Siet assisted Ravina in preparing early the next morning. Somehow even in this early morning, the girl was filled with bright energy. In sharp contrast, Ravina was such a tired mess that she didn't realize she was seated in front of the vanity table until Siet informed her she was done.
Dressed in a simple yet elegant dark green dress, Ravina was wrapped in both function and sensible style. The layered garment lent a touch of grace unbefitting a young girl as she made her way to the breakfast table. She usually skipped these meals because she wasn't officially the count's daughter. Even the count had asked her to eat in her room. However, now she had a reason to attend.
Seven people were already seated at the table. They were the count's guests, the elders who were staying here to enjoy the finery of the count's manor after the required meeting. However, the Sword, Spear, and Feather were not present. Both the Spear and Feather had already left the manor, but the Sword should arrive for this meal. She was too proud not to show her face.
Signaling one of the maids with her eyes, Ravina inquired about Madam Pelmen as she arrived. "Has Madam Pelmen eaten already?"
"No, my lady. Madam usually comes around eight," the maid replied. It was rather late for breakfast. The room was aglow with a blend of magical lights and flickering candles – a typical morning in the count's manor, as the sun, just peeking over the horizon, its rays brightening the room even further as they marked the beginning of the day.
Time in the house of the Raven was measured by the sun, not by clocks ticking away the seconds. The sun typically rose around 5:58, dictating that breakfast was expected to be served at 6:30. Of course, without the even rhythm of a clock, time was more of an estimate, with no great accuracy.
However, Fort Ravyn was unique in having a way to track the time even in the dark. It was a military city with a 24/7 watch, forcing the use of shift glasses, a type of hourglass that displayed the time for the watch and their patrols. Most of them were set to eight-hour rotations, but on the night shift, they ran smaller ones with enough sand to fall on a four-hour cycle.
Ravina hummed as she recalled the information Mathus had shared with her when she first arrived. Now that she had time to reflect on it, she found great comfort in the fact that the days followed a 24-hour cycle. The days, the months and even the year were the same here as it was…there. The consistency was helpful in more ways than one.
"Then I'll wait." It would mean sitting at the table for an hour and a half, but it was necessary. She couldn't think of any other way to initiate a conversation with Madam Pelmen, especially since the Madam had practically already dismissed her. All three of them had, in fact. This made the prospect of winning them over all the more difficult.
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"Lady Ravina," Lord Carroway, the head of house Ravensong remarked. The scrawny man leaned forward with a sly smile that didn't quite reach his almond grey eyes. "Surely, you aren't bound by the whims of others at your own father's table.”
"I understand. Please, feel free to begin," she said, with a slight hesitation. Of course, they couldn't start eating if the highest-ranking person wasn't eating, especially in their own home.
The guests exchanged quick, knowing glances. Lord Carroway raised an eyebrow subtly, while Baron Elmyn tapped his larger fingers against the tablecloth.
Another guest seized the opportunity to explain it to the young girl. "My lady, it wouldn't be appropriate for you to wait on someone. This is not only your home but also because you are the daughter of Lord Ravenshield."
"I understand," she replied, "but I want to wait. Please, go ahead." The daughter of the Raven leaned back in her chair.
"Then," catching the attention of one of the maids, the guest issued a simple command, "Please inform Madam Pelmen that the daughter of Lord Ravenshield is waiting."
However, Ravina dismissed the idea before he could finish. "No, it's fine, let her rest." After all, this was also a demonstration of her something. Rushing her would only make her seem impatient, or desperate. Perhaps even both.
"But, my lady..." the guests were concerned, not for the girl, but for the manors they had grown up with. While many of them were indifferent to the girl who had come from out of nowhere, they still had their pride as nobles. They didn't just think they were better than everyone else; they knew it.
Baron Elmyn gave a resigned sigh. "Very well, Lady Ravina. If you insist on throwing away such formalities," he said, his tone laced with a mix of respect and mild frustration. He delicately started his meal, casting a glance at the others to follow suit.
For a moment, he was the only one eating. A soft melody of metal tapping on ceramics echoed into the stunned silent room. Soon after, emboldened by his actions, the others began to eat, picking up their forks before hesitantly starting on their own meal.
Soon, conversations started around the table, one overlapping another. The aroma of breakfast filled the air, a blend of rich and comforting scents. Around her, the nobles’ quiet conversations and the subtle clinking of cutlery while the young girl patiently waited.
As the nobles engaged in light banter, occasionally drawing Ravina into their conversations, she maintained a polite yet distant demeanor, her thoughts preoccupied with Madam Pelmen's impending arrival and what she would say to her. The chatter provided a backdrop to her anticipation, each minute stretching longer as she waited.
Others arrived, taking seats and enjoying their meals. A few left, and before long, the table was empty, except for one little girl. Ravina’s wait was a silent battle of patience. She occasionally sipped water or adjusted her seating, her eyes flickering to the entrance with each new arrival. Ravina never realized the boundless energy of a young girl until that moment when she struggled to sit still and be patient. She never fully realized how beneficial being a tired sophomore was. She found out just how itchy a young body could be when forced to stay seated.