Chapter 7 The Banquet
The top-floor banquet hall of the Vossshire was lit up like a Christmas tree.
The air was thick with the mingling scents of perfume, cigars, and food, making it a bit stifling.
Ethan, dressed in a custom-tailored suit, stood tall and straight, his usual swagger subdued, giving him the appearance of a refined young gentleman—provided he kept his mouth shut.
"Elara, don't let these folks get to you. They're just rich, nothing special. See that guy in the gray suit over there?" Ethan nodded towards the head table. "He's the head of my family's foundation, a real stickler! He once caught me showing off a family heirloom and chewed me out for three hours straight."
Elara, in an understated dark green dress, nodded slightly. "Got it."
She knew Ethan's restlessness was his way of trying to make her feel more comfortable, to quickly find her some backup.
Following Ethan, she mingled among the older gentlemen, listening to the polite words.
It was all just pleasantries, but Elara could sense the way they looked at her, more out of avoidance due to the Story Revival Atelier scandal.
No one wanted to touch that subject, especially with Ethan present.
Elara remained courteous, casually commenting on a piece of candelabrum in a nearby glass case.
Her voice was low, her words few, but those in the know could tell she was knowledgeable. The executives' eyes grew noticeably more serious.
"Is that the one trending online?"
"Yeah, that's her! Her dad tore up paintings, and she smashed the brand, a real double whammy!"
In the corner, a well-dressed couple deliberately raised their voices just enough for it to carry over.
Ethan's expression darkened, his fists clenching immediately.
Elara, unfazed, tightened her grip on her juice glass.
Before Ethan could react, a man in a sequined suit, reeking of alcohol, swaggered over, blocking their path with a greasy smile.
"Miss Voss!" Yuki Satou grinned, his eyes glued to Elara. "What a rare guest! I heard you lost your job?"
Yuki dragged out his words. "Such a shame, with all your talent... Why not join me? Forget about being an expert, it's all about personal branding these days!"
He reached out a greasy hand, aiming to pat Elara on the shoulder. "Come on, I'll take care of you. Better than Story Revival Atelier... Name your price, how much per month?"
Before his hand could land, there was a loud smack!
Ethan, feigning enthusiasm, shoved Yuki hard enough to send him stumbling back several steps. "Mr. Satou, long time no see!"
Yuki, momentarily stunned, saw it was Ethan. The force of the shove was obvious, and he was instantly furious.
"Ethan, you dare touch me? You..."
"Ethan!"
Elara's sharp voice cut in as she grabbed Ethan's rock-hard forearm, pulling him back. She looked at Yuki, managing a faint smile, though her eyes were icy.
"Mr. Satou, thanks for your concern. The Story Revival Atelier incident will be judged by the industry in time. The truth will come out. I appreciate your good intentions."
Yuki, caught off guard by Elara's calm words and Ethan's glare, turned red with anger.
Just then, the entire banquet hall seemed to fall silent, as if struck by an invisible blow.
The buzzing conversations, clinking glasses, and soft laughter all ceased in an instant.
It was eerily quiet.
Everyone's heads turned in unison, as if pulled by a string.
At the entrance.
Kieran had arrived.
A few steps behind him was Jasper, whom they had met just yesterday.
Dressed in a black suit, Kieran seemed to blend into the background, yet his presence drew all the light in the room towards him.
Several executives near the front plastered smiles on their faces, eager to greet him.
Kieran's gaze swept over them without stopping, his stride unbroken, as if they were invisible.
He walked straight ahead, his eyes unfocused yet precisely parting the crowd, heading towards Elara and Ethan.
Ethan's earlier fierceness visibly froze. He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and forced a calm expression, his voice unusually serious.
"Mr. Blackwood!"
Ethan might be fearless, but even he knew to show respect to the true power in Vossshire.
Kieran's gaze finally landed on Ethan, pausing for a second before giving a barely perceptible nod.
"The Craigmor clan's boy, not bad."
His words, low and deep, like an ice cube dropped into water.
Ethan was momentarily stunned.
The surrounding listeners' eyes on him changed instantly.
Then, Kieran's gaze shifted to Elara. He looked at her, his deep eyes unchanged, and nodded slightly.
"Miss Voss."
Without another glance, Kieran walked past them, continuing inward.
As he left, the frozen atmosphere seemed to thaw, and the cautious murmurs resumed.
But the mocking, probing, and flippant looks that had been directed at Elara were now replaced with uncertainty and caution.
Ethan exhaled deeply, feeling a chill down his back.
Elara remained composed, her expression indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with her. She even raised an eyebrow at Ethan, as if to say, "See, I told you it was fine."
Soon, Jasper, who had followed Kieran, approached.
Unlike his cold demeanor yesterday, he now looked at Ethan with a softer expression, speaking clearly.
"Mr. Craigmor, Mr. Blackwood asked me to pass on a message."
Ethan straightened up, his casual demeanor gone. "Go ahead."
"Mr. Blackwood said the Craigmor clan has always upheld its reputation in Vossshire. Young people should not only protect their own but also know their limits."
Ethan was momentarily taken aback, then understood the message.
It was both a recognition of the Craigmor clan's adherence to rules and a subtle reprimand for his near-violent outburst, even hinting at a tacit approval of his protective behavior towards Elara, provided he stayed within bounds.
"Thank you, please convey my gratitude to Mr. Blackwood! And thank you for the advice!"
Ethan's response was quick, his tone sincere.
Jasper nodded slightly and left, blending back into the crowd to follow Kieran.
As Jasper departed, the nearby executives, who had been frozen in place, quickly surrounded Ethan. Their focus shifted from Elara to Ethan.
"Mr. Craigmor! What a rare honor to get Mr. Blackwood's advice!" A portly real estate mogul handed Ethan his business card. "Let's stay in touch!"
"Mr. Craigmor, with your family's strong foundation and Mr. Blackwood's praise, your future is bright!" Another mining executive chimed in. "I've been wanting to meet your father. Can you introduce us?"
"Mr. Craigmor, is this your friend?"
"Miss Voss, a pleasure to meet you!" An art dealer who had previously avoided the Story Revival Atelier scandal now approached with a fawning smile. "Here's my card. When can we discuss some high-level restoration work?"
"Miss Voss, our company also invests in cultural projects. Here's my card..."
Business cards flew like snowflakes, landing in Ethan's hands, but all directed at Elara.
Elara didn't rush to take them, standing quietly with a polite, distant smile.
Her calm demeanor made her stand out among the sycophantic crowd, exuding a quiet strength.