"Uhm," 

"Breathe in and out. Don't worry about trying hard to make a good impression or things like that; just be yourself," 

Lily opens the double doors that lead to the dining room, and I follow her in. The dining room is warm and lovely. A large chandelier hangs over the rectangular marble dining table. Leondre is at the head, his wife is at his right hand, and Nicholas is at the other end. 

Everyone I met today is seated, too, conversing. They all look proper.  I'm flustered. 

Nicholas is the first one to notice us. He gets to his feet immediately and walks to me. The burning in his...