The banquet (part 1)

"Bernard! Our guests of honor are almost here, and the desserts are not yet served!"

The Archduchess never broke flutter pace as she fanned herself anxiously, a few loose curls of her classic updo flying up and down simultaneously with the motion of her wrist. She never neglected her duties to smile here and there or wave a hand meanwhile when she made eye contact with one of the guests that swarmed into the celebration hall.

News about the King of Emoria attending the banquet had everyone worrying about the security aspects of the celebration with a nearby forest infested with rebels, while the event planning and management fell completely on the mistress of house de Lanark.

The major-domo made sure to stand three steps next to the Archduchess at all times today, he fixed his monocle with his index finger and checked the time on his silver pocket watch.

"Madam, they are but following my instructions to serve it at noon, sharp,"

Bernard anticipated the following reaction and then watched with a straight face as Grace de Lanark flushed crimson.

The social butterfly was skilled at entertaining guests, but supervising the details at ceremonies of that magnitude was usually left in Adela's care. It was not the case this time around since the mother-daughter relationship suffered a heavy blow two days ago when the damsel was attacked in the forest after leaving the house without taking permission or giving notice.

Grace's colors returned to normal seeing servants carrying various dessert plates and placing them neatly over the silver trays of the open buffet that extended on the south, west, and east side of the vast hall.

Satisfaction engulfed her nerves and soothed her as her eyes took in her surroundings, the magnificent celebration was a colorful one coming to life with the latest trends in dresses the noblewomen wore, the noblemen looked equally exquisite in their finest suits, all excited to be around their King and meet the two heroes who became the talk of the town.

She gave Adela a disapproving sidelong glance. Her youngest did not go with the red dress the Baroness chose for her and went with a much simpler white one instead, taking full advantage of the fact that the Archduchess was not on speaking terms with her at the moment to do whatever her disobedient heart desired.

Grace suppressed a frustrated sigh and turned her attention to the other side catching a glimpse of Larissa who looked like a dazzling jewel in the blue dress the Archduchess personally chose for the occasion. She covered her smile with her purple silk fan and ever so slightly leaned backward.

"Larissa, remember what I told you about the two von Conradie merchants,"

Hearing her mother loud and clear, Adela looked sullen — Grace was not the only one to hold an opinion when it came to the rescuers, the wind itself seemed to gossip about the two for they were all that Lanark currently talked about.

"Not descending of noble origins does not make one's worth any less in our modern days. The source of wealth is not of significance either, aristocrats only care about its current whereabouts. You understand what I am saying daughter, don't you?"

"Yes, mother,"

Adela tried to make sense of her sister's somber tone and the melancholic glint in her hazel eyes, the two of them talked a lot about Andreas, and she subtly yet feverously encouraged Larissa to make acquaintance with him. It had nothing to do with the King's cruel implication the other day, Adela simply found the angel truly suitable for her sister.

Does his background present that much of an obstacle?

Both ladies were shocked to learn of the men's social status when the King personally sent news about it. Not noblemen the way Adela presumed back at that forest, but merchants who sought Emoria to explore investment opportunities. The two formally introduced themselves to King Emanuel's counselor upon receiving the invitation to the banquet as Andreas and Egon von Conradie from Kolhis, a faraway empire known for its riches.

Did the Archduchess pressured her too much then...

The conversation that took place in the Archduke's study did not reach Larissa's ears, but her mother seemed adamant about the matchmaking, ever so eager to marry her daughters off to those who had enough wealth and could provide the same level of living the ladies are accustomed to.

Adela's line of thought was interrupted when the closed doors of the celebration hall were opened loudly by the royal guards, one of them stood in the middle and took a deep breath.

"The guests of honor have arrived! Andreas von Conradie and Egon von Conradie of the Kolhis empire!"

Her heartbeats stuttered as if she was back in that forest again, and the silent hall absorbed the regal entrance of the two men who carried the confidence of monarchs descending the long staircase with no less than a superb attitude. Andreas wore a black suit that was not softened by the white shirt noblemen of Emoria wore for formal events, his handsome yet delicate features seemed to appeal to every lady present, and excited murmurs erupted left and right about him, while an opposing wave of dejected murmurs targeted the man walking by his side.

Egon's sharp features and darker tones were accelerated by the unconventional black armor he had on, it added a layer of impenetrable brutality that Adela found excessive and needless for the setting.

It is but a banquet, not the battlefield...

Her breathing accelerated to the point of pain, but the youngest Lady of house de Lanark managed to look unfazed by Egon's presence which ignited a dull sensation under the skin of her waist where the vindictive memory of his touch made a reoccurrence.

The guard stood in the middle of the hall's entrance once more and cleared his throat, two more guards stood by each side of the entrance raising blue and yellow Emorian flags and purple ones with de Lanark's family crest.

"All hail the eternal sunshine of Emoria, King Emanuel de Lanark! and the Shield of Emoria, Archduke Kaiser de Lanark!"

The two brothers shared many prominent facial features such as a wide forehead and the same shade of azure blue in their eyes, their similar postures were perfectly refined but they could not have looked more different. King Emanuel had a smile that never touched his eyes while the Archduke frowned, intensity overbearing whichever his eyesight touched.

Kaiser's eyes finally found his two daughters as he made his way down the staircase, the look he gave them made promises of pivotal conversations on the horizon.