18 18. Twin and Gossip

There is a complete silence around and the people sitting at the round dining table peer at me as though there is a glass between, separating. Four out of five of them are elderly men, simply gaping with their rolling eyes. I don't think they will start a conversation anytime soon.

"Sir Adian, if I am right?" The woman on my right speaks up in a small high pitched voice.

I look at her and unconsciously tug at my necklace, feeling its presence in a magnified sense. A set of wide round green eyes bores straight into my skin and I give her an awkward smile, nodding slightly. God, with Elian gone, I can hardly speak.

"Yes...I am Adian." And it sounds so robotic.

Her smile widens and two white teeth peek out shyly. I notice her hand slightly placed out and bend over in the cramped space, kissing it in greeting. I miss handshakes and I am terribly unfamiliar with the ethics and manners in this era that I feel I am running across a minefield dressed in a bikini. A bikini so that I would die sexy. But of course, none of that matters now.

"Louisa, Duchess of Clanneton."

"Your Grace, absolutely pleased to meet you."

She laughs and it's a soft chortle, "The same. The same…"

I see her take a quick scan around and move in closer to me.

"I have heard quite much about you. The Fated Omega." She enunciates in a harsh whisper.

That thing again. Fated.

"Yes." I nod, beaming with confidence, "It is me, the fated omega."

"Ohoho." Another secretive chortle as she covers her mouth with her satin gloves that she just removed. "You are an urban legend. And must I say, absolutely ethereal."

"Oh really…"

"Of course! A dominant omega surely belongs among us. The nobility deserves more omegas, I think."

"Hahaha." I recoil at how fake it sounds and fall silent. When I quickly glance around, the other people look as though they were minding their own business but their ears are enlarged and turned towards us.

"So, what's a fated omega?"

"Oh my." Louisa gasps and looks away, trembling in silent suppressed laughter. She has quite a petite build and is even smaller as she curls over.

That's all? Humor is really lopsided in this world, isn't it?

A minute or two passes and sitting back up straight, she flicks a finger off of the corner of her eye and composed herself.

"You're quite the funny one. Sir Adian." She smiles, and taps lightly on my hand that is on my knee, "I am quite charmed."

"Quite the charmer, isn't he?" A classic baritone voice interrupts and a heavy hand falls on my shoulder.

I look up at the man, and he's the exact copy of Vincent. But this one has a slightly bulkier build and a better sense of fashion sense with a nondescript Black suit and white pants. He rubs the spot on my shoulder a little too familiarly.

"May I take this seat?" He asks, touching the chair that Elian was supposed to sit on.

"Ah, that is–" Oh you're sitting anyway.

"It has been a long time."

"Yes. Very long." I repeat, frowning because he looks mad. With a touch of unhinged.

A tap on my right and I turn back to Louisa,

"Vance Welstone." Her lips twisted in distaste, "A misfit twice the time, these twins."

I quickly swap a glance in alarm, won't he hear? He is right beside me, stretching out his legs long and wide.

"If you asked me, the nobility is tainted with these haughty arrogant alphas. Too much!"

"Yes, yes." I agree with conviction. Well, I have seen similar stuff back home. "Haughty alphas, bad."

"Parading themselves as superior, how vile. You should have heard of the vile rumors of that man." Louisa rambles on in her high squeaky voice filled with rage, throwing in words like Oppressive, Superficial, and many others that one would use to describe a politician. I make sure to nod and hum in agreement in between but in all reality, I cannot keep up with her and I stopped listening. This woman, Louisa. She talks. A sigh escapes me and I repeat the thought, She talks a lot.

"Doesn't it irk you?"

"Hm? Irk?" I raise my eyebrows in attention.

"Yes, Vincent. Quite incorrigible, isn't he?"

I frown, more in frustration than confusion and I hold back the urge to savagely scratch the back of my head. This woman has no tact, does she? The other twin is right here and she is rambling on about their flaws like it's nobody's business.

"He...doesn't irk me."

"Oh Lord, have you seen the manner in which he slobbers up at your husband? Right in front of you as well!"

The rest of the table is completely silent in attention and one of them, an old bent man peers up at me, his eyes daring me to go on. I dart my eyes to the other side of the room, silently vowing eternal silence. But Louisa continues anyway like a button has been turned on. A button for gossip.

"I have heard horrible tales of him." She leans in and whispers, "They say he engages with other alphas, can you imagine? How scandalous."

"Y-your Grace, Please…"

How do you say shut up in Victorian?

"You can only expect so much from a rece–"

"Your Grace!" I blurt out, "Your dress! You should tell me where you got it from."

"Oh! This! I got it...:"

A butler appears, and so does a tall wine bottle. He tips his head towards the glass in front of me.

"No!" I exclaim loudly, almost springing up.

Shit.

A wave of realization hits me. I was so hopped up on adrenaline that I just jumped. I clear my throat and hover my palm above the glass.

"None for me."

"Really?" Vance exclaims, leaning back to his chair with a look of disbelief and taunt. It would really suit him if he was chewing gum with that. I have this sudden need to smack him.

"I didn't think I would live to see you ever reject wine!"

"Funny...that's quite funny." I laugh, suddenly finding the embroidery on my vest interesting. I trace my finger along the edge of my vest and I could still feel the unpleasant piercing gaze of his on me. Something about him is throwing me off.

Louisa giggles and now I am entirely drowning in dread. And she talks, she fucking talks.

"One would assume that there is news of that kind."

I press my hand against my temple. Calm down, it's okay. This is how all people react. It's completely normal.

"Oh please." I spit out through gritted teeth, "Don't be too dramatic. I am just in no mood for that today."

"That is what they always seem to say!"

Sigh. Big sigh. This Lady is going to be the death of me. I guess I should be thankful that Elian was not here to witness all of these. I pass a dead glare directly at Louisa and she immediately stops her gossipy giggle.

"Well, gentlemen. Now that the joke is over, let's focus on other matters, shall we?" I clap my hands together suggestively, and the others look away immediately. They still refuse to talk or speak up.

"Quite the joke it was." Vance says at a volume only for me to hear. I glare at him as he sprawls his brawny frame on the chair and smirks at me.

The hair on my skin tingles and I tug the necklace, feeling it constrict around my neck. Vance's eyes crawl down to my neck as I do that, his face shifting as he almost glares at my neck.

"A lot of guests to greet." I say, hoping that he gets the hint of me saying get the hell out of here.

"No." He replies, his eyes out of focus but still on my neck, "Not at all."

Jesus, T minus minutes before I smack the ever-loving shit out of this man's attitude.

He reaches out surreptitiously, slightly touching my left arm. His finger gently glides down the length of my arm and he glances up into my eyes. I lean back warily as he speaks,

"You should try the venison. I caught it myself."