Jonas kept his face looking forward as he drank in all the details he could from his surroundings through his peripheral vision. At the moment, there wasn't much to see, although, when they got to the entrance, Jonas learned that he was expected to stay outside of the Duke's manor. Elmo and Kim were allowed in because Kim was Elin's bodyguard while Elmo was her mage. Jonas, however, was her simple 'servant' so while he was allowed to accompany her there, he couldn't go in himself.
Not that he minded. It would give him an excuse to talk to others and to learn what he could. If it came down to it, he'd even be able to find a way to enter the manor, just not through the front door in order to either help out if something happened or to get more information about something.
As Elin, Kim, and Elmo entered the building, Jonas glanced around and saw the two servants of Guy's move the carriage away to a fair distance from the manor, but still close by and started to chat with the servants of other lords who'd already shown up. He could also see that there were several other guests who had yet to arrive. At least given how the guards by the gate were slowly allowing in carriages through the gate.
A number of them looked like they were rather self-important, though Jonas couldn't really tell if who they were actually warranted such displays. To him, it looked more like politicians and how they made themselves look good while ignring all the things that they knew they were doing but didn't want people to actually know they were doing.
The evening was still rather young, with the sun still high enough in the sky that it would be a couple hours before it set. Which meant that Jonas had a couple hours to kill, given that he knew he couldn't sneak into the manor until the sun was down at least. It would be too easy for the guards to see and call out an alarm.
Besides, he knew there were others whom he could talk to at his point. Such as the other servants and maybe some of the guards. Besides, he knew that servants often knew more than their employers were aware of. Especially when the employer was so used to the servants that they became like furniture to them.
However, he also didn't ask the wrong thing to the wrong person, or as it with the wrong person in hearing range. Otherwise he might find himself in hot water before he was even aware he was in danger.
+++
Elin felt her eyes widen as she stepped into the room where all the guests were being escorted. She couldn't remember seeing a room this large in her father's house at all. Not even the training hall for the soldiers was this large.
The ceiling was at least two stories high, with elaborate murals along the ceiling. The curtains almost looked like liquid gold along the windows that covered an entire side of the room. The spread of the room looked like it was as big as the room where they fought the troll in the dungeon. Then there were the other guests, each with clothing that felt like it was made as a piece of art. Much like her own dress that she'd essentially been given.
"Introducing Lady Elin Davies of Meadowvale, her magician Elmo Garcia, and her bodyguard Kim O'Hare!" the announcement rang out as she stepped into the room.
Elin smiled as the faces in the room turned to look at her, if only briefly. Somehow she felt like she was more important than she'd ever felt from that brief attention. Even though she was more of an oddity in this world, from what she had seen so far.
She also was happy that Guy's hairdresser was somehow able to get her unruly hair to be cooperative without having to cut it again. She liked how her hair was now below her shoulders, even if just barely. She couldn't say why, but being able to have her hair longer than she'd had it before somehow gave her a good feeling.
She walked over to where the table with refreshments were located, where she'd agreed to meet with Guy. Though, she wasn't sure what to expect here. Especially with the others that she could see all in their own little groups.
She glanced at Elmo, who was already helping himself to the food on the table. He had taken s piece of bread and was piling meats and cheeses on it before topping it with another piece of bread. While there weren't any plates, Elin couldn't help but feel embarrassed at his actions just by the proximity of them. She carefully stepped away and bumped into someone, accidentally knocking them over.
"Oh! Sorry!," Elin exclaimed, immediately turning to help whoever she knocked over.
"My head," the girl complained as Elin helped her stand. While she hadn't hit her head on the floor, it still had clipped the table rather painfully.
"Let me take care of that," Elin offered, putting her hand where the girl's head hit the table. "Minor Heal."
Elin hadn't planned on using her magic here, but she did feel guilty for hurting the girl. So, she had to make sure that there wasn't any lasting harm. Especially since it was her fault anyway.
"You're Lady Elin, right?" the girl said, as the herald announced another guest. One that neither Elin or the girl paid any attention to. The girl had light brown hair and piercing green eyes and stood about as tall as Elin's chest. The girl also had some features that seemed familiar to Elin, but she couldn't quite place them right away.
