Contending with the corset that was so tightly laced up around her middle was interesting...Lux felt like she had to learn how to breathe all over again with it on. Breaths had to be kept on the lighter side; her middle was too squished to allow anything more. Creation, how she hoped that she stayed conscious and didnât faint in the middle of the meal. Otherwise, Lux remained still where sheâd seated herself, hand set on her lap while a majority of her attention was centered on the intricate emerald statue that had captured her wholly, before Ashen had volunteered her to the handmaidens.... Looking at it again, she felt the same about as she had prior.
Her verdantly colored eyes trailed across the polished surface of the statueâs figure. As sheâd observed before, the sculpture had a different atmosphere to it than anything else Lux had seen thus far in Fakharuâs palace. She wasnât the most aware of people, nor did she carry much knowledge in matters related to crafts.... Was she overthinking it? That was a definite possibility; still, she couldnât quite shake the thought from her pretty little head. With that notion floating about in her mind, Lux silently gazed over at Fakharu, saying nothing of her thoughts. Perhaps she was right and that the woman whoâd modeled for sculpture was someone of great significance to Fakharu, but who was to say that woman was even still alive? It was possible that sheâd been somehow involved with the Lesser Dragon ages ago and passed already. Lux didnât know how long Fakharu had been alive, only that heâd been around for...a really long time.
....if the matter came up, she would inquire, otherwise sheâd keep her musings to herself for the time being.
Humming to herself, she shook herself from her thoughts, her gaze ending up on Calliope who was seated diagonally from her, across from Ashen. Lux herself was seated across from Astrid who was still in her feline form after all this whileânot that Lux minded, she liked cats, and animals in general...except for horses, those would forevermore give her reason to pause, one of those beasts was to blame for her hair being so short.
It seemed that while Lux had been left to the mercy of NÄgasÄni and the rest of the girls, Calliope had gone ahead and gorged herself heartily and done so with much gusto. She had bits of food and grease spattered across her rosy face, and seemed utterly unaffected by it. Some would find the display nauseating, but the sight actually made Lux giggle a bit, making a small smile cross over her own made-up face, she found it endearing to see someone who so thoroughly enjoyed food. Til the princess went ahead and made her own comment regarding her makeover, that is.
âI amm in accordance with Ashen. I find your current appearance far mmore appealinng!â laughing wholeheartedly as she slammed her fist down onto the table hard enough to make the silverware rattle.
Lux stiffened up and slid downward in her seat just a smidge, as much as she wanted to hide her face in her hands she knew she couldnât, else sheâd ruin her carefully applied cosmetics. â....uh, thank you much, Lady Calliope.â she mumbled, reluctantly. Better just to take it with as much grace she could muster. Sheâd made enough of a fool of herself for one day, after all.
Allowing a sigh to slip from between her rose-colored lips, she did her best to shake off her embarrassment, looking back up at the Northern Princess, right as soon as Ashen...was chastising her table manners and blotting the food of her face with a napkin. Lux had really no idea what to make of the display; it was so...she didnât even have a word for it. As soon as Ashen otherwise concluded his sudden lesson on etiquette, he seemed to realize himself how much of a gaffe heâd committed.
He tried to play off what heâd just done, diving into an impromptu lesson on how one was supposed to consume the Western foods that were lain out before them. The Lunar rambled on, rather monotone and speaking so quickly it was actually a little hard for Lux to even discern some of what he was sayingâand she was sitting right next to him. Now, normally, Lux would keep down her urge to laugh and giggle at the display, but.... Ashen had given her over to the handmaidens earlier in retaliation for her making a couple of horrid jokes. The Dragon-Blooded wouldnât deny herself this bout of laughter.
One of her hands went gently over her mouth, as her shoulders began to shake a bit as she tried to keep it quiet. Alas, she could not do so though, and Lux began to giggle, eventually erupting into full-on laughter that she couldnât contain. Certainly, it was rude to laugh so loudly in the presence of a Lesser Dragon, and she would properly apologize in the aftermath if the need be.
âI-I, pfft....â she snorted, unable to continue speaking as bowed her head over, her hand fully overtop her mouth as her other was set across her stomach as she shook from laughter, occasional snorts working their way out of her. After maybe half a minute, Lux was finally able to calm herself, and reduced her little laughing bout to a fit of giggles insteadâstill she couldnât wipe the amused grin from her face. Clearing her throat, Lux raised her head back up, her shoulders still occasionally twitching as she held back her laughter.
âI was not aware that etiquette lessons were included with todayâs summons, Ashen.â she looked at the Lunar, resting a hand upon her cheek, â Hmm, I cannot say that I quite took you for the type to be so concerned over such matters. Firstly, you so kindly volunteer me for a wardrobe change and then dote over Lady Calliope so.... the grin on her face grew a touch.
Though she did tease, there was a warmth in Luxâs words, âHow endearing.â