Mystery: The New Dark Emperor Arrives

Chapter 551 Hobert is a good adviser
In fact, it was already past lunch time. Hobert had just sat in the lounge for a few minutes when he was invited by the servant to Alice's dining room.

The princess's dining room is about the same size as the dining room used in Earl Hobart's palace, but it is much more refined.

The oil paintings hanging on the walls were much more high-end than the oil paintings that Hobert hung in the hall of the Earl's Mansion. One of them looked familiar to Hobert. After taking a closer look, he recalled that it was the one he and Audrey had seen before. A work at the exhibition.

At that time, neither he nor Audrey purchased the works from that art exhibition. Audrey had already collected many works and had superb painting skills. There was no work in the entire art exhibition that she liked too much, so she did not buy it.

As for Hobert, it was simply because he didn’t want to spend that wasted money.

After sitting down, the servant immediately served the food and poured Hobert an aperitif.

"Please change it to coffee or juice for me." Hobert smiled: "I'm still working."

The servant was stunned for a moment, but after nodding, he replaced Hobert with juice.

"I heard that you are usually very frugal?" Alice, who was sitting at the main seat next to her, suddenly asked, "The dining process is very simple."

Hobert suspected that the entire aristocratic circle might have known about his meal, but Alice said it quite politely and did not say that he was stingy. She only said that "the process is relatively simple."

He said: "Yes, Your Highness Princess."

Then he joked: "Maybe I haven't gotten used to the luxurious life that a count should have."

"It would be meaningless if you were just like the other earls." Alice suddenly asked with a cold and arrogant look: "Does my leg ring look good?"

The word "good-looking" came to Hobert's lips, and he finally "stopped the car": "The situation was urgent and I didn't pay attention."

To be honest, it's not only pretty but also sexy.

And if it was leg control, it would probably have been defeated. Alice's legs are indeed impeccable.

Hobert sighed in his heart: No wonder the leg ring had some other meanings later on. It was really because it had some special meaning in the jewelry.

Then he realized that it was very wrong for the princess to ask such a question, and he must be careful when dealing with it.

Alice suddenly smiled: "Lie."

Hobert pretended not to hear. No matter what he answered at this time, it would cause endless trouble in the future.

He was also a little helpless: I'm just going to be a bodyguard for a day, and I don't want to be labeled as a "princess's favorite" in the aristocratic circle in the future.

Alice is a princess after all, so she did not continue this topic, but talked about her assassination: "In the evening, I am going to a dance. I think you should have received an invitation. Do you think that by then?" Will there be another assassination targeting me?"

"It's hard to say." Hobert didn't say that he would definitely protect the princess, but smiled and said: "The key is that I don't know anything about assassins."

"Anyway, I'm very grateful for your rescue today." Alice smiled and said, "I have prepared some gifts for you and they will be delivered to your Earl's Mansion in a moment."

Hobert did not refuse: "Thank you princess."

Next, Alice began to ask Hobert about the witch's ability. Hobert did not hide this. After all, he also regarded the Witch Church as an enemy. In this regard, he was willing to provide some help to Alice.

After dinner, Alice went back to take a nap, then invited Hobert to drink tea in the garden, and then walked with Hobert in the garden without allowing any servants to follow.

"You dance very well." Alice suddenly said: "We can have another dance tonight."

Hobert smiled and said, "That's my honor."

"You may not imagine how sad it is to be the princess of Loen." Alice changed the topic again: "Watching my dearest brother die, there is nothing I can do about it."

Hobert didn't say anything, and he didn't want to say anything about it.

And he had already roughly guessed that Alice was talking to him alone because she wanted him to investigate Edsac's case.

This is something I cannot agree to even if I die!
Unexpectedly, Alice changed the topic again: "You and Audrey seem to be friends?"

"Yes." Hobert was somewhat surprised as to what Alice wanted to say: "We knew each other when I left Backlund."

"Are you wondering why I speak so forward and not follow up?" Then Alice asked and answered herself: "Because my conversations have been eavesdropped, even the written words can be 'overheard'.

“But according to the reliable information I have received, there is a drawback to the sealed object that eavesdrops on our conversation from a distance.

"As long as you keep changing the topic, you can effectively circumvent this eavesdropping ability. The person holding this sealed object is far away from us, so it is difficult to detect this. They will only think that we are not talking at this time."

Hobert was slightly startled: Are you sure that the other party didn't know that you got this news?If the other party deliberately let you get the news, or has already had a new response, then our topics will change, just to show it to ourselves.

If this is really the case, the other party is almost like "peeping at the screen". He should be snickering at this time, right?

