The banquet (part 2)

Adelaide de Lanark never dreamed of crossing anyone. Her social status was at best a convenience when it got her where she wanted to go, and at worst, a hindrance when it stood in her way of helping others.

What did I ever do to you? Her eyes cried out the words that she could never say out loud under the short aggressive glares Egon kept giving her. It was even worse that she caught him doing it so often, for it only meant that she could not keep her eyes away from him for too long.

Surrounded by the curious eyes and ears of all the aristocrats around them, the de Lanarks and the von Conradies stood in the middle of the celebration hall in perfect keeping with the Lanarkian customs of having the Monarch of Emoria in the center of a festivity at all times.

"Lanark is famous for its architecture, you would not find this level of sophistication in Kolhis, would you now?"

Andreas smiled slowly, his eyes flickering over Larissa who battered her eyelids in response before they came back to the King.

"With a pocket full of mana stones, you can find anything your heart desires almost anywhere, the empire of Kolhis included, Your Majesty,"

Emanuel de Lanark laughed wholeheartedly and elbowed the Archduke, "The merchants and I shall have no issues getting along, for we speak the same language…Yes, it is all about wealth, is it not, Kaiser?"

The Archduke's eyes were far away, he appeared as if he was not listening at all.

The King slapped his younger brother on the shoulder twice, "Oh! I bet this one will pique your interest. These two rascals and I have been doing some light negotiations through my counselor for the past two days. In addition to becoming the newest leaseholder for Lanark Forests' eastern entrance, Egon von Conradie will be commercially developing my former estate, the gentlemen are becoming your neighbors!"

Kaiser's eyes finally focused on Egon "…Is that so, Your Majesty,"

The room momentarily spun in Adela's head.

"These two young men are just what our kingdom needs, I tell you! More money in our pockets to silence the mouth of those who secretly whisper in favor of that nasty rebellion, and additional force to keep the monsters of the forests in check, especially after the unfortunate attempt of kidnapping the jewel of Emoria," two cloudy blue eyes landed on Adela, "My precious niece, Adelaide de Lanark,"

A few gasps erupted by the nobles who were of hearing distance, and just like that, the King extinguished the fire of all rumors spreading about the runaway Lady de Lanark, turning her into a victim of the dreadful rebels who were insolent enough to dare lay hand on the Archduke's daughter.

Emanuel grimaced wrathfully, "Yes, the von Conradies shall aid our rightful efforts to maintain our sovereignty,"

"Can any amount of aid save the forest from imploding?"

With a tone so lethal that it seemed to dominate everyone around him, Egon's harsh words were his first contribution to the conversation.

Kaiser visibly tensed as he clutched the hilt of Extremizer until his knuckles turned white, while Emanuel de Lanark who still had a hand on his brother's shoulder wore a sorrowful expression on his face and matched the dry tone that Egon spoke with.

"We expect the new owner of the eastern entrance to help suppress the pathetic uprising... Fear not for your investment, for the ghosts of that forest hide deep in the western parts. You need not mind that which is not yours, the Archduke will be the one in charge of the lands under his jurisdiction,"

"What about our water?"

Adela's interruption earned her a disapproving look from the Archduchess and a couple of noble ladies around her. Such conversations about politics and policies were ones that women did not usually take part in.

"The water belongs to the people of Lanark, we shall ensure the safety of the streams that pass through our lands,"

Andreas's soft tone did not reduce the acidic potency she tasted in her mouth hearing his last two words. The final blow she took was when she saw pain flashing behind her father's eyes when hers met them.

It was too much.

She was about to excuse herself and pretend to move over to check the food on the open buffet when the Archduchess' voice stopped her.

"Egon von Conradie... It is quite the interesting name…" the Archduchess said with the fan covering her trembling lips, the resemblance the young man carried to the man in her memories was undeniable as is, more so when she heard him speaking.

"The edge of a sword," he answered the Archduchess without a single change in his expressionless face, but his eyes were on a troubled-looking Adela, "Speaking of swords, madam, what I found most interesting is how Lady de Lanark was able to hold one firmly in the face of those who threatened her,"

The change of topic was done with such smoothness that Grace de Lanark who never backed down from a verbal argument without winning it found it hard to proceed, especially since an explanation was due now for the sake of the many nobles who exclaimed around her.

Adela was not about to stand motionless and take more of Egon's brash insults, she fortified herself with a deep breath.

"You are too generous, my lord, for my unconscious reaction to lift a sword when one was available under such circumstances was a mere impulse," she looked around to make sure the attention of the nobles was on her before presenting them with the latest gossip, "It is the way your arrows sent two men to their graves within seconds that I found absolutely astonishing, especially when I, myself, stood in the way between your weapon and your target...Not once, but twice,"

Anger touched his wild eyes for a short moment, but he was quick to bring back the nothingness to them, "I am a hunter, my lady. The word astonishing would best describe my lack of talent with a bow and an arrow, not the opposite situation. It is your hidden skills that should be celebrated in this banquet, not our… needless interference as some might have put it,"

Adela who knew exactly what he referred to was unable to contain herself anymore, she let every bit of the revulsion she experienced seep through her next words, "Perhaps I can show you how good I am with a sword at a duel sometime,"

As if the surrounding waves of laughter for what was deemed an amusing joke were irrelevant when they were the only two people in the hall, Egon took a swift and threatening step toward Adela, "Is this a challenge?"

The nobles who stood witness to the suddenly heated conversation openly gawked at Adela, waiting for her response.

She gritted her teeth, "Of course not," her eyes cut to where her uncle stood watching intensely as well, "If you will excuse me, Your Majesty,"

Emanuel nodded approvingly, "You are excused, my child,"

Adela curtsied then fixed her eyes on the closest exit and walked there as fast as she could without shaming herself into a run.