At this, a long sigh escaped through his mouth and he pretended to act noble as he walked up to the direction his mother was gesturing at.
***
Since they both wanted to make sure that their son wouldn't ruin their family's image, the man and woman followed after him as he strutted his way on over to Lumiere Welle, who seemed to be busy thinking to himself.
'Annoying...'
Ainsley Oseth, the man who was currently speaking to himself in his head, felt irritated by the fact that his overbearingly strict parents had decided to follow him from afar just to keep an eye on him. His eyes danced around the rooftop that was lit with mechanical lanterns, and he inwardly complained.
Ainsley's inner thoughts: 'Tiring. What do they even find amusing in these events?'
Ainsley had his own opinion on social events like parties or gatherings. His opinion on the matter was quite indifferent, as he found it to be troublesome having to deal with several people all in one setting. Indeed, why do they enjoy such 'tiring' activities when they could be alone and improve on themselves instead of focusing on other's around them.
The boisterous laughs and smiling faces of the high class people scattered throughout the rooftop caused Ainsley to feel irked and disgusted.
Ainsley's inner thoughts: 'How fake. Every single person here wears that same damn smile as if they think it suits them.'
This time his thought was not an opinion or some rash judgement he made because of his own emotions. Each word he used to describe them in his head were all true and factual. Of course, when the majority of people are forced into a situation where they have to communicate with others, they would most likely try and put on a fake persona just to show a good first impression about themselves.
This was half the case for Ainsley because at often times he would break out of his persona once he felt that he could no longer handle the other person's presence. Meaning to say that he was a little hypocritical when it came to judging the other high class people around him.
Ainsley's inner thoughts: 'The only person here that's deserving of the title as pure is...'
Ainsley's gaze was gentle as his eyes landed on a certain person among the fake and stiff crowd. And that person was none other than Peston Brent. He quickly averted his attention back to what he was supposed to do as his walking pace became faster. He also noticed that his parents were still stubborn on watching him from behind as he heard the sound of their shoes growing closer.
Lumiere's index finger kept rubbing his chin as his face visibly wore a bored and exhausted expression.
Lumiere's inner thoughts: 'Yet again nothing to do.'
He was thinking about how boring the current state of the party he held was and how he felt that there was nothing interesting enough to catch his attention. But his thoughts immediately changed as he saw that in the corner of his eye someone was now approaching him.
Lumiere straightened his spine and put on his 'social face' as he spoke with a friendly gesture to the approaching person.
Lumiere: "And who might your humble self be?"
He already knew that everyone at the party knew his name because, well, he was the one that invited them here and hosted the party. Only a trespasser would react to Lumiere's statement dumbfoundedly as they were caught red handed.
The person was now standing at the opposite end of the round table that Lumiere currently sat on, and he replied.
Ainsley: "Ainsley Oseth. Although I will allow you to informally refer to me as 'Ainsley' only."
The tone in Ainsley's voice was proper but at the same time lazy. He did not care if Lumiere had noticed or not as he continued to speak.
Ainsley: "May I ask for your time? I would like to discuss an important topic with you."
Lumiere's head lightly nodded as he gestured for Ainsley to use the seat across the table. Ainsley obediently took a seat as he made sure to show some manner when doing so.
Lumiere used a corkscrew as he removed the cork on a wine bottle he had magically pulled out from underneath the table. He called on a waiter and requested two wine glasses. Recieving the two glasses, Lumiere smoothly passed the other glass to Ainsley's side of the table. Ainsley clumsily caught it before it could fall over, and he apologized.
Ainsley: "I must apologize. I'm not too fond when it comes to drinking..."
Lumiere: "Is that so? That's a shame then."
But Lumiere's expression was the exact opposite of his words, as he felt delighted that he didn't need to share his precious wine. Lumiere happily poured himself a full glass of wine and took a satisfying sip out of it. Seeing this, Ainsley inwardly sighed and started up the conversation.
Ainsley: "As you already know, your title as the Grand Duke truly fits your outer image."
Lumiere: "My, you flatter me too much."
Ainsley's inner thoughts: 'Flatter my *ss.'
Lumiere's inner thoughts: 'Looks like another naive buffoon has arrived.'
Both of their thoughts simultaneously clashed against each other in secret as they criticized the other's personality.
Ainsley had already guessed long ago that Lumiere was definitely just like the rest of the two-faced, high class people he had met throughout his entire life.
Meanwhile, Lumiere's inner emotions drastically changed back to his bored mood as he immediately labelled Ainsley to be another innocent and foolish person like almost everyone he had spoken to in his days as a Grand Duke.