But thinking about Alice's usual behavior, she should have confirmed it repeatedly on such a life-threatening matter.

Then Hobert smiled helplessly and said: "Then let's talk about some coherent topics."

He felt that a big word "danger" was floating over his head, and the following conversation must be very dangerous.

It's not that it's dangerous to be overheard by others, but it's just that as long as he knows those things, it will be very dangerous.

"You are a very special noble." Alice changed the topic again: "Before you, no noble dared to look at me when dancing with me, and they didn't even dare to keep their eyes on my face. ."

There were several times when Alice felt that her thoughts were strange, but she was certain that from then on, Hobert gradually became special in her eyes.

Hobert sighed: "It's okay."

After all, you're not that ugly, so why don't you look at your face?
"Actually, I know why I was assassinated," Alice said: "My investigation has made a breakthrough. In the past few years, the Witch Church has been secretly transporting a large number of slaves to Backlund. These slaves Most come from the Rhoad Islands, and many also come from your fiefdom, Longtail Island.

"But after arriving in Backlund, these slaves went to no one knows where."

Hobert didn't say anything: I don't know if you believe it or not?Actually I know better.

"I heard you were married once at Feneport?" Alice asked. "Why have you never taken your lady to the ball?"

"My lady does not like such occasions very much," replied Hobert.

"Another thing I can be sure of is that Edsac's death has a great relationship with the Witch Church." Alice continued to tell her investigation results: "As far as I know, Edsac's beloved Terry Si seems to be still alive, she should know a lot of inside information.

"In addition, I heard that she is very special to the Witch Church, and she is so special that she seems to be related to the original witch."

Hobert was slightly stunned. He didn't expect that Alice had indeed investigated a lot of key information. Perhaps it was because she knew the relevant information about Triss that the Witch Church was determined to assassinate her.

Alice then changed the topic: "So, your wife is very happy. If you don't like it, you can just not participate in such an occasion."

Hobert smiled and said: "I can still give her such freedom."

Alice, who was walking in front, stopped and looked back at Hobert with a complicated look. She took a deep breath and said, "It may be difficult to proceed with the subsequent investigation.

"I found that the royal family is deeply cooperating with the Witch Church and the Aurora Society. Although I don't know what the purpose of the cooperation is, the cooperative project has the support of the entire royal family."

Hobert was a little helpless and still did not express any opinion on this topic.

"In this world, no matter how high your status is, you always have to do things you can't help but do." Alice said: "Sometimes I even hate myself as a princess, or hate the conservative atmosphere of Loen as a whole. This There are some thoughts that I can’t express at all, and I can’t even express them in my expression or eyes.”

Hobert scratched his chin, feeling that Alice's words meant something.

Alice sighed: "I'm not interested in the royal family's conspiracy. I just want to know who killed Edsac. I just want to kill that person and take his head to Edsac's tomb. Pay homage in front of us.”

Hobert saw a hint of fatigue in the princess's eyes, but he still said nothing.

"So I say, your wife is happy." Alice returned to the topic of the wife: "She can just skip the ball if she doesn't want to. In my opinion, this is a kind of happiness."

Hobert smiled and said: "Sometimes, the world is actually not that complicated. Don't do things you don't want to do. Who can't be willful?"

Then he waited for Alice to ask him to investigate Edsac's case. He was ready to refuse and would not leave Alice with any illusions.

However, this time Hobert miscalculated. Alice did not entrust him with the investigation, but smiled and said: "Many people have died in the investigation of Edsac's death. Don't worry, I will not entrust him to investigate." your.

"I am telling you this today simply because I hope someone will know the results of my investigation."

She touched her neck, which still had red pinch marks: "I wandered on the edge of death twice today, which made me suddenly have a severe fear of death.

"The first thing I thought of after escaping the danger was to let others know about my investigation. If I really died, someone would know the real cause of my death.

"I don't want you to avenge me, I just don't want me to be used like Edsac after I die, even if one person knows why I died."

This made Hobert slightly stunned. Alice gave him the same impression as Ethel, they were both kind of "political monsters", but Ethel was stronger, even so strong that she was ready to fight for the reserve.

Alice is much more peaceful except for her nobility, but some of the behaviors of the two of them in order to achieve their goals are quite similar.

It wasn't until Ethel's anger when she left Jeffrey Town after attending Hobert's wedding that Hobert felt that he was a flesh-and-blood person.

And just now, when Alice said that she was scared, he realized that this was a living person, not a high-end doll trained by the royal family.

It's a sigh of relief. Of course Hobert wouldn't be so hot-headed as to get involved in this matter.He just said: "Your Royal Highness, your purpose is too clear, at least your opponent fully knows your purpose.