"Yes," Elin said, giving a little curtsy to the girl. "What's your name?"
The girl curtsied herself as she answered, "I'm Lady Samantha Goldenweave. I saw your blue hair and I had to see it closer."
Elin offered her hand to the girl who eagerly took it and Elin started leading her away from the refreshments so they wouldn't be in the way or others. Then when she'd put a little distance between them and the refreshments, she knelt down so she was eye level with the girl.
"Would you like to take a closer look at it?" Elin offered.
"Is that alright?" the girl asked, hesitantly reaching out to take a lock of Elin's hair in her hands. "I've never seen hair like this before."
"Where I'm from it's a rather common color," she answered, surprised at the wave of homesickness that enveloped her at that moment.
"I wish I had hair this color," Samantha said bitterly, releasing Elin's hair. "Maybe then it wouldn't be unclear to whom I'll be married to."
"Don't worry about it so much," Elin urged the girl. "I know my father loved my mother and I'm sure they were in a position like yours when they were younger."
The girl looked at Elin for a minute before she sighed and nodded, clearly accepting Elin's assurance. Elin was about to open her mouth to say something else when a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"There you are!" Guy called out, suddenly appearing next to Elin. "I thought we'd lost you."
Elin smiled and stood up, curtsying in the process. "I'm still by the refreshment table," she protested gently.
"Well, I see you found my sister," Lance said, looking at the girl, who merely blushed.
"I didn't find her so much as I bumped into her," Elin replied, feeling embarrassed again for the accident.
"She's very nice, brother," Samantha said. "You should see if mother would approve of her."
Elin was appalled at the sudden suggestion. Lance, however, seemed to find the idea rather entertaining. As he started laughing at the suggestion.
"You know mother," Lance said. "She probably has a few women selected already. If I introduce Elin to her, she'll probably reduce her to a puddle of tears that she'd have the servants mop up and send on her way."
Elin felt her indignation rise at Lance's suggestion. "I can withstand anything your mother could throw at me," Elin boasted, offended that she could get reduced to tears, let alone a puddle of tears.
Samantha looked between Lance and Elin. "I guess you're right," she mumbled, clearly unhappy with the idea. "She's just nicer than any of the ones mother has been pushing you to meet."
While she didn't care for the way Lance had put it, she couldn't help but eel bad for the girl. Elin wondered if the girl had any friends of her own, or if they were all servants who were there to keep an eye on her as much as keep her entertained and busy. Much like Elin could remember being when she was younger.
"Why not run along and meet with some of the other guests," Lance suggested. "You know mother will want you to meet as many of our guests as you can, right?"
Samantha sighed. "You're right," she mumbled, starting to walk away, clearly not happy with doing so.
Shortly after that, Guy and Lance's other friends started to show up, all happy to see that Elin had come, though, envious glances were cast towards Guy for the fact that she'd accepted his offer over theirs.
Elin was starting to enjoy herself, having a little bit of food occasionally, though, she couldn't help but feel like she was forgetting something that she'd told herself that she needed to do as well. Although, she could also see that she'd lost Elmo in the crowd. Kim was easy to find, since she hadn't left Elin's side, but definitely looked like what she always pictured a bodyguard of hers would look like. Always observant and ready for action at the drop of a pin.
Which is why when the announcer spoke, Elin was completely caught off guard, although her new friends continued on with their conversation.
"Well, what a day it's been! No new challenges were completed, but several are getting closer to the main challenge right now! Also, no one else has died at this time. Which is also a new record. Normally we have close to half our contestants dead at this point. Let's hope not much happens during the night! That would make it very difficult to know what to show for the highlights, not to mention the possibility of someone dying during that time."
She glanced at the window and was surprised at how late it had gotten. She wasn't sure how long the party was supposed to take, but it had at least been going on for a few hours. She couldn't help but wonder if the rest would go by as fast as the first part had.
It was at that time that music started playing and Elin noticed a few people starting to dance. She wasn't sure what they were doing exactly, but at least liked the music that was playing for it.
"Lady Elin," Lance suddenly said, interrupting his thoughts. "Would you be willing to join me in this dance?"