Chapter 27: The Royal Dinner
The melodic sound of cutlery and crystal resonated through the Royal Dining Hall, creating the only audible symphony within its grandeur.
Dinner was a tradition strictly adhered to by the Royal Family of Ruan. It was a sacred routine, a practice upheld religiously, permitted to be canceled only for more important events, typically involving formal banquets or balls where mingling with other nobles took precedence.
As per Queen Fleur Ruan’s decree, these were the sole occasions deemed acceptable for canceling the family dinner.
Tonight, however, was not such an occasion.
King Euris, Queen Fleur, and their two sons—Yanad and Valon—occupied their designated seats around the expansive dining table, each engrossed in the consumption of their evening meal.
The customary silence that usually enveloped their shared meals took on a different tone tonight. Instead of being a source of comfort, it became overbearing, weighed down by the events of the day that lingered in the air, casting a pall of restlessness and anxiety over the royal family.
Determined to initiate the conversation, Fleur set aside her cutlery, turned slightly to her husband, and inquired,
"Is the duke staying at the same place as before?"
The King responded, his eyes still fixed on the plate before him,