Shade could not make much sense of such a tangled web of family relations, so he said:
"So that means Princess Leisha and Princess Angelina are related to the Follen Brothers as well? Oh, but I will not hold back, gentlemen. For Her Royal Highness the Princess Leisha, I will claim victory."
This was not a hostile declaration, merely a social courtesy. Queen Diana finally asked what she had truly wanted to ask:
"Shade, you may speak with the Follen Brothers. Though they do not hold knightly titles, their character and conduct are well known throughout Kasonlik. But how did you come up with the idea of swearing in Leisha's name?"
Shade felt Dorothy lightly bump his hand beside him. Without changing expression, he gave the answer Her Royal Highness the Princess had prepared long ago:
"When Her Royal Highness was corresponding with my companion for this evening, Miss Dorothy Louisa, she learned that I would be participating in the Around the City Equestrian Competition and asked whether I intended to swear in the name of the Duchess of Saladir. Miss Galina advised me against doing so, because it involved certain... issues of inheritance rights."
Shade did not actually know what that meant, but Leisha believed there would definitely be no problem as long as he said it this way.
"My armor was purchased from an antique collector whom Her Royal Highness Leisha helped me find. To thank Her Royal Highness, I used her name—I will bring her victory."
Queen Diana's expression did not change. She spoke further with Shade about how he had met Leisha and expressed concern for his health after his serious illness. Shade politely thanked her for the flowers and gifts she had sent when she dispatched someone to visit him.
This conversation also led the