Chapter 2186: The Moon Bay Banquet

Chapter 2186: Chapter 2186: The Moon Bay Banquet

Shard had known for a long time that noble banquets usually can’t completely fill your stomach, so people usually eat something beforehand when attending the banquet. But this Thursday, because of sending off Emilia and the others, he didn’t have enough time once he returned home, so he only ate a few small buns stored at home before setting off.

When Shard hurriedly entered the city from the Saint George Stone Bridge in the north of town, without stopping until he reached Belindel Estate, the witch and her party were already prepared to leave, just waiting for Shard to appear.

Tonight is nominally the celebration banquet for the Earl of Hawthorn’s little granddaughter’s full moon, but in reality, it’s a meeting of the Seven Great Families to discuss how to deal with the "Dragon." As such, the witch with the crimson birthmark on her forehead dressed very formally. Shard had been in Moon Bay for more than half a month by now, but this was the first time he saw the Great Witch of Destiny wearing a very formal gown.

It was an extremely beautiful golden gown with multiple layers of skirts, her arms were adorned with white lace gloves, and her golden hair was intricately braided into dozens of entwined elegant braids by the maids. She was already tall and graceful, but after wearing high heels tonight, Shard felt like he had become the shorter one standing in front of her.

"No, Mr. Watson, the lady specifically chose heels of an appropriate height, she is still shorter than you."

Miss Matilda, the Head Maid, said from the side, as if knowing what Shard was thinking. Miss Belindel then looked at her maid reproachfully, and explained to Shard:

"I invited you as my companion to the ball, naturally I wouldn’t foolishly make my companion appear shorter. Luckily your height is just right, I wouldn’t want to wear flat shoes at the banquet."

She said, stepping closer to Shard, her ears adorned with diamond earrings, her neck with ruby-studded gold jewelry, even her forehead adorned with a teardrop-shaped amethyst headpiece, with a bright smile on her face, almost teasing Shard with her closeness, stopping only when their faces were nearly touching:

"Look."

Shard could almost clearly see his own reflection in those golden eyes.

"This height is just perfect, even in these high heels, I am still slightly shorter than you."

Even after comparing heights, she didn’t retreat, still smiling at Shard. The three maids in the room, including Miss Matilda, all smiled at this scene, and the witch looked content as she watched Shard’s face gradually turning red:

"Why are you blushing? Am I not beautiful?"

She asked.

"Of course, you are beautiful."

The joy in those golden eyes was completely unhidden, and Shard was holding his breath, preventing himself from inhaling too much of the perfume she wore to avoid accelerating his heartbeat. "Witch’s Scent" perfume could showcase different fragrances in different witches’ hands, and for Bella Belindel, Shard smelled the cold winter’s snow, iced rose tea, and an unnamed cool floral scent.

But contrary to the emphasized "cold" characteristic of that perfume, the blonde Countess before Shard was extremely passionate at this moment. Seeing Shard stand there blushing and silent, her eyes slightly brightened, then mustering courage, she leaned forward and slightly tilted her head, gently pressing her lips, colored with lipstick, against the corner of Shard’s lips.

Watching Shard instinctively cover his mouth and step back, she narrowed her eyes with a smile:

"There’s a breadcrumb on the corner of your mouth, I helped wipe it away. Didn’t have dinner before coming?"

She spoke with a normal tone, as if she had just used her hand to wipe the corner of Shard’s mouth. As Shard was about to explain that he missed dinner because he had something to attend to in the evening, he was unexpectedly approached again in almost the same angle and strength, once more pressing her soft lips against the corner of Shard’s lips.

"Know what I’m doing this time?"

The Great Witch of Destiny asked with a bright smile.

Shard was almost a bit scared of her:

"Um... wiping away the lipstick mark from before?"

For some reason, all the maids burst into giggles, and the Countess’s smile grew even brighter:

"You’re such an interesting man, look, there’s new lipstick on your face. Do you need me to wipe it away again?"

She seemed to thoroughly enjoy teasing Shard, and unexpectedly, for her, Shard only hesitated for a moment, then gently nodded:

"Then I’d like to trouble you."

"Oh, you rude man!"

The blonde Countess softly scolded before quickly turning to leave the room, not wanting Shard to see the blush on her face. Shard glanced at Miss Matilda, who was standing nearby, with a smile on her face, then the maid, smiling, handed Shard her handkerchief and softly said:

"The young lady is shy."

"Matilda!"

The Countess’s voice came from the corridor; she certainly could hear everything.

