Proper Table Manners Novels & Stories

I was going to hate him for putting me up with these people unprepared. Etiquette expert Tegan taught me from basic table etiquette, excuses, modern manners to royal etiquette. My head started to spin when he started with protocols. “I need a break. I think I just have hypoglycemia.” “Okay. We’ll have a break, but Tania will show you something on the screen. The easiest part for today.” I placed my hand on my forehead. He’d been teaching on this table, and my ass was burning. My legs were numb, my back stiffed. Earlier, he showed me how to walk and let me wear different kinds of shoes.

I said just in time as our meals are brought to our table. "Well played." "Thank you." "But do remember to manage your personal life Ms Hunter, we don't want that," he points at the door, "happening while a client is with us." "Agreed, also that will help to keep your curious nose, Mr Zwide out of my love life, wouldn't it?" "True. Table manners?" "Sure." I sliced the pancake on my plate and went for a bite. "Aren't we praying?" Delroy asked while the delicious looking piece of pancake is just a few inches from its soon to be last place seen.

She chewed on her plate of pasta as if they were made of rubber. Benjamin watched coldly as Jessica got more and more animated. "Come to think of it, I'm craving the apple crumble from that place again. Benjamin, could you ask Ms. Shaw to go buy it for me one more time? For old time's sake?" Cheryl's hand froze mid-motion. Elias had heard enough. He shot to his feet and snapped, "Mr. Zimmerman, the most basic manners a person should have are to be respectful of others. Don't tell me you're incapable of even that?"

I asked, removing his backpack. "School was fun today" he grinned happily, "We were taught 'Table manners' today. "Woah dear, what's table manners?" I raised my brows. "Table manners, table manners. Wash your hands before eating, say bismillah before eating, eat with your right hand, eat from what is near to you, don't talk while eating, don't overfeed yourself, say alhamdulillah after eating and wash your hands after eating" he clapped and sang aloud excitedly.

He lifted his glass of water and took a slow sip before finally raising his eyes. The moment his gaze met hers, Ava felt it like a physical touch. Sharp. Heavy. Observing. Weighing. As if measuring her worth in silence. “Dinner will be simple,” Dominic said at last, his voice low and smooth, cutting through the quiet room. “But you are expected to eat properly.” His eyes moved briefly to the arrangement of cutlery before returning to her. “Table manners matter.” Ava blinked, caught off guard. Her brows lifted slightly.

I forced myself to stare at my plate, trying to quiet the noise in my head. “Eat,” Julian said. I looked up, meeting his gaze. “I am.” “You’re just moving things around.” I glanced down. He was right; I had spent the last five minutes rearranging my vegetables into neat little piles. Leo let out a dry smirk. “Relax, Julian. Not everyone treats a meal like a board meeting.” Julian didn't even turn his head toward him. “It’s called manners,” he said evenly.

Every practical demonstration I attempted ended in polite, condescending corrections. "No, Miss Graves, you greet a Beta's mate with a slight incline of the head, not a full bow. That would suggest subservience." "The fork goes on the left, Miss Graves. Surely even in the Lowlands they teach basic table settings?" "You must enunciate properly, Miss Graves. Mumbling is a sign of inadequate breeding." By the time the session ended, my jaw ached from clenching it, and my hands trembled with suppressed rage. The other women filed out with barely concealed smirks, already gossiping about the tainted blood girl who didn't know which fork to use.

KYRA Etiquette was meant to be simple. That was what I told myself as I adjusted my gloves and took my seat beside Nicole. This wasn’t combat or strategy or politics. This was posture, grace, and knowing which fork to use without looking like you were counting. Things I had taught myself long before setting foot in this palace. The long table gleamed beneath the chandeliers, silverware laid out with ruthless precision. Every plate, every glass, and every napkin sat exactly where it should. .

It was steamy and ready to eat, I could not wait to gobble it down. Stephan adjusted my chair so I could eat comfortably. I could get used to this. George had brought an old bottle of wine and poured the contents into my glass cup, placed beside my plate of food. Stephan sat down on the chair to my right and watched me eat as he laced his fingers together. I was halfway through my food before I realized that there was no plate on his front. "Where is yours?" I asked with a mouthful of morsels. "Table manners must be maintained at all times, Ms. Hallway," Georgia said in a pristine and dignified manner. "I do not want you choking on your food."

To provoke her, I made sure to chomp the food noisily and slurp my drinks deliberately, after all, there was no fun in playing by an old lady's rigid, oppressive rules. Her own version of table etiquette was questionable at best... downright insane, really. No stretching your feet under the table, even if your legs ached from sitting so long. No loud chewing, ever, not even the slightest sound. No disorderly style of eating; it had to be strictly appetizers first, then the main course, followed precisely by desserts. No speaking a single word during the meal, no matter what. No having more than one glass of water or juice, anything more was seen as gluttonous and uncouth.