Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 906 - 906: The Lost Penny (Additional Release for Votes)

At this moment, Shard wanted to refuse, but Dorothy tugged at him. So he kept his mouth shut, thought carefully, and asked the safest question:

"Your Highness, how's your mathematics?"

"Very good, I have an excellent math teacher."

The Princess said confidently.

"The following problem involves addition and subtraction within thirty. Just give the answer within half a minute."

Shard said, and Princess Margaret's voice rose slightly:

"Within thirty? If it's not complicated continuous calculations, ten seconds or even five seconds will do."

"Your Highness's math is indeed excellent."

Sir Plisha also chimed in.

"Alright, please listen carefully, everyone can calculate together."

Shard coughed, and people looked at him, so Shard said:

"In the Northern District Hymn Square of Tobesk City, there is a Three Cats Inn. Three days ago, three gentlemen went to stay, each paying 10 pennies, a total of 30 pennies."

"Is it that cheap?"

Princess Margaret asked curiously.

"It's just an analogy, maybe it's just for lodging, not including meals and laundry."

Lecia reminded.

"The innkeeper, Mrs. Sangmi, was in a good mood that day and decided to give the three gentlemen a discount, so she let a little boy return five pennies to the three of them."

Shard continued, holding up five fingers:

"The boy couldn't evenly split the five pennies among the three, so he decided to reward himself with 2 pennies for his errand."

Shard heard someone laugh, and he smiled too:

"So, he returned the remaining 3 pennies to the three gentlemen."

Princess Margaret nodded:

"It is indeed addition and subtraction within thirty, so what's the question?"

"Before asking, Your Highness Lecia, please tell me, how much did each gentleman spend?"

"That's simple, 9 pennies."

Lecia said, and Shard nodded again, asking Princess Margaret:

"After getting back 3 pennies, the three gentlemen spent a total of 27 pennies, plus the 2 pennies the boy kept for himself, that's 29 pennies. So, where did the remaining 1 penny go?"

Upon hearing this question, Princess Margaret found it amusing at first but realized after a few seconds that something seemed off.

"Twenty-seven plus two equals twenty-nine."

She kept pondering this simple calculation in her mind and then reviewed the simple scenario, trying to find something amiss.

And when Shard saw that the other couldn't provide an answer after tens of seconds, he knew she had fallen into his mental trap. He breathed a sigh of relief, stroking the little Mia on his lap.

[What would you do if she really answered correctly?]

The voice beside his ear suddenly asked, causing Shard's lips to twitch:

"Even if it means exposing the identity of the grey-headed eagle, I won't let anyone take Mia away."

The thirty-second time passed quickly, and not only Princess Margaret but none of the surrounding people could answer Shard's question.

So Shard looked to Madam Mona Iceberg, the game host, who shook her head slightly, delayed for another ten seconds, and then softly declared:

"It seems that Hamilton Knight's 'riddle' is difficult enough, Rejed's Hamilton wins the riddle game."

But only a few clapped, not because they were unhappy Shard won against Princess Margaret, but because they were all pondering the answer to the question:

"Shard, this question is too simple, but I just can't figure out where the missing penny went."

Dorothy was the first to raise the question; she repeated Shard's question and then asked:

"It's obviously so simple, but the more I think about it, the more it irritates me. Did you use hypnotism to change all of our understanding of mathematics?"

People laughed in agreement, and Shard shook his head:

"Dorothy, your 'Hamilton Detective Stories' didn't grant me the ability of 'hypnosis'."

"So where did the missing 1 penny go?"

Lecia also asked, clearly not understanding.

"How about this."

Shard didn't directly reveal the answer:

"Your Highness, I don't intend to take your jewelry, and wisdom shouldn't be a trick to seize a noble lady's ornaments. So how about this, I won't reveal the answer, but if you can tell me the answer before this banquet ends, it'll be a tie."

He smiled and picked up little Mia:

"Of course, in a tie, you can't take my cat. But if you're interested in it, you can invite me to the next banquet, I'll bring it along."

Mia seemed discontent with Shard picking her up, but when she noticed Shard's hand reaching towards the fruit platter on the table, she quickly closed her mouth obediently.

"Okay, I'll figure out the answer before the banquet ends."

Princess Margaret said softly, her expression still calm:

"But I also admit I lost to you; I'm not someone who can't take a loss."

Then she sighed softly:

"This question seems too simple, but the more I think about it, the more unsettling it gets. Where did that penny go?"

Not just her, none of the surrounding people could provide an answer, so after the riddle game ended, no one opened up a new topic immediately.

Shard gently leaned back on the sofa, also contemplating:

"Showing one's Power and Wisdom tonight is easy, but how exactly should I display Charm? Do I really have to invite the bride of the wedding to dance? Won't I be shot 13 times at home tomorrow? Charm..."

[Desire]'s flesh enhanced this body's appearance, and the tribute of countless souls in the Interstice of Life and Death made his soul even more enchanting. At this moment, having displayed unparalleled Wisdom and proposed a riddle no one could answer, Shard pondering under the gaslight caught the attention of all the young ladies around.

"Displaying Charm... oh, it's really difficult. If it were easy to display Charm, I wouldn't have been single all the time back in my Hometown."

He complained inwardly and then heard 'her' laughter. Tonight, 'she' was in a good mood, which Shard could tell from the gentle laughter:

[At least, you've shown me your Charm.]

"What use is that? Aren't you me?"

The sofa rest area's activity didn't last long, and after the riddle game, Shard originally wanted to talk more with Mr. Plisha of the 'Guiding Moon,' but they only exchanged business cards, and the gentleman left as if he saw an acquaintance.

Not long after he left, Princess Margaret also excused herself, saying she wanted to rest for a moment and headed to the third-floor lounge with her Maid, and Dorothy's writer friends also agreed to go to the garden behind the manor to admire the moon.

People near the sofa suddenly decreased a lot, and after saying goodbye to Princess Margaret, Lecia opened her feather fan with a swish, covering the lower half of her face, tilted slightly, and whispered in Dorothy's ear:

"I have a hand-copied 'Summer Night Collection,' Miss Luisa; are you interested in joining your male companion to come upstairs with me to take a look... together."

She tried to keep her tone calm; although speaking to Dorothy, her eyes kept lingering on Shard, and Shard understood the meaning in her gaze.

"Of course, Your Highness."

Dorothy's face turned slightly red, but she still spoke softly:

"You go ahead, we'll catch up shortly."

Carefully looking around, she then gently patted Lecia's arm.

Lecia nodded slightly, bid Shard a very ladylike farewell, then lifted her skirt, and headed towards the stairs with her personal maid.

Once Lecia, crowned, walked away, Dorothy cautiously said to Shard:

"Just now, Her Highness invited us to see the 'Summer Night Collection.'

Shard controlled his expression, maintaining a normal tone:

"You go upstairs first, I'll follow later."

He could roughly understand why Lecia chose that location; it was not only convenient for a meeting of three but also quite fascinating.

"Okay, be quick; there's not much time tonight."

Dorothy spoke softly, her tone made Shard suspicious she was Lecia, but Mia clearly didn't react.

So Miss Writer got up and left as well, and Shard, after her figure disappeared far up the stairs in the banquet hall, stood up and greeted the others on the sofa before heading towards the stairs amidst 'her' laughter.

"Wisdom," "Power," and "Charm" don't need to be rushed, after all, there's still plenty of time tonight. But on the Day of the Red Butterfly, watching the 'Summer Night Collection' with Lecia and Dorothy together... the remaining time tonight is actually quite limited.