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"Men," she muttered before turning her attention back to me. "But thank you, Lady—"

"Just Eliah is fine," I interjected, taking a final bite of the orange-infused pastry filled with sweet cream.

She offered a warm smile. "Eliah," she echoed before returning to her own plate while the lady beside her whispered something in her ear.

We all finished eating, wishing our clothes would expand over the fullness of our bellies.

Levon rose from his seat, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "Now that we're sufficiently satisfied, let us move to the ballroom for some dancing and wine," he announced, prompting everyone to rise in unison, offering their gratitude to the nearby footmen as they made their way out of the dining room. Edmon lingered nearby, accompanied by the enthusiastic girl and the gray-haired lady, their presence triggering memories of our initial encounter.

"Hello, Eliah. Levon," Edmon greeted with the warmth of a towering oak. "Allow me to introduce my sister, Mel, and my mother, Cleola."

Both women offered graceful curtsies, their smiles revealing gleaming teeth.

"Nice to meet you both," I replied with a polite nod.

Levon shifted, embracing Cleola and Mel in turn. "It's wonderful to see you both," he exclaimed, but Cleola's sharp eyes caught sight of Levon's powdered face.

"What happened to you?" she exclaimed, her maternal instincts kicking in as she examined Levon's face with concern, her fingers trying to brush away the powdered façade.

Levon chuckled, his arm wrapping around me. "Training happened," he remarked, pulling me closer, his touch sending a warm flush to my cheeks.

Cleola shot me a playful glare, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Good, he needs a good beating every once in a while," she teased, prompting a surprised laugh from me as she and Mel followed Edmon into the ballroom.

"And here I thought your only friends were Edmon and Kaizen," I remarked, the latter's absence suddenly weighing heavily on my mind. "Where is—"

"He has other matters to attend to," Levon stated with a smile.

Slowing my pace, I allowed Levon to enter the ballroom ahead of me, taking in the simple yet elegant decor adorned with strings of flowers cascading from the ceiling. It lacked the opulence of Jesri's gatherings, but it possessed a quiet charm sufficient to infuse the evening with a touch of grace.

Levon tugged on my arm, guiding me from one individual to the next. We mingled with people from all corners of Creos and even some from the Eastern Continent. Among them were sun-kissed figures, freshly returned from vacationing in Kleads, while others were Artisans, Merchants, or Publicans. It was abreath of fresh air to interact with such a diverse array of individuals and to encounter people beyond the confines of Fernwen or Jesri's tightly woven network of connections, where all I was ever known as was theorphangirl.

After greeting every last person, I collapsed onto a plush couch and took a long sip of the strawberry-lemon wine. Sitting up straight, remembering my etiquette, I surveyed the room, my gaze landing on Levon, who had shed his dark blue coat, leaving it draped over a nearby chair. In the background, the footman from earlier played the pianoforte, setting the backdrop for the lively chatter that ensued. More footmen entered, bearing trays of wine and an array of pastries.

Amidst the commotion, Admearin caught sight of me, the click of her red heels punctuating each step as her sparkling red gown billowed behind her.

"How are you holding up?" she inquired, taking a sip out of her glass, wreathed in her red lipstick, and settled beside me.

I responded with a shrug and a half-hearted smile.

"Well, you seem to be handling it better than I would," she remarked, shaking her head. "Meeting all these people, all at once? No, thank you." She took another long swig of her wine.

"I prefer to observe rather than be the center of attention," I admitted, watching as she finished her drink.

She nodded in agreement. "I despise parties and only attend for Casmir's sake. That man could talk the ear off a statue if given the chance." We shared a laugh as we observed Casmir engaging a group of men, his animated storytelling leaving no room for other conversation.

"I'm glad to know I'm not the only one," I smiled.

With a nudge and a graceful adjustment of her tight dress, she prepared to rise. "Perhaps when Levon and Casmir are distracted doing their duties, you and I can go exploring."

"I'd like that very much," I replied earnestly.

She squeezed my hand affectionately before standing. "I should go rescue those poor men; their ears are probably close to bleeding out," she quipped with a playful grin. After a few steps, she turned back towards me. "It's truly an honor to meet you, Eliah. Levon speaks highly of you, and now I can see why," she added before walking off to the group of men, leaving me to ponder her words.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, pretending to take sips of wine and longing to shed the confining dress to indulge in a hot bath.

Levon's gaze met mine, a silent question lingering in his tilted head before he excused himself from his conversations. He crossed the ballroom floor with purpose until he reached me, hand extended.

"Care for a dance?" he asked, his tone hopeful.