"How have you been faring?" Father leaned over to whisper, and I paused slicing the ham, to smile lightly, also leaning toward him.
"I've been fine. How about you Father?" I asked and he smiled lightly, reaching for his wine glass, before glancing in Mother's direction. It was a quick look but it had plenty of emotion behind it, and irritation was the most prominent.
"Well enough." He said in a gruff voice where I lowered my eyes, knowing that those words were not true. "I'm pleased that you decided to come down to share a meal with us. I know how hard it has been without Prince Elias here, so you like to stay in your room or the library to be by yourself, which is fine every once in a while." He said and I took in a deep breath.
