A Dinner of Disclosures

“Young miss, dinner is ready, and your father is waiting.”

The cautious maid gently knocked on Audrey’s door.

“Ugh—can’t I just eat somewhere else? I really don’t want to see that detestable person again.”

“Audrey, that’s not the proper way to speak. Dinner, after all, is a family affair.”

A debonair and gentle man stood a step behind the maid, speaking with an indulgent tone.

A long sigh escaped from within the room before Audrey reluctantly opened her door, raising her eyes to the man.

“Father.”

“There’s my good Audrey. Everyone’s eager to hear about your new book. Come here, let me kiss you—”

“Stop it, I’m sixteen already, not a child.”

Under the maid’s smiling gaze, Audrey, barely suppressing an awkward twitch of her lips, pushed away the man’s approaching face.

“I’m far past the age for cheek kisses.”

“Alright, then,” Philip said, regretfully stroking his daughter’s head. “Let’s go together. You are the star of the show tonight.”

Audrey pursed her lips.

“Just so you know, I can’t guarantee I’ll keep everyone happy.”

“Nonsense. As long as my Audrey is happy, that’s all that matters. Though I am rather keen to meet this boy you’ve mentioned.”

Father and daughter linked hands, descending the stairs together towards the dining hall on the first floor.

Having delivered a bucket of fresh crayfish to the kitchen, Rhine, who had been on his way to collect his white bread from the backyard, found his path blocked by an unfamiliar footman.

“Mr. Rhine, Lord Marin, in the Duke’s name, requests your presence at the dining hall on the first floor for dinner at 7 PM. Please ensure you arrive punctually.”

The footman handed Rhine an ornate envelope, emblazoned with the Cavendish family crest of an eagle’s head and a sharp sword.

“I understand.”

Rhine carefully put away the letter under the footman’s watchful gaze.

‘Heh, so it’s Marin? Is this meant to be an overt warning?’

“Could you tell me the current time?”

“It’s a quarter past six. As the young miss’s personal footman, I trust you will be adequately prepared.”

“Naturally.” Rhine nodded. “Could you perhaps inform the butler that my portion of white bread for today has not been collected and, if possible, ask him to store it for me?”

“…”

Five minutes to seven, in the Duke’s dining hall, a space of understated luxury, the long dining table was laden with platters of delicacies from both land and sea.

For this “ordinary” family dinner, everyone had already taken their seats.

Hassan Cavendish, the current Duke, the recognized master of Lanburg County, and the supreme commander of the Rimehawk Knight Order, sat indisputably at the head of the long table, directly facing the hall entrance, his gaze sweeping left and right.

At the first seat on the left was Marin Cavendish, the so-called second-in-command. Beneath his stern, ice-cold countenance, his thoughts remained inscrutable. While he did not directly manage territorial affairs, he typically oversaw all family diplomatic matters.

At the first seat on the right sat Philip Cavendish, the youngest son of the current Duke’s generation. Like the warm sun opposite an iceberg, he exuded the aura of a thoroughly good man. Yet, he was far from as simple as he appeared; he single-handedly managed the territory’s commerce, and his influence across all industries within Lanburg County was hardly less than the Duke’s own. Under the Norman Empire’s stringent aristocratic selection system, mere birthright alone was insufficient to secure any high position.

The second seat on the left belonged to the Duke’s son, Chris. As the family’s eldest son, a recognized young talent within aristocratic circles, and the future Duke, his status was exceptionally distinguished.

Directly opposite, at the second seat on the right, was naturally the family’s eldest daughter and the evening’s protagonist, Audrey. She was adorned in a traditional noble lady’s gown, embellished with various precious gemstones, her flowing pearl-gray hair elegantly framed by a silver hairpin. Every movement she made was both unconstrained and graceful.

At the third seat on the left sat Daniel, Marin’s son. While his sharp features inherited his father’s sternness, his small hands, constantly smoothing the tablecloth’s lace, betrayed his nervousness.

At the third seat on the right was the Duchess Julia. Still graceful and charming, she maintained a perpetual smile, intimately holding Audrey’s hand.

These, then, were all the attendees of this family dinner. Other family members were either abroad or unable to attend for various reasons, but those were stories for another time.

“It’s quite rare for us brothers to gather like this for a proper meal. With so many territorial affairs recently, I appreciate the efforts of you two younger brothers.”

Hassan, seated at the head of the table, was the first to speak, a hint of genuine emotion in his voice.

“Nonsense. Brother, you are the busiest of us all. This is just a family dinner; we can have it anytime. If we manage our time well, more frequent gatherings won’t interfere with anything.”

Philip, beaming, picked up the conversation, giving Audrey a gentle tug.

“If our young miss isn’t willing to deign to join us, then I, as her father, will simply drag her down.”

“Hey!” Audrey glared at Philip indignantly, prompting light chuckles from everyone present.

“Alright, stop teasing her. Audrey is our protagonist tonight. The crayfish will be served shortly, and then we can all savor the young miss’s achievements.”

“Hmph, it wasn’t just me.”

“Oh? The other contributor must be the young man you wrote about in your book. Introduce him to your uncle, then. After all, he’s considered a benefactor to the farmers of Lanburg County, and our Cavendish family has always believed in clear rewards and punishments, and repaying kindness.”

Audrey tilted her head.

“No, I said it’s a secret. Besides, our family’s ‘reward’ might not even impress him.”

“What makes you say that? Many people desire the Duke’s favor, yet few can even receive it.”

“He’s not like that. Any amount of reward would simply be wasted on him.”

Audrey crossed her arms, showing not the slightest deference to the Duke’s prestige. The young miss was as willful as ever tonight.

“As the Duke’s eldest daughter, willfulness is not a good habit. Bestowing rewards for merit is necessary, but… I believe I have already specifically invited him.”

Marin snapped his fingers lightly under Audrey’s puzzled gaze. The dining hall doors swung open in response, and Rhine, dressed in a sharp footman’s uniform, entered the hall carrying a platter of crayfish.

“Allow me to introduce: Rhine. An orphan ‘rescued’ a week and a half ago by His Excellency Ferren from the Tower Wizard, and a guest of the Duke’s mansion vouched for by Ferren himself.”

“He currently works as the young miss’s footman in the mansion. His diligence in learning and his exceptional talent have earned him exceedingly high praise from both his etiquette and tea ceremony instructors.”

“As for the publication of this work, he also provided direct and effective assistance. Am I not right, Audrey?”

The young miss’s face turned as dark as murky water.

“Who told you, you toad-faced man, to take matters into your own hands? He is my servant.”

“Audrey, I know you’ve always harbored prejudice against me, your second uncle, but you cannot act like a child in all matters. You are nearly an adult, and it’s time you started preparing for marriage, rather than speaking disrespectfully to me.”

“Marriage? Hehehe, let’s be frank, you just want to sell me off for breeding as soon as possible, don’t you? Do you think I don’t know your true nature? A man who would even sell his own daughter…”

“Audrey!” Philip roared, “He is your elder, my brother! Apologize! Immediately!”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Audrey scoffed, offering a perfunctory apology, her expression utterly contemptuous.

Rhine, caught in an awkward dilemma at the front of the dining table with a platter of crayfish, couldn’t help but marvel at the scene—

‘How direct. I like it. Reminds me of my younger days! Whenever I was unhappy, I’d slap them right back in the face then and there!’

‘A slap on the left cheek, then another on the right, just to make it symmetrical!’