A Tense Dinner and the Weight of Expectations

"Like all noble families' dining rooms"

The dining room at Delman Manor is also a long table that can seat dozens of people, with a white tablecloth embroidered with cosmos flowers and a vase of white roses cut with scissors and placed in a gold-edged blue-and-white porcelain vase, which was picked this morning.

However, the elegant and beautiful table is occupied by two silent people who eat quietly and hardly speak to each other.

I think it's probably because they have no common topics to talk about.

Lady Alice has tried to break the ice several times, but unfortunately, she has not succeeded, as her son seems determined to keep silent.

"The lamb chops today are quite good," Lady Alice tried again.

The butler, Hilton, quickly said, "This is made with honey and the new red wine this year. The chef is paying tribute to the lady, hoping you will enjoy it."

"Of course, thank him for me," Lady Alice looked at Baron Oscar. "What do you think of the taste?"

Baron Oscar gently played with his fork and knife, not even deigning to speak, just nodded.

Lady Alice took a deep breath and smiled, "This castle is so cold and the architectural style is boring, just like this dining room, it's too masculine. I can feel the cold wind coming from the door. It's time to renovate, don't you think, Hilton?"

Hilton the butler was embarrassed and didn't reply.

"Cold and gloomy, like a tomb. If I don't come, there would be no guests here for years and years, ha "

This "ha-ha" also carries a different meaning, and Alice's face turned pale.

The baron wiped his mouth with a napkin, got up and said, "I have some official business to attend to, I'm afraid I have to leave now. Mother, please excuse me."

After the baron left the dining room, I hurriedly followed his steps.

Actually, the baron had guests, and the baron had to receive a lot of guests every day, ranging from government officials and noble lords to tenant farmers and merchants. He always seemed to have endless work and meet countless guests, and if you were not standing by his side, you would really know nothing about it.

Everyone who came to see him could not ignore his powerful presence. He spoke every word and did every thing in an orderly and systematic manner. He was also very self-disciplined, and no matter how arrogant or flattering the people who came to see him were, he did not show much emotional reaction. Sometimes, I even felt that I was very powerful, because I had annoyed him several times.

Mr. Charlie had been waiting in the small drawing room for nearly two hours.

He was a cotton supplier who wanted to get financial help from the baron, so he had paid a visit a week ago.

"Good afternoon, honorable Baron. I hope you had a pleasant lunch," he exaggeratedly doffed his hat in a bow.

"Hello, Mr. Charlie," the baron pointed to the chair opposite and said, "please sit down."

Mr. Charlie sat down on the chair cautiously, then cautiously took the tea I had prepared for him.

"Baron, about the matter I mentioned earlier...you...you see...," he said.

"I respect your ideas and courage, but I'm afraid I cannot accept your proposal," the baron said.

Mr. Charlie immediately looked very disappointed, and he looked at the baron and said, "Can you please tell me why? Is my proposal not good enough?"

"On the contrary, your proposal is too good, it's almost hard to believe that there are such favorable conditions," the baron said with his hands crossed.

Mr. Charlie sneered and said, "It seems that Baron is also afraid of risks The Baron did not argue, he looked silently at Mr. Charles, but Mr. Charles could no longer say a word. Many people were like this, they would become timid when looking at them and would not have the thought of refuting them.

Mr. Charles finally got up in disappointment, looking regretfully at the deep blue carpet beneath his feet: "I'm sorry, you made such a choice, I have to say it's your loss."

The Baron bowed to Mr. Charles: "I'm sorry too, I think your idea is very forward-looking, but it's not mature. You said I'm a person who likes to take risks, I'm afraid I can't agree, I've never liked taking risks."

After Mr. Charles left, the Baron resumed reading as usual.

This leisurely afternoon, however, the Baron always held a thick book.

You can tell from the complicated titles on the book covers that this must be a book that can make people fall asleep, the Baron's range of interests is quite broad, whether it's literature, science, music, or medicine, it seems that there is nothing he is not interested in.

He always orders the postman from the bookstore in the capital to buy him the latest books, so you will be surprised at the Baron's rich collection of books, the large bookshelf in the room is surrounded on all sides, and Mrs. Alice finally lost control and wept, saying, "I am your mother, and you won't take care of me even though I come to visit you. I come to see you, and you let these lowly people control me! Do I no longer have the right to walk around in this mansion?"

"Mother, you are a distinguished guest of Delman Manor, and your visit has made the entire household joyful. All the servants here will welcome you with the utmost respect and obey you, but as a guest, please also follow basic etiquette. Do not wander around the owner's home without permission, as this is the most basic etiquette even children know to follow."