Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 865: Are You Already Very Old?
On the sidelines of the court, Xino was reviewing with the two some problems they had encountered while playing.

"Miss Alice, as a new player with no basic skills, the most important thing you should do now is not to pursue advanced techniques, but to develop a correct sense of the ball. Blindly pursuing professional-level techniques will not only lead to a lack of sense of the ball, but will also be of no benefit to your future growth. Just like you were struggling with the so-called outspin serve during practice just now, but how many times have you successfully served the ball? Technique, endurance and posture are all important, but the most important thing is the mentality. Do you understand?"

"I understand, I understand!" Alice nodded repeatedly. "But the outspin serve is really cool! As the little prince of the fluffy ball, if I can't even learn this iconic serve, wouldn't I be living up to my reputation?"

Xinuo was speechless. She had never heard of such a serve. Besides, when did Alice become famous? It would be similar if it was Gloria now.

The gray-haired girl relied on the extra memories and experience in her mind to easily defeat Alice in the practice just now, but this was not something to be proud of, because Alice was just a novice, and considering Gloria's background of "becoming famous at a young age", she should not be able to win the fight.

"So Miss Gloria, your problem is also very obvious." Xino turned his attention to Gloria, who was gulping down water to replenish her energy. Gloria put down the kettle and blinked naturally: "Ah? Do I have a problem too? I thought my performance just now was perfect."

"Of course." Xino was not moved by her cuteness and pointed out mercilessly: "If Miss Alice's problem is that she pursues skills beyond her level, your problem is that you always want to use the skills you have learned to perfection - the serve must be perfect, the return must be perfect, even the return and positioning must be perfect, as if it is not enough to show how advanced your skills are. However, you must understand that all techniques are for tactics. The purpose of a true wind flower ball master to use techniques is to introduce the next game into his or her own tactical goals. What should be done when pursuing a quick victory, what should be done when you want a long game... These perspectives extending from the tactical level are more important. As for skills, people are not machines. In high-intensity games, there will always be distractions and mistakes. The consequence of excessive pursuit of perfection is that once a mistake is made, it will be a disaster and there will be no chance of recovery."

It was not enough to just talk. She got interested and snatched Alice's racket. She posed for Gloria and demonstrated: "For example, in the third game just now, you tried to start with a perfect serve, with precise positioning and predictive swings, to control the interval and strength of each hit, so as to control the opponent's position. This process sounds easy, but it is difficult to do. Every step must be correct. Even if you make a mistake in the start serve, it may lead to your own defeat. This is too risky. We generally do not recommend it unless you are in desperate situation. If you want to control the rhythm of the game, you can do it like me, start with a forehand, exert force steadily, don't pursue pressing the line too much, and stabilize the lower limit at the cost of lowering the upper limit..."

"Oh!" Gloria watched intently, nodding thoughtfully while listening to her explanation, as if she really understood something. Because she was a talented player, even if this body had never touched the wind flower ball before, the memory and experience in her brain could help her quickly integrate it. As for Alice, she didn't get such a good treatment. She couldn't even understand those professional terms. How could you expect her to understand tactics, strategy and game rhythm?
She could only mutter sourly: "Gifted characters are no longer popular nowadays. Only characters like me who have honed their skills from a beginner to an expert are attractive."

Well said, what exactly did you hone in on?
No one paid any attention to her. Alice felt bored and curled her lips. She lowered her head to pick up the wind flower ball on the ground and played with it in her hands. But she thought that instead of talking about this, she might as well start practicing. What's the use of theory? I, Alice, am a practical person!

"That's not right." She pinched her chin and looked at Xinuo hesitantly: "Didn't you say you weren't interested in the Wind Flower Ball? How come you are so familiar with these technical techniques and professional terms?"

As the voice came from far away, an old man in a black tuxedo appeared outside the court. When Xino saw him, his eyes lit up and his tone became cheerful: "Weber, why are you here? Didn't you go to inspect the vineyard?"

As she thought about it, Alice suddenly realized that something was wrong.

Shino, who was demonstrating to Gloria how to serve accurately, seemed to be stiff for a moment, then she put away her racket, coughed as if nothing had happened, and said, "Because I am from Grindelwald, and wind flower ball is the most popular sport in the Grindelwald area. It is highly discussed both in the city and in the countryside. So, even if I am not interested, all kinds of information will come to me. Over time, I have learned a little bit about it. Is this not surprising?"

"Miss, have you invited any guests to your house?"

"Yes."

It sounds reasonable, but——

Thinking of this, she became complacent again, as if the practical school naturally had the upper hand over the theoretical school.

"But," Alice became even more suspicious, staring at Xino intently, as if she wanted to get to the bottom of things. "The techniques and tactics you mentioned, as well as the movements and postures you demonstrated in person, all looked very professional. Have you ever participated in a wind flower ball competition, Xino?"

"Uh……"

"Yes, but the inspection has ended. The business situation is generally good, so I came back to report to the master and you." The old man named Weber said respectfully. His eyes swept over Linge and others implicitly, and soon fell on Xino. He bowed slightly and saluted: "I saw Brandi eating grass outside the court. I thought she ran out of the stable naughtily. I was about to send her back, but I didn't expect that it was the young lady who took her out for a walk. And these guests, are they the new friends you mentioned before?"

