04: The Banquet of the Twelve Northern Families 2/2

The guard at the front door shouted everytime a noble and his family arrived. "Baron Hansley's family has arrived!"

"Baron Hayes's family has arrived!"

"Baron Barlowe's family has arrived!"

"Baron Driscoll's family has arrived!"

"Viscount Freymonte's family has arrived!"

"Viscount Singh's family has arrived!"

"Viscount Adler's family has arrived!"

"Count Keller's family has arrived!"

"Count Cromwell's family has arrived!"

"Count Finch's family has arrived!"

"Marquis Ashford's family has arrived!" 

Over the span of one and a half hours eleven families arrived in the holt family banquet hall and started to talk among themselves. Thirty minutes later the last noble arrived in the banquet hall.

"Duke Holt's family has arrived!" The guard said with some excitement in his eyes.

While everyone stayed quiet, duke Holt's family walked to the center of the room and the duke said"Don't mind us and enjoy yourselves." Everyone then dispersed and continued talking with other people. Alex decided to walk with lucille for now because he doesn't know anybody.

Lucille wanted to introduce her friend to alexander so she walked over to a young lady who looked to be around her age.

"Ayame!" Lucille hugged the girl who was slightly shorter than her.

"Miss Holt."Ayame said with some sass.

"Oh COME ON! Unless you want me to call you miss Cromwell call me Lucille!"Lucille responded with a combination of disappointment and sass.

"Oh come on. You know I'm joking. Nice to see you but who is this?" 

"Oh he is my little brother.. Alexander!!" With some pride Lucille responded. She said this loud enough so everyone could hear.

"Hello."Alex said nervously.

"He's so cute!Oh, is he taking the 'test' with us?"Ayame asked.

"I am five, so yes. " Alexander said with an excited expression before walking away.

'I've got to find someone my age! Oh!'In the corner of the room alexander saw five kids his age and ran up to them.

"Hi my name is Alexander!"

"oh. I'm Aiden Adler."

"Liam Driscoll. A pleasure."

"Finn Finch. Nice to meet you!"

"Oh. My name is Zoey Ashford. Nice to meet you Alexander.

 "Hi I'm Claire Keller.Which family are you from?"

"Oh sorry for that introduction. My name is Alexander Holt.

"Waaaah!"

"HUH!?"

"I thought so!"

"Why are you guys surprised?"

Claire and Aiden were surprised while Liam, Finn and Zoey weren't surprised at all.

"Why AREN'T YOU!?"

"He was beside the duke when he was speaking to everyone earlier. You two just weren't looking." Liam said with a sigh.

"Now that you mention it... Alexander looks like the duke's wife!" Claire said with surprise.

Uhh.. that's because she my mother. Alexander said with a puzzeled expression.

"Anyway are you guys excited for the affinity level ceremony?!" Finn said excitingly.

"Of course!" "Yeah!" ""Mmmhmm."" Everyone is excited for this ceremony as expected. After all, this helps everyone in the north know how talented the next generation truly is.

"Did you guys hear? Apparently, for the first time in thirty-five years, there is going to be more than twelve kids doing it! Finn said with a proud expression; as if he was proud to be part of the group.

"Wait what? Really?"Everyone but Finn was very surprised.

"Yeah. That is part of the reason I am excited. Also, people say that a extra noble or two might show up along with a genius if you know what I mean." Finn replied with a smirk.

"Alas, we have to wait until tomorrow." Finn said with a sigh.

"Yeah." The rest responded sadly as they thought about waiting for twenty-four long hours.

Twenty-Four hours went by faster than they expected and the affinity level ceremony was about to start when the guard of the front door shouted "THE ROYAL FAMILY IS ENTERING!"