Chapter 286: Elven Wine Is Better
Even without some of the family drama that followed, Isabel made snide comments about Evanna travelling with men, and she quietened not only Isabel but the queen with her sharp responses whilst Arawn was enjoying the simple engagement celebration. After eating, they’d also engaged in conversation with other nobles that Evanna did not seem at all bothered about speaking with for very long. They mostly talked to Garrett, Ger, Ronan and Axel, who sat on a separate table.
A table that was becoming known as the hero’s table, and after some time, Evanna left them, realising there were many women who wanted their attention. Ronan and Axel didn’t mind the attention and conversed back, but Ger looked at them like they were disgusting insects matching Garrett’s expression. In fact, their thoughts on the matter were pretty similar.
Ger had grown up in these halls, facing the scrutiny of the nobles because of his father’s deeds, ultimately making him and his mother poor and working as servants in the palace. He knew how the nobility were like vultures. They were only giving them attention now because of their titles and their entrance into the palace, which made an exciting story for years to come. He also despised most of them for the treatment of Evanna.
These fancy dinners and parties didn’t mean anything to him. Not anymore. Ger once strived to be a part of all this instead of working for the nobles. Since dying and returning to life as this... this beast, he had no such desire to return to society. Soon, he would be gone.
It didn’t take much for the women to stay clear of him as well. Their initial response was the usual, eyeing him up, taking in the expensive attire he wore, his roguish looks and deep blue eyes, so similar to the navy seas, until up close they would finally see the disinterest in his gaze and the slight difference of his right eye. It was hard to try and overlook something like that, and it served as a reminder of what he was.
They didn’t know what he was. But the stories had swirled around the palace and transformed into wild tales about what Ger was. Some might find it enticing to meet and gain his attention, whereas others might stay further away. Whatever.
Ger glanced at Garrett, who drank from the wine the servant girl poured him, and he crinkled his nose in disgust, commenting in Muranthian. Ger didn’t need to understand his words to know the elf did not like the wine and probably compared it to the superiority of elven wine.
Garrett sighed, frowning at the horrid taste in his mouth. He couldn’t wait to return to Direwood Forest. How these humans enjoyed such wine and food was beyond him. It was like they didn’t enjoy differing flavours. He tapped his finger, watching Arawn and Evanna dancing on the floor, their steps in time, eyes locked as though nobody else mattered in the world.
They truly were quite the match, and everyone here could either see it or envy them. It was apparent in their expressions. The queen and her daughter, Isabel, also made it obvious their dislike for Evanna and her mother. Garrett searched for Lady Loraven. She was standing beside the king, conversing as they watched their daughter smiling happily and dancing with Arawn.
The king stepped away after Princess Isabel called for him, glaring at Loraven, who was unfazed by her childish whims. Garrett rose from his chair, ignoring some of the women trying to engage him in conversation and stood beside Loraven, providing her with some company. He didn’t like how some looked at her, and it wasn’t because of what she was, either. Nobody knew that Loraven was an elven princess from Lyvaria.
"These people do not know better. They lack the knowledge of the elves and the world beyond their kingdoms," Loraven said softly. "They are not all so bad."
Garrett nodded. "They find me... exotic." It was vulgar and annoying. He stood out even more than Arawn because of the colour of his skin. Standing beside Loraven meant nobody would approach them, and that was how he preferred it. He couldn’t wait to return to Direwood Forest, where everything made sense again.