Evening was approaching.
The family of four and their lone guest gathered for lunch together. Unlike the tense discussions earlier in the reception hall and the serious conversation Elana had with her mother, the atmosphere during the meal was noticeably lighter.
The conversation flowed easily, with occasional laughter and relaxed exchanges.
Adrian, being himself, spoke only when someone addressed him directly or when his opinion felt necessary to the topic at hand.
With both Elana and her mother remaining relatively quiet most of the time, the conversation might have grown awkward if not for the Duke, who proved to be quite the talkative host.
From what Adrian had observed, Charles possessed a good head on his shoulders.
The young man seemed well aware of the world around him. He followed recent events closely, understood the issues shaping society, and academically he appeared sharp and thoughtful.
