"The first target."
Shade thought to himself.
Young Philip walked straight toward the three at the door. After greeting Princess Angelina with a smile, the rather handsome young gentleman asked in an exaggerated tone:
"Oh, Sir Hamilton? What sort of gift have you brought? Did Duke Galina help you choose it?"
It was an obvious provocation. Yet when he looked at Shade after saying that, he discovered that Shade was not angry at all. Instead, his eyes were shining, and he looked oddly excited.
What kind of reaction was that?
"She" chuckled softly beside Shade's ear.
"I've been in this world for so long, and I've finally met someone this stupid! I knew it, how could everyone in this world possibly be so rational? I've finally met someone like this!"
The Outlander immediately got into the mood. Though he knew the other man was provoking him because of Miss Galina, he was still happy to respond:
"And this gentleman is...?"
He pretended not to recognize him and asked hesitantly. Those who had noticed the commotion at the door immediately supplied the answer:
"Sir Hamilton, this is Daniel Philip, the eldest son of Marquis Philip."
Shade nodded, putting on an expression as though he had only just understood why the other man had provoked him:
"So that's it. Then, sir, what have you brought as a gift?"
Shade himself held a Knight Title and could therefore be addressed as "Sir," while Young Philip had not yet inherited his title and was thus addressed by Shade as "sir."
The brown-haired young man also understood the implication in Shade's words, but he still answered with a smile:
"I only returned from the New Continent last month, and I brought back a top-grade ruby mined there. I had a craftsman polish it and present