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Kellan grinned a little when he saw Jei had stopped looking so nervous.

From behind them, the now confused servant hurried to escort them to the dining room, as it was her duty.

"Is there anyone in your rooms?" She asked nervously.
"No, your name?" Kellan asked.
"It's Sh-Shale." Came the reply.
"Are you new?" He asked.
"Y-yes."
Of course. What old servant would be so startled at being interrogated?

Kellan sighed, what information could be gotten out of a new servant?

Jei was curious about the new servant. She seemed so nervous. "How long have you been here, Shale?" He asked.

"F-for-" Shale paused, attempting to correct her stutters. The head maid had told her to be more confident. "For a week."

She wrung her hands, "I was surprised because I've always wanted to be a maid here, but it felt like Master Marius and Mistress Augusta never hired, or fired--which is why I wanted to work here, but I learned that some people were f-fired recently--b-but.." She stopped, losing her train of thought.

"A-anyway. Anyway, the dining room's this way. Um, which you two, I mean, Young Master Jei and Young Master Kellan must know, but I was instructed to guide you here anyway..so I have to.."

Jei stopped Shale with a light hand on the girl's shoulder. "You needn't be so scared, Shale. We're not so scary, are we?" He asked, attempting to lighten the girl's mood slightly. She couldn't be much older than himself or Kellan, by the looks of her. "It's been a long time since I was here last. I appreciate you showing us..."

Shale bit her lip, "Well, no..." She relaxed, "But I've never been around nobles until now. And Ma tells--" She threw a hand over her mouth and whispered, "stories"

Kellan grinned, "Uncle Marius wouldn't bring a regular noble here would he?"

Shale wrung her hands, "No, but ma says that's even worse." She had lowered voice on the last word, as if telling a great secret.

Jei was slightly confused by what Kellan meant about regular nobles, and what Shale meant about that being worse.

Sensing Jei's confusion from the lack of words, Kellan grinned, "Regular nobles. The ones going out into society, concerned with appearances, making debuts into the world. That sort of thing." He turned to Shale, "Why would you say it's worse not to be an uppity noble on top of the world?"

Shale wrung her hands again, "Tha-that, I can't s-say. A-anyway, we're nearly at the dining room!" She cheered noticeably at the last few words.

Jei shRed a look with Kellan. This, obviously, would require some investigation.

They reached the dining room in silence, Jei quietly thanking Shale for her guidance. He went and gave his aunt a hug, greeting her happily, then sat near the head of the table, leaving a space between himself and Marius for Kellan- being older, he would get the seat closest to the head of the table.

Kellan bid goodbye to Shale as she left in a hurry from the dining room.

He then went up to Aunt Augusta to greet her, before settling himself down at the dinner table. He wrinkled his nose, seating by seniority was a little odd, but he supposed it had its uses. If people didn't sit in that order, it might've been awkward for some to get seated at all.

"It's been a while," He remarked.

Jei didn't find the seniority seating all that strange- it made sense for higher ranking persons to be seated closer to the head of the table with their hosts.

Augusta nodded, smiling softly. "Too long a while, certainly... I'm glad you both could make it."

"We're glad to be here:.. Gives us a break from the mundane life of tutors and responsibilities..." Jei replied, smiling in return.

"Congratulations on the baby!" Kellan said lightly, "and, I'm glad both of you are safe." He folded his hands on his lap, wondering if his alluding to their safety would get brushed aside or not.

Augusta and Marius shared a look, before glancing back at their nephews. "Thank you, boys..." Augusta replied, smiling, though it was forced.

Jei noticed the strain, and nudged Kellan under the table, as if telling him not to make mention of what they'd discovered. At least not here, while there were others around. He could tell that his family was hiding something.

Kellan unfolded his hands from his lap. He wasn't too good with waiting for the right time to discuss issues. It made for good lording with families other than his own, though.

Feeling Jei nudge him, Kellan sighed. He supposed it wasn't a good idea to bring up the new servants either, now.

"So, what's for dinner?" He asked, abruptly changing the topic.

At that moment, the chef and two other servants walked in, each pushing a covered cart. "I'm glad you asked, young master... We've got grilled fish and rice with mushrooms, and a garden salad."

"Mushrooms!" Kellan grinned, "Why I love mushrooms!" He paused. "But only when you make it, Chef."

He turned his attention to the food being laid out at the table, wondering impatiently when they'd finally get answers on Uncle Marius' fire and firing.

It looked like portobello mushrooms, shiny on rice.

Jei dug into his food as soon as it was served, starving. they hadn't had much to eat on the road, and he'd only had a slice of toast for breakfast that morning. "Delicious, chef...Uncle, do you think we could borrow him when we return home, so he can teach Rinee to cook like this?"