Finally, the old crow entered. Ravina smiled as the elderly woman walked into the dining room table with a scowl on her face. It would seem anger was a permanent fixture on her face. This morning she wore a beautiful dark burgundy dress with a dark blue, full length shawl over it. Her cane tapped an echo into the room as she made her way to the table. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun and her brown eyes swam over the empty table before falling on the little girl seated by the head of the table and smiling at her.
Her lips, usually set in a firm line, twitched almost imperceptibly as she chose the seat closest to her, a subtle flair of her nostrils revealing the effort it took, yet her pride prevented her from showing any sign of weakness. Her labored breathing filled the air as the servants looked awkwardly between the two, unsure of what was about to transpire.
"Good morning, Madam Pelmen," Ravina greeted “I look forward to the meal.” the girl signaled the maids to serve her, it was a little messy but they understood what she meant. She remained seated even though she wanted to stand because the woman was also a pure breed noble, just like those who wanted to refuse to eat just because Ravina, the daughter of their head was waiting. She might have been an elder of great renown however, she was also a proud woman. Given her courtesy of her age wasn't what she wanted.
“I see you've waited, though I can't fathom why,” Madam Pelmen remarked with a scoff as she handed her cane to a maid.
“I wouldn't think it would be useless, I have a few things I would love to discuss with you,” Ravina said as the food was brought out. They both got a plate. It was the sad leftovers of the wonderful meal that was served before. However neither of them minded. One could no longer taste the food and the other had eaten far worse.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“So what does the illustrious daughter of the count want with a lowly old woman like me.” her words dripped with sarcasm as she mushed the food up with her fork.
“Madam, I could think of no one better from whom to learn the ways of nobility and my responsibilities as such than you.” Ravina’s answer came as a request and strategic flattery.
Madam Pelmen paused, her gaze lingering on Ravina with scrutiny. “You presume I have the time or inclination to tutor an ill-mannered child?” She retorted with a thin scoff. “Regrettably, my days are filled with far more pressing matters.”
Ravina was a little hurt. He thought she was being well mannered but apparently, she didn't look better in her eyes. Still, she expected pushback.
“I shall observe and learn in silence, then,” Ravina proposed, showing a defiant determination. She needed to engrain herself in the old woman’s life. “Otherwise I will be an ill mannered child for the rest of my life.” Ravina started on the food herself. She was suddenly overly conscious of how poorly she was handling the silver. She tried her best to eat in a refined manner, but she was an amateur compared to the family elders. With her ears turning a little red she tried to use it to her advantage. “After all, I don't know much about the nobility, even my table manners would seem rather poor to your expert eyes.”
Pelmen scowled at the girl before agreeing with her. “Quite right.”
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence. Ravina finished before her elder but she sat there and waited. Meanwhile, Madam Pelmen finished her food after quite some time. Then wiped her mouth and sat up in her seat. As the maids cleared the plates, the clinking of silverware against porcelain echoed in the tense silence. Madam Pelmen's gaze was pensive as it fell over the girl who was still patiently waiting for her.
Finally, she looked ahead of her and spoke across the table. “You might be a little useless but I could use the company.” Ravina smiled at her words. “After all, there is a lot of work to do…” Madam Pelmen said, nodding her head slowly as if to convince herself.