As we return to the great hall, the other guests also start coming one after another. I continue my work with welcoming the other guests, while Gandolf returns to his father table and waiting for the banquet to start there. I still receiving our guests for a while until Uncle Jake come and ask me to return to the great hall.
"Young master Henry, please go inside and leave the reception of guest to Nicholas"
"Eh, but there're still many guests coming. I want to greet them before the banquet start"
"Young master Henry, you're our main star for today's banquet. Besides, young miss Eliza, young miss Celes, and Sir Anthony already arrived in the great hall, you should go with them and greet the guest with them"
"My fiancé already here? Alright, I'll be there soon"
"Ehem…young master…."
When I about to enter the great hall, Uncle Jake call me with a hesitating tone
"Yes, Uncle?"
"I heard my daughter will make performance during the banquet…is that true?"
"Yes, that's true…she will sing while Clara and Claire playing music"
"Is she going to be okay? She never makes any performance before. I'm afraid she will bring shame for Harvard castle"
"Don't worry uncle…she'll be just fine and our guests surely will love her performance"
"Ugh…if young master said so…I just have to believe it"
"You should hear her singing, uncle. She has a talent for that, you will proud of her later"
I pat his shoulder to comfort him before enters the great hall with Uncle Jake.
Some table already arranged in the innermost of the great hall near the stage. It's an honorary seat for Earl Stamfort, his son Anthony, my fiance Celes, My father, my stepmother, my sister, and for me. My father Earl Stamfort, and my stepmother sit on the same table, I and Celes have our own seat in a different table as well as my sister Eliza and Sir Anthony.
My little step sisters placed in other tables near the table with wives and kids that other guests brings to the banquet, their maid watches over them to make sure they will good behave during the banquet. Other table had already been arranged in the center of the great hall for invited guest, and important personnel in Harvard castle. Invited guests consist of the town mayor, big merchants and other respectful characters in Harvard territory like the religious leaders, the village chiefs, etc. The maids also already distributed welcome drink for our guests.
I see my fiancé already there with my sister and Sir Anthony. She looks beautiful in her blue formal party dress like what nobles usually wear in European Medieval time. She's not wearing heavy makeups and not put light cosmetics on her face, makes her looks natural beauty. Her long silver hairs also arranged neatly with some braids on it. This must be Clara and Claire works on her hair. Good one, I should praise them for their hard work later
"You look great, Celes. That dress suit you and your hair also look amazing"
"Really? Thank you, Henry… It's sister Clara and Claire who help me with the hairdo"
"Hmm…I should thank them later for making my fiancé look great like this"
My fiancé looks happy when I praise about her looks. I shift my eyes to my sister and Sir Anthony side. Sir Anthony is wearing his formal uniform as the royal army commander, and he looks handsome in that outfit. My sister also looks beautiful with her own made dress with green colors, although a bit simpler than Celes' dress, my sister's dress fit her body perfectly and empathizes her gorgeous body.
"Sis, you look beautiful with that dress. You two make a good view together"
"Thanks, Henry…I hope my own made dress will not embarrass Sir Anthony"
"No, Eliza…just as Henry said, you look pretty with that dress"
Have been praised by her future husband make my sister blushing.
"Really? My dress…is not too shabby right?"
"No, the color and the size is perfect, and most important the wearer also beautiful"
Good! It seems Sir Anthony also know how to praise a woman. We both sit on our respective seats while sometimes standup when a guest coming at the front to greet us. This continues until the time when banquet about to start and almost the invited guest already arrived. My father gives a sign to uncle Jake, who given duty as the host for the banquet, to open the banquet formally
Uncle Jake is step up in the stage and start drawing guest's attention
"Excuse me, Ladies and gentlemen…may I have your attention please..."
The great hall that previously full with clatter somehow becomes quiet. After having the attention from our guest, Uncle Jake continues his speech.
"Thank you….I can see some of you came from faraway places, I'm representing the Harvard Castle, would like to say our great happiness to have you all here, gather in this great hall together.
As you might already know from the invitation, today, in this joyful moment, the Harvard Castle will announce something important. It's about the engagement of our Lord, Sir John Harvard's son with Your Excellency Sir Earl Edward Stamfort 's daughter
But I won't talk much about that, because that should be our lord Sir Harvard who will talk and announce it officially about the engagement. So, ladies and gentlemen, please give your applause for our lord Sir Harvard who will personally announce this happy news for you all.
Sir, you may step up to the stage and give a speech about the engagement"
Uncle Jake step down from the stage and give the stage to my father. My father rises from his seat and step up to the stage to give the speech. With the opening speech from Uncle Jake and my father , the banquet is officially start.