"Hello, I'm Violet. It's nice to meet you," said a young woman, petite in stature, as she sat across from Camilla at the elegant mahogany dining table.
"The pleasure is mine," Camilla responded, returning a warm smile.
""Hi, I'm Clara," introduced a woman with short, vibrant red hair.
"I'm a huge admirer of your work. Your designs have been a constant source of inspiration for me. Your fashion sense and unique style are truly exceptional." She spoke with reverence, her gaze fixed on Camilla with admiration.
Before Camilla had a chance to reply, Alexander interjected, clearing his throat to get their attention.
"Excuse me," he said, directing a look of slight annoyance towards Clara.
"What's the matter, Alexander? Can't hold your horses for dessert?" Clara teased, turning her attention away from Camilla.
"Oh, hush already," Alexander replied, rolling his eyes in annoyance.
"Why must you always be so vulgar?" Clara asked, her expression turning into a frown.
"Because it's just who I am, sweetheart," Alexander answered with a sarcastic tone, taking a seat next to Camilla.
"Being cute and charming comes with its own set of perks."
Clara sighed in frustration, but quickly regained her composure and turned to Camilla with a smile.
"I apologize on his behalf. We can be quite rough around the edges sometimes," Clara said, offering Camilla a genuine smile.
"Don't worry about it. I understand the dynamic between siblings," Camilla replied with a chuckle, starting to feel more relaxed.
"Isabel, you told me everyone was waiting. Why are only these two here?" Alexander asked, as his sister took her seat.
"What do you mean by 'these two'? We are..." Clara began to speak, but she quickly halted when she noticed the stern look on her grandmother's face, silently indicating for her to keep quiet.
"Let's get started," Harriet interjected, placing her hands firmly on the table
With a nod of her head, Harriet signaled the servers to begin serving the meal, which consisted of a savory soup paired with steamed rice and vegetables, a delicious Spanish rice dish called Paella, succulent roasted chicken, and a diverse selection of desserts, including macarons, cupcakes, and a freshly-baked apple pie.
"Dig in, everyone!" Harriet said with a cheerful tone.
As everyone began to enjoy their meal in silence, Harriet let a few minutes pass before clearing her throat to get their attention.
"So, my dear, how long have you and my grandson been dating?" Harriet asked, her eyes fixed on Camilla with a warm smile.
"Err..." Camilla hesitated, looking over at Alexander.
"We've been together for three months now," Alexander answered, giving Camilla a quick sideways glance as he continued eating.
"That's wonderful," Harriet said, nodding her approval.
"I apologize for prying, but may I ask the reason why you both kept your relationship private?" Harriet inquired, her tone carrying a hint of suspicion.
"I've already explained it to you, Grandma," Alexander replied, his frustration evident in his voice.
"I was asking Camilla, not you," Harriet scolded Alexander for interrupting her, before turning back to Camilla.
"So eat your meal and let her answer my questions herself." Alexander let out a quiet sigh, but he complied and remained silent, respecting his grandmother's request.
After a moment of silence, Harriet turned back to Camilla, ready to listen. "Go ahead, dear."
Camilla took a deep breath before responding, "Our relationship is still in its early stages, and we wanted to make sure things were clear between us before making it public." She spoke confidently, maintaining eye contact with Harriet throughout her explanation.
"I was also still getting used to the idea of romance, and preferred to avoid any pressure from others..." She trailed off.
"...but the viral photo of us at the hotel just
threw everything off course," Camilla sighed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"That's alright, dear. I believe the worst is behind us now," Harriet reassured, offering comfort with a gentle touch of her hand on Camilla's.
"I suppose so," Camilla let out a heavy sigh and starting eating again.
Violet, who had been quiet since introducing herself, chimed in. "So Camilla, on a scale of one to ten, how skilled is my cousin in bed?" she asked with a playful smirk.
"Violet!" Clara scolded sharply.
Camilla was taken aback and started coughing, her airway blocked by the food she was trying to swallow. She struggled to catch her breath.
"Here, drink some water," Alexander offered, handing her the glass she had been using moments before.
Camilla drank and her coughing slowly subsided as she regained her breath.
Once she had regained her composure, Camilla looked up to see Alexander, his eyes filled with worry as he held a napkin to her lips.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his concern evident.
"Yes, thank you," Camilla replied, feeling a bit uneasy with his assistance in cleaning her mouth. She took the napkin from him and wiped the spill herself.
"Are you sure you're okay? You almost looked like you were going to faint," Violet commented, a hint of amusement in her tone.
"I'm fine, just taken aback by your question," Camilla chuckled, trying to play off her discomfort.
"It's not that big of a deal," Violet shrugged, taking a bite from her slice of apple pie.
"Violet, if you have nothing of value to contribute to the conversation, it's best to keep your comments to yourself," Harriet spoke sternly, giving Violet a stern look. But Violet simply smiled innocently in response.
"Grandma, I don't understand why my question would be considered offensive," Violet responded, lifting her chin slightly as she met Harriet's gaze directly.
"They're a couple and based on the picture that's been circulating, they've likely been intimate multiple times. I was just curious to know," she continued.
"It's not your concern," Alexander and Camilla said in unison, both giving Violet a sharp look.
"Come on everyone, I don't see why you're getting so worked up about this. It's just a harmless question," Violet replied, unfazed by Harriet's anger.
"I had hoped you'd show some decorum today, but it seems your disrespectful behavior continues to be on display even in front of guests." Harriet scolded Violet, her gaze stern and unyielding.
"Leave this table immediately," she commanded with a cool tone