Check!
A wisp of fire soared from the darkness, and the dim light illuminated a dozen figures sitting around the dining table. They were wearing pressed and crisp suits, with a coat of arms symbolizing their family status pinned to their chests, quietly in the darkness. Wait quietly.
These people are all the nephews of various military aristocratic families. They are the next generation of leaders in the family. If nothing unexpected happens, they will inherit the title and become the next nobles in the future.
But at this moment, they all came to Duke Hawke's manor to attend a dinner party.
"You came quite early..."
Behind the glass, Ma Wei held a pocket watch in his hand. He opened a corner of the curtain and saw the scene at the banquet.
It was only 7 o'clock in the evening, and there was still a full hour before the dinner started at 8 o'clock, but these aristocratic children had arrived early, dressed formally and without a smile.
"Let them dry for a while."
Katerina, who is well versed in hospitality, said: "At times like this, we must not be anxious. Whoever is anxious will be at a disadvantage."
"Well, I'm not in a hurry to show up now, but I still have the tea and snacks that I should have." Ma Wei looked at Duke Hawke: "Your Excellency, if you don't mind, please entertain me as the protagonist."
"No problem, I'll go talk to them about the benefits of cabbage."
Duke Hawke, who rarely had so many guests at home, rubbed his hands and walked into the restaurant with excitement.
Ma Wei looked at the butler Lu Jin again: "Butler Lu Jin, today's dinner is very important. Please be sure to serve some normal meals... It's better not to serve cabbage tea or anything else. Is there anything wrong with it? The law explains.”
"Father, don't worry. I hid all the dishes made by the master and asked the head maid and others to prepare a new one. I'm sure you won't have diarrhea after eating it." Lu Jin agreed immediately.
There was still an hour before the dinner started. Neither Mavey nor Katerina were in a hurry to go out. With Duke Hawke around, they would not lose their etiquette.
You must be able to keep your composure.
"I heard that you suspected Finn Droste of being a member of the Free Society?"
Before the dinner started, Katerina chatted with Mavey about other topics: "Is this reliable?"
"Laiwen and Fat Orange have already gone to look for traces of Finn Drost. As long as he appears in Tyumen City, we will be able to find it immediately and reveal his true identity." Ma Wei said: "But this kid It’s been mysterious and mysterious, and there’s still no news yet.”
"You said before that members of the Free Association can use magic, which means they have their own gods. From a certain perspective, the Free Association may also be a church-like existence. Can the letter and the orange cat handle it?"
"Edward also followed, it's not a big problem."
Katerina immediately felt relieved when she heard Edward's name.
It's not that she doesn't believe in the strength of Lai Wen and Fat Orange, it's just that under the premise that the opponent's situation is unknown, sending her own strongest combatant Edward is the safest way.
If even Edward couldn't deal with Finn Drost, it would be useless for anyone else to do it.
It was approaching 8 o'clock, and the young people sitting in the restaurant were getting impatient. Duke Hawke was a chatterbox. He had been chatting with them about Baicai for nearly an hour. Who wanted to hear Baicai's story? They were here to do business. !
Click...
Just when the young people couldn't stand it anymore, the door of the restaurant opened.
Katerina walked in slowly, wearing a red evening dress. Her fair skin was particularly dazzling under the candlelight. Her bun was tied behind her head, and her hands were in front of her abdomen. She looked like a prince and aristocrat.
Ma Wei, who followed her, was wearing a priest's robe and holding a "Book of Truth" on his chest.
Duke Hawke stood up and sat aside, giving up the throne to Katerina. He knew that the host tonight was the former first princess of the Romanov Kingdom.
The young people looked at Katerina intently. Goffman's eyes widened. He pulled his collar, picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.
The maids walked in from the side door, replaced the flower baskets and tea cups on the table with tableware and wine glasses, and served carefully prepared dishes one by one, including rosemary lamb chops, baked snails with cheese and vanilla, silver pagoda blood duck, pan-fried Foie gras with ostrich... typical Bourbon court cuisine.
The red wine was sobered just right, rich and attractive, and the restaurant that was deserted just now turned into a luxurious dinner in the blink of an eye.
"Everyone."
Katerina held up the goblet, sat at the head of the table, and greeted the young people from a distance: "Welcome to the Kingdom of Romanov."
"Here's to Romanov!"
Young people drink red wine and are as intoxicated as drinking power and power.
"Please enjoy the feast carefully prepared by the chef. I think you are all hungry."
Katerina picked up the knife and fork and cut the lamb chops meticulously, without any mention of business. The young people looked at each other, and finally picked up the knife and fork and began to taste the dinner in silence.
They were indeed hungry, but it was not their stomachs that were hungry, but their other appetites.
Knives and forks clinked against the dinner plate, and before you finished drinking the wine, a maid would refill it for you. There was little communication at the table. Katerina seemed to be competing with her own lamb chops, and Mavie didn't say a word. Calmly, he cut the lamb chops and put them on Yunia's plate.
Gradually, the young people born in aristocratic families lost their composure, and began to use force unconsciously, and the noise they made became louder and louder. They had been waiting for a long time, and finally met the real owner, but the other party Enjoy delicious food in peace!
"Your Highness."
Finally, a young man with a mustache put down his knife and fork and asked, "Can we start?"
"Start with what?"
"Let's talk about some serious business. I think that's why you invited us."
After using the knife and fork for a while, Katerina raised her head, her blue eyes swept across the seats on both sides. After seeing everyone looking at her, she put down the knife and fork, picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and said softly: "You guys After all being military nobles, your fathers once served under my father, made great contributions, and received the rewards they deserve. Today... I want you to swear allegiance to me."
"Of course there is no problem. Your Highness, you are the daughter of His Majesty Peter. We are happy to offer our loyalty." The eldest son of Earl Ruos's family said in a deep voice: "But before that, you should give some reasons. After all, we all He is a minister of His Majesty Paul I. He is loyal and can only be devoted to one person."
"I will win, that's why." Katerina said in a calm voice.
"And after you win?"
"I will reform, abolish the aristocracy, issue new decrees, and let the light shine on Romanov."
"You don't seem to understand what I mean..." The eldest son of Earl Ruos's family's eyes flickered: "I'm asking, if you win, what good will it do to us?"
"What benefits do you want?"
"Well... everyone knows that the title of aristocrat is just a false name and has no practical benefits. You want to abolish the aristocracy. In fact, we are not opposed to it, and we very much support the policy you want to implement." The eldest son of Earl Rulus' family He asked insinuatingly: "We just hope that after your victory, Your Highness, you will remember our merits, such as appointing us as officials to implement policies. In this way, I think everyone will spare no effort to support you."
Katerina suddenly smiled. She did not answer Ruos' eldest son's question, but looked at Ma Wei: "Father, tell me, you also have a say in what happens after the victory."
