Examine!

A flame rose from the darkness, illuminating the dozen or so figures sitting around the dining table, dressed in ironed suits and the family emblem on their chests, waiting quietly in the darkness.

These people are the sons and nephews of various military aristocratic families, and belong to the next generation of leaders in the family, and if nothing else, they will inherit the title in the future and become the next noble.

But at this moment, they all came to Duke Hawke's manor for a dinner party.

"It's early...."

Behind the glass, Ma Wei held a pocket watch in his hand, lifted the corner of the curtain, and saw the scene in the banquet.

It was only 7 p.m., and there was still a full hour before the dinner party began, but the nobles had come early, dressed formally, and unsmiling.

"Hang them for a while."

Katerina, who is well versed in hospitality, said: "The more times like this, the less we can be in a hurry, and whoever is in a hurry will be in a weak position." ”

"Well, I'm not in a hurry to show up yet, 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 you as the protagonist." ”

"No problem, I'll 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 a little 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.... Cabbage tea or something is still not on the table, I can't explain what happened to it. ”

"Father, don't worry, I have hidden all the dishes made by the master, and asked the maid to prepare a new one, and I will ensure that I will not have diarrhea after eating." Lu Jin agreed.

There was still an hour before the dinner began, and Mavi and Katerina were in no hurry to go out, and with Duke Hawke present, they would not lose their manners.

You have to be calm.

"I heard you suspect that Finn Drost is a member of the Liberty Society?"

Before the dinner began, Katerina talked to Mavi about something else: "Is this reliable?" ”

"The communication and the fat orange have gone on a quest to find Finn Drost, and as soon as he appears in Tyumen, we will be able to find out immediately and reveal his true identity." Ma Wei said: "But this kid is elusive, and there is no news so far." ”

"You said earlier that the members of the Freedom Society can use magic, which means that they have their own gods, and from a certain point of view, the Freedom Society may also be a church existence, can the communication and the orange cat handle it?"

"Edward has followed, it's not a big problem."

Hearing Edward's name, Katerina was immediately relieved.

It's not that she doesn't believe in the strength of the communication and the fat orange, it's just that under the premise that the opponent's situation is unknown, sending Edward, the strongest combat force of her own side, is the safest way.

If even Edward can't solve Finn Drost, it's useless for the others to go.

Approaching 8 o'clock, the young people sitting in the dining room gradually became a little impatient, Duke Hawke was simply a talker, he had been chatting with them for nearly an hour about cabbage, who wanted to listen to the story of cabbage, they were here to do business!

Kada...

Just when the young people were about to take it anymore, the doors of the restaurant were opened.

Katerina, dressed in a red evening dress, walked in slowly, her fair skin was dazzling in the candlelight, her hair was wrapped in a bun behind her head, and her hands were in front of her abdomen, like a prince and nobleman's temperament.

Behind her, Mavi, dressed in a priest's robe, held a copy of the Book of Truth on his chest.

Duke Hawke got up and sat aside, giving up his throne to Katerina, knowing that tonight's master was the former first princess of the Romanov kingdom.

The young men looked at Katerina intently, and Goffman's eyes straightened, and he pulled his collar and took a sip of the teacup on the table.

The maids walked in through the side door, replaced the flower baskets and tea cups on the table with cutlery and wine glasses, and served carefully prepared dishes one by one, such as rosemary lamb chops, cheese and herb baked snails, silver tower blood duck, fried foie gras with ostriches.... Typical Bourbon court cuisine.

The red wine woke up just right, mellow and attractive, and the restaurant that was deserted just now turned into a lavish dinner party in the blink of an eye.

"Everyone."

Katerina took her goblet, sat down at the head of the table, and greeted the young people from afar: "Welcome, to the Romanov Kingdom. ”

"To the Romanovs!"

Young people drink red wine, as if they were sipping power and power.

"Savor the chef's meal, I think you're all hungry."

Katerina picked up her knife and fork, cut the lamb chops meticulously, without mentioning the slightest hint of business, and 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 hungry, but it wasn't their stomachs that were hungry, but other appetites.

The knife and fork collided with the dinner plate, the red wine will be filled again by the maid before you finish drinking, there is no communication at the table, Katerina seems to be competing with her own lamb chops, Ma Wei does not speak, cut the lamb chops firmly, and put them on Yunia's plate.

Gradually, the young people who were born in the noble family were a little breathless, and began to exert themselves unconsciously, and the noise became louder and louder, they had been waiting for a long time, and finally met the main owner, and the other party was calmly tasting the food!

"Your Highness."

Finally, a young man with a mustache put down his knife and fork and asked, "Can we start?" ”

"Start what?"

"Let's get down to business, I think that's what you're inviting us for."

After a pause in the knife and fork, Katerina raised her head, her dark blue eyes swept over the seats on both sides, and after seeing that everyone was looking at her, she put down the knife and fork, took a sip of the wine glass, and said softly: "After you are all military nobles, your fathers have served under my father, made great achievements, and received the rewards they deserve, today.... I want you to swear allegiance to me. ”

"Of course, this is no problem, Your Highness, you are the daughter of His Majesty Peter, and we are happy to offer our loyalty." The eldest son of the family of Count Jorus said in a deep voice: "But before that, you should give some reasons, after all, we are all courtiers of His Majesty Paul I, and we are loyal, and we can only offer to one person. ”

"I'm going to win, that's why." Katerina said in a calm voice.

"And what about after you win?"

"I will reform, abolish the aristocracy, issue new decrees, and let the light shine on the Romanovs."

"You don't seem to understand what I mean...", the eldest son of the Count of Rous's family looked at him slightly, "I mean, what good is it for us if you win?" ”

"What benefits do you want?"

"Hmm... The name of nobility is known to everyone to be a false name, and there is no real benefit, and if you want to abolish the aristocracy, we are not against it, and we are very supportive of the policy you want to implement. The eldest son of the Count of Joros asked, "We just hope that Your Highness, after your victory, will remember our merits, such as appointing us as officials to carry out policies, so I think you will spare no effort to support you." ”

Katerina suddenly smiled, she did not answer the question of the eldest son of Jorus, but looked at Mavi: "Father, you can tell me, you also have a say in what happens after the victory." ”