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"No, Sage," Conner said "Scoop the soup into your spoon by pushing the liquid away from you, like this" He deo onto the table, not onto your lap"

The last bowl of soup I’d eaten had been consu it as froht hand was sloppy, and as soon as Conner looked away, I switched back to

Conner corrected Roden on how to hold his spoon: "It’s not a ha over his bowl: "Bring the food to yourelse to iven up

Following the soup, we had some bread and more cheese Conner demonstrated the use of the cheese slicer and bread knives I thought both of those were obvious, so I didn’t pay much attention Roden and Tobias seeht my attention before returned to clear our soup bowls and the bread and cheese while other servants brought us the ain, which bothered me because I didn’t see what I possibly could have done so soon to irritate her this much

"I’m already full," Tobias said

"It’s considered rude to say that," Conner said "A host plans to serve his guests throughout the entirehalf his ized and said his dinner sood, which Conner also seemed to think was a little rude I didn’t think Tobias s ry, even after the first two courses It had been nearly two days since I’d eaten anything substantial, and h to consider myself full

Food is considered a luxury in Carthyan orphanages They operate on whatever money an orphan inherited upon the deaths of his parents, which inevitably is little more than the shirt on his back after debts were settled Private donations coiveness for their favorite sins And, like what had just happened to the three of us, an orphan was soe by a wealthy family to be a servant until his debt orked off

Since there was so little to eat, we learned to eat fast and to eat selfishly Which hy I hadn’t understood Mrs Turbeldy’s anger aboutthat roast yesterday It was meant for all of us

The final course was dessert, a cherry tart with cinnairl returned who had served ave her no extra notice Even if she had difficulties here, I had plenty of my own to worry about I needed to focus on Conner, who had yet to reveal the worst of his intentions for us

"Leave the rooain until we’ve finished our supper"

When the last of the servants closed the doors, Conner set his knife and fork down and clasped his hands together

"We’ve co over each of us carefully "I am ready to tell you my plan"

An hour seemed to pass before Conner continued When he finally did, it was in hushed tones, as if he expected the servants’ ears were pressed against the doors of our roouessed an "But I assure you it is not treason Indeed, in a roundabout way, itEckbert’s court Carthya is on the brink of civil war and very few citizens are aware of it Ato this country"