Chapter 44 - 41 - Socializing I

Chapter 44: Chapter 41 - Socializing I

"Well then! Let the Royal Banquet commence!"

The moment Arthur declared the commencement of the banquet, the nobles immediately started socializing with one another.

Some requested for dances from the other genders, some immediately began conversing while some immediately moved over to the tables where food was placed.

The professional waiters and waitresses elegantly glided through the gigantic hall and began to serve and offer all manner of exquisite hors d'oeuvres, exotic drinks, wines and beverages, ensuring that the nobles were met with hospitality and utmost care.

The far ends of the halls were filled with tables covered in pristine white linen cloth which contained all types of delicious and delectable dishes that exuded sophistication and a testament to a first rate chef's culinary skills.

All assortments of pastries, salads, main courses and even desserts, which included a chocolate fountain could be found on the elegantly arranged tables.

As if already used to it, the younger members of nobility began to usher themselves into their own hall, excitement evident in their eyes.

This was after all, the Royal Family's way over the years, of giving them an opportunity to mingle with people their age without worrying or being involved in the sophisticated talks, politics and world of the adults.

Flynn and Aiden gave their parents a slight nod to ease their worries while leaving for the other hall, especially their mum, who then smiled back at them with her own nod.

On getting into their own halls, the younger noble members immediately began to do their own thing.

They were teenagers and young adults after all so they engaged in things that would interest them. Some could even be found kissing themselves in the secluded corners of the hall.

'Seriously?! These people should get a room...' Aiden inwardly said as he and Flynn moved over to an empty table and some chairs in one corner of the hall.

Popular noble members could be spotted amidst other teenagers their age.

Lucas, Adrian, Amelia, Bryan, Caroline and Beatrice were the most surrounded, with Adrian, Caroline and Beatrice drawing the most number of people.

'Well it isn't too surprising that they're been given that much attention...' Flynn mused to himself.

This generation of nobles were packed chockful with no shortages of prodigies.

Almost every popular young noble member was already at B-rank, something that was genuinely amazing considering how the previous generations would only have them in few numbers.

'That been said though...'

"The stares hurt... I'd totally forgotten how people usually went into a trance just by looking at us because we haven't left our home in almost a year" Flynn said with a slight frown on his face.

"You should enjoy it bro! Enjoy our parent's gift to you! Bask in your handsomeness!" Aiden said with the usual playful smile on his face.

"If I had been told that my older brother would become a narcissist three years back, I'd have vehemently denied it, but, here we are..."

"Hey! It's not that bad you know!"

Flynn scoffed at Aiden's response while thinking about the reason they had been late.

Unfortunately for both he and Aiden, they had really underestimated how much they had grown physically over the past two years. When they wanted to wear their old suits, they realized that it was way too tight and small for them.

Their muscles had become so well-developed that they immediately had to go get new ones along with their mum, just a few hours before the banquet would begin, hence, their tardiness. n-.0ve1bIn

Also, unknown to both Aiden and Flynn themselves, their originally handsome looks had become far more amplified after they had completed the creation of their mana veins.

Aiden was wearing a suit with black pants, inner white shirt, a cream colored vest and a black tie along with a black long coat.

Flynn on the other hand dressed less formally as he sported black pants too but wore a white shirt which he didn't tuck in, along with a red tie and a white long coat.

'Well I'm glad the King didn't find it disrespectful...' Flynn inwardly said.

"Don't forget to keep your mana sense activated though" Aiden said with a bit of seriousness to his voice.

"Way ahead of you" Flynn replied.

He had placed his hands on the table to support his head with very bored look on his face.

"Wouldn't hurt to maintain a smile you know?" Aiden said.

"And how's that supposed to help me or prevent that fool from creating a scene?" Flynn said while casually pointing to the red head along with his minions coming towards their table with his other hand.

"Flynn! Who would've expected that you wouldn't chicken out and actually come to another social gathering again?" Ben Steelblade said in a loud mocking tone along with the snickers from his minions from smaller noble families which garnered the attention of a fairly large number of people in the hall.

