“There are many, many stories about Shade, but I am not yet ready to tell them to you.”
The reminiscence ended for the moment. Miss Galina spoke softly to her “colleague,” and Miss Sylvia, understanding her meaning, did not press further.
The two witches discussed their next steps for a while longer. Just as they were preparing to set out for Lake Schluch, there was a knock at the door.
After the maid opened the door, Princess Margaret entered. In the hour or so that Shade had spent reading, she had already met with Mr. Alan Madison of the local Sussex Higher Medical College. Upon entering, she first offered a respectful greeting to Miss Galina before turning to Miss Sylvia.
“Teacher, I apologize for interrupting. I have a mathematics problem I would like to ask you about.”
“Asking about math problems during a banquet?”
Miss Sylvia smiled and said, “Duke, look, Her Highness Margaret is just that studious.”
She then invited Princess Margaret to present the problem, and the Princess repeated Shade’s “Missing Penny” riddle. Miss Galina merely chuckled on the side without interrupting. After listening, Miss Sylvia frowned slightly and immediately saw through it.
“Your Highness, do you truly find this problem incomprehensible?”
As she spoke, she exhibited the full authority of a “mathematics teacher.”
Princess Margaret subconsciously bit her lip. “Teacher, this problem only involves three numbers: 27, 2, and 30. You told me that numbers do not lie. I do not understand why there is a missing penny.”
“Your Highness, your question is truly disappointing.”
Miss Sylvia’s gaze grew sharp. “I have told you countless times that while numbers do not lie, you cannot truly understand them. Although this problem is clever, it is nothing more than a sleight-of-hand trick, similar to magic. Yes, it is merely an illusion.”
A look of dissatisfaction appeared on the witch's fair and beautiful face.
“I will tell you where the missing penny went.
Of the three gentlemen staying at the inn, two of them returned to the Three Cats Inn three days later and paid 10 pennies each, totaling 20 pennies. This time, the innkeeper, Mrs. Sammy, lowered the price again, keeping 15 pennies and returning 5. The boy again pocketed 3 pennies and returned the remaining 2 pennies to the two gentlemen. Thus, the two gentlemen spent 18 pennies, and the boy kept 3, totaling 21 pennies. The missing penny is right here.”
Although Princess Margaret could not figure out the answer, she knew Miss Sylvia was mocking her.
Miss Galina stepped in to smooth things over. “Miss Sylvia, Her Highness Margaret was simply troubled by a simple little problem. We all encounter problems we cannot solve.”
“But this problem is far too simple; she should not have failed to solve it.”
Miss Sylvia fully displayed the “obsession” typical of mathematicians. “Duke, I am Her Highness's mathematics teacher; I must be responsible for her.”
Having said that, she attempted to encourage her. “Your Highness, this problem is entirely within your scope of knowledge. Remember, this is a clever magic trick. Only when you figure it out will you realize how ridiculous it is. I believe in my student, so once you have solved it, remember to tell me the answer.”
The princess with pale gold hair nodded pitifully. “Yes, Teacher, I will solve this problem.”
“Who gave you this problem? Although the problem itself is simple, the way the numbers are manipulated is indeed clever. If it were a lady, I would be very interested in meeting her,” Miss Sylvia asked.
“It was not a lady, but Mr. Shade Hamilton. Everyone at the banquet is currently discussing it, but no one has provided an answer yet.”
After speaking, Princess Margaret stole a glance at Miss Galina. The fact that Miss Sylvia and Miss Galina were conversing here did not make the Princess suspect Miss Galina's identity; after all, almost everyone in Tobesk knew of the relationship between Miss Galina and Shade, and witches were thought to be incapable of associating with men.
The Princess simply assumed her teacher intended to use the Duchess to achieve some goal.
“It was Hamilton, then. Oh, I mean, how surprising,” Miss Sylvia said, feigning shock amidst Miss Galina's smile. “So it was that gentleman. I originally thought knights only possessed courage and strength; I didn't expect them to have wisdom as well.”
(Mia is running.)
The Rhode card tournament at Lakeview Manor was not held indoors, but under the grape trellises in the garden behind the manor. Although the grape trellises no longer held the lushness of midsummer in this season, the stone round tables beneath them—lit by hanging kerosene lamps and flanked by standing gas lamps—were indeed an ideal place for playing cards.
To make his wedding banquet appear highly formal, Mr. Iceberg had specifically invited staff from the Seer Association to act as referees before the banquet and had purchased a special-rule Rhode card from an auction house as the grand prize for the game.
It was said that the auction price for that Rhode card was 87 pounds.
In short, although Shade would not admit he was lured here by that special-rule card, he still arrived in the back garden punctually and cheerfully with Tifa and Mia.
His friends, Baron Lavender—the former owner of [Ancient Fairy Tale: Match Girl]—and Baron Rwanda—the owner before him—were already waiting for Shade in the garden.
Aside from them, the Rhode card players among the local nobility were also rubbing their hands in anticipation of the arrival of the 1853 champion of the Big City Players. While no one was confident they could definitely defeat Shade, winning even a single small round against him would be a topic they could brag about to their friends for a long time.
“Mr. Hamilton, this is the first time you've participated in a public Rhode card game since your time with the Big City Players.”
By now, the ball inside the manor had begun, but many guests were still gathered in the garden, waiting to watch the tense and exciting Rhode card matches. Not only were the gentlemen who loved cards present, but even the ladies gathered together, chatting and laughing, waiting to see if any interesting situations would arise tonight.
Because so many people had signed up, Mr. Iceberg had apparently paid a significant price to get the Seer Association to agree to title tonight's competition the “Lakeview Manor Early Winter Rhode Card Tournament.” This meant the proceedings of the match would be recorded in the Seer Association's annual report for the Tobesk region, becoming an officially recognized regional competition.
The tournament followed a progression format: single-player matches in groups, best of three, with the winner advancing. Out of the 32 registered players, four remained after three rounds of contention to compete in the final multi-player game.
The winner would not only gain honor but also obtain the card [Life Ritual: Wedding].
This special card was currently placed in a glass frame, standing on the central round table under the grape trellis, guarded by two servants carrying oil lamps. Although Shade arrived late, he still got a chance to examine the card.
“[Life Ritual: Wedding], Suit: Flower 5. Roll two 20-sided dice; if the difference between the numbers is less than or equal to 2, the card's value can be adjusted between 4 and 5.”
He read the rules of the card, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face.
“This card is truly beautiful.”
(End of Chapter)