"Good afternoon Nilen."
Kenneth said in an emotionless tone, Kailen quietly observed from the side. He didn't want to offend some rich kid if possible.
"Why bother to come here Lady Celia wouldn't choose someone like you. Your father should keep you inside so you don't fuck up anymore."
Kailen could see the animosity between the two, he saw Kenneth's brow furrow as he kept his temper in check.
"I'll keep that in mind Nilen, give your father my regards."
Kenneth tried to end the conversion without conflict, must be a story between them Kailen thought.
"Hm, just stay away from my sister or I'll make sure you don't walk again. Who's this? Some dog you found in the street?"
The man named Nilen spoke disdainfully sizing Kailen up. Seeing his well-traveled boots, and shirt instantly judging him to be of the lower classes. Kailen frowned staring coldly into his eyes.
"If I'm a dog then you're a rat, scurrying around leaving an unpleasant smell..."
Kenneth laughed before quickly suppressing it with great difficulty. Nile's face distorted and his mouth twitched with anger.
Before Nilen could respond to Kailen's insulting remark a pleasant voice resounded through the room from behind a curtained wall leading to the stage.
"Guests, please take a seat, I will begin shortly."
Nilen swallowed his words hearing her voice, glaring at Kailen as he turned and walked back to his seat.
Kenneth laughed seeing Nilen leave, patting Kailen on the shoulder.
"That was great Kailen!"
"So, what's up between you and him?"
"Well, his father and mine have a tense relationship due to their business ventures. I also kind of like his sister... which has caused no end of troubles between our families."
"Heh, that so... By the way, what's this about Lady Celia choosing you?"
"Oh that, well all the girls that perform here are courtesans. They perform here and can choose anyone to spend some time with if they wish."
Kailen was growing increasingly curious about this famous Miss Celia, so all these young men were coming here in hopes of being selected by her to talk. Kailen could imagine seducing such a country famous woman would satisfy any man's ego, though he had slept with two incredibly beautiful girls who he was confident would be more than a match for anyone. Though both girls had come onto him, which he found inherently strange, he wasn't arrogant enough to believe it was his charm. Both girls had some underlying motive in their relations with him, though he didn't mind too much.
His thoughts drifted back to Lana as he thought about her beautiful features and mischevious personally, he quite missed her and hoped to reunite with her soon.
His thoughts were interrupted as he, along with everyone present in the room, noticed a graceful figure entering through the curtain and walking along the stage toward the harp. Silence greeted her entrance, everyone present overwhelmed by her graceful appearance.
The woman looked fairly fragile, wearing a white dress with an excess of long flowing silk hanging from her arms. The woman looked angelic as she glided across the stage long black hair flowing to her backside, she had soft facial features with a small birthmark under her left eye.
The sound of the stool grinding along the stage echoed through the room as she got herself comfortable sitting before the harp. Kailen expressed his admiration inwardly, Lady Celia gave off a certain aura that made everyone wish to protect her at all costs. He watched as her graceful hands elegantly flowed across the harp strings creating soft and gentle sounds.
Kailen certainly understood why she was so popular as he was slowly immersed in her performance, her appearance sitting there quietly playing the harp with her gentle motions accompanied by the music she produced was enough to overwhelm everyone present.
Kailen allowed himself to clear his mind and feel the emotions present within her music, he wasn't sure if intentional but he felt the loneliness and sadness present within the song. In fact, he felt himself resonate deeply with the music. The first song had lasted a few minutes but it seemed to be over in the blink of an eye, it was Kailen's first time listening to music like this and he enjoyed it immensely.
Lady Celia performed a dozen songs for the people present before stopping and performing a small bow to the audience. Everyone in the room quickly applauded in appreciation, all except for Kailen. Kailen was lost in the emotions that the songs had risen from him, old memories surfaced together with past and present scars.
Lady Celia stood with her back straight as she observed her small crowd, seeing Kailen not clapping with an emotional look on his face made her pause for a few moments. Nilen noticing the opportunity to flatter quickly spoke.
"Why aren't you clapping? Don't you appreciate such fine arts?"
Nilen spoke fairly loudly and hence everyone in the room heard him, all their attention now on Kailen. Nailen was still fuming over Kailen's previous insult and a chance to publicly embarrass him in front of Celia seemed a perfect chance.
Kailen noticed the surrounding silence, he ignored the comments and looked towards Lady Celcia and spoke emotionally.
"Thank you for the performance, my lady. It sturred a lot of emotions and I hence lost myself for a moment."
Celia observed him for a few moments before granting him a graceful smile, her gentle voice echoing through the room.
"I thank you for listening, expressing emotions through music is the main aim after all. If you would like we could chat privately in the backroom?"
It was rare for her music to create such a strong emotional response in someone, she created the music based on her emotions. An individual that could understand my music, must have an interesting tale themselves she thought inwardly.
Her words caused a commotion throughout the young men gathered in the room, most notably Nilen's face distorted into disbelief. Kenneth was surprised but quickly ecstatic as he saw the look on Nilen's face, his plan didn't go to waste after all.
"I would love to."
Kailen replied with a gentle smile as he quietly followed her through the curtain into the backroom. Leaving behind a crowd of crestfallen young men, as they watched their beloved idol take her leave.