In the middle of wild old trees, there was a hundred-meter wide crater. Birds and beasts in the vicinity ran while glancing at the one responsible for the destruction of their habitat.
At the edge of the crater, Illya stood with a downcast expression. She remained silent, her face flushed red from embarrassment.
''So care to explain what you have been doing hiding over there?" Orpheus asked with a gentle smile but Illya couldn't say anything as she was feeling guilty, she hadn't thought that things would have gone awry just .
''I'm sorry, we don't mean any harm just wanted to see your strength for the upcoming school competition.'' Illya explained but Lily snorted not paying attention to her explanation, to the princess from the Luxuria family Illya's explanation was just an excuse, what would have she done if they were seriously injured? She would have been a fool for easily accepting this as an apology.
Orpheus didn't say anything, he waited for Hellion to join them and the man he had thought to only nothing but a brute suggested upon his arrival.
Illya was in the middle of thinking when Hellion's parted his lips and said, "Would you two join us for lunch?"
She felt she has been losing manners ever since she met that golden-haired genius.
Illya was startled by the invitation and so were Orpheus and Lily. But they soon understood.
"Consider lunch as an apology," Illya who understands what her brother was trying to do further said. "I'm sure you are heading toward the ruin just like us, and a short rest for lunch wouldn't prove any obstruction."
Hellion was amazed by her her sister's words. She knew just how extraordinary her invitation was.
Back in their hometown, hundreds of young masters from powerful aristocrat families would beg to spend a moment with her, but she would always refuse. She would never entertain wishes of the opposite gender who desperately wanted to court her.
Yet, now she was personally inviting a young man for lunch.
If the scions from aristocratic families learn of this, they would flip tables! Not only this, but most of them would even cough blood from anger.
They could not even get ready for a brief exchange despite all their efforts, and yet, she was inviting someone else, while it was understanding that it was because of a mistake they made it was still shocking nonetheless.
Orpheus and Lily exchanged glances before accepting Illya's invitation. They both have something behind the mind by agreeing so easily.
"Great," Illya radiated a sweet smile.
Hellion walked in front to guide them to the camp house. As they proceeded ahead, Sophia said, "I'm sorry for almost attacking you."
Orpheus was behind her, and walking alongside Lily.
He suppressed a smile and said, "It is fine. I'm sure that was a misunderstanding."
"Yes, a big misunderstanding," Illya readily agreed with her head lowered. To catch the other party intention she continued.
''Your strength does reassemble the genius in our class. By the way I'm from the S class, the special class. What about you two?"
Hellion perked his ears as he was interested as well, he kept stealthily glancing at Lily whose beauty had smitten him, he had fallen in love, suggesting this invitation was because of that.
''We are also from the S class in our school as well.'' Orpheus said confirming Illya's speculation.
''That's good. We will eventually meet each other during the competition, I hope I will have progressed much by then not to ashame myself.'' Illya said and Orpheus nodded before saying.
''I'm curious about the genius you said. I hope you will tell us about him, everything you know. Count this as an apology, okay?" Orpheus finally made his real intention clear and Illya who had expected something nodded.
Finally the four arrived at their destination. They arrived in the camp house. It was not like Sophia didn't own a portable house but she didn't use it. So the retinues have to create a grand temporary camp.
The retinues were surprised by the guests but they didn't say anything. They were servants and they only followed orders.
"Please enter," Hellion invited them in the dining room. "I will make arrangements for lunch."
The camp room has a dining table with a capacity for seven. Sophia sat in the host seat while Orpheus and Lily sat on the following chairs.
A servant filled their glasses with mineral water and took his leave.
As Orpheus brought a glass to his lips, Illya scanned his facial features. Till now, she only gave a cursory glance but now, she checked him fully.
As soon as his full features registered in her mind, her misty-blue pupils constricted. In her eyes, his face was superimposed with that man's face, he was really handsome as that man, their auras were the same, they are yet at the same time not, almost as if they were beings normal people would hope to approach their entire life.
Her intuition was telling her that this young man was dangerous like that man who appeared and swept everything on his way. He was too mysterious, not too many things were known about him, even his family's name was fabricated Illya concluded after a long investigation.
This young man before him seemed to resemble that man but she had to treat things with caution.
Orpheus observed everything with an amused grin while Lily was just there as a spectator. Finally, their meal arrived.
Two servants entered the room right after Hellion joined them, those two servants were carrying a set of dishes. The fragrance itself was filled with deliciousness that instantly made their mouths water.
Roast lam salad, chicken liver pate, scotch eggs, paneer stick, winter salad with buttermilk dressing, chocolate mousse, casserole, variety of bread, vegetables, and so on. There were even drinks though not alcohol.
It was more of a feast than a simple lunch, and that too, in the middle of wilderness. Something that would shock everyone for people can barely even have proper food!