Valerian Empire

Chapter 76: Puppeteers of empire- Part 4

Picking on the little berries on her plate with her fork Katie sat next to Alexander at the long table in the dinning room.

The long table was at the center of the room where important council members and the Lords sat with their companions for the day. Apart from it, round tables were placed in the room for the remaining folks.

Katie noted that it was a violin that was being played in the background as they had their dinner.

After Lord Alexander had kissed her in the hall, she was too embarrassed to move her head or eyes and therefore had kept herself busy with the food in front of her and her ears occasionally picking up conversations that was going at the table.

Lord Alexander, Lord Nicholas, the head council Reuben, Mathias who often visited the mansion and the man named Silas who apparently was Lord Norman's youngest son were the only names she knew at the table.

Elliot and Sylvia was seated at a different table.

Even though she had her eyes down for most of the dinner she felt eyes on her and it made it difficult for her to eat.

She never took Lord Alexander to be the type to display affections in public because of his cold behavior but he had kissed her in front of an entire room of people. It was unlike him and she wondered if he was remotely jealous when Silas Norman had spoken to her. Though she doubted it was jealousy.

When both the Lords had spoken to each other she felt the friction of dislike spark between them.

She then remembered Alexander mentioning something about the south Lord trying to get rid of the vampires from his land.

Now that she thought about it she realized that her friend Annabelle and her husband Donovan Bingley who was a vampire resided in the south empire. Even though Annabelle's family detested vampire's they had gotten their eldest daughter married to one of them. It was thanks to Annabelle's husband that her family was moved to another town with a better house than live in poverty. If Donovan had never met Anna, Anna and her family would have perished along with her relatives because of the massacre that took place few months ago.

Fate and destiny was such a tricky thing, Katie thought to herself.

"This is Katherine Welcher."

She was lost in her thoughts when she heard Lord Alexander introduce her to a woman sitting next to him.

"Good evening, Katherine. I am Muriel Garner," the woman introduced herself.

She appeared to be in her late thirties, her black eyes gauging her with a smile. There were fine lines around her eyes that gave away her age even though she was lean and tall.

"Good evening, Lady Muriel," Katie greeted her with a small bow.

"She's very young. How old is she?" she heard the lady ask Lord Alexander.

"Nineteen," Lord Alexander answered while eating his food.

"Hmm."

As Lord Alexander and Lady Muriel spoke to each other in low voice, Katie noticed that Lord Alexander seemed to let his guard down a little in front of the woman.

Now that she thought about it, it was Muriel who had touched Alexander's arm before in the hall. So petty of her, she thought to herself. If the Lord knew about it he would definitely call her a silly fool but it made her smile.

Even thought he would call her 'silly fool' there was warmth in it.

At the same time she felt Lord Alexander's hand reach hers under the table to hold it and she turned towards him to see he was busy talking to another person whilst her hand in his.

Right now life seemed so perfect.

As the last course of meal was served which was dessert, the council head got up to clink his glass with a spoon to get hold of everyone's attention in the room. Seeing the room turn quiet the old man spoke,

"I'm glad that all of you could make your presence here today. As we all have known or have been trying to do is to progress the relationships between the humans and vampires in harmony. And we have been doing very well. Thanks to the south and the north Lord in handling the rogues of half vampire's and we hope they do it without any bias," Reuben, the head council said looking at Silas' way as the young man smiled at his father's name. He then turned to Lady Muriel, "Unfortunately Lord Maxwell couldn't be here with us but we appreciate him for the effort he has put in providing the valuable resources to all the empires," Lady Muriel bowed her head gesturing that she would relay the message.

"We also have the two lords to thank of the west and east. Lord Alexander and Lord Nicholas in helping the council in administrating and managing the empire's welfare. It has lessened the workload for my men. Lord Alexander has helped us immensely in catching hold of the black witches who had been the cause of disruption in few towns and the outskirts near the forest. I hope we continue living like this in peace and consonance. Please continue to enjoy your evening. Thank you," he lifted his glass and the rest of the people in the room did the same.

As the night began to wrap up, Alexander had gone to give his final words to Lady Muriel for the night with Elliot.

Katie and Sylvia stood outside the mansion waiting for their carriage and the two men when someone spoke behind them.

"Miss Sylvia, good evening."

Turning around they saw it was none other than Silas Norman.

"Good evening, Sir," Sylvia bowed her head.

"I heard you visited the south not long ago. You didn't let me know and here I thought we were well acquainted friends," he spoke to her with a polite tone.

The young man had been very polite with the way he spoke even before, it made Katie wonder if it was because of the upbringings that all the Lords were well mannered especially when it came to him and Lord Nicholas.

Lord Alexander was a whole different subject.

"Forgive me for not being able to contact you. I thought the young Lord would be busy with his schedule," Sylvia replied making the man smile and he then turned towards Katherine.

"Miss Brown, are you leaving already? I was thinking we could spend a little time before you departed so that we could get to know each other well," he said his dull grey eyes looking at her, "I wouldn't mind dropping you off home."

Sylvia looked at the man worried now. She knew the man was sly as a fox just like his father when he had approached them.

Previously Katie hadn't known he was Lord Norman's son and she had spoke her mind out without holding back her tongue but now that she knew she had to be careful. A commoner like her offending the young Lord would cause nothing but trouble.

"Thank you for your offer, Lord Silas but pardon me. I am a little tired tonight and would like to go back and rest. Perhaps an other time," she replied picking her words carefully.

"Of course. The future is something I look forward to," he smiled before picking up her hand with his. Giving a peck on the back of her hand he spoke, "I will be seeing you soon then. Night ladies," and he left.