As I stepped through the inn’s door, I was greeted by the soft glow of the morning light filtering through the room. The warmth of breakfast already filled the air—a far more welcoming scene than the harshness of the night before. Just as I began to let my guard down, a figure stood before me, commanding the space.
She was tall and armored, and every part of her screamed precision. Her hair, a light pink, was braided tightly, resting over her shoulders as if it could snap free at a moment’s notice, much like the rest of her. Her violet eyes were locked onto mine, unflinching, and her face held a stern, almost unreadable expression—a knight.
‘This…..’
There was something that bugged me with the combination of her hair color and eyes. It was something that felt like I knew.
“Are you Lucavion?” Her voice was clear, cutting through the murmurs of the inn.
I paused for a moment, taking her in fully. The steel of her armor glinted softly in the morning light, but it was more than the armor or the sword at her hip that caught my attention—it was her presence. She carried herself with the discipline of someone who had seen battle, and her eyes told me she wasn’t one to be trifled with.
“Yes, I am,” I replied, my voice even but wary.
Her gaze flickered, almost imperceptibly, as though she was reassessing me. “Really?”
Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, though it carried none of the warmth a smile should. Instead, her expression held a kind of cold amusement, like someone inspecting something far below their station.
“So,” she began, her voice dripping with arrogance, “you’re the one who dealt with Korvan?”
She tilted her head slightly, her violet eyes narrowing. “I have to say,” she continued, looking me up and down again, “you don’t exactly seem the part. I expected someone… taller. More imposing.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle softly at her words, meeting her condescending gaze with a relaxed smile. “Well,” I said, my voice smooth with a hint of sarcasm, “not everything is as it seems, is it? A person’s appearance doesn’t always match what’s inside.”
Her face darkened at my response, her smile vanishing in an instant. The shift in her demeanor was subtle, but unmistakable—her eyes grew sharper, colder, and I could feel the weight of her displeasure bearing down on me.
“What exactly are you implying?” she asked, her voice low and dangerous, like the unsheathing of a blade.
I simply smiled again, unfazed by the change in her tone. “Nothing at all,” I replied, my expression remaining calm, almost playful. “Just that people often make assumptions based on appearances, and that can be… misleading.”
Her jaw tightened, the tension radiating off her like heat from a forge. For a brief moment, it seemed as though she might draw her sword then and there, but instead, she took a slow breath, reigning in her temper.
“Watch your words, commoner.” She warned, her voice icy.
“What if I don’t?”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously, and for a moment, I could almost see the battle raging inside her—whether to strike me down where I stood or keep her composure. She chose the latter, though it clearly took some effort.
“You’ll be punished for your insolence,” she spat, her voice cold and commanding. “For disrespecting a noble.” free𝑤ebnovel.com
I raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “A noble? You’re a noble?”
Her reaction was immediate. She froze, her violet eyes widening ever so slightly before she quickly masked her slip-up. It was subtle, but I caught it—the hesitation, the brief flicker of uncertainty. She hadn’t meant to reveal that.
The inn fell quiet around us, the patrons watching with a mix of curiosity and fear. The tension between us was palpable, and as her gaze darted around the room, she seemed to realize that there was no taking back what she had said. She was caught, and now everyone knew.
She let out a soft, exasperated sigh, her shoulders tightening as she regained her composure. Slowly, her gaze hardened once more, but this time it was directed at the onlookers.
“What are you all staring at?” she barked, her voice sharp enough to send a shiver through the room. Several patrons quickly turned back to their meals, pretending they hadn’t been watching at all.
Turning back to me, she gave me a cold, calculated look, as if sizing up her next move. “You,” she snapped, “follow me. Now.”
Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heel, her cloak swirling behind her as she strode out of the inn, her posture rigid with barely contained irritation.
I watched her go for a moment, the amused smile never leaving my face.
“I refuse.”
The words left my mouth smoothly, almost lazily, as I leaned back slightly, folding my arms across my chest. The room fell into a tense silence. The knight, already halfway to the door, halted in her tracks, her cloak swirling slightly before settling. Slowly, she turned to face me, her eyes now dark and brimming with cold fury.
“You refuse?” she repeated, her voice low and dangerous, each word dripping with barely contained rage. The room seemed to shrink under the weight of her presence, her violet eyes locking onto mine as though daring me to repeat myself.
I met her gaze evenly, the smirk still tugging at the corner of my lips. “Yes,” I said, my tone casual. “I don’t think I’ll be following anyone until they ask me nicely.”
Her face tightened with anger, the tension in her jaw clear as she took a step forward, her boots clinking against the floor. “I gave you an order,” she said, her voice cold as steel. “I am a noble, and you will obey.”
I shrugged, completely unfazed. “That’s the thing, isn’t it?” I replied. “Anyone can claim to be a noble. If I followed every person who shouted orders and claimed a title, it’d be quite the mess, wouldn’t it?”
Her eyes narrowed, the fury in them unmistakable now. “You are insolent,” she hissed, her tone like a blade drawn across a whetstone. “You think you can ignore the orders of someone like me?”
I raised an eyebrow, maintaining my calm as I replied, “I’m more than happy to follow orders… when they come from someone who’s earned the right. But if you’re asking me to follow you on the basis of being a noble, you’ll have to do better than vague claims. If you want me to obey, then reveal your identity. Otherwise, a polite request might work.”
For a moment, her mouth tightened into a thin line, and I could see the war within her—whether to keep pushing or to back off. The room remained utterly silent, every patron too terrified to breathe, let alone speak. She opened her mouth to retort, but I spoke again, cutting her off before she could gather steam.
“Besides,” I said, my tone still light but edged with challenge, “if everyone here were to claim they were a noble and bark orders around, the world would be chaos, wouldn’t it? Surely, a true noble would understand the importance of order.”
Her face darkened further, and for a split second, I thought she might actually draw her sword. But instead, she exhaled sharply, forcing her shoulders to relax—barely. Her pride was wounded, but she wasn’t entirely reckless. She glanced around the room, no doubt aware of the many eyes watching, even if they pretended otherwise.
“I don’t have to explain myself to the likes of you,” she said, her voice quieter but still laced with venom. “But fine. If you want to make this difficult, then so be it.”
She took a step closer, her face inches from mine, her breath cool and deliberate. “I am Valeria Olarion, daughter of House Olarion, and I will not tolerate any more of your disrespect. You will follow me, or you will regret it.”
I smiled, unbothered by her attempts to intimidate. “Now, was that so hard?” I asked, my tone still light, though there was a flicker of challenge in my eyes. “See? We’re making progress.”
Her eyes blazed with cold fury, and she took a slow, measured breath. It was clear that, for the moment, her patience had reached its end. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” she whispered, her voice dangerous. “Follow me now, or I will ensure you suffer the consequences.”
I let the silence stretch for a moment, holding her gaze. “It’s still an order, Valeria,” I said softly. “And I already told you. I don’t follow orders.”
Her jaw clenched, the fury boiling beneath the surface. The tension was palpable, hanging in the air like a sword poised to drop.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she exhaled sharply, a mixture of frustration and resignation. “Very well,” she said through gritted teeth. “Lucavion, will you please follow me?”
The words were practically spat out, but the fact that she had said them at all was a victory in itself.
I grinned, bowing slightly in mock respect. “Now that wasn’t so difficult, was it?” I straightened, my tone becoming more neutral as I nodded. “Lead the way, Lady Olarion.”
With a glare that promised retribution later, Valeria turned on her heel once more, storming out of the inn. This time, I followed, the amused smile never leaving my face.
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‘She is really Valeria Olarion…..’
After all, I had met another character from the novel.