The venue for the ball was the Hawthorn family’s manor in the city, and indeed, Hawthorn Manor was also in the heart of the Moon Bay District. Although Shard had attacked Earl of Hawthorn’s grandson, Freeman Hawthorn, twice, he was confident in his disguise, so he wasn’t afraid of being recognized.

In fact, because of those dragon egg fossils discovered on the smuggling ship from the New World, both he and Miss Belindel suspected that it was the Black Family and the Hawthorn Family collaborating with the Dragon Feast Cult.

The Seven Great Families of Moon Bay City were gathered, and this ball was undoubtedly the most prestigious event in the city. In addition to the members of the Seven Great Families, envoys from various countries stationed in Moon Bay City and grand nobles like the Marquis of Ankara were also on the guest list.

Of course, Earl Bella Belindel was still the most important guest at the ball. As the convoy stopped along the street under the illumination of the gas lamps at the bustling manor entrance, the waiting old butler hurriedly led people to greet them.

Traditionally, the first to exit the carriage should be Miss Matilda, the Head Maid, but this time a man in formal attire agilely jumped out of the carriage.

Shard nodded with a smile at the somewhat surprised old butler, then turned and extended his hand, accepting the hand the Countess offered and assisting her down from the carriage as well.

She didn’t say a word, not even taking a step forward; her mere appearance seemed to draw away the radiance from all the other ladies present. The sound at the manor entrance appeared to pause for two seconds, after which people rushed to greet the increasingly radiant Countess.

Miss Belindel also responded to acquaintances and then naturally held onto Shard’s arm:

"It feels quite interesting, attending the ball with someone. I never used to bring anyone."

"You never had the maids disguise themselves as men?"

Shard asked softly as the two followed a line of maids across the manor courtyard to the building where the ball was held. The Hawthorn family’s manor was smaller than the Belindel’s, but it was clear the manor’s owner had a strong fondness for gardening. Unlike the Belindel Estate, which was adorned with shrubs, trees, flowers, and grass decoration, the Hawthorn Manor courtyard’s artistic trees and asymmetric structures of shrubs and gas lamps close to the ground were certainly a labor of love.

"If there was no escort, there was no reason to disguise a maid,"

The Countess said softly, still with an elegant smile:

"Destiny granted us thirteen with power, yet made us pay the price. That’s fair. I’m different from the others, I never considered it a curse. To me, it’s an alternative blessing from destiny. I accept it just as fate accepts me."

It was the first time Shard heard such a perspective from a modern witch. Even Miss Aphrola, who cared the least about the "Witch’s Curse," never regarded it as a blessing.

"If this is a blessing, then what is my appearance?"

The surrounding people continually nodded to the Countess, but more people were eyeing Shard. Although Miss Belindel’s "cousin" had appeared publicly in other settings, this was his official debut.

"Of course, it is also Destiny’s arrangement. I never doubt fate."

Outside the building, two maids each pulled open a door and stepped back, revealing the place already set up as the first-floor banquet hall. A long table full of food stood in the center on the red carpet, and musicians faced away from the crowd were playing the piano in the corner on a high platform.

Men and women in formal attire gathered and spoke in standard Moon Bay accents in Casenric Language, while Earl of Hawthorn and Earl Edington, holding wine glasses in conversation, immediately approached with smiles. And before dealing with this round of socializing, Earl Bella Belindel whispered to Shard alone:

"You are also a gift from Destiny to me."

Officially, the ball was held to celebrate the one-month birthday of Earl of Hawthorn’s granddaughter, Freeman Hawthorn’s baby sister, so regardless of the discussions, they had to meet the little girl first. Therefore, the witch and Shard only exchanged a few pleasantries with the two earls before being led to meet the "hostess of the ball."

The little girl being cared for by an elderly but seemingly dependable maid probably wouldn’t enjoy being disturbed by so many people. She lay in a cradle, looking tiny, only slightly older than Mia. But at least most of the men and women who came to see the child sincerely rejoiced at her birth. This era of coexistence of steam and magic might have many issues, and the world on the verge of apocalypse in the steam wave might not be liked by everyone, but at least the people here maintained a sense of mission for the continuation of their race and innate human affection for young beings.

Even witches unable to conceive loved this child; of course, this was largely because the child was a girl. Miss Belindel had prepared a gift for the child, and as she and Shard left the baby’s side, she heard Shard jokingly ask:

"It’s a pity she only received the blessing of one witch, not seven."

The Countess knew Shard was referring to the story of the "Sleeping Princess":

"In this age, it’s no longer possible for a child to receive so many blessings."