At the very moment when Lumiere finally thought that whatever Ainsley had left to say was unimportant, he casually told him to get to the point while continuing to keep his noble composure.
Lumiere: "Well then, Ainsley, I suggest you don't beat around the bush. The night is far from over but our time is precious."
Lumiere's left hand playfully shook the wine glass in his hand as it almost spilled some juice over to Ainsley's side.
Ainsley's inner thoughts: ''Our' time? You say that when you're clearly making it obvious that you only care about yourself?'
Ainsley was starting to get annoyed at Lumiere and his fake persona, even though he also made it clear that he himself did not want to be here. His gaze grew tired, as he did as he was requested to.
Ainsley: "Should I ask you a question then? But I would only ask if you promise to answer them, that is."
It was as if he realized something interesting was going to happen as Lumiere put his wine glass down and looked Ainsley in the eye. His lips were hesitant at first but allowed him to speak anyway.
Lumiere: "... Go on."
Ainsley: "I never heard your answer though? Will you answer them or not?"
Lumiere, on the outside, faintly made it clear that he was gnashing his teeth as his gaze turned cold. After a few seconds of waiting, he finally answered the man who thought he had cornered him.
Lumiere: "I accept."
Lumiere's inner thoughts: 'He never said that I couldn't answer dishonestly. It's his loss either way.'
Ainsley did not care as he began to question Lumiere, who was wearing a sly grin on his face.
Ainsley: "For what reason did you throw this party for?"
His question almost caught Lumiere off guard as he saw that he slightly flinched. Lumiere decided that it was no fun to give Ainsley answers that were all lies, and so he responded to the first question truthfully.
Lumiere: "Believe or not, I only wanted to flaunt my wealth that is all."
Ainsley: "If all the attendees heard you right now would you regret what you just said?"
Lumiere: "Not really. Rather, I would find the expressions on their faces to be quite amusing."
Ainsley: "Alright. Let's move on."
Ainsley's fingers untied the rubber band that was binding his short hair, and he positioned it like a child that was about to shoot a rock at someone with their slingshot.
Ainsley: "How far do you think this band would go? Or who do you think will it hit?"
Lumiere's inner thoughts: 'That's a strange choice to ask someone when you're given the chance to. Then again... very amusing.'
Lumiere chugged down the entire glass filled with wine and sent a smirk to Ainsley's direction.
Lumiere: "Can I answer both?"
Ainsley: "You 'can' but what you should be asking is if you 'may'."
Lumiere: "... May I then?"
Ainsley nodded, and that caused Lumiere to begin carefully inspecting the position of the rubber band and where it was heading. Seeing as how it was stretched to the point that it almost seemed to snap in half sooner or later, he guessed that the band would go as far as 3 or 5.5 meters. And the radius of the people who would reach that range...
Lumiere's eyes darted through the people surrounding them and he came to a conclusion.
Lumiere: "The rubber band is quite small and judging by the way your stretching it the range limit would be approximately in between 3 or 5.5 meters."
Ainsley: "And what about the person it would hit?"
Lumiere: "None, obviously."
Ainsley chuckled quietly as he positioned the rubber band to face Lumiere, and he swiftly let go as it shot at his face without warning. Lumiere was baffled as he sat in his chair without moving an inch.
Ainsley: "I never said I wouldn't change the position I would throw it to. Neither did I say that you were excluded as one of the people who would potentially get hit by the band."
Lumiere: "How unfair..."
Ainsley: "Not everything is as it seems at first. You found a loophole to my 'QnA' didn't you? You'd most definitely lie on the final question. It's written all over your face."
He pulled out another rubber band the same size as the one he flung at Lumiere, and he threw it as the trajectory landed against another person's unaware back.
"Ow- What in the world..."
"Something the matter?"
"Nevermind, it's nothing."
The person was at least over 10 meters away from the spot they were on. Ainsley blinked slowly as he spoke.
Ainsley: "Also, I suggest you don't underestimate things just because of how small they look. They might just hit you on the back one day."
Lumiere gained a bad feeling in his stomach as he heard Ainsley's voice, which sounded as if he was plotting something. Ainsley's hands clasped together and caught his attention once more.
Ainsley: "Last question."
... Silence befell on their table, and both of their eyes did not show any signs of shying away fron the other's piercing gaze. Lumiere spoke up as he could no longer handle the unbearable atmosphere and hid his nervousness as he asked.
Lumiere: "... Will you spit it out or not..?"
The arm in which Ainsley kept hiding underneath the table until now was raised up and a voice recorder could be seen tightly held in his hand. He spoke ominously as a threatening aura started to leak out of him.
Ainsley: "What's inside your basement?"