In the "soft corner", the guy was caught by four people at once. Not that he was running or hiding, but he was not in a hurry, an aristocrat is never in a hurry or late, he always comes when he thinks he should.
Sora managed to catch one of the palace maids on his way out and ordered some kind of hot drink in a large cup. He sat down on one of the sofas around the low table with a calm face and sipped his drink, squinting slightly. The men approached in a hurry and arranged themselves in a circle so that all could see the boy.
— My friend, — said Paul Dunois. — You've been in a lot of trouble today. — The boy's voice was unusually serious, and his gaze tried to break through the lilac eyes.
— Dunois is right, — said Lilianna Ternier, her eyes sparkling. — The Duke of De Reverdy will not forgive this, and he is a very powerful sorcerer. You should apologize! — the deadly beauty almost shouted.
Sora did not react to the words of his acquaintances, only sipping from his large mug. Unexpectedly for everyone, even for herself, Fleur spoke.
— You are right, — the girl did not speak very loudly and did not try to catch the man's eye like the others. — De Reverdy is a powerful, old Kin. — The girl nodded, which made her silver hair, gathered in a tricky hairstyle with a curly ponytail at the side of her head, seem to make the sun bunnies fly. — But they'd been losing respect in society for several years. — Sora lowered his gaze to Fleur, his eyes sparkling with interest. — You had the right to end the life of the heir. Even in the eyes of the king, you are unjustifiable. — The two gazes met, and only Gabby noticed that her older sister, though restrained, was embarrassed, her ears turning slightly pink. — The Reverdy family has no right to retaliate openly, but unofficially the assassins will be sent out tonight.
— Let them. — The boy shrugged indifferently and sipped from his mug.
Fleur reacted with tight lips, the others frowned. And only Gabrielle frowned at the fact that she herself hadn't thought to order the hot chocolate that this impertinent man was so happily devouring! The girl, or is it already a girl(?), wanted to boldly sit down next to the guy, who is always comfortably warm, take the cup away from him and enjoy the benefits of civilization with the same expression. Yes, — the girl nodded thoughtfully, — that's exactly what she would do. Gabby had just started to get up from the couch when Sora removed his palm, flicked his fingers in the air and a replica of his cup appeared on the table in front of him. With VERY great satisfaction and pride, Gabrielle proudly nestled herself under the boy's side and took a sip of her drink.
The rest of the trio watched with almost square eyes, the whole scene looking a little too much like a family. Lilianna frowned unhappily, Fleur became thoughtful and looked at her sister with new eyes. Paul Dunois, wearing the stone mask of an aristocrat, turned away delicately, barely containing his laughter.
— And yet, what are you going to do? — Paul asked, slightly calmer. — My family will try to help you, of course, but our power and Reverdy's are incomparable. — As if to apologize, the boy spread his hands.
— Thank you, my friend, — it is worth explaining the surprise of those present, because it was the first time Sora expressed herself in such a way. — But it is not necessary. I have a couple or three trump cards to answer the "proud" family if they decide to do what you described. — Sora smiled in a way that made him look like a predator, and his eyes sparkled with silver sparks.
— Besides, — Ternier spoke, having listened intently until then. — It's taboo to make an assassination attempt within the walls of Beauxbatons. — The girl smiled.
— No, — the boy stretched slightly. — I will study at Hogwarts. It's already decided.
— So that's why you were so late... — Paul stretched thoughtfully and then his eyes flashed mischievously. — I thought you'd met some local hottie and gone on a bender. — He smiled broadly, playing on the girls' nerves.
— Too bad for me, — Sora smiled guiltily. — I just bought a house and organized a small business. That's all.
The conversation went on without any tension. The young people discussed many things, and eventually a few more young men and women joined them.
Lilianna was unusually quiet and thoughtful, and Gabrielle never left her seat, radiating the contentment of a well-fed cat and a bright smile.