Chapter 192: Dressed To Gala

Chapter 192: Dressed To Gala

One day the Giant came back. He had been to visit his friend the Cornish ogre, and had stayed with him for seven years. After the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say, for his conversation was limited, and he determined to return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden.

What are you doing here? he cried in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away.

My own garden is my own garden, said the Giant; any one can understand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself. So he built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice-board.

TRESPASSERS

WILL BE

PROSECUTED

He was a very selfish Giant.

- Oscar Wilde, The Selfish Giant (1888, 2nd Era)

Nobody threw an event like a Duchy. No matter all the courts and political events Erec attended growing up, nothing came close. While the Crown might hold more elegant affairs, the flexibility of their station truly allowed a Duchy to do whatever they wanted to. Dancing, drinks, and live music were a givenbut the quirks were where the Duchies differentiated themselves. And House Luculentus did not choose to hold back in the least for tonight.

Erec followed the plan; hed gotten Enide a drink and one of his own. But the second step, mingling, came to a grating halt as their entire group took in the scale and choice of events. They huddled together and meandered, taking in and understanding what was going on.

Past the main decor, House Luculentus decided to host various gamesone of the primary ones was card games with decks from Vega. As could be imagined, the novelty of a game from a different society swept through the nobility like a storm. The Pendragons mustve hauled supplies back in their latest mission. How Luculentus found out about these games, namely poker, and blackjack, were the stars of the show, but Erec thought he saw what was called a roulette wheel; Erec hadnt a clue.

Yet their appearance and the thrill of gambling brought a positively electric atmosphere to the evening. Despite all that, though, Erec and Enide still caught some looks from the attending nobility. As predicted, a Count like him coming in with an outsider had no choice but to grab attention. It was inevitable like the sun cresting the horizon line in the evening.

But it didnt stop at gambling and card gamesneon lights were in select rooms. Outside on the lawn, however, was the biggest show-stopper of the evening.

Theyd set up small soccer fields.

Yet, as far as Erec was aware, Enide was the only Pendragon there, and they didnt have a single soul from Vega. So, all of the hosting staff, dealers, and referees mustve spent nights being drilled on the rules over the last couple of weeks.

The why, Erec couldnt piece it together. To show their house as fashionable, making a tone, or was it a deliberate impression?

He mused over it as Enide, Garin, and Olivia stood on a balcony, watching a group of nobles play on one of the fields.

Whoa, Enide said, shaking her head. That guy sucks.The roots of this story extend from novell bìn origin.

Erec watched the guy in question as he missed the ball with too ambitious of a kick and then landed on his ass from the failed effort. Another stole the ball, kicked it forward, and sent the thing sailing out of bounds.

The group of about ten nobles watching outside the field politely clapped at the failure.

Not that Erec was particularly good at what Corey had dubbed the champions game, but he and his friends were Knights. That demanded a lot of athleticism and coordination, and even in their first year, Virtues surpassed the general population.

Yeah They really kind of do, Erec grimaced.

Why are they bothering to do this anyway? Enide asked.

It is rude, and I expect both of them to receive a complaint from their Houses after tonight for the behavior, but it is well within expectation for the event, Olivia remarked.

IIf you knew they would cause trouble, why did you make me drag Colin to this thing? Erec asked.

Because thats his job for tonight, to stir up a bit of dramatics. For one, it softens the blow of Enide being accepted into the court as the date of a count; for another, it gives people something inane to whisper about But the most important thing is that it bonds the two of them, Garin cut the explanation short as they finally got back within hearing distance of Bedwyr and Gwencollecting them on the way to join Colin at the table.

It wasnt long before they reached the guarded table.

Colin spoke first, At last, youve returned from outside. Eat. Ive taken great care to ensure youve plenty of options for food at this goddess-forsaken event. Can you believe theyre gambling? In a noble household? How far theyve fallen from Her grace. And he gestured to the table.

It is stunning, isnt it, huh, Colly-Wolly

Whoa. Stop. Youre calling him Colly-Wolly? Enide put up her hands, eyes wide, before bursting into a gut-deep laugh.

Erec mouthed the words in the same level of shock. His friends face grew bright red as everyone stared, including Bedwyr and Gwen, their senior Knights.

Eat your food and put these foolish ideas to rest, Colin glared at them darkly. The best of the offered goods disappears within the first two hours, and its better to eat preserved meats and cheeses while still cooled.

Are you just letting her call you that? Even Garin seemed off his stride at this development, looking at Alexandra, who wore the widest grin.

I think he likes the teasing; you have a bit of that in you, dont you?

Cease, wench. I will not allow you to utter such words in public.

But youll ask me to when were alone tonight, maybe when I drag you out into the gardens for some quality time. Wont you, my dear Colly

Please, please, stop, Enide begged, wiping at the sides of her eyes and leaning heavily on Erec. I could never have imagined. This is too much. Im not sure if its disgusting or hilarious; I dont know how to feel.

Theres a lot you dont know about him, Alexandra continued. Waving her hands toward all of them.

Do continue, Garin said.

For one, he talks about you all constantly when I manage to get him alone. Once he drops the tough guy act, hes adorable. You know, I dont think Ive ever known another boy who cares quite as much as him. However, he hates it when you call him on it. Between you all and me, I think it might be because of his sooooo obvious daddy issues.

I-I couldnt care less about this lot. They are all beneath me. Aside from perhaps Erec, because he appears to be going places Colin protested.

Alexandra grinned and leaned towards him, already cutting through those excuses.

Numbly, Erec watched the two of them continue like that, deciding to cash in on the food that Colin had been protecting. Needed or not, seeing her chase and tease him around like a cat might play with a mouse was a welcome distraction to the nights start. It added a bit of levity to the occasion that lightened the mood.

Eventually, Garin cut them off since it seemed Alexandra had no limit to where she was willing to delve into teasing Colin in front of his friends. While Colin protested, he did not put up the fight he posed to anyone else, which naturally let her steamroll him over and dig deeper into teasing him. It was also interesting how much Colin seemed to go out of his way to try to avoid her; she appeared to have a deep knowledge about him that left them all suspecting something was going on under the surface.

As the brief time together rallying and preparing for the night around a table and food drew to a close, Erec knew what the next part was.

With a look, Garin set his plan in motion. Well, we got a little distracted by all the lights, potential fun, and games, but its time to get on track again. Shall we mingle?