:
"Close your mouth, and you speak my name; if you can speak my name with words, then I am no longer myself."
"Your Highness, is it the tongue?"
Mr. Miles, a Poet famous for "The Collection of Falling Leaves," raised his hand and asked.
"No."
Leia smiled and shook her head, so Xia De said:
"It's silence.
Not speaking is silence, and if you speak 'silence,' it is no longer silence."
Leia had mentioned this riddle to Xia De, which is why Xia De answered so quickly.
"Yes, you guessed correctly, Knight."
She shook her head regretfully, then motioned for Princess Margaret to continue the riddle.
The Anjou Family Princess thought for a moment:
"A gust of wind, a boat, six crew members rowing together."
This time, Xia De didn't immediately figure it out, but Mr. Prisia raised his hand and said:
"A six-holed flute, I'm good at this."
"Yes."
Princess Margaret smiled and nodded, and people clapped in appreciation.
The Princess motioned for Dorothy to continue.
The blonde Writer, knowing what Xia De wanted to do at the banquet, said:
"I can't think of a very good riddle right now.
Why doesn't the Detective go first?"
"Okay."
So Princess Margaret looked at Xia De again.
She had a very good impression of Xia De and also wanted to know what kind of riddle Xia De could tell:
"Mr. Hamilton, a Detective's riddle should be very interesting, right?"
Everyone else also looked at Xia De.
Because of the Detective story topic introduced by Dorothy, Xia De was currently the man who had spoken the most with the two Princesses.
Although others had no objection to this, they always felt a bit competitive, so they were all ready to "challenge" the Detective.
Xia De thought for a moment.
Although he didn't intend to show off, for tonight's mission, he still brought out a very classic riddle:
"In the morning, four legs."
He held the cat in his arms slightly higher, and Mia cooperatively wiggled her four little paws.
The ladies around burst into laughter; this cat was indeed very appealing.
"At noon, two legs, just like us."
Xia De made a dramatic pause, then smiled and said:
"And in the evening, three legs.
Please tell me, what is this?"
No one spoke immediately, but instead thought carefully.
Only Mia, held by Xia De, squirmed restlessly, not quite accustomed to such a crowded occasion.
"Is this some kind of magical creature?"
Leia asked curiously after a long while.
She didn't know in advance what kind of riddle Xia De would pose.
"It's a creature, but not magical."
Xia De said with a smile:
"At least not more magical than my cat.
The answer is very simple."
"Oh, Mr. Hamilton, are you really sure this is a normal creature? And not something from a legendary story?
I read in ancient texts that people living in dense forests had the ability to transform into animals."
Professor Gothe confirmed, and Xia De nodded:
"Very sure.
So, can anyone give the answer?"
He scanned the people around him.
Leia shook her head slightly, Princess Margaret was still thinking, Mr. Prisia smiled and shook his head, and Dorothy said regretfully:
"Knight, you can give the answer now."
"The answer is a human.
In infancy, they crawl on four legs; as adults, they walk upright on two legs; and in old age, they walk with a cane."
Upon hearing Xia De's explanation, people gradually understood.
"Oh, that's really good!"
Princess Margaret even spoke faster than Leia, and her praise was very sincere.
Although she had only played a few small games at the banquet, she had a preliminary understanding of how this handsome young man had won the Duchess's favor.
"Please continue."
Princess Margaret said again.
Xia De thought for a moment:
"Your Highness, the next question probably isn't a riddle, but I think it's still interesting.
This question is for you to answer, and you can only answer once.
Are you willing to accept the challenge?"
Princess Margaret blinked:
"Of course."
So Xia De, holding his cat, said:
"First, please say with me three times: Mouse, mouse, mouse."
"Meow?"
Before Princess Margaret spoke, Mia called out first, making the people around them smile.
"Okay, mouse, mouse, mouse."
Princess Margaret, in a very good mood, said.
"What is a cat most afraid of?"
Xia De asked again, and the Princess almost blurted out:
"Mouse."
After speaking, she blinked, then covered her mouth and laughed to herself.
The people around tried their best to control their laughter, to avoid being misunderstood as mocking the Princess.
Leia said to Xia De with a hint of reproach:
"Knight, this is truly too rude."
"Yes, this isn't really a riddle, just a small joke.
I can tell another one, please tell me—"
"No, no, it's fine, this is very interesting.
I did answer incorrectly."
Princess Margaret smiled and shook her head.
At this moment, the wedding banquet atmosphere was lively, and she did not feel offended; instead, she found such banquets more interesting:
"Then Hamilton of Thunder Jeed, please continue with the third riddle.
I still want to challenge you."
She thought for a moment and then added:
"Let's add some conditions.
If I still lose, you can choose a piece of jewelry from me.
But if I win, this cute pet cat in your arms will be lent to me to keep for three days."
Although she wasn't angry, her competitive spirit was clearly aroused, and she was very confident in herself, believing she had seen through Xia De's trick.
Of course, Margaret Anjou was also genuinely interested in Xia De's cat.
"Meow?"
Mia purred softly on Xia De's lap, probably unable to understand what was happening.
"That won't do, Your Highness.
It's not that I want to refuse you.
But this cat is not mine; it belongs to a client."
Xia De quickly refused.
【You finally remembered this.】
"I always remember.
No matter what, I can't gamble with Mia."
He said quickly in his mind.
"A client's cat?"
"It doesn't matter, I think your client will understand."
The Princess, with a smile on her face, urged:
"Knight, please begin.
But if I really answer correctly, I think this cat will receive the best treatment from me."
