Lucius, maintaining his veneer of politeness, raised an eyebrow and remarked, "I wasn't aware that being polite required such… covert communication." His tone was a mix of curiosity and subtle reprimand.
Orion, playing his role to perfection, shrugged nonchalantly and kept his gaze fixed on his lap. His face was a mask of practiced indifference, though a flicker of mischief danced in his eyes. Inside, he couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation, enjoying the hidden layers of deception he was navigating.
Dorea, sensing the need to steer the conversation back to safer waters, snapped her fingers again, signaling Orion to remain composed and keep up the pretense. Her lips twitched slightly, betraying a hint of a smile as she watched Orion's reaction. The smile was fleeting but spoke volumes about her amusement and her support for her brother's performance.
The atmosphere around the table shifted as the guests resumed their conversations, though the earlier tension lingered in the air, adding an undercurrent of intrigue to the evening's proceedings. The delicate dance of propriety and subterfuge continued, with each participant carefully playing their part in the intricate social drama unfolding before them.
