As Leon stepped through the intricately carved oak doors, his gaze swept across the grandeur of the hall. 'How grand' he couldn't help thinking to himself as he stepped forward. Before him, a polished staircase split through the hall, dividing the upper gallery and the crowd below. Sweeping across the room, Leon noted two things. While the bright lights emitted from the styled chandeliers made it difficult to see the upper floors, but Leon roughly evaluated that the older members of the family were gathering there. Down below, the average age of the crowd was likely no older than 25. Most of those on the main floor appeared to be well dressed noble born, many had the characteristic red hair of the Reinhardt's or were grouped with them.
The whole grandness of the event had Leon feeling out of his depth. Instinctively, he turned to his partner.
Hela feeling his gaze, flashed a warm smile. Pulling him towards her, she coaxes him with her soft words "don't worry, I will take the lead." Having felt useless just before, she asserted to herself to return to her usual demeanour, not wanting Leon to think she was a weak woman. Further, Leon looked lost at the moment, how could she not step up.
With renewed vigour she pulls him along, their hands connected as they travel down the stairs together. As they head over to the tables laden with a variety of food unique to the Reinhardt's domain. Passing through the crowd, Leon listens to their conversations. Their words veiled, with hidden meaning. They each appeared to be focusing on common topics of the nobility or trying to increase their peerage by wooing over a higher ranked aristocrat.
With their act, Leon steps forward confidently. He had just been reminded of a thought. 'One day I will likely have to hold such events and talk in such a way. I should take this opportunity as practice.' With that, his nerves started to dissolve.
Having arrived at the tables, Leon surveyed the food before deciding on a fluffy pastry. Taking a bite of it, he learns that it is filled with meat. The wild meaty taste is mixed with a mild sweetness which Leon finds delightful.
"They are made from wild sweet duck" seeing Leon's interest she smirks.
"They are rather nice" Leon replies finishing it off in another couple of bites.
She starts looking over the table for other items that may fit his palate. Finding a few items to suggest to prepares to show them but stops as she sees a figure in the background. Her sister, Anna, had locked eyes on her. Seeing her attempts to rattle Hela, she prepares to deal with it. Before she can move however a voice calls out "Look there is my woman."
Leon was first to turn followed by Hela. They both see the blond-haired man swaggering towards them. He appeared to be a few years older than them. Behind him, a woman with dark pink hair follows. Both Hela and Leon stand just over a hand taller than them both.
"Who are you?" Leon asks sternly, wanting to make sure his previous comment didn't relate to them.
The man, however, ignores Leon's words. With a smirk, he reaches out his hand. "A Reinhardt mongrel like you should just spend your time beneath my waist" with his words the woman behind him sneers, "maybe the kids you make will prove more useful".
Hela reels back in disgust, making sure the man's hands do not touch her face. Unhappy with her resistance he pushes forward before being grabbed by Leon.
"Piss off creep!" he growls, annoyed by the creep's actions against Hela and upset with his claim over Hela, his strengthens his grip.
"A servant dares touch me!" shouting at his perceived intrusion he shoots a metal spike at Leon. Using his other hand, Leon blocks it. Leon's face contorts to show an air of bewilderment at the extreme response. He never expected the reaction which had caused him to pause.
Hela, however, wasn't so stunned. She immediately back hands him across the face, watching as his body drops. "You dare hit me!" before the situation can further devolve a large 'ding' resounds through out the room, drawing everyone's attention.
"Attention everyone" the mans voice spoke with such authority that everyone made sure to pay attention. His middle-aged body appeared to be still within its prime, the large muscles bulging.
After the short pause, he continues "As you all know, my wife and current head, has been looking to step down from her position. With the current situation, the position of heir has begun to draw more attention. With my daughter's birthday tomorrow, the opportunity to proves yourselves has arrived. The event will help establish your position and will give a chance for us to strengthen our position through marriage. I expect everyone here to try their best for it. For any non-Reinhardt's please go for an ability test to show your worth."
As the man's finishes, a woman steps forward. Her features somewhat resemble Hela's only she stands slightly taller, amongst the tallest in the room. Her great bosom sways with her steps, her womanly charm obscured by her defined muscles and scars showing her proclivity for battle. "Hello everyone, I just wanted to clarify that I am ready to take the mantle of my mother and the stability of the Reinhardt's is solid. Please just enjoy tomorrow and find fellow minded peers" she assures the crowd. Her declaration as heir left little to dispute. Even amongst the talented children surnamed Reinhardt, she stood apart. Her combat ability was likely the finest since the esteemed senior of the Reinhardts joined the family.
With the speech finished, the nobles began to chat once again, and the paused conflict was about to continue. The man on the floor had gotten up, he protests loudly "You bitch, why did you hit me? I am your fiancé."
Hela having never met the man before makes her position clear, "You dared to attack my partner, perhaps I should bury you here" her words stone cold.
With the comments everyone had mixed feelings. The pair felt aggrieved, Hela felt proud off her comment declaring her commitment and insulting the creep. Leon's thoughts were in turmoil, he felt the man in front of him to be a nuisance and problem, though Hela's words softened his mood.
"You would take a peasant for your man; you truly are no better than a dog?" with his pride hurt he shouts.
"After you bed her, I'm sure she will yield. In the meantime, we only need get rid of the man-slut" the woman behind whispers to him as she stares at Hela.
With the two's outrageous words Hela's brow furrowed, as if she would explode. Just as she was about to say something, a further intruder appeared. "Good evening sister, cousin, it appears you are having a fun chat about your engagement" having decided that the fight was amusing, Annabelle had come over. Watching the three women stare daggers at each other Leon was sure none of them liked each other. With the tension palpable between them, Leon dared not ignite it. The problem took a turn with the arrival of a fourth woman, Octavia.
"Cousins how are you?" she says with a smile, ignorant of the tension.
"Octavia, its nice to see you" Hela goes up and hugs her, Leon couldn't help but stare at the collision of their cushions. Whilst, Hela's response was rather informal, the others replied much more politely. The gathering had now grown quite considerably with, the women's partners standing behind their women.
"Introduce me to your partners, I have to pick one soon" Octavia eagerly awaits.
"This is Leon, my partner that I met at the academy" Hela introduces Leon to her. Anna also introduces her three partners, whilst the other woman introduces her brother, Oska and her partners behind her.
Oska, unhappy with being put into the background piques up. "You lowly scum will learn their place when I take Hela during the trial tomorrow and all you can do is watch" he proclaims. After having some time to think, he had decided that the event would be a great opportunity to assert his possession. 'How would a peasant with such a small gem be capable of participating. Also, wouldn't he become useless on their first night?' As the thoughts ran through his head, Oska smirked inwardly.
"I will be competing though?" with the opportunity to train before him and possibly solidify his position Leon saw no reason to enter, leading to his confusion as to why the man believed he wouldn't enter.
"Hah, how could they let a weakling like you into the competition" Oska laughs at the ridiculous thought.
"I will show you when I take the test" with nothing to prove Leon answers dryly.
"Oh, are they love rivals? Why don't all you guys get tested so us girls can talk?" somewhat happy at all the fuss, Octavia suggests.
"Yes, that way I can embarrass him in front of the others. Perfect".
"Alright" Leon not particularly bothered about the contest but not knowing where the test room is finds it a good way to kill two birds with one stone. 'Surely he will lead me to the room and when he loses hopefully, he stays away from Hela.' With the thought, Leon follows the man Oska, the trail of other partners following behind.