Shino's smile became a little awkward, and anyone could see that she must be hiding something. Alice immediately became excited, although she didn't know what to be excited about, but this feeling was like secretly peeping into someone else's privacy, didn't it feel exciting?
It seemed that the genius player would not give up until he got to the bottom of the matter. Xino thought to himself that this was not good. Just as he was thinking of a way to divert this guy's attention, a savior from outside the field appeared in time -

Xino said to Ling Ge and others, "Let me introduce you. This is Webber Winslet, the steward of the Chardouri Manor. He is also the elder who has watched me grow up since I was a child. He is like another grandfather to me."

"Miss, I am really ashamed of what you said." Weber smiled, then bowed to Linge and the others, "It has been a long time since we had any new guests at the Chateau. Since you are my friends, please treat this place as your home. If you need anything, please tell me directly, and I will do my best to satisfy you."

Lingge nodded slightly: "Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Weber." Then, Xino introduced the origins of Lingge and others to Weber. The old butler obviously knew the inside story, so he did not question the identities of these strangers who suddenly appeared in the backyard of the manor. But when Xino mentioned that Alice and Gloria would participate in this year's Yamit Cup Championship, he was a little surprised.

"No wonder the lady brought all the guests here." He said with emotion: "If I remember correctly, you haven't used this court for a long time, right?"

Haven't used it for a long time?
In other words, has it been used before?

Sure enough, the lack of interest in the Wind Flower Ball was just an excuse.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Xinuo, with curiosity and confusion, but both curiosity and confusion pointed to the same thing, that is, why did she cover up her past? Is it shameful for the heir of a big family to like playing volleyball? And Linger thought more, he noticed that although Weber said that this court had not been used for a long time, when they first came here, they found that it was very clean, unlike the wool warehouse and bee farm they had seen before, which were already in a semi-abandoned state.

Considering that all the servants of the Chardouri Manor had been dismissed and that the person in charge of cleaning and maintaining the manor was now Xino, it was needless to say who had maintained this long-unused golf course in such good condition.

She is very familiar with the tactics and techniques of volleyball, can't help but give instructions when watching the two people training, and still comes to clean the court from time to time even though she hasn't played volleyball for a long time... All these details can prove that this girl still has a lingering love for it, but why doesn't she keep this hobby? It doesn't look like she was forced to give up due to family pressure, right?
Facing the gazes of the crowd, Xinuo smiled helplessly. She didn't seem to intend to explain anything, but changed the subject and talked to the old housekeeper about the situation when he went to inspect the industry, which made it impossible for Lingge and the others to continue asking questions. After all, the girl was the heir of the Gustaf family. It was natural for her to understand the operating conditions of the family industry. Outsiders like them had no reason to disturb her.

This simple episode completely interrupted the previous topic. After the two sides finished their conversation, the old butler Weber looked up at the sky and said goodbye to everyone, because he had to go back to report the operating conditions of those industries to Xino's grandfather, who was also the current head of the Gustaf family. However, before he left, Xino asked him to do another thing.

"Weber, if you are going to see Grandfather, please ask him for me. I would like to invite the guests to have dinner at the manor. I wonder if Grandfather will allow it."

"I will definitely convey your message, young lady." Weber glanced at the guests behind Xino and a gentle smile appeared on his face: "The master is a warm and hospitable person. He will definitely be very happy to know that young lady has made so many new friends."

Then he turned and left, his figure gradually disappearing at the end of the court path, hidden by the dense cypress trees. When the footsteps could no longer be heard, Xino withdrew his gaze and turned back to apologize to everyone: "I'm sorry, I've actually thought about keeping you all for dinner a long time ago, but I just haven't had the right opportunity to say it. I hope you don't mind this abrupt request."

"It doesn't matter." Ling Ge said, "Since you are staying here as a guest, it is only natural to meet the head of the Gustaf family. Otherwise, it would not be the etiquette of a guest."

Alice didn't care, and even wanted it, because she had long wanted to experience a noble dinner. Last time, only Lingge and Gloria attended the dinner held at Xiaoliang Palace. The genius player was indignant about this, thinking that the protagonist's role was taken away from him. Now was the chance to make up for it!

If Xino knew what she was thinking, he should have kindly reminded her not to have too high expectations. After all, the Gustave family has always been known for its frugality and friendliness. It is impossible to expect to experience a dinner of the same scale as the one at Xiao Lianggong at the Chatoli Manor - there aren't even enough people!
Unfortunately, she couldn't read minds, so she could only let Alice continue to indulge in her own fantasy.

At this time, Metien asked curiously: "What kind of person is Xino's grandfather?"

This is a question that other people also want to know.

There are only three people living in the Chardouri Manor now. Among them, they have had the longest contact with Heno, and have just met the old butler Weber, and know nothing about Heno's grandfather. Since you are going to visit the host, you must have a basic understanding of the host family, otherwise, what should you do if you accidentally say something offensive at the table?
"Grandfather."

Metien's question made Xino recall the impression that old man had left on her after a long time. He was her only relative in the world since her mother and father passed away. His harsh reprimands when he taught her martial arts, his heartache and regret when he saw her abandon her responsibilities, and his loneliness and desolation when he said to her in a slightly melancholy tone, "Last night, I dreamed of Reynard again" while lying in the shadow of the fire... Slowly, a complex look of longing, admiration, sadness and helplessness emerged in the girl's eyes.

She lowered her head and answered Metien's question softly, with a faint smile on her lips: "He is a true knight."

“But now I’m very old.”

These two short sentences outlined the image of an old knight who was weathered and old in everyone's mind.

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)