Lunch time.

As the ball continues, you awkwardly weave in and out of idle conversation with stuck-up nobles and arrogant adventurers. It's mostly forgettable. You check up with Eva as well, both to keep her company, but also to keep her out of trouble. This goes on until you see a small army of servants stream through the back door with platters in their hands. One by one, they place their meals down upon the many banquet tables orderly set along the other half of the hall. The scent is mouth-watering.

"I wonder what they prepared," you say.

Eva sniffs. "There's meat... but ooh. There's vegetables and fruits too. Can you smell that? I think that's steamed carrot."

Aren't carrots actually bad for rabbits?

The two of you begin stepping towards the nearby tables. Eva moves closer as you do, until her arm is gentle touching the side of yours. While she's looking around the room, she idly slides her arm around yours, and you lock elbows as you escort the princess towards the luncheon. You're surprised by this gesture, and she isn't even reacting like it's odd.

When you arrive, you pull a chair out for her to sit.

Eva blushes enough to where she has to look away for a moment. "Thank you," she whispers. "L-Lord Warren."

That's never been a thing. Though am I technically a lord since I own land?

Meanwhile, you look around to see that nearly every seat is filled. A dwarf sits at your left, garbed in a red suit that appears foreign to you. It's likely a tradition make of his people. Though, it's contrasted by the gigantic maul hanging over his shoulders. You wonder how he can even carry thing thing around without his back snapping.

There are way too many forks here.

"What are you lookin' at?" the dwarf suddenly barks.

"Sorry. Uhm. Nice maul, by the way."

The stout man with a braided brown beard and long hair, also braided back, raises his brow. "Didn't expect that answer. Nobody around here gives a shit about weapons other than fancy smancy rapiers and all that."

"What can I say? Big weapons are cool."

He grins. "I like you. If we're going to be honest, I'd rather this whole party go to shit. It'd be a lot more fun. If I could, I'd do it myself."

The servants walk by and each lift the lid from everyone's platter. Steam wafts up from a roasted boar flank, beautifully garnished with steamed vegetables, and beside that is a salad on the side with various fruits. Several bottles of wine trail down the tabletop. You don't even know what to pick. It seems Eva has it covered. She tells a waiter she'd like a specific white wine nearby, and he politely fills her glass.

A lovely catfolk waitress leans over beside you. It's a surprise at first, turning to see straight down the girl's shirt to a few of some illustrious cleavage, but you **** yourself to immediately look up to her face.

"Would you like anything, sir?" she asks.

You clear your throat--clearly a little flustered by her proximity. Your eyes dart down and then back up. "Well, I..."

"M-Me?" she says, and turns pink. "Sir... I am not on the menu."

"I didn't say anything remotely close to that!"

Eva turns, and then scowls up at the woman. "What are you doing to him, you harlot?"

You look back and forth. Rabbit. Cat. Quickly, you wave a hand between them. "All right. Let's calm down. I'll take what she's having. Thank you."

"Of course," she mutters and pours your glass before moving on, though not without glaring back at Eva momentarily.

You lift the glass to your nose for a sniff, and then have a sip. It's quite delicious, though you don't know much about the wines of this world. You look to Eva who seems to be enjoying it as well.

"I didn't know you knew wines," you say.

Eva giggles nervously. "Well, I've rarely been able to afford them, but I read a lot of books."

"Books about wine?"

"Not quite... Story books. There's often as scene where the dashing prince and the pretty princess go to a ball, and..." She starts to mumble, and eventually returns to her meal.

Eventually, everybody starts to finish. You wipe clean the sides of your mouth with a napkin and lean back in your seat, patting your stomach. You let out a long exhale and feel quite satisfied. Eva appears the same, though with at least a bit more grace. Now people seem to be drinking and chatting. So, basically what was happening before, but while sitting down. At least that's easier on my legs.

"Have you ever been to something like this?" Eva asks.

You shake your head. "This place is pretty damn different than what I'm used to. You?"

"No. It's a lot like in the stories I've read. So, uhm... thank you for bringing me. It's still scary here, but it's also amazing."