Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan
Suddenly, another voice called out to her from close by, one of the last voices she had expected to hear today.
Turning, she found Allamand behind her. He might have called her a few times already, but the sound had been lost in the noise of the banquet, which might explain the clear displeasure on his face.
âHow ridiculous,â he said, launching immediately into bitter complaint. âMy hearing is perfect, so I know you did not inherit this difficulty from me.â
She had never expected to see him here, when he hated Raphael so much. The last time they had spoken, he had warned her to expect a divorce.
âExcuse me,â she said, wiping the surprise from her expression. âI didnât think you would come.â
âWhy? Of course I must be here to honor my son-in-law.â
That made no sense. She didnât know why Allamand would choose to come, but it assuredly was not to celebrate Raphaelâs achievement. But the thought that her father was here calmed her a little. Perhaps because it was proof he hadnât abandoned her.
âLook, over there! Duke Bavaria is here!â
âLetâs go greet him.â
His appearance had an enormous impact on the banquet. There were many people that were eager to offer their courtesies to the noblest family in Deltium, aside from the royal family itself.
âDo you think he knew that Marquis Carnesis would become Master of Swords?â
âPerhaps,â someone else whispered curiously. âMaybe thatâs why he accepted him as his son-in-law, despite his poor position and lineage. The Duke is a man that thinks ahead.â
Allamand frowned. He did not like it when people spoke from ignorance.
Annette took the opportunity of the distraction to examine him. He was dressed in a suit so black, it almost seemed to absorb the light, and dark purple cloak over his shoulders, lined with fur. Her father had always had a weakness for cold.
Allamand Bavaria, the white serpent, did not like being cold, and almost always had fur in the winter. Annette bit her lip anxiously. One of the Kingâs men that Raphael had interrogated had warned that there would be a fire in the banquet hall. That cloak would go up at once.
âFather,â she said, meeting his eyes as she leaned closer to whisper in his ear. âPlease remove that cloak. Thereâs going to be a fire.â
Allamandâs face did not change in the slightest, and in the distance, Annette finally spotted Celestine. There were many people greeting her with outward joy, though they were already gossiping behind her back about how lucky she had been to catch the Kingâs son.
Good. Nothing seems to have happened yet.
Celestine was an intelligent woman who just hadnât had much social experience yet. Annette was relieved to see that she appeared so natural. She would have liked to go over and greet her, but she couldnât at the moment.
Annette would be blamed for anything that happened to Celestine at this banquet. It would be best to keep far away from her in public.
Having made sure Celestine was safe, she turned away. Suddenly, there was a loud explosion in one corner of the banquet hall.