"Ben Steelblade!" Flynn excitedly said while purposely raising his voice a few volumes high, still with his hand supporting his face.

It was obvious that he was faking his excitement but the immediate response from him truly caught both Ben and his minions off-guard.

Flynn's excited smile then changed into a mocking one, along with a mocking tone as he said something that really pissed Ben and his minions off.

"Y'all still working as henchmen for Lucas? Wait? Did he by chance increase your salaries over the past few years? Really hope you're getting your money's worth. Would really suck if you were paid nothing after going through all the stress of coming over here to quite possibly humiliate me"

Ben and his minions were fuming from the words Flynn uttered.

What had really pissed them off however were not even the words he said, but the relaxed mocking look he gave them without even removing his hand from his face.

He was basically telling them that they were not worth the hassle.

"Hahahahaha! Good one Flynn!" Aiden said with a hearty laughter.

He had originally wanted to step in and stop Ben from continuing his bullshit but had decided against it and just allowed Flynn to handle himself.

It was definitely the right choice as Flynn had turned their usual mockery against them in the coolest way possible.

This really surprised everyone that was watching the scene before them and it even attracted others who weren't originally interested because even at the previous social gatherings they had been at over the years after Flynn's awakening which everyone knew off, Aiden had never smiled, not even once, much less come to even laugh so loudly.

This particular laughter of his made him seem more human and even quite approachable.

"Y-You! You're just a pretty face with trash-like talent and you have the audacity to speak like that to me!" Ben said through his teeth which was seething with anger.

"Yeah yeah! I'm weak. Very weak I know. Now can you kindly scurry along with your minions and report to your boss as soon as possible. He's probably waiting for a detailed report so run along munchkins" Flynn replied without even batting an eye while using his other hand to signify a shooing motion.

Lucas who had been watching all this from a distance immediately frowned his face at Flynn's comments which had been indirectly and slyly mocking him.

"Munckin? That's awfully nice of you bro!" Aiden said with a fake questioning gaze, one of his eyebrows arched up.

"I know right! I was thinking of the exact same thing. Should have found a much more fitting word" Flynn said as if really contemplating what his brother just said.

Ben who had been thoroughly humiliated, along with his minions, curled his hand into a fist and raised it up as if to punch Flynn's face but he suddenly felt an indescribable feeling of dread, causing his fist to stay hanging in the air.

One singular thought was on his mind right now.

'If I move even a single step, I'll die! I'll fucking die!'

His body continuously spasmed with shivers which raced down his spine and he unknowingly took a step back.

His face and back was completely covered and drenched in sweat and the same could be said for his minions.

"Aiden. Play nice" Flynn said, his tone laced with a bit of seriousness.

"Fine..." Aiden replied as he released the bloodlust he had specifically placed and concentrated on both Ben and his minions.

Ben who had felt it the most immediately let out gasp of air which he had unknowingly held in.He was the one who Aiden had concentrated most of his bloodlust on.

He had also realized that Aiden was the one who had done whatever he did to him because at the point of him raising his fist into the air, his eyes had darted over to Aiden's for a brief moment and he had seen those cold piercing emerald eyes staring at him with so much malice contained in them.

'What the fuck was that???!!!' Ben inwardly asked himself, fear still very much present in his eyes.

Eventually, Ben finally regained his composure from the indescribable sense of dread he felt, after which he then returned his facial expression into a mocking one and spoke a few words as he left.

"Coward! Hiding behind his brother!"

Everyone in the hall who had been staring at the scene that played out before them, was completely unaware of what had transpired between the three boys and they just thought that Ben had left because he felt humiliated.

Everyone except a certain black-haired lady with beautiful scarlet red eyes.

"Well... that was easier to handle than I expected..." Flynn said, a bit of surprise present in his voice.

He then continued after a short pause.

"You shouldn't have used it you know. They really weren't worth it. Master would've also been disappointed"

"I know. My bad. I guess my protective instincts aren't completely gone" Aiden said while running his hands through his hair with a nostalgic smile.

"Well it's alright bro. At least every other goober will stay away from this table till the rest of the party" Flynn replied.