"It's better if you do nothing in the recent period. Firstly, it will paralyze the opponent, and secondly, you will look for better opportunities.

"Your positions will change by then. You know their purpose, but your purpose is temporarily hidden. Maybe you can take some initiative."

Alice was stunned for a moment, then thought for a moment before saying: "If you were not the earl now, I would have recruited you to be my staff!"

She suddenly smiled: "As you said before, some things are so simple!
"Now I finally understand what Emperor Russell said: People in a chess game are always easily confused by their opponents. Only the bystanders around the chess table know what the two players are thinking."

Hobert was slightly startled: The authorities are confused, but the bystanders are clear?

Alice then asked: "What do you think of the tea you just drank?"

Hobert nodded: "It tastes very good."

"I'll give you some later."

The two chatted casually for a while. Alice had some business to deal with, and Hobert was finally able to go to the lounge to take a rest.

Watching Hobert leave, Alice suddenly remembered some of the novels she had read for fun.

At the time, she thought some of the descriptions in the novel were ridiculous, but after dancing that dance in the palace's banquet hall on April 4, she realized that some people were really special.

Alice had never felt this way before, and it was a completely new experience for her. Unfortunately, she soon sadly discovered that she could do nothing and could only watch Hobert and Audrey. They joked.

In the evening, Hobert and Alice took a carriage to Earl Vincent's mansion to attend the ball. When he got off the princess's carriage first, Vincent who was standing at the door to greet the guests was stunned for a moment. I don't know if I should go up to greet him.

As soon as Hobert saw Vincent's expression, he knew something was wrong: We are just passing by, don't think about it, and don't spread gossip!

Then he smiled and shook his head. He wondered what other nobles would think when they heard that he and Princess Alice rode in a carriage together to attend the ball.Will everyone imitate him and eat very simple meals?

Hobert wanted to laugh, but he helped Alice get out of the car very gentlemanly. He was not afraid that everyone would misunderstand him, because they knew after a little inquiry that he had the task of protecting the royal family today.

Only after Alice got off the car did Vincent react: "Your Highness, your arrival makes this banquet more solemn."

Alice maintained her usual noble demeanor: "No, it's just that you prepared carefully."

Vincent smiled slightly: "Please come in, I have specially prepared strawberry cream pudding for you."

"It's really exciting." Alice walked in and said to Hobert beside her: "Count Vincent is a gourmet, especially the strawberries grown on his manor, which are red and sweet."

Vincent watched the two people go in, always feeling that something was wrong. It wasn't until he welcomed two more guests that he suddenly thought: Princess Alice's tone was very kind tonight!There is no feeling of being rejected from thousands of miles away.Well, or when speaking to Hobert, his tone was very kind.

But Hobert on the other side didn't take it seriously. Strawberries, what's the big deal?
He remembered the strawberry picking festival in some places before, where you could eat all you wanted for not much money, and even gave away two kilograms before leaving.

After chatting with Alice about this topic for a few more times, Hobert realized that people in this era have not completely domesticated strawberries. The reason is very simple, because without mulch, it is difficult to grow strawberries on a large scale.

If you want to grow strawberries, you must build a glass greenhouse!
Therefore, the price of strawberries at this time was very high, and only nobles could eat them.

This gave Hobert another reason to develop the plastics industry as quickly as possible.

After seeing the dazzling array of food in the banquet hall, Hobert finally understood why Alice said Vincent was a gourmet.

In his impression, only at the palace dance on April 4st could there be such rich food. The key was that every kind of food was delicious.

For example, the lamb chops, which Hobert didn't like much before, didn't expect to be cooked so deliciously.

In addition, Hobert ate pigeon meat for the first time in Backlund, as well as roast suckling pig that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, delicious wild venison, and swan meat that was relatively precious to the nobles, such as foie gras and steak. These are second-rate food at this banquet.

Moreover, Count Vincent knew how to match food. Shrimps, crabs, fish and other seafood were interspersed among them, as well as fresh vegetable salads, especially the fruits at the banquet. Even Alice praised them repeatedly.

For example, in Hobert's mind, pineapples are not very valuable, but they are shipped from the Rhoad Islands and stored in cold storage until early summer. They are still delicious and juicy. Pineapples in this season are not affordable for ordinary people. .

What surprised Hobert was that the red and juicy watermelon was actually regarded as a very good fruit by the nobles. Hobert clearly remembered that he used to show off half a watermelon in one morning.

After chatting for a while, I realized that most of the watermelons at this time were not very sweet, and most of them only had very little pulp.

