A Banquet at Dusk

Inwardly, Lux nodded her approval of her success. The reputation of Sebastien in particular preceded himself, and Lux had no intentions of letting him one, give Demacia a bad name here, and two, make the stay of the Solari unpleasant. While she hadn't personally interacted with any of the Laurent household beyond Fiora, she wasn't about to let that stop her. Instead, she settled herself properly into her seat, turning to greet the woman briefly. "Lady Isabelle. A pleasure as always," she said, dipping her head - she couldn't curtsy in her seat - her voice polite and neutral. She could tell by the woman's reaction to her appearance that she thought Lux beneath her notice. The mage scoffed inwardly - if the woman didn't recognise her, then she didn't deserve to be introduced. She'd seen her too, from afar, and knew that she matched her partner quite well.

Sebastien's words made her mentally wince - it was very clear he was again doing what he'd always done. Lux's gaze flicked briefly across the room as she searched for the aforementioned brother, but having failed to spot him, she returned her attention to Sebastien. "I'm sure that Adrien can speak for himself, though if you believe that he thinks that I'm obliged to accept the compliment, sir," she responded, keeping on her guard for his questions-

And there it was, the questions that everyone asked her about. Who have you got your eye on? What are you looking for in a husband?

When are you getting married?

Ugh. As if it's any of their business! Sometimes Lux wanted to say she was looking for a wife to shock their noses out of her private life.

Aloud, she said, "I have responsibilities to the Demacia, my King, and the Institute of War, to name a few. My life is full of far too many duties to even consider marriage."

And even if I wanted any suitors, I doubt I'd tell you first. Lux held the thought in her mind, letting none of her dislike show on her face, her expression one that had been perfected in the long years appearing in Court. She recognised Sebastien for what he was now: A man hungry for power. While she respected Fiora, she didn't feel the same way for the man before her, and she would not let anything like that close to her own House.

Lux seemed to handle the man's intrusion well. Her expression masked whatever her feelings might have been toward the man effectively. Her response seemed to be one she used before. Being her young, cheerful, and altogether fairly easily approachable self, it would not surprise Leona if she had been asked similar questions several times already.

Lux's thoughts on the matter mirrored her own. She had rarely spent much time thinking on romance or even marriage, there were far too many things which took greater importance. She had her duty to the Solari, the sun, her people, and most of all, her purpose which she did not yet know, yet it was the only reason she lived longer than the age of sixteen. She wondered why she was there, listening to some idiot run his mouth when she still had some great unfulfilled purpose that she could be seeking. It was infuriating.

Now, the idiot even thought that he could sneak in comments without her hearing. She had already focused her full attention on his voice, otherwise she would have easily missed what he had said. She vehemently loathed how so many off the mountain found themselves entitled to call the Rakkor savage barbarians for their fondness for war. Every time they did so, they ignored their own people's penchant for killing, on grander and more twisted scales than the "barbarians" of Mount Targon. The Rakkor did not try to deny their warlike nature, and for that they were somehow worse than other civilizations. She could have said something, but she chose to continue to remain in silence, but her glare still locked on his eyes would perhaps hint to the man that what he had said did not go unheard.

With all the effort placed in the meal presented to him, Jarvan IV was still only barely distracted from the events playing out across the dining hall. Liliana's words cut through his concentration, and he missed her hand as soon as it slipped from him. Trust. Trust was what he needed, now more than ever. He hadn't his father's long history of success, no years of experience on which to rely. All his training, his years as a champion and a diplomat, were shaky footing for the orchestration of a nation. Sure, he had a measure of equity, left him by his father, carved into his last name. Topher's quiet certainty was testament to that. The man had hardly spoken to Jarvan IV before his father's death. Now, he supported him with council and the same unshakable loyalty he had shown Jarvan III. He wasn't alone on the Council of Nobles.

Still, out of all the stalwart allies and family ties lending weight to his words, Liliana's trust was the greatest comfort. He brought his hand back to his own armrest, still half absorbed in the body language of his guests at the center table. He'd noticed Luxanna slip into a veil of light, and his heart lept in his throat without touching his lips. He counted seconds, but her reveal was less impactful than he expected. The situation was becoming more worrisome.

