"That woman seems to have been targeted by the Wilderness Witch. Are you going to save her?"
Merlin shook his head, "A fixed number refers to something that cannot be easily changed, while fate is elusive."
"In myths, there are many instances where trying to avoid a prophecy's fulfillment actually leads to its fulfillment."
"There's no need to do anything extra."
"Will there be one more person in the Castle from now on?"
"Who knows? Just let nature take its course."
The night grew darker, and there was hardly a living soul on the streets, but Merlin, walking in the darkness, was perfectly in tune with the surrounding silence.
Although Herbert had left a long time ago, with his perception of the power of fate, he should be able to find him very soon.
After passing through several alleys, he saw the person he was looking for.
Herbert had already put on the clothes Merlin had given him, leaping between the houses of the City amidst the thick fog and night, like the God of Death in the night.
Merlin clasped his hands behind his back, with the Concealment Charm superimposed on him. He took a light step forward, flew up from the ground, and looked in the direction Herbert was moving.
He quickly located a sprawling Villa in the distance, probably thousands of square meters, and the lawns and courtyards outside the Villa were even more vast, to the point where one could ride a horse and gallop freely.
It seemed like a banquet was being held there, with many luxurious carriages parked at the entrance. Some elegantly dressed women and some people in military uniforms were disembarking from them.
Interestingly, the carriage that Merlin had seen before was also parked next to that residence.
"Speaking of which, I do recall hearing that person say something about a banquet about to begin," Merlin murmured softly, "These people should be the upper class of Britannia. In that case, the nobles who caused Herbert's family to be ruined might also be here."
"Does he know something?" Calcifer asked.
Merlin said nothing, merely silently landing near the Villa. He used magic to disguise himself, changing his clothes into a black formal suit suitable for a banquet.
Then, he walked directly to the Villa's main entrance.
"Sir, may I see your invitation?" The attendant at the door stopped Merlin.
Merlin turned his head to look at the attendant, "You don't recognize me?"
The attendant was stunned, then began to recall which noble this person in front of him was, but then, his gaze met Merlin's.
His eyes were deep, and a faint Fire flickered in his dark pupils.
The attendant's eyes gradually became dazed. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and said with a sudden realization:
"I remember now, you are Viscount Berwick from the South. Please come in."
He raised his hand, warmly gesturing for Merlin to enter.
Merlin smiled and slowly walked through the main entrance.
The high-ranking officials and nobles following behind Merlin did not find anything amiss with this scene, assuming he was merely a friend of the banquet's host.
"The composition of the upper class of the Britannia Empire is truly complex," Merlin looked around.
People of the World's three major skin colors—White, yellow, and black—were mostly present, along with some minority groups.
Although the country's name was related to Britain, there were not many people from old London with the Union Jack.
However, Merlin didn't care about this; these things held less appeal to him than the buffet table on one side, where attendants were placing various desserts and different foods.
Merlin, like a familiar guest, took a common cake knife from the side, cut a slice of cake for himself, placed it on a plate, and then used a knife and fork to put it into his mouth, nodding.
"Hmm, this trip wasn't in vain. As expected of a noble banquet."
"Is it delicious?" Calcifer asked curiously.
"It's alright, the taste is good. It's a savory cake."
"A savory cake?" Calcifer was a bit surprised, "How is it made?"
Merlin curiously poked at it with his knife and fork, finding some shrimp wrapped in cream inside.
"It should be a type of bread cake, with bread as the interlayer, fresh shrimp as the filling, and the top covered with cheese on a savory butter bread cake."
It is well known that the best compliment for a dessert is "not too sweet." In Merlin's era, various merchants added sweeteners with increasing recklessness each year, exceeding human perception of sweetness.
This cake was simply a refreshing exception in the dessert World.
"Bring me a portion to try too!" Calcifer said excitedly.
"That would be too undignified," Merlin said.
While Merlin and Calcifer were chatting, a conversation between two noblewomen on one side caught his attention.
"Duke Panacea's mansion is truly grand."
"Indeed, I heard it was bestowed upon the Panacea family by Emperor Sawyer and is fifteen acres. We are also here thanks to the Third Princess."
"Why thanks to the Third Princess? Isn't this the hundred-day banquet for Duke Panacea's son?"
"A hundred-day banquet couldn't invite so many nobles. Nobles from the North and South have all come. The real protagonist is that one."
One of the noblewomen pointed to a spot not far away. Merlin also followed her finger and looked into the distance. It was a German man in military uniform, standing tall and straight, with a very typical appearance: blonde hair, blue eyes, slightly drooping outer eyelids, and sunken eye sockets, meaning slightly almond-shaped eyes.
"Who is that? I don't seem to have ever seen him in the Imperial Capital."
"That is Ernst, the son of Grand Duke Pedi of the West Phalia Empire. The Emperor of the West Phalia Empire has no sons, so Grand Duke Pedi is almost the only legal heir, and he is the eldest son. He is the future Emperor of the West Phalia Empire!"
"Then what does that have to do with the Third Princess?"
"Oh, you, why are you so silly? A man and a woman, both unmarried. What else could it be?"
The noblewoman's eyes widened slightly, "You mean a marriage alliance?"
"Those fellows in the South have always wanted to reclaim their homeland, and the Empire urgently needs the help of the West Phalia Empire, so this marriage alliance came about."
"Goodness, so many important figures came for one blind date."
"This also happens to be Duke Panacea's son's hundred-day mark, and he had a child late in life, so he just took this opportunity to host a grand event."
"But speaking of which, I remember the Third Princess is blind, isn't she? How did this Prince Ernst come to be fond of the Third Princess?"
"Even though she is blind, she is beautiful! I heard the Third Princess is the most beautiful of the three princesses. People in the palace say she is the reincarnation of the Goddess of U.S. Venus.
And I heard that Prince Ernst met the Third Princess in the past and fell in love at first Site."
"I see."
"The intelligence-gathering abilities of these older women are strong regardless of the era or place," Merlin murmured with emotion.
Then, he heard one of the women excitedly say,
"Look, the Third Princess is here!"