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Another Family dinner

Hugin.

A name that belonged to one of the ravens that served Odin in Norse mythology. In Midgard, the two ravens were seen as part of Odin as they sit upon his shoulders and tell him what they had seen.

In Midgard, they were known as his eyes.

Odin's eyes.

''The grand duke's carriage?'' The name 'Hugin' had flashed Raven's mind when she had created the raven from her powers, and now, the bird was serving a purpose of its name by sharing a memory of what it had seen through its eyes.

''He's leaving the estate?'' The image of the moving carriage appeared in her mind. ''Did something happen at the border again?'' She tried to guess.

Hugin flapped its wings lightly at her words.

''I know, Hugin. You can't reach that distance because of me.'' Raven stroked the bird with her other fingers and murmured with a light snort. ''It's quite frustrating.''

Knock

Knock

Red eyes glanced backwards at the knocking sound. ''It seems Cora has arrived.''

Hugin left the outstretched the fingers and moved to Raven's face. The bird nuzzled its head on her skin before vanishing from sight.

''Greetings young lady.'' A composed voice sounded from behind. Raven turned around and met the sight of a girl slightly taller than her in a maid's uniform. She stood respectfully by the opened doors leading to the balcony.

This girl was Cora, her own personal maid.

''Good morning Cora.'' Raven returned with a bright smile, tucking in loose strands as the gentle breeze fluttered against her night gown. The eight-year-old black-haired girl with undeniable cuteness was no more. Over the years, her body had slowly increased in height and steadily shed the soft edges of childhood, gradually revealing the first hints of the beautiful lady that she would become in the future as an adult.

''Will young lady be going to the battle grounds?'' Cora asked as Raven stepped inside in the room. She sealed off the warm breeze of the late spring by shutting the doors of the balcony.

''Perhaps.'' Raven replied and sat down before the dressing mirror. Her face, that still held plump and rosy cheeks, reflected on the clean glass. ''Any news for me, Cora?'' She shifted her gaze to the reelection of the maid approaching her. Her eyes glanced at the tray already set on the dressing table, where familiar grinded petals rested on a small piece of paper beside the glass cup of water.

''Her excellency has informed all manors of the family dinner.'' Cora replied as she prepared the routinely intake of poison for Raven. ''The sixth madam ordered the young lady to be aware of this.''

''Really...'' was what Raven responded with before she downed all poisonous contents in the glass cup. By her side, Cora handed a folded napkin, which Raven collected to wipe the purple drops from her lips.

''Prepare my clothes for the dinner then, Cora.'' She handed her back the napkin, which Cora returned to the tray along with the empty glass cup.

''What style will the young lady prefer?''

''Style?'' Raven repeated, feeling amused. ''It's been a while since we family members had gathered and seen each other. Shouldn't I dress my best, Cora?" She grinned at the maid.

Over the years, she hardly saw the faces of the members of Langston family with the exception of the the sixth madam. Apart from the two elder siblings who were hardly seen in the estate, the rest of the siblings have been busy in the imperial academy.

The family dinner would only be held when most of the Langston family members were present in the estate. It was the same at the last family dinner when she was eight-years-old. The other siblings had been present because the imperial academy had given them a season break.

The only absent person from that family dinner was the second young master of the Langston family, Izer.

Though, it seemed the grand duke had been truly busy since the family dinner had not been held even when the children of the Langston family have been present in the estate from time to time.

''Of course, young lady.'' Cora accepted with a stoic face. Raven, on the other hand, stared at her firm fingers that only trembled for a fleeting moment before the feeling of numbness slowly took over. There was no metallic taste on her tongue even after a while.

'I've adapted to the poison.' She inwardly noted before voicing out her thoughts. ''Change to the poison to another, Cora. Prepare a stronger one.''

Prepared to start her day, Raven stood up from her chair, and the reflection of extra bodies in the room caught her gaze.

Her brows furrowed slightly. ''Do get rid of those things, Cora.''

It was bothersome that she had to deal with these assassins quite often. The scent of blood was disgusting as ever.

''As the young lady wishes.''

****

''His excellency is getting busier day by day.''

''Of course he is. The situation at the border is getting worse than the past years.''

''Your excellency speaks the truth.''

chatter chatter

In the dining room of the main manor, the members of Langston family gathered around and discussed over the sumptuous meals on the dining table. This has been the longest time that family dinner had not been held, so the chef had gone all out to serve each taste of the Langston family members.

Just like before, each wife and child of the Langston family sat in their designated seats. Though, not all of them were present at the family dinner.

The seat of the grand duke was cold and empty. The same goes for the first and second young masters.

Raven ate her meal silently and listened to the conversation between the Grand duchess and fourth madam.

'So it was the border.' Raven stamped her previous guess. The grand duke had not been able to hold the family dinner because of the border of the Langston Grand duchy.

In the Langston Grand duchy, there were two borders. One of them was connected to the imperial capital, and the other was to the land of demons.

In the map of the Amarian empire, the imperial capital could be seen at the center, while the holy land and the Langston Grand duchy occupied each side of the imperial capital.

According to history, the demons had conquered many kingdoms near the border of the Amarian empire. Their lands thus became a waste, and an abandoned land where a speck of life could not be seen.

These lands then became known as the land of demons, where the negative energy of the demons ran rampant. How the negative energy had not polluted the entire empire was through the efforts of the Holy land.

'If only I could have Hugin fly over there.' Raven felt regretful and annoyed. Regretful that she couldn't see what was truly happening at the border. Annoyed that her powers were not sustainable for Hugin to maintain its form over that long distance.

Even for the bird to maintain its form consumed much from her.

"The fourth young lady has matured to a graceful young lady." the Fourth Madam's voice cut through Raven's reverie, pulling her back to the ongoing family dinner.

"I can only imagine the beauty she will possess in the years to come."

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