When I stepped into the warm great hall, I was greeted by a monochrome staring crowd.
I get that this is the first time I’ve really dressed up, but did they have to stare at me like that?
Thankfully, that moment didn’t last long. Soon, I pushed through the crowd and unloaded my gifts onto the already-covered rug. With that done, I finally looked around and noticed that, besides the many, MANY moons decorating the hall, only one person still stared at me.
Janus stared so openly and so much that I started to get uncomfortable. Not really, because he is starring after all. I must admit, I kind of “like” it, for the lack of a better word. Just last night, we had done way more embarrassing stuff, but other people started to notice.
Quickly, I made my way over to Janus, hoping my movement would snap him out of it. The crowd parted for me, already guessing my destination. As I walked through the corridor of onlookers, I noticed Janus's brothers huddled together, giggling behind him. Then, Averell’s girlfriend, Juliet, angrily yanked her boyfriend away from his brothers, which only made them laugh harder.
I do my best to ignore them, but I made sure to remember.
Thankfully, Janus finally stopped his stare. If it was by my arrival or his brother's sudden burst of laughter, I couldn’t say.
“Ruby, you are…”
He was going to say more, but fearing another embarrassing blunder, I quickly pulled him aside in a fluent motion, and whispered through my teeth so no one would see, full of embarrassment,
“Quit your staring!”
“Ruby I…”
Ignoring his stumbling apology, I kept pulling him until we were hidden behind a white moon sculpture on a pedestal, away from everyone’s view.
“Do you know how embarrassing that was? You were staring so much that people started to form a passage.”
“Really? I didn’t… I’m Sorry.”
Even though he didn’t seem to be aware of what had happened, I could tell that at least his apology was earnest. But I wasn’t done yet,
“And what was that this morning when you teased me only to leave me hanging?”
A small smile sneaked its way onto his face, only to vanish immediately under my gaze.
“I’m sorry.”
“You better be. Now, let's go back and don’t fall into another trance.”
I reached out to pull him back, but Janus resisted, firmly pulling me into his arms before whispering,
“You were just too beautiful.”
Instantly, I could feel my ears heating up from embarrassment. I felt silly that just this one sentence could affect me so strongly, but Janus wasn’t finished yet.
“Don’t get me wrong, you were always beautiful, but this is the first time I have ever seen you dressed up.”
It's true, this is the first time I have ever worn makeup, done something with my hair, or worn a ball dress, but I didn’t expect it to have such an impact. Even though I thought the person in the mirror was too beautiful to be me, when my eyes wandered down and saw the bump in my abdomen, the illusion broke. I didn’t think he would still have such a strong reaction.
While I was still lost in thought, Janus shortly pressed his lips against mine before letting me go out of his embrace. He smiled like a mischievous little boy with a bit of blue lipstick now on his lips.
For a moment, there was no chatter or laughter from the crowd. Only his smile remained. Janus reached for my arm, ready to leave our hiding place, but before he could pull me along, I hastily remembered to wipe his blueish lips with my handkerchief.
The crowd of onlookers had dispersed. Most people had already found their place at the banquet table. Janus directed me to the Yuwen Family table. I would sit right beside him. Nervously, I recalled the etiquette lessons Otto had taught me about table manners in this world when the cooks brought the food.
For three full days, the cooks, maids, and servants had worked in the kitchen day and night for the Lunar Festival. And one could really tell. It was so much that I feared the tables might not be able to take the never-ending stream of steaming hot food. They brought endless meat dishes, followed by an avalanche of vegetables and freshly baked bread, still warm inside. But the highlight was a four-meter-long boar Joel had shot. It had apparently gorged itself on quite a few potato fields and got so fat that the mighty beast could give a slice to everyone in the great hall, and there would still be leftovers. I had seen them roast the monstrous pig on the main plaza for a whole day.
Before, I wasn’t sure where the Yuwen Family got their money. After today, I had no idea at all.
Janus looked at me, amused and with a hint of pride, as I gawked at every new dish the cooks brought. But could you blame me? I was there during the harvest festival, and even though it was festive, it wasn’t as grand as this. I didn’t even have to partake in Lent, since I was pregnant, so there should have been even less impact.
Meanwhile, everyone had found a seat and was eagerly awaiting Wilhelm Yuwen's annual speech.
The speech was long and arduous. He covered everything that happened this past year and all the achievements we had gone through. He mentioned his sons, daughters, and wife quite a few times. But why did he have to mention me so many times?
Urgh, everyone is looking again. If he mentions my name again and how thankful he is, I think I will fall through the floor. FINALLY, he stopped. The Banquet was open.
At the beginning, I was so nervous that I might do something wrong that I couldn’t taste anything, but that feeling gradually changed as I went on. After the third plate of food, I was so full that not even a single potato could fit.
So, I just sat there for almost an hour until everyone finished, then the presents came.
The tables were cleared, and I watched with regret as the last pieces of food returned to the kitchen.
All the other women and I stood up and picked up the presents we had collected on the moon rug. We would then distribute them to all the men who were still sitting in their chairs. Interestingly, there was a present for everyone. Initially, I thought that this year everyone had simply been lucky, but Jnaus later told me that those were from his Father towards all the men in his employ. And in them were a variety of fooditems such as ham, flour, olive oil, wine, dried fruits, and hard cheeses from the south.
I did my best not to seem too awkward and gifted the presents one by one until I had only Janus’ left.
He eagerly unpacked the new chessboard and instantly promised he would wear his new sword tassel. But I couldn’t help noticing him looking at my male students with a hint of jealousy. Why? Was he jealous of some simple cookies? I couldn’t tell. Thankfully, I still had some cookies I had kept for myself. After I promised him some from my personal cookie stash, I could see the jealousy in his eyes weaken, though it didn’t vanish.
When all was said and done, and all presents had been gifted, the Banquet turned chaotic and risqué as alcohol began to flow. I found myself curiously watching as one couple after another disappeared into side corridors or outside, or for some… even under tables. That was when most of the Yuwen Family dispersed, and the little Fiona and Maggie were brought to bed despite their protest.
Maybe Janus had been swept up in the mood as he also stood up and pulled me outside through the crowd of drunks.
Soon, I found the heat of the great hall replaced with the cold, fresh air of winter. My head began to clear up. Outside, one could see quite a few lovedrunk fools stumble their way home. Some alone and some in rather "close" embraces. One newly formed couple apparently couldn’t wait until they got home, and on our way through the snow, I could see a parked hay-laden carriage sway left and right in rhythmic motion, followed by stifled moans that made me blush.
Would Janus… No, no, no, what am I even thinking!?
But I couldn’t help myself from secretly listening until their voices faded. We had already reached the door to our rooms when Janus suddenly looked up and said.