"My love, have you met Fiora Laurent or her brothers?" He though a change of pace might calm things down. Jarvan IV touched his food absentmindedly and kept his attention forward.

There was the slightest intake of breath unanimously as the Laurents reacted to Lux's blunt statement. Isabelle looked bewildered, unused to hearing such direct declarations. Adrien blinked, any politeness on his expression seeping away, leaving an inscrutable mask not unlike his brother.

Sebastien chuckled, unfolding his napkin and dabbing his lips with it. Mind my tongue? He sniffed, brushing his nose gently before looking Lux straight in the eye, the first time his face matched his eyes--cold and heartless."Miss Crownguard,I see no disservice done wiz my words. Why, zee tone and phrasing of your words--should eet 'ave come from a man--would warrant a duel." He shrugged, allowing a moment of silence as he attempted to drag the conversation back into the comfortable embrace of convoluted remarks. "I 'ave a considerable amount of respect for your family, so I will allow zee slight on my family's standing and on our role in Demacia to pass."

Adrien listened wordlessly, carefully checking his fingernails. The facade of politeness on the Laurents was quickly crumbling. Their family had been shoved down the ranks of the nobility hierarchy, their father's fall had been an endless source of gossip and scandal, and the contention with the title of Head of House had shaken the foundation of their family. And now Luxanna, daughter of the Crownguards--favored lapdogs to the Lightshields, decided to critique their honor? The two Laurents followed this train of thought almost identically.

"Ah, look what you 'ave done." Adrien intoned, directing his words at Leona and the Solari. His lips curled, and at that moment, he looked very much like his brother. It was quite startling, as if someone perfectly normal had removed their mask, revealing a sinister visage underneath. "It seems to me zat your presence in Demacia 'as only pit houses against each other. What a shame--and we were getting along so well before. Perhaps our King 'as yet to see zat Demacia does not need protection from zee outside--we need it for zee inside." The words were deliberately cryptic, and Adrien instinctively shot a glance at the front of the room, where King Jarvan sat with Queen Liliana. Uneasy lies zee head zat wears a crown.The tension at the table was palpable.

Lux could hardly believe her ears. "I can see why your house fell into such disrepute now," she said coolly, her heart pounding with rage. "Fiora has done a good enough job to retain its honour, but with brothers like you around Court with nothing but an eye for ambition - and at the expense of all else...Hmph, I can see why Fiora took charge instead of either of you." At least she can keep a cool head and her wits.

Her gaze narrowed as she looked the pair over. "Should it have come from a man?" Her angry glare transformed into a sickeningly sweet smile. "My dear Master Laurent, you speak to one of the best of the Demacian Service Brigade. My brother is the Might of Demacia and one of our state's most decorated soldiers. I have one of the highest military backgrounds in Demacia - and you would look down on me because I am a woman? Hrm." Her disdain was clear as she sniffed - while Lux didn't particularly like the high-handed way that nobles often spoke to eachother, she could do it with the best of them.

"But then, I shouldn't be surprised by that attitude - after all, that would explain why Fiora sits as Head as opposed to you. Clearly you underestimate or think very little of the military prowess of females." Unlike either Sebastien or Adrien, Lux was someone who did not waste time with two-faced talk, preferring to challenge verbally if she must. After all, she preferred to banish the shadows, and illuminate the truth. All this cryptic nonsense was just that: nonsense. "If you must know, my loyalties still lie with Demacia, and always will. Given a choice between the Solari or the House Laurent, and I would choose the latter - but only if it was the Lady Fiora I could fight beside." After all, at least the woman's arrogance was justified by her dueling expertise. Her brothers, while laying claim to a talent with their blades, had sharper tongues. No doubt they'd be offended by Lux's choice of phrase - but then Lux meant to illustrate her trust of Fiora's swordsmanship and her lack of faith in their own.

Finished with them, she looked over at Leona. "I feel that this company is far too...hostile for my liking. I apologise. Would you and your companions like to accompany me? I think I will go sit with Shyvana - the lady and her companions are ones that I've worked beside, and I find they'd make more...civilised company."