The dinner party

Clack

Clock

Clack

In an extensive hall illuminated by various chandeliers covered in small and big magic lamps, the sounds of spoons and forks hitting plates echoed in the silence. Right below the largest and brightest chandelier which had a faint glow of blue around its silver body, a large dining table was placed.

The dining table was big enough for at least 20 people to sit around it, however, there were only four people currently engaged in eating their dinner at the table. At the head of the table sat a middle-aged man with light brown hair and green eyes. The expensive cloth he was wearing was a little bit tight around his belly due to his slightly fat stomach, but the man didn't seem to care about that fact and was staring at the food on his plate with creased brows.

On his right, sat a woman with amber eyes and curly black hair, who had a beautiful and youthful face despite being in her forties. Her elegant gown didn't betray her image of the respectful yet pretty countess she was. Right in front of the woman and on the left side of the middle-aged man, a young boy with amber eyes and light-brown hair was seated, his head lowered and his full attention on the piece of meat on his plate.

And finally, a young girl with curly light-brown hair and green eyes sat on the left side of the middle-aged woman. She wore a light dress that was best for the hot weather of the summer, yet pretty at the same time. She was poking a piece of steak with her knife, but not eating anything at all and instead, sending occasional glares at the other occupants of the table.

After a while that all of the family finished their main dish and were waiting for the dessert to be served, the middle-aged hair of the family finally raised his head and clasped his hands in an attention-attracting way, then smiled at his son.

"How are you feeling these days, Alaric?"

The young boy slightly flinched, which didn't escape the eyes that were focused on him, and raised his head. He forced a smile on his lips and nodded his head.

"I'm feeling fine, thank you for your concern."

"Ahaha!"

The man, the count, chuckled and patted his son's shoulder.

"Don't be so formal around us! We are family after all!"

"Y-yes. I understand."

"How is your memory, son?"

Alaric turned to his mother.

"Ah, that's still the same."

The woman shone him a smile, though her eyes looked pained as she took the image of her son in.

"Sigh, Goddess, why did such a thing happen to my son..."

"Don't worry, Emma, he'll get fine soon."

"I hope so..."

Emma, Alaric's mother, clasped her hands and heaved a sigh. She thought about a matter for a few seconds before opening her mouth once again.

"Alaric, now that you are heading to the empire... If you don't get better by then, you have to seek help from the doctors of the empire! You got it?"

The other three people at the table all turned to her in unison.

"Emma... What?"

The countess turned to her husband with a stern face.

"Why? Isn't that possible? As much as I know, the empire has better doctors than us. They also have a high number of healing priests, which we lack! There was never a law saying that the guests to the emperor's birthday were not allowed to use the doctors and priests in there!"

The count listened to his wife, took in a deep breath, and shook his head.

"There is nothing stopping him from seeking help from those people, but I don't think that's the best idea. First of all, we can't take the risk of other nobles finding out what has happened to Alaric. It's fine as long as he regains his memories, but what if he doesn't? I don't even want to think about the commotion that will rise. Second, I don't think that the king would be happy about the fact that we, the count's family of Loyatou, asked for help from the empire. Third, what would the empire think of us, sending someone with a memory loss to their emperor's birthday? Don't you think that it will only put us in danger?"

Hearing those explanations that matched with her logic and also her experiences as a countess, the woman lowered her head with a dejected face.

"Then what should we do..."

"Isn't that obvious?"

At that moment, the young lady that had been silent until then finally said something. As all the eyes turned towards her, she lowered her head a little bit, tilted, curled up the edges of her lips to a faint smile, and sank her gaze. Her actions made her beautiful face look serene and thoughtful.

"If my little brother is sick, I can attend the party in his stead. Instead of taking so many risks by sending Alaric there and probably putting his life in danger, I could go instead. He is still ill and needs to rest to regain his health."

The young lady raised her head to look at her father.

"I should at least help my family in such situations."

She shone a smile at her brother, who was staring at her with a dumbfounded face and lowered her head again. The lady said nothing after that. No one said anything for a few moments, till the silence was broken by Alaraic's energetic and cheerful voice.

"You are such a considerate person, sister!"

He beamed brightly, his smile wide and his face happy. The three members of his family all seemed to be stunned by his smile, all of them too focused on the boy's face and words, that none of them noticed the little servant boy who was slowly approaching the curtains and gradually pulling them down, not even the old butler that was glaring at the kid from the door's entrance with bloodshot eyes.

Well, except for one person.

'What's that kid doing there?'

Alaric took the sight of the kid who pulled down the curtains before jumping out of one of the open windows and vanishing from sight.

"Mmmph!"

Rustle Rustle

He heard a few strange noises from outside but had to soon turn his attention back to his father.