After all the guests had piled in and were seated in their assigned spots for the banquet it was time for Seto and the others to enter. Some were growing restless wondering what was taking so long.
It took longer than they liked to find Varon. Varon had been in a smaller dining hall set up for staff. In this case it was set up for guards who would be on duty in the ballroom and if allowed other kingdoms guards as well. They would get to eat before they went to they're post. Unless told otherwise by their respective king/queen the ones currently on duty in the main dining hall would trade out with the ones currently eating. When they finished their meal they were to head straight to the ballroom. Others not assigned to the ballroom like Ryo were in the basement lunchroom where they normally eat.
"My king, is there a problem?" Varon asked, hurrying over.
"Mahaado went behind our backs and set all the children up in a separate dining hall. There's a place setting, next to Maura. We need you to look out for her."
"But what about Master Mokuba?" Varon asked, confused as he'd just been resigned to Mokuba.
"The same maid that got you is currently looking for Ryo. He'll sit next to Mokuba. So just take care of both until he gets there."
"It's getting late, Seto. Mahaado or someone will come looking for us if we don't go in soon." Yami said.
Seto didn't like it but knew Yami was right. "Varon you can either wait here for the maid to return with Ryo or take the kids and find the dining hall the others are in and go together."
Another new guard, having seen Varon rush out, came up. "Might I be of some service sire? Sir Varon could take the children and go on ahead. I could wait here for the maid to return and just have her take Ryo to join them."
"Very well. The room should be down the hall to the right somewhere if it's the one I think they used." Yami told Varon. "What's your name?" Yami asked, having not seen this guy before.
"Ryan Suzuki. I just started six months ago."
That explained why Yami didn't recognize him. Seto had hired him while he was away training.
"Come on, let's go see if we can find that room." Varon said, taking Mokuba's hand. Maura, not wanting to be left behind, grabbed his other hand and was relieved when Varon simply squeezed it.
Yami entered followed by Seto.
Seto got to his seat and said, "Welcome everyone I'm pleased that you all could join us for this year's ball. I hope you had a pleasant trip here. This is one of the few times we've chosen to host a banquet before the ball, I hope you all enjoy." With that he sat down and everyone followed suit.
Soon after the first course was brought out and placed in front of the guests. Wine or other beverages were soon offered to the guests
X-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
Varon soon found the dining hall and kids restless. He was surprised to see guards standing behind the children and not seated next to their charge.
"Miss Maura, take Master Mokuba 's hand and go to the chair next to the end of the table. Then you take the head of the table."
"Me? But that's reserved for the monarch!"
"I understand, I am well aware of the rules. But the king is in the other dining hall, remember? I would assume then that the logical solution would be the next in line for the throne. What do you think would happen if you put Master Mokuba there with all those kids staring at him? Watching his every move?"
Maura sighed, she realized he was right. If they put Mokuba there where he rightfully belongs he'd freak out with everyone staring at him and wanting him to lead them in the meal. She remembered what Seto had said about Mokuba not eating or rejecting something. She had no idea if everyone would treat this as if the person in the head chair was the monarch and follow the same strict rules or not. If that were to happen then everyone else would know they'd have to stop eating if Mokuba did and if he got a replacement meal some might feel obligated to get a replacement as well. Whether they wanted to or not. So at least for this year she knew she'd have to do it. She couldn't stand the thought that Mokuba might get overwhelmed with not knowing or understanding why everyone was staring at him and copying him. She knew it'd be hard to get him to understand much less accept it. She feared he'd get self-conscious about eating with everyone staring at him. Then he'd freak out when everyone stopped eating when he did. She feared he'd run off somewhere and would take forever to find him if he got too freaked out. Maybe if they'd had time to prepare him but not at the last minute. She knew that she could ask them not to follow the adults' rules as she's not the monarch or next in line to this kingdom. But no guarantees they'd agree to it. Her wanting to protect Mokuba outweighed her reluctance to sit in the leadership position.
Seto and Yami hadn't thought about practicing so Mokuba could feel comfortable going alone. The dining hall was large. Maura was used to crowds like this. So despite having never been to a formal dinner before, the crowd was not a problem for her. As they entered everyone stood up staring at them. Most knew Maura but questioned what she was doing here like she belonged here and who Mokuba was. Mokuba was frightened by all the people staring at him and hugged Maura's arm. Maura understood why Varon told her to hold Mokuba's hand. He only moved because she forced it. She realized that Mokuba would have frozen up seeing all those people. Then he would have stood there a few minutes before he would tried to run. Tried as Varon would have caught him.
After getting Mokuba to let go and sit down, she reluctantly stood in the seat reserved for the monarch or next in line. She was nervous but said, "I'm happy everyone chose to come today. Please don't feel pressured to treat me as if I was the monarch. I'm not. I'm just a princess. I am going to be living in this castle for the next several years. You may or may not know my father, the king of The Sky Kingdom passed away. Instead of following procedure and assigning a regent and stepping aside while the regent helps teach me how to rule and makes the final decision until I turn 18. My stepmother has chosen to keep ruling herself. While not legal, no one's willing to go against her. A long story short: The king and his assistant who happens to also be his brother have graciously allowed me to live here with them. Like you this is my first time being at a formal dinner party. But as long as we're not too loud I'm sure everything will be fine. So sit, choose your meal and let's get along." Maura said, sitting down.
One of the 19 year old the prince's, Prince Dewi Mclaren from the kingdom of Margarelon spoke up, "We appreciate your being here to host us, Princess Maura. But who's the boy you came in with? Your boyfriend?" He didn't think so but couldn't rule out the possibility.
Maura wasn't sure they wanted anyone who Mokuba really was so she went with the explanation they gave when she got here. "They only told me that they adopted him. That's all I was told." She hated to lie but she didn't want to make Seto mad at her if she told the truth.
Dylan had rearranged things while the maid was gone. He made a row of tables facing the children on both sides so the guards could sit and eat. They could also easily get up and tend to their charge if necessary. Much to Varon's displeasure a boy about Maura's age was seated next to her. But then he smiled seeing that Dylan had missed Mokuba as no one was seated next to him. He stood in the doorway hoping Ryo would show soon or he'd just sit next to Mokuba and Ryo could sit across from Maura.
Just as he left the doorway and was approaching Maura, Ryo came up to him, "Sorry, I got here as fast as I could when I was told. It wasn't easy finding this room. So what's going on? I was only told it was important to get to the main dining hall. I got there and was directed here." Ryo said in a low voice.
Varon quickly gave him the rundown. "In their rush to rearrange everything they missed putting someone else next to Master Mokuba. So you sit there and I'll take the table across from Miss Maura."
"Should we inform Seto or Yami?" Ryo asked with his voice still low.