Only then did Hobert realize the importance of agricultural research. Fruits that were common in his time were scarce here.

At the same time, Hobert realized that his understanding of the world was still not detailed enough, and he only knew this common sense today.

In other words, I didn’t have access to so many fruits in my previous life, so I didn’t notice it.

After the ball started, Hobert, who had already eaten, asked Alice to dance, which made many people look at her with surprise, because they realized that before this social season, it seemed that they had not seen the princess dance for a long time.

This social season seems to be the second time Alice dances. The key is that she dances with the same person both times.

At this time, some noble ladies began to talk about how they saw Hobert and the princess attending the ball today. It was said that they were having a good time chatting at the dinner table.

Some lords felt that this might be a sign that they had no hope of marrying Hobert at all.

At about eight o'clock in the evening, Hobert handed over the buttons and charms to Clemont in a corner where no one was paying attention. His task for the day was finally completed.

Hobert stepped forward and said to Alice: "Your Highness, Mr. Clemont is here."

Alice nodded slightly. She knew that she was surrounded by noble ladies. After Hobert's mission was completed, he would not stay with her: "Let's talk when we have time."

Hobert smiled and nodded, and after nodding to the other ladies, he left the other side where the ladies were gathered.

From a distance, he saw Georgina who was also attending the dance, so he walked straight over and said, "Director."

Usually at the ball, Georgina was alone. She seemed to know what Hobert wanted to say: "According to the rules, official business is not discussed in public."

"Earl..." Hobert said as he waved to the wine waiter. The moment he took the wine glass on the tray, his hand seemed to slip slightly, the wine glass fell down, and the bright red wine poured out.

As the wine fell to the ground, Hobert suddenly "distorted" the direction of the wine. The spilled wine actually drew an "L" shape, and part of it splashed onto Georgina's evening dress.

Hobert's "performance" was so natural that Georgina was completely unprepared for it. When she discovered Hobert's intention, she could no longer avoid it completely.

Only then did Georgina sigh: How could a demigod knock over the wine glass because of a slippery hand?But Hobert's performance was so unremarkable that I didn't react for a moment.

Hobert couldn't help but grinned back and quickly apologized: "Sorry, Director General, my hand slipped."

He said to the waiter: "Please prepare a separate room."

This situation is very common at balls. The waiter nodded slightly and invited them to the small reception room around the banquet hall.

Georgina smiled and shook her head: It is indeed not a very good idea to ask the Extraordinary of the "lawyer" path for "regulations".

Arriving at the small reception room, Hobert took the handkerchief handed by the waiter, then closed the door and said: "Only in the middle of the mission, I found out that it was the Queen who took the initiative to second me there.

"Why didn't the Director-General tell me this?"

Georgina opened Hobert's hand, took the towel and bent down to wipe the wine stains on her skirt: "Do you think you work in a newspaper? Do you want to publish all the news you know to the public?
"The nature of our work is confidentiality, and I won't allow anyone to violate this!"

Of course, Hobert knew the nature of MI[-]'s work. In fact, the reason why he questioned Georgina was more to express his attitude.

Sometimes, just because the other party says less, you can put yourself in an extremely dangerous situation.

In order to avoid such a thing from happening, of course you must warn the other party.

So Hobert spread his hands: "Of course I will keep it secret, but you should tell me some information in advance, otherwise I will think it is a betrayal!"

"If I told you, would you still accept the task so happily?" Georgina threw the towel on the chair aside: "If one day I tell you all the information that should be said and should not be said, If nothing else, my condition should be very bad.

"We are colleagues, please save me if you have a chance."

This means that unless she loses control, she will do things according to the rules, but after all, we are colleagues, so I will give you some tips.

But because Georgina was her superior, and Hobert had a hint of coercion just now, her tone was very bad, and after she finished speaking, Georgina left the reception room without looking back.

Hobert also followed out. He didn't pay too much attention to what Georgina said when she was angry at him. On the contrary, their conversation was very effective. Hobert expressed his attitude, and Georgina also explained her attitude.

After coming to Audrey and Gray Lint, Audrey asked curiously: "Hobert, someone said that you and Princess Alice came in a carriage?"

"Yes."

"why?"

Hobert suddenly discovered a very fucked up thing. According to the regulations of MI[-], the content of his work today must be kept confidential.

So: Why did you and Princess Alice ride in a carriage to the ball?Still staying by her side?
Hobert could only answer: Keep it secret, or you guessed it.

This answer quite a bit means "omitting five thousand words here"!

Now he is a little worried, will things escalate tonight?
(End of this chapter)