Noble Gathering 2 - 692

Arriving openly would naturally spread the word of the fact that nobles were eating there, which would increase the popularity and general interest in the restaurant. His Aunt understood this, and they had a sort of unspoken agreement by eating there.

Skymender led them to the top floor, where he had his best chef prepare them food. To say it was worthy of a noble eating it would not be completely correct, but it was by no means bad food. 

Nobody had any complaints, at least. After all, it was still high quality food.

After eating, Skymender and Melly returned to Aunt Skyless's house, where they talked for a while, before finally leaving and returning to his house.

Over the next few days, he continued to try and create a recipe. This time, it was different from the others. 

He had created recipes for the lower and middle floors, but nothing was quite good enough to stand out for those who ate on the top floor. The top floor was the most important floor.

The entire purpose of the restaurant had not been to make money, but to create a reputation. While the bottom two floors, where commoners ate, would not make much of a difference, the top floor would. That was where the wealthiest commoners and nobles would eat, and if the food was exceptional, then it would be remembered.

Skymender spent the rest of the time he had leading up to the noble gathering working on a recipe. He did not finish before it started, but he was definitely getting there. 

With the noble gathering tomorrow, he and Melly got prepared. The next day, around noon, they arrived at the Imperial Palace. Although most people his age would attend with an adult, he and Melly did not.

It was not something required. 

As he entered, everything seemed the same as before. 

Perhaps there were some different people, and some people were more aged than before, but that was all. Skymender and Melly found a table in the room, sitting down while nobles poured in and began to speak. 

Skymender didn't have any interest in socializing with others at the moment. He simply sat down and enjoyed the food, occasionally chatting with Melly.

Eventually, his Aunt Skyless and her kids came. They stopped by the table to say hello, but eventually found their own nearby.

Time passed, and some people came up to say hello to Skymender. He stood up and greeted them. They would talk for a moment before moving elsewhere.

Near the start of the noble gathering, Skymender was approached by two familiar people. It was Duchess Vass, and her daughter Val.

Skymender stood up and greeted them.

"Hello, Skymender. You've grown well." Duchess Vass said with a smile.

"Thank you. You haven't aged a day."

Duchess Vass's smile grew.

"Hello, Skymender." Val said.

She was clearly nervous, but Skymender acted as though he didn't notice.

"Hello, Val. How are you?" He asked.

"I've been doing well. I suppose I owe that to you." She said.

Skymender chuckled.

Val and Melly said hello as well, since they were familiar with each other.

Although he acted as though he didn't notice, Skymender could see competition in Val's eyes. Skymender just inwardly shook his head. She was destined to be disappointed.

Eventually, they went off on their own, though Val seemed reluctant.

Not long after, the noble gathering began. 

The Royal families of the four Kingdoms arrived one after the other, their entrances grand.

Finally, the Imperial family arrived. Same as before, the four Royal families and the Imperial family sat in a different area than the other tables. Sword Master Shang stood behind the Emperor, while the Imperial Scholar stood a bit to the side, looking around calmly.

The noble gathering officially began. As before, many people got up and approached the tables of the four Royal families and the Imperial family. 

Skymender also moved in that direction, but not towards any of the families. Instead, he walked towards the Imperial Scholar. Although he was one of the most well known people in the Empire, nobody was around him. At most, people looked at him from afar.

He gave off an air of not wanting to be approached, as well as an air of superiority that came from his intelligence.

However, Skymender ignored it. Although he knew that the Imperial Scholar was still in a different league than him, it was only because of age. If they had lived the same amount of years, Skymender believed that he would, at the very least, be his equal, if not better.

Skymender arrived next to the Imperial Scholar, who noticed him.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"That's a rude way to greet someone." Skymender said.

The Imperial Scholar barely glanced at him. "I'm always in a bad mood during these stupid things. I understand why I should be here for the intelligence test, but is it really necessary for me to stand here the entire time?" 

"You could also speak to people." Skymender said.

"I've done more than enough speaking in my time before becoming the Imperial Scholar. I'm old, and I should at least be given the respect of not having to deal with people."

Although the Imperial Scholar seemed to be speaking harshly to Skymender, people who watched them were surprised, even shocked at the way that the Imperial Scholar was acting.

Usually, he would give disdainful stares and speak with a sharpness that drove anyone who approached away. Even nobles, those who commoners viewed as unapproachable beings, avoided talking to him.

However, when talking to Skymender, he merely seemed irritated, and it wasn't even directed towards him.

Among those who noticed this was a person of nearly the highest status in the Empire.

She was one of the Imperial Princesses, the youngest. She also happened to be fourteen years old, and would soon be attending the Imperial School. She expected to be number one in her class. It wasn't just her who expected this, but most people around her. Within the Imperial family, only her father seemed to not believe in her for some reason.

As she saw Skymender talking to the Imperial Scholar, she narrowed her eyes.