"I'm back."
Christina waved to her family in the living room with a smile.
The family members were seated around the dining table; her father at the head, her mother and elder brother on one side, and her younger sister, uncle, and cousins on the other.
"..."
Two seconds later, the dining room remained as quiet as before; those seated around the long table just glanced at her, gave her a slight smile, and then continued with their meal.
There wasn't the warm welcome she had expected from everyone.
"?"
Christina wondered if there was something wrong with the way she entered.
"Christina, take a seat," commanded her father Count Bathist, his directive succinct.
"Oh, okay."
Christina, momentarily taken aback, quickly composed herself and pulled out the chair beside her younger sister to sit down.
No sooner had she sat down than a maid instructed by a signal brought her cutlery.
Everything seemed normal.
