Order was part and parcel amongst the higher lap. Everything was in its place and conducted its role with no room for flaws. Everyone seemed to know each other and they didn't they would have possibly heard rumors about them. This was mandatory for those in the noble caste. It was important to distinguish whom to mess with and those not to. A slight slip up or a misplaced elbow rub who have easily shot down any aspiring noble houses, thinning their chances of getting a seat amongst Laptove's higher Lap.
Order followed everywhere… even in eateries. From cutleries to the simple shape of ones napkin on their table, it was all planned out to perfection. The way they ate was mirror to one another, occasionally changing either when a joke busted into laughs or there was higher ranked person addressing them form the expansive polished platform standing proudly on the other side of the restaurant.
A sudden cling sound echoed through the murmur filled hall.
There was a finely dressed lady standing on the platform. Her clothes were simple and yet they stood out in fashionable and assertive manner. She had a closed black and white fan in hand with intricate flower patterns stretching across it.
As she faced the expanse of fellow nobles the gentle violin led orchestra gradually muted their instruments in response. The ripples of chatter that had encompassed the air died down as her red lips opened.
" Thank you orchestra," she began.
She heaved a silent breath and then continued.
" I'm honored that all of you were able to make it. Even in my old age I'm glad to have so many people around me to celebrate the founding of the Culinary Fade Restaurant. " she paused, then followed by a series of applause.
" I hope the food is to your liking, it's all hand picked from the garden just for you and prepared to sooth your refined taste. "
" In as much I don't like it, something of great importance needs my attention and I'm forced to leave the party early. But all of you are welcomed to stay as much as you need. " she added.
" Now then, may I have your leave… "
" Wait! Lady Belhe, before you go. " a sudden content voice called out.
Then a lean bodied noble pushed his seat back, rising into the shimmer of the golden chandeliers above.
His hair was spongy, jiggling a little bit like jelly as he stood. It was a shiny honey brown color, neatly kempt into a swoosh to the side. He also had trimmed moustache, brown too, making his appearance pop out more amongst the other equally pampered people.
His eyes glowed as he began.
" I'd like us to have a toast, to the generous Belhe house and its future success. " he said as he raised his glass of wine into the air.
The rest followed accompanied by pearly white smiles.
Lady Belhe gave a slight smile to them then turned to the stairs to the side of the platform. At the stairs stood a stoic looking butler. He held her hand down the stairs then followed her disappearing into back.
The bouncy haired man dropped back to his seat. He had a hidden smirk. A smirk of victory. A smirk to the irritated eyes that followed him as he sat. A smirk telling them, " I'm better than you. "
Across the room at the far back, sat a pouting girl. Her eyes were just staring at the food in front of her barely enticed by its enchanting aroma. She supported her head by her hand which rested on the arm of her chair. She looked lost in thought not even noticing the tense toast that had just been raised.
On the other side of her table sat an slightly older girl. She had finely flowing hair with a purple hue running proudly across. Her posture and mannerism were all impeccable compared to the slouching girl sitting across their table. Her eyes occasionally shifted to the girl, who for a while had not blinked.
" Is something wrong, Liora? You haven't touched you're food since it got here. " the lady asked.
Liora looked at her then to her food. She could tell that the food was sumptuous, something she hadn't had for a while. In normal days she would have joined the others around her in piece by piece devouring of the food infront of her and it would have been delicious, a reputation the Culinary Fade restaurants were well known for.
But for tonight she wasn't hungry. Not that she'd eaten before they came here rather for the past two days she had this distaste of the things she would previously have done, before she went on the mission with Dym and …
" Not hungry. " she said bluntly.
The lady across the table paused. She gave her short look before asking.
" Is this because of that mission? "
Liora remained silent.
" Like I told you, I wanted to keep you safe but I didn't know that the mission would escalate that much. " she added.
" That's not what— you didn't have the right. Just because I can't go on missions it didn't give you the right to send me on pity ones, Nexa! " Liora answered her voice attracting neighboring attention.
Before she could respond some footsteps halted at their table.
" Nexa? " a cheery female voice called out. " How long has it been? "
Nexa eyes met the overly cheery face that stood at the side of their table.
" Not long enough, Lady Destia. " she muttered under her breath.
" Oh and who's this, " she said turning to Liora.
" Is that you, Liora? " she asked.
Liora slowly started to face the other way.
" Look at you all grown up now, no longer throwing tantrums around. I even heard you went on a mission… how was it? " she asked curiously.
" It… it was uneventful… not much happened. " Liora answered.
" Is that so, well I heard that it was an unranked mission and you were on it with… lower Lap people. "
Liora was quiet. She shot a passing glance to where the lady had came. There she saw a boy, slightly older, casually looking at their table. She had seen him before.
The briefing meeting, she realized. He was among of the noble brats that had questioned her two day ago.
" It was only f… "
" And is it also true that instead of helping you were found crouched in a dark corner and let the enemies get away? "
The small group of tables around them had grown quiet. Many were all ears on the heated conversation across the room. Others pretended to mind their own businesses yet often gave a passing look. It was hard not to.
The girl being preyed on was currently at her wits end. Under the table clothing her fist clenched trying to restrain her so begged for outburst. She didn't look at her predator, but even so she could feel her haunting eyes begging her to blow her fuse. But she couldn't.
" Ery… I'm sorry," she thought.
" Let's go Liora. " a calm shielding voice said.
It was Nexa. She had already pushed her seat backwards already to leave the toxic room.
" I've suddenly lost my appetite. " she added.
A few moments later Liora followed Nexa to their awaiting carriage. Lady Destia was returning to her seat a passing grin forming as the two boarded their carriage, ready to leave.
She had won.