Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1005: Morning Visitors

When Monday morning woke, fine snowflakes were fluttering outside the window; Tobesk’s winter was always snowy.

"It’s Monday again."

Shard yawned as he climbed out of bed. After freshening up, he thought of going downstairs to bring up the gift box and thought he’d open this week’s gift before having breakfast, but unexpectedly, he heard the sound of the door opening downstairs.

"Oh?"

Curiously, he walked down the stairs and saw Dorothy in thick winter clothes, patting the snow off her body. The blonde-haired girl was wearing a red coat, a scarf wrapped around her neck, and the tips of her lady’s boots had snow marks:

"The weather is really cold."

She complained, then shook the food box she was holding in her left hand:

"Good morning, Shard, I’ve brought you breakfast."

"Good morning, Dorothy. Is there something you need this early at my place?"

Shard asked worriedly, but the blonde-haired girl shook her head:

"Nothing really, I’m going to follow you all day today. Lecia told me to supervise to ensure you won’t forget about tonight’s events."

She laughed as she said this.

Not having to prepare breakfast himself, Shard was quite pleased. He joined Miss Writer and Mia in the dining room, chatting about tonight’s performance while eating breakfast, but just as breakfast finished, someone knocked on the door downstairs:

"Who would visit you so early? I thought I was today’s only guest." freёwebnoѵel.com

Dorothy asked curiously.

"Princess Margaret."

Shard shrugged:

"I have something to discuss with her."

"Can I know about it?"

"Of course, but it’s related to Circle Sorcerers, are you sure you want to reveal your identity?"

Miss Writer thought about it, then followed Shard downstairs.

After opening the door, from the carriage stepped down Princess Margaret Anjou, her pale-golden hair braided and pinned at the back of her head, wearing a dark-red thick cloth gown, standing with a cold face while her maid and coachman settled the fare.

"Good morning, Detective."

She said to Shard, who opened the door, then, quite surprisingly, noticed the blonde-haired girl holding a cat behind Shard, scanned her attire before saying:

"Good morning, Miss Louisa."

"Good morning, Your Highness. No, Miss Mary."

Shard corrected himself, knowing from Princess Margaret’s attire that she didn’t want too many people to know she was at Shard’s place.

The young detective stepped aside from the doorway, the foreign princess nodded to the maid behind her, who boarded another carriage to leave, intending to obscure the princess’s movements today.

Margaret Anjou didn’t immediately enter No. 6, Saint Delan Square; she stood on the second step, glanced at the entire house’s appearance, then pursed her lips before entering. She wasn’t pondering why the lady writer was here so early but rather speculating if Miss Sylvia’s "apprentice" also resides in a similar building.

The three of them went to the second floor, and since the dining room and the living room had no partition, Princess Margaret easily noticed that the young detective and the blonde-haired girl were having breakfast earlier. She had further guesses about their relationship, along with the rumors between Shard and Miss Galina; Her Highness felt she had a new understanding of the detective today.

"I’ve invited Her Highness here to discuss some matters. Dorothy, you know this lady as well."

Shard introduced, then added:

"Your Highness, this is Miss Dorothy Louisa, I believe you remember her."

"Yes, we met at Lakeside Manor."

Princess Margaret nodded, examining the living room’s decor, evidently curious about it.

"By the way."

Miss Writer smiled:

"Shard and I are in the same Circle Sorcerer group."

Shard raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised by Dorothy’s action, but upon careful thought, it wasn’t really an issue; Margaret Anjou had no reason to reveal their identities.

Princess Margaret was rather surprised, too:

"Oh, Miss Louisa, you are also from Saint Byrons... So that’s why you’re here so early; your relationship with Hamilton Knight is indeed unusual, that makes sense. Detective, have you mentioned my identity?"

"Of course not, I promised to keep it confidential."

Princess Margaret nodded seriously, saying:

"Alright then, Miss Louisa, please allow me to introduce myself again."

She took off her white gloves and extended her hand to Dorothy:

"Margaret Anjou, a fourth-grade student at Xerxes Higher Medical Academy, but she should advance to the fifth grade this winter."

Princess Margaret’s Sunday visit was to inform Shard about Sir Plisha’s affairs, but it was evident she didn’t intend to leave immediately, instead wanting to inquire about Shard’s investigation of the "Solitary Female Sorcerer."

She was very friendly to Dorothy; the two had met at Lakeside Manor through Lecia, and they got along well. The students of the Three Major Academies are ostensibly partners who can cooperate with each other, so when she talked with Shard, she did not avoid Dorothy.

