Chapter 1557: Chapter 1557: Handkerchief
This intricate familial relationship was sothing Shard could not quite grasp, so he remarked;
"So it seems, Princess Lecia and Princess Angelina also have family ties with the Furen brothers? Oh, but I won’t show any rcy, gentlen, for Her Highness Lecia, I will claim victory."
This was not a declaration of hostility, but a social courtesy. And Queen Diana finally asked the question she truly wanted to inquire about:
"Shard, you can talk to the Furen brothers. Although they don’t have knight titles, their conduct and deanor are very well-known in Carsonrick. Speaking of which, why did you think of swearing by Lecia?"
Shard felt Dorothy gently nudging his hand beside him, and he maintained his composure as he gave the prepared answer for Her Highness the Princess:
"When Her Highness corresponded with my lady companion tonight, Miss Dorothy Louisa, she heard about my participation in the Circle Horsemanship Competition and asked if I would swear by the Duchess of Saradiel. Miss Galina advised
not to do so, due to so... issues concerning inheritance rights."
In truth, Shard didn’t know what this ant either, but Lecia believed as long as Shard said so, there wouldn’t be a problem.
"My set of armor was procured by an antique collector that Her Highness Lecia helped
find. In appreciation of Her Highness, I swore in her na— I will bring victory for her."
Queen Diana’s expression remained unchanged, and she continued to inquire about how Shard and Lecia t, and expressed concern over his health after a severe illness. Shard politely thanked the Queen for sending people to visit him and for the flowers and gifts.
This conversation also led the Furen brothers to confirm that it was unlikely Shard was a Circle Sorcerer.
Subsequently, the Furen brothers shared their experiences traveling from Velindale to Tobesk, and their impressions of Tobesk City.
After eight o’clock, when the ball began, Shard took Dorothy away from the rest area and invited the blonde girl to dance.
The first dance tune was very soothing, and Dorothy leaned against Shard’s chest, moving her steps along with him:
"Lecia is doing this because she believes that one day others will know about your relationship."
"Of course, people will also know about our relationship. I never intended for you to be my secret lover."
Shard said softly.
Dorothy made a "Hmm~" sound and continued:
"Before the ball ends, invite Angelina for a dance. This is Lecia’s arrangent, don’t let Angelina be upset."
"No problem."
Shard turned his head, watching past the people on the dance floor, looking towards Queen Diana who still sat on the sofa. At that mont, a man with a southern appearance, looking to be in his forties, with green eyes, an aquiline nose, and deep-set eye sockets, was conversing with the Queen in the seat where Shard had previously sat.
"What are you looking at?"
Dorothy asked.
"Earl Lewis of Carsonrick."
Shard replied, with the writer, Miss raised her eyebrows slightly:
"I know this man, his reputation is not good at all, in Lecia’s mory, during her visit to Velindale last year, she almost had a conflict with this Earl. Shard, just after this dance, go invite Angelina, don’t let Angelina be in contact with such a person."
Although Dorothy was not Angelina’s biological sister, she, like Lecia, was concerned about this younger sister.
"Understood."
While speaking, Shard took out a ladies’ knitted embroidered handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Dorothy. The fabric of that handkerchief was noticeably high-end just by touch, and on the white cloth, black roses were blooming:
"I’ll go invite Angelina for a dance, you find so perfu to spray on the handkerchief. The kind that... socialites use. Also, don’t touch this handkerchief for too long, it has a Misfortune Curse on it."
Dorothy put the handkerchief away, smiled as she moved her steps with Shard, and asked him:
"Seems you ca prepared, planning to vent on behalf of Lecia?"
Although the original intention was not this, Shard of course couldn’t foolishly ntion Miss Galina’s na at this mont.
So after finishing the first dance with Dorothy, Shard then walked toward Princess Angelina. Being seventeen years old, Her Highness naturally wasn’t short of suitors around her, but she had been rejecting others.
When she saw Dorothy temporarily walking away and Shard approaching, Angelina even took the initiative to walk towards him, but after being reminded by her maid, she demurely returned to her spot, watching as Shard approached.
"Your Highness, may I invite you for a dance?"
Now Angelina didn’t need to be reserved, as she shyly took Shard’s hand, she felt that although Dorothy Louisa was much like her sister Lecia, sotis she was practically her sister, she was bolder than her sister.
The princesses of the Royal Family all had quite good dancing skills, for they had professional tutors teaching them these things. Thus, even though Angelina rarely danced with Shard, their cooperation was quite smooth.
