The high class nobles gracefully stood up as they brought their glass filled with wine with them. Inna took the hint and did the same, trying to imitate the same grace they had on their movements.
"For this situation, it will be Galen's birthday feast."
Professor Gnarly remarked as he started circling around the table.
'Galen' smiled slightly as he heard it. Then, he tilted his head towards Inna before speaking.
"For the Empress to actually hail us with her presence on my joyous celebration, I feel very much humbled."
Inna wracked her brains for an answer, and thankfully, she remembered that tv drama she binged watched a year ago about a traitorous queen whose mission was to bring down the country. Using it as reference, she smiled mischievously as she tilted her head in response.
"Oh, please do not mind much of my meddling. I am merely here to celebrate along with everyone for the sake of a friend. Hence, such formalities are unnecessary."
Unsure whether or not those words were the right choice, she waited for the sound of the harisen hitting flesh.
But it didn't come.
Phew. That must've meant that she answered right.
Galen heard her response and almost clicked his tongue from frustration. Who knew that she actually knew how to speak like a high class lady?
Since he failed in tricking the idiot, Galen decided to retreat for now and test her later. So, with the intent on moving on with the scene, he addressed the rest of the students on the table.
"To all that have attended this celebration, to both the nobles and to the common people, I extend my deepest gratitude for joining me and my family. This day is a cause for a great celebration for I, Galen Valdren, the head of the Great House of Valdren which governs the West border under the Emperor, am now celebrating yet another year of living and serving our great Emperor. And with great pride, I would like to perform this toast that signifies a start of a year filled with good health and prosperity."
Galen raised his glass and lightly bumped them towards his fellow nobles' wine glasses. Inna was about to do the same when she felt a sharp sound before the pain on her arm was registered in her brain.
Ow! She exclaimed in her mind as she winced in pain.
She thought that the pain would just likely be similar to before, like a simple slap on the hand.
But now she knew that back then, those Minions were greatly holding back!
It actually hurts like a bitch!
Inna immediately withdrew her glass as she felt her arm starting to throb in pain.
Was she not supposed to bump glasses with them?
Her unspoken question was answered when the nobles suddenly faced her with their wine glasses. They bowed deeply as they extended their wine glasses before them as a sort of offering towards Inna.
Seeing this, Inna was about to do the same when she remembered in that tv drama that queens were not supposed to bow down to anyone except the king. So, with no idea what to do, she just simply raised her glass slightly.
And that seemed to be the right choice as the nobles finally straightened their backs and drank their wine in one gulp before sitting back down. Meanwhile, the other students at the other half of the table simply had their right hand lay on their chest as they bowed while sitting. Then, when the toast of the other half of the table has finished, they exclaimed.
"May the Supreme God grant great health and prosperity!"
And after which, they sat straight and drank their wines in one gulp as well. Inna literally didn't know what to do so she simply sipped her wine before settling it down. And although Professor Gnarly frowned at her, he didn't do anything else which made Inna sigh in relief.
Ugh, she felt like she's treading on thin ice here. Every move she makes felt like its life threatening.
Then, after everyone finished drinking their wine, another high class noble that was across Galen spoke.
"You have truly been blessed by the Supreme god, sir Galen, to have the presence of our esteemed Empress in your celebration! And to have her deem you as something as close to a friend!"
Galen noticed his friend, Herad, giving him an opportunity to eliminate Inna so he decided to take the path his dear friend opened for him.
"Hahaha, do not jest, Sir Herad."
"I do not jest, sir Galen. Since the Empress has graced us with her presence for the sake of celebrating the birthday of her dear friend, sir Galen, then our esteemed Empress wouldn't mind if we were to request a few words of wisdom to bestow upon our host, now would she?"
Inna felt that, although their words sounded like flattery to her ears, it held a sense of mischief and ridicule in its tone. And she was actually hesitant to answer because of it.
When both Herad and Galen stared her down, she decided to finally answer.
"Well, I am not very confident with the words of wisdom to give towards everyone here in this table for I am very much certain that there is no lack of wisdom in anyone of the seated people here. However, if you were to ask of me to dedicate something for our dear noble's celebration, then I would have to ask you to wait since the offering of gifts hadn't arrived as of yet."
Inna smiled innocently but at the same time, she was screaming at Herad in her mind.
Get owned, asshole!
Herad gritted his teeth and was about to speak out again when he felt the small stinging pain of a fan tapping lightly on his side. He calmed himself down as he bit his inner cheek.
He knew his mistake and that was planning on talking back to the Empress. So, he decided to let it go for now but that doesn't mean he will give up.
He refused to believe that a Lily class student would be able to pass!
She doesn't belong in this class nor in this academy!
Meanwhile, Inna was oblivious to the mental screaming of Herad as she continued her facade as an Empress. She sat up straight and made her every move as graceful as she can.
Then, Galen's voice resounded over the table.
"Well, it seems that my dear noble brother has been too excited due to the presence of our dear Empress. I do apologize on his behalf."
Galen did a short bow in front of Inna but little did Inna know that Galen was already stabbing her multiple times in his mind.
Inna smiled in response as she answered.
"Dear friend, please rise. I don't mind but I do wish his patience would be long enough to reach until the end of this dinner."
Galen tried to hide the contempt in his face as he pretended to smile in gratitude.
"Of course, of course. Speaking of dinner, why don't we bring in the meal? Perhaps eating dinner would calm my dear noble brother down."
Galen laughed as he snapped his fingers. The rest of the table laughed along as well, making Inna laugh lightly while hiding her confusion.
Seeing that they were able to act out the first part with barely any mistake, Professor Gnarly decided for the situation to continue. So, after digging his hand into his spatial pouch, he threw something out. A flash of light appeared before Inna noticed that piping hot soups were now laid in front of them.
The students at the opposite end of the table couldn't help but exclaim out loud and for that, they each had a smack on the head.
Inna was about to start and dig in when a booming sound echoed across the room. Then, there was that familiar throbbing pain on the top of her head.
She endured the reflex to clutch her head as she sat rigid and frustrated.
What the fuck are they supposed to do if they're not going to start eating?!