Building My Guild With A Blank Scroll
Chapter 69: An Announcement

Chapter 69: An Announcement

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"Dinner is set." An older-looking woman announced, bowing as she did with her face down while standing near the table’s edge where Vans sat.

"Thank you, um?"

"Joelle, sir."

"Thank you, Joelle. You may leave us please." Vans ordered, receiving a nod from the maid.

"Do, enjoy your meals." She said softly as if calling out to the others the next moment. The maids filed out of the dining hall, the door being shut behind them.

The arrangement on the table was the usual, though few were absent. Ten were seated and those were the Elmores and their guests. At the edge, as usual, the head of the family and Lord Regent was Vans. The next seat to his left and right were Kaleb and Mia respectively. After Kaleb was an empty seat, one Clara would sit on. Yet, she was currently unavailable and obviously wouldn’t be joining. From Mia were Jaisal and Elena, then another empty seat before the guests.

Belle and Bella sat together, Belle not hiding a bit of her curiosity. As she stared at the gray-haired figure opposite her.

’Emerald eyes and gray-hair. Why can’t I remember anything? I’ve seen that rare combo before. But where exactly?’ Stealing glances at the old man with an eye patch, seated at the other edge of the table was Zlatan. Next to him, Bella was busy concentrating on the book she had in her hands. Somehow, she attracted this guest’s attention without having anything them in the slightest.

*CLINK!

*CLINK!

The sound of metal colliding with glass was heard, drawing the attention of the others. For now, standing, as he was about to make an announcement was none other than Vans.

"Today we are honoured to—"

*BAM!

’What’s gotten into him now?’ Zlatan wondered, watching his father also standing. Having slammed his hands heavily on the table, catching most off guard.

"Ka—"

Vans was about to say when the other, ignoring him, walked away towards the doors. For a few seconds, a worried look was registered on his face as he watched Kaleb shut the doors behind him. ’His mind isn’t here, what’s he thinking about that deeply? Maybe who instead.’

"Ahem, as I was saying..." He resumed his announcement, the usual calm composure on as he spoke.

’What if I’m imagining stuff, like how I thought I’d seen Yannah earlier? Hah— am I not already in my imagination?’ Zlatan thought, reaching out for the tray of roasted chicken servings with his shorthands barely making it. When suddenly he froze upon hearing the next words of his uncle.

"Welcome Master Lo-an Mune, the Elmores are glad to have you here."

’Mu–mune?!’ Zlatan felt a chill go down his spine, not wanting to move his eyeball as that figure was at his far right side. ’I can’t place a finger on where I’ve heard that particular name. Where?’

"The Munes, interesting. It’s not every time you get to meet someone from the top Five Bastard Families."

’Impressive.’ Lo-an had his eyes on Bella with a smile propped up his face.

"Bastard?" Zlatan muttered inaudibly, petrified and overwhelmed by both shock and —though he’d hate to admit it— fear. His hands were shaking, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Jaisal and Elena both had similar reactions to Zlatan’s, shocked and baffled by this. ’Bastards seated peacefully in a NobleHouse? How’s this even happening in the first place?’ Jaisal thought with his gaze shifting between the two guests.

’Are we now rebels? Does that– does that mean I’ll be free to have some action? No, what am I thinking?!’ Elena shook her head at her thoughts, definitely not getting the gravity the word ’rebel’ carried.

"Young niece, who taught you to speak without thinking?!" Vans questioned, doing his best to keep his voice calm.

"Eh?" Almost everyone seated at the table turned to look at Vans, Lo-an included as he knew what would come next.

*GROWL!

’Eek, no one heard it right?’ Alicia’s eyes darted around for a second, nothing none seemed to be focused on her anyway.

’Mm, so hungry.’ Her mouth-watering as she stared intently at the trays a distance away.

’Huh?’ Belle noticed something from the corners of her eyes. ’Why is she looking like Big Brother when he’s starving? Hmph!’ She could see her emerald eyes glued to the trays, her mouth gaping and breathing heavily like a hungry beast.

"Master here is a member of House Mune. So do give him the needed respect, I’m I clear? Alicia here is his..."

The rest wasn’t of much importance to Bella, her thoughts silencing whatever was going on. ’What’s Uncle saying? I’ll have to check that place once again. But if it was a cover-up, at least he should have the decency to not mention that it’s only a House.’ She glanced at Vans, only to see that he had his eyes on her.

With a brief smile on her face, not noticing Zlatan’s eyes shifting between them. Bella’s concentration returned to the book in her hands once again. ’Hah, looks like he’s giving me a challenge— you’re on then.’ She sighed, flipping the pages gently to where she had read.

"Dig in everyone, we should all be hungry," Vans announced as he took his seat. A bowl was before him, and opening it up a sweet fragrance filled his nostrils. Around the table, all had proceeded with drawing trays of rice, sauce, meat and others towards themselves.

’Something is not right here and I’ll have to find out. The last thing any noble family would want is involvement with Bastards.’ Zlatan thought, bringing the metal tray forward and closer than anyone would. After all, he was planning to devour it from the tray itself.

’The meat here is ham, but I want that chicken. No one’s grabbing it, good for me.’ Alicia quickly moved to the next seat, her hands about to reach it when it suddenly disappeared.

"Thanks," Belle said, her left hand leaving the back of her sister who’d grabbed and pushed the chicken to her.

’I get the chicken here— hehe.’ Belle’s eyes suddenly widened, looking at the seat opposite her only to see it empty. Her eyes darting around, the gray-haired girl couldn’t be seen anywhere. When suddenly, from the corners of her eye, a hand moved. It was quite close as if someone stood right beside her.

*SNAP!

"Mmm, so good." Alicia savoured the taste of the drumstick in her hands, after having ripped it off from the main thing on the tray. Meanwhile, Belle just sat there petrified, her heart skipping a beat.

"Gho– gho– gho."

"Eh?" Alicia turned towards her.

"GHOST!!"

"Eeek! Where’s it, where’s it?! Grandpa, save meee!!!"