If Annette felt Aquilion did things with more style based on this room, she might actually be quite justified. Though it was big and spacious, and grand to some extent, it was largely unadorned. Apart from the chandeliers, no statues, artwork, tapestries or other was put up in this room, nor were there windows with stained glass. The cornices at the corners of where the ceiling met the walls were tasteful but not very noticeable, just a simple small elliptical arc of stone. If not for the chandeliers, they would be simply in a big large empty hall, a multipurpose hall.<br/><br/>Darion smiles a surprisingly boyish smile as he shakes his head. "Nay, milady, your grace with words are as overwhelming as your grace with your lovely presence. Please, just Darion will do." Complimenting her choice of dress.<br/><br/>Annette may note that he does not even mention his last name. Perhaps he was really just a well trained commoner, but he carried himself with a relaxed confident ease that she rarely came across, and was completely unarmed.<br/><br/>"Please, you must be hungry. Let us have dinner first then we can discuss how to set up the entertainment for tomorrow."<br/><br/>The dining staff would come in, serving the meal one course at the time. The opening dish was a platter with individual small dishes spread out on a huge plate so one could choose what one wanted. Along with usual appetisers were more exotic ones such as what she might recognize or be told was jellyfish and sea cucumber. She might also notice that at the far end of the table, Darion ate the same food.<br/><br/>Towards the end after they had had most of their fill, along with some fruity dessert, in came two cages with two small captive monkeys. The poor creature had its head held in place by the frame of the cage, so that it could not even move its head, but it was screeching in fear. There was a fine line of shaved hair around its forehead.<br/><br/>"A local delicacy, Lady Gabelle, very refreshing when fresh and warm, and comes in a ready bowl. The monkey's scalp has weak points in its skull, so you can simply excise it with ease using the provided knife here." He stands so she can see him holding up the cage served to him with one hand, tracing the line over the head, with his knife, which was sharper and heavier than most carving knives. His own... delicacy... screams in fear at his action. "I can demonstrate, then you can do as I do, which would be the best. Alternatively, if you have no stomach for it, I can have a servant prise off the skull for you. Finally, you can of course ask for your portion to be extracted and served in a bowl."<br/><br/>If she was very well versed, Annette might have heard tell of such delicacies in tropical areas, usually jungle continents, not large islands like this. It is also unlikely that Annette is able to assess properly, but an Insightful person would realize Darion is taking the opportunity to assess the personality and nature of his guest.<br/><br/>