Making it to the dinner table, Ayano found the small maid that had taken her to her room earlier, standing at the side of the door along with several other men and women dressed in aprons and slacks. They bowed seeing her enter and regaining her bearing Ayano quickly returned their cursey. When she sat down one of the men in waiting, moved her chair closer to the table before placing down a napkin in her lap, and stepping back.
"Thank..." Ayano cleared her throat smiling at the stranger. "Thank you".
Ayano found it quite uncomfortable, having the people around her being very skittish. No one talked or smiled and the fact that they were attending to her hand and foot was making her giddy. This wasn't the life she was used to. Sure she lived in a manor with servants, but her father had encouraged her to have them feel as common human beings. They were there solely to help the mistress- her mother with the day-to-day activities of cleaning, cooking, and hosting. The table was then set by her mother and they ate by passing the dishes around.
As Ayano stared at the grand table, she wondered at the other seats so far apart how would they ever pass the dishes around. Again Ayano sighed heavily, keeping her distress to herself. How many people would be joining her for dinner? The thought had crossed that maybe she had missed it, as she was a few minutes late, but then all the other dishes had cutlery which was still fresh, and the candles lining the table seemed recently lit.
"Where is the master? " Ayano asked then deciding to air her thoughts as she glanced around at the strangers around her.
One stepped up to answer before freezing in his place as a figure emerged through the door.
"Good evening, Sir."
The man nodded before proceeding to take the seat opposite Ayano, catching her curious gaze from across the table. He had made it in time to prevent the server, from giving away his disguise and that was the last thing he wanted. He required his little rose to be pensive, curious, yet completely weary, as about her, she dwelt among creatures that were not her own.
"I hear you're still asking for the master, my lady," The man says after signaling for the servants to serve the food.
Roast beef was placed before them along with vegetables and mashed potatoes. Each looked more mouth-watering than the last.
"Um, yes" Ayano replied hesitantly. "I've yet to meet him and it seems he won't be joining us for dinner either."
A small smile tugged at the edge of his lips hearing her speak, yet his eyes did not fail to catch her slight frown at the end of her sentence. He was enjoying the fact that she dearly wanted to meet him. Yet she had, twice.
"I find it awkward that I've no name to call you," She says before mumbling a thank you after he had placed her plate before her.
The man chuckled pouring himself a cup of wine and herself also before settling back into his seat.
"Maybe because I've yet to offer one." He answered.
Silver hair fell across his brow, disheveled from the top of his head, concealing the brilliant change to crimson his eyes had taken on. The servers and maids bowed whispering their farewells before leaving the pair to their dinner.
"Why is that?" Ayano asks cutting her meat in half before placing it into her mouth.
He watched with wonton amusement as her eyes closed, while she chewed slowly savoring the taste of the meat on her tongue.
"Is it good?"
"Mhm," She nodded answering, her eyes bright. "It is" Ayano wipped her mouth meeting his eyes. "You haven't answered my question."
"You haven't asked" He responded simply.
For a moment Ayano wondered if he was trying to blame her for their estrangement. Surely that couldn't have been what he meant. At their earlier meeting, she had been too shaken up to ever have thought about it, and he had managed to remain hidden in the shadows throughout the entire ordeal. The only thing that made her sure of the person she was currently sitting across from was the striking silver hair, nose, and piercing gaze. Her partner for dinner was breathtaking, regal even with the way he sat and held himself, yet even with this, it was hard to believe that he wasn't the master.
Was he then more handsome and refined?
"I'm asking now," Ayano responds placing her glass to her lips.
Again the man smiled as if she had said something bemusing.
"Didn't they tell you not to talk at the dinner table?" He asked and Ayano stared at his chastisement.
He was the one that started the conversation, she mused to herself.
Dinner progressed in revering silence with Ayano's cutlery breaking the crypt every now and again. She couldn't help but notice that her partner, though had a fresh plate before him, only consumed his drink; occupying his time by watching her eat. While she felt thoroughly self-conscious about his stare, she had been careful not to make too much of a fuss. Though sometimes she couldn't help shifting in her seat.
"It's impolite to stare," Ayano spoke up finally having enough of his silent contemplation.
The silver-haired stranger raised a questioning brow, his grey eyes piercing hers as he watched her from his seat.
"Oh is it? My bad."
Inside, Ayano bristled. At the moment she was happy that the insolent bastard wasn't her husband to be, with his lack of manners and deportment. She silently prayed that despite her fiance's failed mannerism to meet her at the door, that he had at least had a conscience and that he would claim his wrongs.
"What are you?" Ayano asked brazenly
" Killian"
Ayano coughed, reaching for her glass and taking a large gulp, hopefully away at the knot that formed at the back of her throat at his words.
Kill? Is that what he plans to do?
What was a Killian?
"Pardon?" She asked weakly.
" Now you know my name. I'm Killian," he replied, a smirk on his lips as his eyes narrowed on hers.
However, Ayano was too dumbstruck to respond and only managed to stare at Killian fighting between shock and bewilderment. She couldn't tell what this man would do next.
"This is where you introduce yourself, my lady," Killian says quite taking her odd reaction to his name as entertainment. "Unless your charade of politeness is only a facade."
Ayano blinked before clearing her throat and sitting straight. She wouldn't have this man attack her character.
"No," She responds doing her best not to glare. "I'm called Ayano Tesler"
"I see."
"What is your relationship to the master?" She asked seeing that since now they could have a conversation, she would take full advantage of it. "If you don't mind my prying."
Once again, as many times since they sat down the edges of Killian's mouth tipped up creating a faint smile. It seemed everything she did was for his amusement.
"I don't mind," Comes Killian's reply. "But we're still sitting at the table."
"I think we've finished dinner and you started this conversation."
His dark brows raised in curious accusation.
"Did I, Miss Tesler?" He asked mocking her with his half smile. " If I recall you were the one that spoke first."
"Yes, but you were staring." Ayano gripped her napkin tightly in her hand to prevent her from pointing her finger at the awful man. Taking in a deep breath, she released it closing her eyes. "If you didn't want to answer, you could've just said so."
"Friends," Comes Killian's reply. "He is my friend."
The retreat of a chair stirs the silence of the room as Killian moves from his seat before extending his hand toward Ayano.
"My lady, while I do enjoy our conversation, I think it's time to retire don't you?" He asks and Ayano sighs once more nodding as she retreated from around the table as well and walked towards him.
They walked together in silence, more so on Ayano's part since she wished not to converse with him anymore, lest he said it was her fault. She had yet to garner much about the phantom of a husband-to-be from his supposed friend who was locked tighter than a closet.
Killian's feet paused at the stairwell, holding the candlelight, before removing a stick and handing it to Ayano.
"Please exercise caution, my lady," He said after placing the stick into her hand.
Ayano nodded, whispering a good night before heading up the stairs, when Killian's low voice made its way to her ears.
"My lady, may I suggest having conversations before dinner? If you require company I can have some arranged for you."
Ayano bristled turning around to confront him, stunned by the fact that she was met with inky darkness. The man had completely disappeared. But how when he was holding an entire rack of candles?