Cleora's face went red immediately. Raayani maintained her composure better, but there was a definite tightness around her eyes.
Jolthar sat down without any sign of embarrassment.
"Very well, thank you. Your villa is quite comfortable."
"I'm glad to hear it," Milan replied, his tone perfectly innocent even as his eyes sparkled with barely suppressed laughter. "Though I should mention the walls are perhaps thinner than one might prefer for... complete privacy."
"We'll keep that in mind," Jolthar said calmly, reaching for bread.
The servants who brought additional dishes all had suspiciously neutral expressions that didn't quite hide their knowing smiles. One younger maid actually blushed when she set down a teapot near Raayani.
Milan slid a folded newspaper of Streetledger across the dining table.
Jolthar glanced at it once, then unfolded it.
The headline was large.
Deliberately ugly.
BARON RAISED BY BLOOD AND BED—IMPERIAL LAW TO REVIEW CLAIM
