After having a simple lunch at home with Bella, Shade was taken out again by Galina. This time, however, he brought Little Mia with him. He realized that during this Year-End Festival week, he seemed to have neglected the cat and had rarely taken her outside.
The so-called "visit to Yodel Palace" did not actually have many specific objectives. After entering the palace, Galina merely led Shade around. Occasionally, they would chat with people Shade had seen in newspapers in the gardens, halls, or corridors, and she would introduce Shade and explain what he did.
Naturally, Shade also met Larus III and Queen Diana that afternoon, though not together. He met His Majesty the King at two in the afternoon in the king's study. Shade felt as though every time he met him, it was always here.
His Majesty the King had long known about the relationship between Shade and Galina, so he was not at all surprised to see Galina arrive with Shade. Instead, he brought up a topic they had discussed when they met during last year's Year-End Festival:
"Hamilton of Leijed, are you still keeping in touch with Princess Margaret of House Anjou?"
"Yes. We correspond every month. Princess Margaret has not distanced herself from me because of the recent events between our two countries. On the contrary, she said she believes war is wrong."
Larus III, seated behind the desk, nodded:
"This year, Anros may send you to Weilun Dai'er City on business. When that happens, you can privately make contact with that Princess again."
He did not say much more to Shade. Later, when Galina took Shade to meet Queen Diana, they were in an enormous reception room at the rear of Yodel Palace, somewhere Shade had never been before.
Only afterward did Shade learn