Lydia's words seem to have an effect on the count, and it's apparent to her that he is restraining an anger that she displays openly.  Good, she got under his skin.  But he does not react beyond furrowed brows and a clenched jaw.  Of course the priest of Cyril follows along behind her, she can almost sense his (or is it a her?) presence gliding along behind her, silently.  Maybe in another time and another place, a noble might have struck a commoner for speaking in such a way, but of course here Lydia was safe.  Here in this place, the contestants were the royalty, they were the focus of this night and what was to come tomorrow.  The count may have been seeking information, but in a way, the resulting conflict had told Lydia something very important.  Something she knew logically, but had been reinforced emotionally, it was that she was the important one here, not those with the money.<br/><br/>The champagne tickles her nose as she fires back both in rapid succession, but it is clear that others have seen her display and now are standing nearby, watching to see what the fiery redhead will do.  it isn't until a soft chime sounds, tolling the quarter of the hour, that Lydia realizes a second fact.   The real victim of time being wasted was not the counts, but was hers.  While other girls have already secured sponsor-ships, she's lost a quarter of her time to charm those with money.  In fact Count Davos is already speaking to a different contestant.  A white haired gnomish girl with a keen mind and quick fingers that Lydia didn't know very well.<br/><br/>Her anger is costing her time, and it is then that she notices the couple from earlier, the tall man and his blonde wife in the green dress.  While they are currently speaking with Xara, the drow from her bunk, neither of the couple nor the drow seem particularly interested in the conversation.  The blond wife seems in fact to continue to try to lock eyes with Lydia.  It is clear that the woman wants to meet, and that Xara is looking for a chance to move onto a different potential sponsor.