The brown-haired diviner spotted the two people in the shadows as well. She paused in surprise but did not step into the grass. Miss Louisa's dress was relatively simple, but Miss Annette's long formal gown could not be snagged by the grass.
"Your champagne."
She smiled at Miss Louisa, then looked at Shade as though she were observing some rare animal.
"Detective Hamilton? Good evening. The doctor mentioned you in his letter. So he really found a new Gifted. Did he use some precious relic to overdraft his luck?"
Everyone's assessment of Doctor Schneider was remarkably consistent.
After exchanging greetings, Shade briefly explained the events of the evening again. Diviner Miss Annette was not as surprised as Miss Louisa had been.
"If that is the case, I actually have something to say as well."
She seemed almost too calm.
"What else is there?"
Miss Louisa asked hesitantly.
"Actually, I should not be saying this. It is intelligence from the Seer Association, and according to the rules, I cannot tell anyone else."
"But since everyone is here, I cannot let you walk into danger. Tell me, do you not want to know why Lassoya is attending the banquet? Was she really so deeply affected by that relic ring that she came here merely to accompany her lover?"
Miss Annette lightly tapped the glass goblet held between her thumb and slender middle finger with her index finger.
"Then what is the reason?"
Shade already had a bad feeling. With such absurd luck surrounding him, if nothing significant happened, it would be an insult to this marvelous night.
"They want to use the Sage Level relic God's Gift Box to synthesize the Angel Level relic Blood of Mercury. That requires more powerful materials as support."
"Lassoya came to the banquet for one of