"Oh, hello Harry," Vivienne greeted with a polished smile, positioning herself beside Damien.
Her eyes darted briefly to Elara, who was now seated across from Damien at the chess table. The unexpected challenge hung in the air.
"Didn't expect a match between the Thornes tonight," Harry remarked, intrigued.
Brandon nodded, his earlier confidence in predicting the outcome now replaced with genuine curiosity. "Neither did we."
Beck leaned over to Caleb and whispered, "Has anyone ever seen Elara play before?"
Caleb shook his head. "Always thought she was too... gentle for strategic games."
The room had transformed from a social gathering into an audience. All eyes fixed on the unlikely opponent who had challenged the undefeated Damien Thorne.
Elara moved her black knight forward with steady hands. The opening Sicilian Defense had already raised eyebrows, but her subsequent moves showed this was no beginner's luck.