[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/OEh1rTU.png[/img][color=9AF781][h1]Lord Leo Smithwood[/h1]
Time: 6 pm
Location: Guest House; Dining Room
Interactions: Charlotte[@Princess], Mayet[@13org],
Mentions: Lorenzo[@FunnyGuy], Layla[@Potter], Sultan Raif[@princess], Riona[@JJ Doe][/color][/center]

[color=CBCBCB]
Leo, despite attempts to keep a neutral expression, held a glare in his eyes as Riona served the big cat while his glass remained empty. The chair incident could have been written off as incompetence, but this, like her actions this morning, was clearly deliberate. Once again the question of why dragged its way across his mind like nails scraping down a chalkboard. Additionally irritating because such a mystery was hardly worth his time. With curiosity killing him as if he were the metaphorical cat and satisfaction remaining out of reach, he intended to simply snap his fingers and glance at the empty glass but the Sultan rectified the situation almost immediately. 

Now about half the table seemed to argue about who was to say grace and the Sultan gave the final word on this as well. This entire dinner did much to show how grand a leader the Sultan was as his words effortlessly held commands. As Shehzadi Layla sent her cobra to frighten Charlotte, the Sultan quickly banished his own daughter. There was no preferential treatment at the Sultan's table; family and guests alike were simply judged by the respect they showed. This was a good sign. 

"[color=BBC7E1]...I'm uncertain if I can endure this... Should I excuse myself momentarily or would that make it worse?[/color]"

Leaving would be a mistake; a predator is bound to pounce the moment it sees weakness in its prey; this was not the place to be seen as easy prey. So when he heard Riona speak to Charlotte he’d just barely managed to stop an eye roll at what he deemed to be ruinous advice. Leo had waited until Sultan Raif had finished speaking before answering her. 

[color=9AF781]“I am certain that you can handle just about anything. You have shouldered worse and carried it with grace. The only person you need to win over tonight is the Sultan, and you are doing that.”[/color] Leo spoke in a whisper, leaning just close enough to Charlotte to be easily heard and with absolute certainty as if he were merely confirming the color of the sky.  

Then came Lorenzo’s speech. 

[Color=salmon]“Ahem. Raif, I humbly apologize for the sidebar conversation and for making you wait on your well-prepared feast,”[/color]

Leo gave a quiet breath of relief as Duke Lorenzo graciously offered a respectful apology. 

[Color=salmon]“but,”[/color]

[color=9AF781][i]Oh no.[/i][/color] In a feat that Leo was almost sure only Lorenzo could accomplish he earnestly rejected Mayet’s, entirely imagined on Lorenzo’s end, romantic interest in a way that was respectful in its words but outright insulting by its implications. The poor Duke continued with a very well-said grace, and Leo bowed his head respectfully while using the opportunity to gently reach for Lottie’s hand to hold as the meal’s grace was said. He also knew Mayet’s fiery response would be heard shortly. Nothing he’d seen so far suggested she’d just forgive and forget such a thing for the sake of a nice dinner. 

[color=9AF781]“Shehzadi Mayet,”[/color] Leo bowed his head when he spoke her name, [color=9AF781]“might I ask, what I assume every Northerner must be thinking; how did you manage to gain such perfect trust with the radiant Nala.”[/color] Leo was absolutely sure of two things; that anyone with a pet, especially one that demand the sort of attention a tiger did, enjoyed speaking about their pet, and that the tale of how a bond was formed between a royal and tiger would be a more pleasant dinner conversation than anything else so far.

He went to drink from his glass and found only a meager sip of wine there. [color=9AF781][i]Riddiculous.[/i][/color] Riona was quickly becoming more than a minor annoyance. He suspected this was some sort of ploy to make him look like a drunkard who needed his glass constantly refilled. Well, Leo was not going to be outsmarted by a servant so useless they could not even fill a glass. He elected to wait an appropriate amount of time before signaling for a different servant to refill his glass. A refill would be requested by a glance and gesture toward the glass, possibly a finger snap if needed to secure their attention, but without words. There were people far more worthy of his attention in the room after all. [/color]