Shard currently should not know about Sir Plisha’s identity, but this time Princess Margaret proactively revealed he was also a Circle Sorcerer and introduced the process of how the knight joined Xerxes Higher Medical Academy.

She strictly kept the group’s secrets, only revealing the information that could be investigated in Velindale City.

It was from this that Shard learned that Lakin Prisia awakened as a Circle Sorcerer at the age of 25. Just like his achievements in academics and poetry, the knight’s talent in the Circle Sorcerer System was outstanding. Not only was his level rising rapidly, but he also had almost no failures when learning arcane techniques and sorcery. In exam weeks each year, he could pass all subjects he registered for with excellent grades and was extremely skilled in reasoning, analysis, and learning summary.

"Last week, he successfully advanced to the 5th ring, the knight is probably the smartest person I’ve ever seen, he’s just so nonchalant about most things."

Princess Margaret said:

"He is always pondering things none of us know, often muttering to himself about who knows what. Even in Velindale, the knight almost never acted with us."

Although Shard merely wanted to collect the other’s Spiritual Light, this description instead piqued his interest:

"Does Sir Plisha have big secrets?"

Princess Margaret gave him a wary look:

"Detective, I don’t know what commission you have received, but the knight and I are in the same group, I will not expose his personal privacy and secrets."

She indeed did not mention Sir Plisha’s Circle Sorcerer system composition or any relics he might possess.

"You probably overthink things, I have no malice towards the knight."

Shard said as Dorothy brought over a kettle and teacups. Shard had hinted to her earlier not to use the expensive red tea he bought, lest it remind Princess Margaret of some other agent in the nearby district.

"Speaking of which, detective, are there any other strange people living in this neighborhood?"

Princess Margaret thanked Dorothy, as if inadvertently remembering this topic:

"A male, usually not drawing much attention, taciturn, should have a proper livelihood."

"Is he also a Circle Sorcerer?"

Shard glanced at the study, where all the materials Detective Sparrow left behind were kept.

"No, just an ordinary person."

"I don’t recall such a person, but if you need, I can help you investigate."

"No, no, that’s not necessary."

Princess Margaret hastily shook her head, if Shard really investigated and found something, it would be troublesome:

"Detective, you only need to investigate the female sorcerer I mentioned. If you are really interested in Sir Plisha, I could help arrange a private meeting with him. The knight is a very agreeable person."

Her voice had just fallen, and Shard intended to refuse, but at that moment, the bell downstairs rang again. It was only eight in the morning, and the number of strangers visiting Shard today was about to rival that of half the week.

Leaving Dorothy to entertain the princess upstairs, Shard headed downstairs with the cat at his feet. After opening the door, he saw his boss, Director Dark Anlos from MI6, standing on the steps, and Shard instinctively swung the door shut.

"Oh!"

Catching a breath, his slightly surprised expression turned into a smile, as he reopened the door. Outside, Director Anlos wore a very ordinary black coat, with a wide-brimmed hat to shield his face:

"What happened just now?"

The cautious gentleman asked, glancing behind Shard, who shook his head and pointed upstairs:

"I have a guest upstairs, a... lady, let’s talk on the first floor."

Director Anlos nodded expressionlessly, like he hadn’t heard anything. This unremarkably-looking but high-ranking gentleman followed Shard in, wiping his boots on the mat at the door before turning into the first-floor living room.

The two settled down on the sofa in the living room. Although Shard did not often use the first floor, the maids would diligently clean every week, keeping it very tidy.

He picked up Mia, signaling with a lowered voice before Director Anlos could speak, and pointed upstairs. Dark Anlos nodded:

"There is nothing important, I was going to meet you to give you your paycheck yesterday. But you went in the morning. This time, I have nothing serious."

Director Anlos tapped the wooden armrest of the short sofa with his fingers:

"We have discovered that a group of Duchy Independence Faction operatives intends to make a move against Princess Margaret in Tobesk."

"Duchy Independence Faction" refers to organizations within the Little Duchy affiliated with Draleon, seeking to gain independence. In the prosperous era of Draleon, such groups were not much different from so-called kb factions, their favorite activity being to incite wars between Draleon and Carsonrick.

"His Majesty asked me to check with you if there have been any strange people appearing around Her Highness."

"I’m sorry, this investigation has not gone smoothly. Honestly, the strangest person around Her Highness Margaret is probably me."

Shard said regrettably, and truthfully:

"Her Highness’s schedule is very tight, I’ve only seen her once this week at the Wednesday book salon, and unfortunately had a gas accident because of it."

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