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Chapter 206
Chapter 206
People exchanged looks in silence.
“There is a problem,” said a deep voice from the crowd.
A middle–aged man stood up from the long table in the middle. He had dark curly hair and a thick beard, dressed in a grey cloak.
“And that problem is?” Janet asked.
“You are not mated to the King yet. You haven’t had a proper ceremony. Hence, you are not qualified to sit on the Queen’s seat,” said the man.
A faint smile appeared on Janet’s lips, “What is your name?”
“…Elder Lamonte from the House of Shadow, my lady.”
“OK then, Elder Lamonte. The decent thing for you to do is to arrange a seat for me before I arrive, instead of accusing me of sitting in the wrong seat when I can’t find a single place to dine in this large dining hall. Don’t you agree?”
Elder Lamonte cleared his throat, awkwardly.
“My apology, Lady Janet.” he said, “I will have the servants arrange a seat for you right away. So please leave the King’s seat.”
“Don’t bother.”
Janet let out a cold laugh.
“I don’t feel like moving right now. Tonight, I am sitting right where I am.”
People gasped.
The dining hall erupted. There was an outbreak of mutterings and boos.
“It is not your call to make!” Elder Lamonte said loudly over the noise, “If you keep acting like this, I am going to ask the guards to forcefully remove you from this dining hall-”
Just then, the massive double door of the hall swung open with a cracking noise.
A slim figure gracefully made her way into the room.
“Don’t do that, father. Don’t ask Lady Janet to leave,” said this newcomer in a sweet
voice.
Janet looked over–it was Agnes.
Elder Lamonte looked stunned, “But Agnes, sweetheart-”
“Lady Janet is new to our world. We should welcome her warmly instead of forcing our rules upon her. And I am sure Westin won’t mind his future wife taking his seat for just one night.”
Agnes’s voice was soft and gentle, but it easily quieted down the entire hall.
People seemed to respect her greatly.
“But she just smashed you with a jug earlier today. She doesn’t deserve your kindness…” muttered a girl.
Agnes smiled, “That was an accident. I have forgiven Lady Janet already. Now, why don’t we raise our glasses together and toast to our future Queen?”
She beckoned to a maid, who hurried over bringing her a glass of champagne. People all looked reluctant.
Yet Agnes had already raised her glass.
So out of their respect for Agnes, one by one, people picked up their glasses and said
in unison:
“…To future Queen.”
There was a clear hint of reluctance in their voice.
Janet took a sip of her wine, looking at Agnes coldly.
This Agnes was quite something.
Either she was really a sweet and kind girl as she appeared, or she was in fact a master of deception.
She was even better than Harper.
Harper knew nothing but screaming, crying, and making a scene.
Yet Agnes knew how to manipulate people’s minds.
By playing the innocent victim here, she had successfully painted Janet as the bully.
Janet knew that she should be extra careful while dealing with Agnes.
The servants and maids filed in and brought food onto the table.
Janet put her worries aside and started enjoying the dinner.
It was quite a feast.
The Lycans had great taste in food for one thing.
Between the third course and dessert, Agnes walked up to the platform with a couple
more girls.
“Lady Janet,” Agnes curtseyed to Janet.
“Lady Agnes,” Janet nodded nonchalantly.
The girls didn’t seem willing but curtseyed to Janet anyway.
“Allow me to introduce.” Agnes smiled, “This is Lady Issa from the House of Abyss, and Lady Kalinda from the House of Shadow-”
Janet interrupted her, “House of Shadow?”
Hours of Chadow and
Janet interrupted her, “House of Shadow?”
“The Elder Council had 3 houses, House of Light, House of Shadow and House of Abyss,” Agnes explained. “The elders and the royal family share this castle together.”
Janet nodded.
No wonder there were 3 long tables in this dining hall.
Each house had its designated section.
Agnes went around introducing all the girls and then turned back to Janet, “I just received a message from the King. There will be a Spring Ball in 5 days, a perfect opportunity for you to make your first appearance. The King wants us to prepare you for the ball-”
“What is there to prepare for?” Janet leaned back in her chair and asked, “I know how to dance.”
The girls exchanged a look of indignation
“You need to work on your etiquette!” Issa snapped, “Or you will get laughed at during the ball and bring shame to our King
“Then it is the people laughing at me who need a lesson on manner,” Janet sneered. The girls‘ faces went red in anger.
“You should be grateful that Lady Agnes is willing to spare her time and trim you! Kalinda said crossly, “She is sick, and her shoulders are injured thanks to you. If you
ask me,
she really shouldn’t be wasting her time on a barbarian like you
“Kalinda, that is enough!” Agnes chided gently.
Janet crossed her arms, looking at them one to the other, pondering
“Lady Janet, please? Can you at least do this for me?
Agnes begged, tears gleaming in her doe–like eyes.
“King Westin gave this task to me. If you say no, I might get blamed by him…”
“Fine,” Janet said abruptly.
Agnes rounded her eyes, smiling through her tears, “Really? You will let us train you
for the ball?”
“Yes. I am actually quite curious of the Lycan’s etiquette.” Janet said idly, “Shall we start tomorrow? Where do we meet?”
“We can do it in the Drawing Room. That is where the girls and I normally hang out. Or if you prefer, we can do it in your room instead-”
“The Drawing Room it is.”
Janet said firmly, rising from her seat, “I am full. Good night. And I will see you all
tomorrow.
She walked down the platform and headed to the door.
She heard a light mumble from her back:
…What a graceless lowborn…”
Janet let out a short internally.
To be honest, she really didn’t give a fuck about the Spring Ball or the stupid etiquette that Agnes planned to teach her.
There would be people laughing at her at the ball. So be it.
She survived brutal battles. Some silly girl’s teasing and mockery were basically nothing
Vet she was desperate in need of information.
She needed to get a better understanding of the Lycan’s court, the castle, and the misted forest that separated her from her loved ones..
She would wait till tomorrow and see what she could get out of those girl’s mouths.
The next morning, Janet had breakfast in her room and headed to the Drawing, Room.
The Drawing Room was where ladies in court normally hung out.
They had a similar room back in the packhouse of Blood Moon Pack
But Janet and her friends weren’t really interested in music, needlework, and paintings and rather spent their time outdoors. So that room was deserted later.
A maid led Janet to the door and then quietly left.
Janet pushed the door open for a crack.
She first heard gentle plano music walted through the air.
Then there were whispers behind the music.
Why did you agree to train that lowborn? You should let her make a total fool of herself at the ball.”
That sounded like Kalinda’s voice.
Agnes said in a gentle voice, “Westin asked me…”
“Then you should have said no. The King, adores you. Everybody knows that! He really won’t mind it you say no.” All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
Agnes sighed, “But if helping Janet makes Westin happy-
“You know what will really make the King happy? You accepting his proposal, Agnes!”