Chapter 103: Stubborn nobles.
Drinks were served; wine first then water.
"At your service my lady."
Atheline gave the smallest nod and turned back to her. The waiter bowed and withdrew.
He could feel the burning stares from the other nobles, each of them trying to place them, but Lilith wasn’t really the type to show her face everywhere; hence, she wouldn’t be easily recognisable by anyone. Only those who resided inside the court and high-ranking nobles recognised her.
He leaned back slightly on his chair, his voice low enough that it didn’t carry.
"You were right."
Her gaze didn’t shift from the room.
"About?"
"No one knows who we are," he quietly said," most of them don’t seem like it."
A subtle movement of her fingers against the table.
"They don’t need to like it," she carelessly said her voice calm
Atheline glanced around again, and his eyes fell on someone, an older man at the far end of the tables.
His gaze had lingered far more than the others.
’He probably caught on, or is another assassin’
"There," he murmured faintly.
She didn’t look in the direction he was indicating but at him.
"Yes..." She said softly," I see him... don’t look again."
She didn’t like the fact that his attention was getting divided, he was only supposed to look at her.
The servant came back a few moments after a cart leading the way.
The food was served elegantly. Small bites of seafood, vegetables, and a plate of meat.
"Eat," she quietly said.
Atheline nodded and took a bite.
"This is good," he said.
"It’s deep water octopus my lord," the servant explained, "it’s found at the very depth of the blood sea near the aether veins."
"Thats why it’s this good," he said in fascination, " do you fish everything yourselves?"
A proud look came over the servant’s face.
"Yes my lord, our captain is very proficient in the art of fishing."
"You can leave," Lilith said before he could respond.
The waiter hurriedly bowed and scampered away with his cart.
Atheline’s focus remained on his food.
"You haven’t touched your food," he said.
She was swirling her glass of wine softly but her gaze was on him.
Her head tilted slightly.
"Feed me."
His eyebrow raised. Faint murmurs came from the crowd since Lilith wasn’t trying to be subtle.
He cut it into his food and picked a small piece.
She leaned in and took a bite then followed it with a sip of wine.
This routine went on, Atheline would take a small bite and feed her right after until both plates were done.
The table was clear except for the dessert. She placed a piece of cake on his plate then quietly turned to glance across the room to the man who had stared too long.
The clearing of their main dishes felt like an invitation to the nobles.
The first to approach were a pair of male dark elves.
"My lady," they called simultaneously.
They bowed slightly. Lilith didn’t respond. Atheline rolled his eyes inwardly.
’I’m also here... do you see me as her toy or something?’
Almost everyone had been ignoring him from the very start, not like he minded.
"Have you travelled these waters before, my lady," one of the men asked his gaze never leaving her.
Atheline let out a heavy sigh.
"No, this would be our first voyage," Atheline answered on her behalf," are the currents as rough as they say,"
The man glared at him but Atheline had his smile on.
"Yes, it mostly happens past midnight when the waters become rougher. "
He nodded. He had wanted to know everything since he wasn’t sure when it would hit and the severity.
Lilith didn’t seem worried though.
"That doesn’t sound good," he calmly said.
"Yes, you... "
"Leave."
Her cold voice cut them short. The two men looked confused.
Lilith’s glare snapped them out of it and they hurriedly walked away.
"Do you want dessert?" He asked her a few moments later.
She held his gaze for a fraction then shook her head. Atheline shrugged and left her to her own devices.
More guests approached their table, the first two had been the ones that opened the floodgates.
Each of them probed as they tried to identify who they were or where they were from but were met with Atheline’s maneuvering each question bouncing off.
Atheline took a sip of water to wet his throat. Talking to people in his current state was proving more difficult than he had anticipated.
"Where are you travelling from?" One of the humans asked.
"From the inland territories, " he answered vaguely while maintaining his calm and nonchalant expression.
The guests dwindled as time went by until most of them had gone back to their usual conversations.
"This is getting annoying," Lilith said quietly.
Atheline leaned closer to her.
"I think it’s time for us to go back," he murmured.
Lilith turned to him, her eyebrow raised then nodded.
"We should leave then."
They were both about to stand when a waiter rushed towards their direction his breath heavy.
"My lady... the captain wishes for an audience with you," he said breathlessly.
Lilitg turned to Atheline who nodded.
"I can wait," he said with an encouraging smile.
"Let’s go tog..."
The ship shook violently cutting her off. Atheline held the edge of the table while his other hand moved to support her.
Her gaze went past the window to the decks. The water hit the side splashing onto it.
"It’s okay, " Atheline reassured her.
He squeezed her hand then let go. Lilith stared at him for a moment then followed the servant.
Atheline was left alone with his pitiful deserts. He placed more onto his plate his kips curving.
’Let’s enjoy this before she comes back’
.
.
.
They had approached the first time, in a more docile manner to observe and assess the relationship between the two.
The three were regulars on the ship and this time a new face had finally arrived, a beautiful one at that.
The dark elf woman at the centre leaned slightly against her chair, fingers tapping lightly against the stem of the glass as her gaze lingered on him again and again.
"... He’s not hers," she murmured under her breath.
One of the men beside her, a human with a noble countenance, frowned slightly.
"You’re assuming. "
"I’m observing," she smoothly said, her lips curving, " their dynamic is interesting."
The human leaned forward his gaze on Atheline who was busy enjoying his desserts.
"How so?" He asked.
Her lips curved faintly.
"That kind of composure? " she answered softly," that restraint? He’s not her subordinate."
They had all watched Atheline feed her and wipe her mouth every few bites with a smile on his face while she seemed to remain impassive to such intimate gestures.
Her gaze sharpened.
"He lets her lead."
’Interesting ’
The second dark elf then tilted his head slightly.
"You think he’s... what? A consort?... A high elf?"
"A possession," she corrected lightly, " ... or something close to it."
The dark elf chuckled.
"I know dark elves have started to mingle with the high elves but... isn’t this a little fast?" He whispered to himself.
The female dark elf didn’t take her eyes off Atheline ignoring her companion.
She continued to herself.
"If he is," she added, her voice lowered, " that means he can be taken."