"Shard, you and Aunt Galina..."
Taking advantage of the cover of the dance, she finally voiced the question in her heart. Shard knew what the Little Princess wanted to learn, and he felt he needed to defend Miss Galina’s honor:
"She didn’t force ; I went of my own accord."
He answered softly, dancing the minuet with Angelina. This simple court dance, compared to the waltz that has gained popularity in recent years, is more dignified, elegant, and graceful. Although the passionate and lively nature of the waltz is enchanting, the minuet still holds a distinct advantage in the court dances of this era.
"On your own accord..."
Angelina bit her lip, then asked:
"Shard, does Aunt Galina hold a very important role for you?"
"Yes, I need her power and influence. But don’t get
wrong, she and I are genuinely in love."
Shard added another explanation, but it was clear Angelina was focused on the first part:
"Power?"
Shard felt her hand apply slight pressure, and he wanted to say more, but Her Highness the Princess was already lost in the lody of the dance.
After finishing the dance with Angelina, the excited princess temporarily left the ballroom to touch up her makeup in the powder room. Dorothy returned to Shard’s side, handing back the handkerchief embroidered with a rose pattern with a smile. A strong scent of perfu indeed clung to it, though Shard had no idea where Dorothy had borrowed the perfu, but its fragrance t his requirents.
"It’s rare to see you take the initiative to do sothing mischievous; it’s quite interesting."
Miss Writer comnted, while Shard corrected her:
"I would never do anything mischievous, much less pass such a cursed item directly to soone else."
As he spoke, he adjusted his tie:
"Dorothy, wait here for
for a mont; I’ll be back soon. Then we can continue dancing."
"No problem, my dear knight."
Earl Lewis stood up from beside the sofa, heading towards the ballroom door, looking as if he were going to the restroom. So Shard lowered his head and followed him, disappearing just behind the Earl at the doorway.
At this ti, Queen Diana had already left the ballroom, so Dorothy went to stand by the window, waiting patiently. She refused other invitations to dance and gazed at the night scene of the manor’s courtyard outside the window.
Shard didn’t keep his companion waiting too long before he returned:
"It went smoothly; I accidentally dropped that handkerchief in the hallway, and when I went back to look for it, it was nowhere to be found."
Shard said regretfully, bowing to extend a dance invitation to Dorothy, then held her hand and returned to the dance floor:
"I hope whoever picks it up doesn’t frequently co into contact with it; otherwise..."
"What if the person who picks it up doesn’t frequently co into contact with it?"
Dorothy asked again, and Shard thought for a mont:
"Then I’ll create so accidents myself."
He said softly:
"I wasn’t planning on killing anyone, but I can’t let him walk away from Tobesk City on his own two feet. Dorothy, let’s not talk about such discouraging things. Let’s keep dancing."
(Mia running...)
The conclusion of the Sunday banquet also ant that the registration phase for the Circle Torbesk horsemanship tournant had officially ended. And with the arrival of yet another Monday, the last day of the Month of Rising Wind, the much-anticipated "Circle Torbesk Spring Horsemanship Tournant" finally reached its first day of the schedule.
But early this morning, as he embraced Dorothy after rising, Shard’s thoughts were not on today’s competition or the new week’s gifts, but rather the Ti Key:
"The Battle of Randall Valley takes place on the evening of the seventh day through the morning of the eighth day of the Month of Rising Wind. In other words, at dawn on Tuesday, a week from now, on the eighth day of the Sowing Moon in April, I will finally be able to activate that Black Ti Key!"
Although there’s still a week to go, it didn’t dampen Shard’s good mood. He speculated what might await him in the [Bygone Era: Fifth Era], wondering if he might encounter Long-Haired Luvia.
Of course, the likelihood of the latter speculation coming true isn’t high, because the first ti Shard saw Luvia at the Lakeside Manor last sumr, it was evident she was quite surprised to see a fifth person join their group. This ans, unless Long-Haired Luvia once suffered amnesia, she should not have seen the Outlander in the past.
But not eting Long-Haired Luvia in the past isn’t a problem; Shard is confident that once he activates the Black Key, she might et him again in his dreams. Although Long-Haired Luvia and Luvia are essentially the sa person, the sa soul, Shard still misses the girl he only t in dreams.
[You’re longing for the things you did with her in your dreams, aren’t you?]
She whispered in Shard’s ear, and Shard pretended he hadn’t heard her words.
And before breakfast that day, a letter reached his ho through Margaret’s secret intelligence network, bringing Shard new information and a mission from the "Grey Glove."
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