The clamor could no longer be contained. Even though this was a noble banquet, even though Prince William Anjou was present, no one could hide their excitement:
"The first three cards were three 7s, and the fourth was the Queen? If he hadn't run into Mr. Olsenford, how could John Watson possibly have lost this round? How could anyone have such luck?"
Shade took a deep breath, glanced at the equally astonished Mr. Olsenford across from him, and then asked Margaret's brother:
"Prince William, according to the rules of Rhodes Cards, once you draw the Queen, you can't draw any more cards. But I drew this time because of a special rule, and that rule requires drawing two cards. Those two cards have no order of precedence, so may I continue drawing?"
"This..."
His Highness the Prince hesitated, then sent someone to find a staff member from the Seer Association. Tonight's banquet had invited only local nobles. Merchants like Mr. Olsenford had come along with friends and were not official invitees, so there was no Rhodes Cards arbiter from the Seer Association at the banquet.
The game was forced to pause for twenty minutes. Under everyone's urging, a servant rode swiftly to the Seer Association to fetch someone. When the elderly man arrived, dressed in the Association's uniform with an Ouroboros brooch on his chest, he listened to the details of the game, reconstructed what had just happened, and after some thought said:
"Special rules override basic rules. Something similar happened about forty-five years ago. Yes, although this Mr. John Watson has already drawn the Queen, he may still draw the final card."
The curiosity suppressed for twenty minutes had now reached its peak. Everyone was waiting to see what Shade's final card would be. It was not as though