Xia De has many, many stories, but I'm not ready to tell you about them yet.
The recollection temporarily ended, and Miss Jialinna softly said to her 'colleague'. Miss Silvia understood her meaning and did not press further.
The two Witches discussed their next steps. Just as they were about to get up and head to Schluch Lake, there was a knock at the door.
After the maid opened the door, Princess Margaret entered. In the more than an hour that Xia De had been reading, she had already met with Mr. Alan Madison from the local Serex Higher Medical College. Upon entering, she first respectfully greeted Miss Jialinna, and then asked Miss Silvia:
"Teacher, I apologize for disturbing you. I have a math problem I'd like to ask you about."
"Asking about a math problem during a banquet?"
Miss Silvia laughed:
"Duchess, you see, Her Royal Highness Margaret is so studious."
She then asked Princess Margaret to state the problem, so the Princess repeated Xia De's 'missing 1 penny' conundrum. Miss Jialinna merely chuckled softly from the side, not interjecting, while Miss Silvia, after listening, only frowned for a moment before understanding it:
"Your Royal Highness, do you truly not understand this problem?"
When she said this, she indeed showed the full authority of a "math teacher."
Princess Margaret subconsciously bit her lip:
"Teacher, this problem only has the numbers 27, 2, and 30. You said that numbers don't lie, so I don't understand why there's a missing 1 penny."
"Your Royal Highness, your question is truly disappointing."
Miss Silvia's gaze was sharp:
"I have told you countless times that while numbers do not lie, you are unable to truly understand numbers. Although this problem is clever, it is nothing more than a trick of the eye, similar to a magic trick. Yes, it is just a trick of the eye."
The Witch's fair and pretty face showed an expression of displeasure:
"Let me tell you where the missing 1 penny went.
Two of those three gentlemen staying at the Three Cats Inn returned to stay at the inn three days later, paying 10 pennies each, for a total of 20 pennies. This time, Mrs. Sangmei, the innkeeper, lowered the price again, keeping 15 pennies and returning 5 pennies. The Boy again secretly kept 3 pennies, returning the remaining 2 pennies to the two gentlemen. Thus, the two gentlemen spent 18 pennies, and the Boy secretly kept 3 pennies, totaling 21 pennies. The missing 1 penny is here."
Although Princess Margaret couldn't figure out the answer, she knew that Miss Silvia was mocking her.
Miss Jialinna played the peacemaker:
"Miss Silvia, Her Royal Highness Margaret is just troubled by a simple little problem. We all encounter problems we can't solve."
"But this problem is too simple; she shouldn't be unable to solve it."
Miss Silvia fully demonstrated the "stubbornness" of mathematicians:
"Duchess, I am Her Royal Highness's math teacher, and I must be responsible for her."
After speaking, she tried to encourage her:
"Your Royal Highness, this problem is entirely within your Knowledge. Remember, this is a clever magic trick. Only when you understand it will you realize how ridiculous it is. I believe in my student, so, once you figure it out, remember to tell me the answer."
The Princess with light golden long hair nodded pitifully:
"Yes, Teacher, I will solve this problem."
"Who gave this problem? Although the problem itself is simple, the way the numbers are played with is indeed clever. If it's a lady, I'm very interested in meeting her."
Miss Silvia asked again.
"It's not a lady, it's Mr. Xia De Hamilton. Everyone at the banquet is discussing this problem right now, but no one has given an answer yet."
After speaking, Princess Margaret secretly glanced at Miss Jialinna again. Miss Silvia and Miss Jialinna conversing here did not make Her Royal Highness the Princess suspect Miss Jialinna's identity, as almost everyone in Tobesk knew about Miss Jialinna's relationship with Xia De, and Witches could not possibly associate with men.
Her Royal Highness the Princess only thought that her teacher intended to use the Duchess to achieve something.
"It's Hamilton. Oh, I mean, how surprising."
Miss Silvia said, feigning surprise amidst Miss Jialinna's smile:
"So it's that gentleman. I originally thought a Knight only had some courage and strength, but I didn't expect him to also possess wisdom."
(Mia is running...)
The rhode cards tournament at Lakeview Manor was not held indoors, but rather under the garden's grape arbor behind the manor. Although the grape arbor in the garden no longer had the lush appearance of midsummer at this season, the stone round tables under the arbor, hung with kerosene lamps and flanked by standing gas lamps, were indeed good places for playing cards.
To make his wedding banquet appear very formal, Mr. Eisberg even specifically invited staff from the Prophet Association to act as referees before the banquet and purchased a special rule rhode cards from an auction house as the prize for the rhode cards game.
It is said that the auction price of that rhode cards was 87 pounds.
In any case, although Xia De wouldn't admit he was drawn by that special rule card, he still cheerfully brought Tifa and Mia and appeared punctually in the back garden.
His friends, Baron Lavende, the former owner of 【ancient fairy tale - match girl】, and Baron Rwanda, the former former owner, were already waiting for Xia De in the garden.
And besides them, the rhode cards Players among the local nobility were also eager to see the Great City Player 1853 champion arrive. Although no one was confident they could definitely defeat Xia De, even winning against him in just one small round would be a topic to boast about to friends for a long time.
"Mr. Hamilton, this is your first time participating in a public rhode cards game since Great City Player."
At this time, the ball inside the manor house had already begun, but many guests still gathered in the garden, waiting to watch the exciting rhode cards game. Not only gentlemen who enjoyed playing cards, but even ladies gathered together, laughing and waiting to witness whether an interesting situation would arise tonight.
Because there were many people signed up for the card game, it is unknown what price Mr. Eisberg paid to get the Prophet Association to agree to bestow the elegant title of "Lakeview Manor Early Winter rhode cards Tournament" upon tonight's competition. This also meant that the process of this competition would be included in the Prophet Association's annual report for the Tobesk region, becoming an officially recognized regional competition.
The competition was held in a knockout format, meaning single-player card games were played in groups, best of three, with winners advancing. Out of 32 registered Players, after three rounds of competition, a total of four people would proceed to the finals for the final multi-person card game.
The winner would not only receive honor but also that 【Life Ritual - Wedding】 card.
This special card was now placed in a glass photo frame, standing on the central round table under the grape arbor, with two servants carrying oil lamps responsible for guarding it. Although Xia De arrived late, he still got a chance to examine the card:
"【Life Ritual - Wedding】, Suit: Flower 5. Roll two 20-sided dice. If the numbers differ by less than or equal to 2, you can adjust the card's value between 4 and 5."
He read out the card's rules, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face:
"This card is truly pretty."
