“As expected…..When it comes to deceiving, there is no one else better than a whore.”
Varen’s sneer deepened, his words dripping with cruelty as he stepped closer, his voice low but carrying throughout the room. “Even though your choice cost you the life of the man you supposedly ‘loved,’ it seems you no longer care, do you? It makes sense, though. After all, you were just playing with him like a toy. You never loved him. You were never capable of it.”
The words cut through the air like a blade, sharper than any sword. For a moment, the room went deathly silent, and even the whispers died out. Valeria’s breath caught as she watched Lira, her eyes widening slightly as she sensed the shift in the air. The calm, composed mask that Lira had worn for so long began to crack.
The insult struck deep, too deep for Lira to contain the emotions she had held back for so long. The calm exterior she had maintained shattered in an instant, replaced by a surge of fury that she could no longer suppress. Her body moved before her mind could catch up, her hand flying to the hilt of her sword.
“How dare you!” Lira’s voice exploded with a fury that echoed through the inn as she drew her sword with lightning speed, the blade gleaming in the lantern light as it sliced through the air, aimed directly at Varen.
The force of her strike was fueled by a whirlwind of emotions—anger, betrayal, grief—all coalescing into that single moment. The room erupted into chaos, chairs scraping against the floor as patrons scrambled to get out of the way.
Varen’s eyes widened in shock, but he reacted quickly, raising his blade.
CLANK!
And then, at that exact moment, the sound of blades clashing echoed throughout the room.
SWOOSH!
The clash of blades reverberated through the room, and in that moment, the deflected sword energy shot out wildly. It spiraled toward Valeria’s side, and before she could fully process what was happening, she felt the wave of energy closing in on her.
With a sharp intake of breath, she quickly shifted, her body reacting instinctively. She dodged the strike, her chair scraping against the floor as she moved. The mana-infused energy slammed into her table with a loud crash, sending her meal flying and splattering the remnants of her stew across the floor.
Valeria’s frown deepened as she straightened herself, her eyes narrowing in annoyance at the ruined meal. The once-warm, comforting atmosphere of the inn had been replaced by chaos, and now, her meal lay scattered in pieces around her feet.
‘Of all the things…’ she thought, her patience wearing thin. She glanced toward the source of the commotion, where Lira and Varen stood locked in their confrontation, completely oblivious to the damage they had caused.
Lira’s chest heaved with rage, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword tightly as if the very act of holding it could somehow control the torrent of emotions she was feeling. Her once calm demeanor was gone, replaced by a raw, visceral anger that had been buried for too long.
Valeria clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to intervene directly.
“How dare you speak of him like that!” Lira shouted, her voice trembling with fury as she raised her sword again, the blade glinting dangerously. Her eyes burned with an intensity that sent a ripple of fear through those watching.
Varen, though clearly surprised, quickly regained his composure. His lips curled into a satisfied smirk as he straightened, his hand resting on the hilt of his own sword. “Oh? It seems I’ve struck a nerve,” he said mockingly, the cold amusement in his voice only fanning the flames of Lira’s rage.
Just as Lira and Varen seemed poised for another clash, a booming voice cut through the tension. “Enough!”
The inn fell into a sudden, heavy silence as all eyes turned toward the source of the voice—the innkeeper, her face twisted in fury. She stood at the far end of the room, her arms crossed, but it was the powerful aura of mana radiating from her that sent a chill through the air.
Her usually warm and welcoming demeanor was gone, replaced by the stern authority of someone who was clearly not to be trifled with.
“How dare you mess with my inn?” she growled, her eyes narrowing at both Lira and Varen.
A ripple of shock passed through the room. Valeria, too, raised an eyebrow in surprise. She had never expected such a strong pressure just from the voice of the innkeeper.
‘Just who is this?’ ?*??Ξ+?ρ??
Apparently, even the innkeepers in this city were not normal.
Lira’s eyes widened slightly as the realization of her mistake hit her. Varen, who had been grinning smugly moments earlier, stiffened. The weight of the innkeeper’s presence was unmistakable, and for the first time, both of them seemed to understand just how out of line they had stepped.
After all, they had forgotten who the owner of this inn was and her title.
[The Iron Matron]
Varen was quite quick with a response. “I didn’t do anything,” he said smoothly, raising his hands in a mock gesture of innocence. “She attacked me. The only thing I did was speak my mind… and the truth.”
The innkeeper’s eyes flashed with irritation, clearly not buying his attempt at deflection. She stepped forward, her mana flaring briefly, causing a few of the weaker patrons to instinctively step back. “I don’t care about who started this bullshit,” she said, her voice low but menacing. “You’re out. Now.”
Varen opened his mouth to protest, but the innkeeper silenced him with a sharp glare. “Out,” she repeated, her voice carrying the weight of finality. Her mana swirled around her like a storm, and even Varen knew better than to push his luck further. With a frustrated sigh, he motioned for his group to follow him out, muttering curses under his breath as they exited the inn.
As soon as they were gone, the innkeeper turned her sharp gaze to Lira and her group of disciples. “You…..You will not leave here without paying the damages.”
The Iron Matron, her arms still crossed, began to walk slowly through the inn, her sharp eyes scanning the room as she assessed the damage. Her gaze lingered on the broken table, the scattered remnants of food, and the spilled drinks. She shook her head slightly, her expression hardening as she mentally tallied the costs.
She came to a stop in front of Lira and her group, her eyes narrowing as she locked onto Lira. “This is going to cost you,” she said, her tone firm and without room for negotiation. “For the damages, the meal, the table, and the inconvenience to everyone here… I’d say you owe me a solid five hundred crowns.”
A few of Lira’s juniors gasped in disbelief, clearly unhappy with the amount. One of the younger girls opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say a word, the Iron Matron’s gaze snapped toward her, silencing her instantly.
“Five hundred crowns,” she repeated, her voice cold. “And you will apologize—each and every one of you—for the disruption you’ve caused here tonight.”
The younger girls exchanged uneasy glances, some of them bristling at the way the innkeeper’s tone bordered on patronizing. One of them, her face flushed with embarrassment, muttered under her breath, “We didn’t start this…”
But before she could finish her complaint, Lira raised a hand, silencing her. The Silent Thunder stood tall, her expression composed but weary. She knew the price of her actions, and she wasn’t about to make the situation worse. With a nod, she turned to the Iron Matron. “We will pay for the damages,” she said, her voice steady. “And we will offer our apologies.”
The Iron Matron’s hard gaze softened only slightly as she stepped back, her arms crossed once more. “Good,” she said, her tone final. “Make sure you don’t cause any more trouble in my inn. I won’t be so lenient next time.”
Lira nodded again, and without hesitation, she stepped forward, addressing the room. “We deeply apologize for our behavior and the disruption we caused,” she said, bowing her head respectfully.
Most of the people, though still somewhat tense, nodded their heads in acknowledgment, willing to move on from the confrontation now that the situation had been diffused. But then, as her eyes traveled toward the corner of the inn, they landed on Valeria.
Valeria sat at her now-ruined table, her expression calm but her demeanor unmistakable. Lira could tell at a glance that she was of noble standing. The way she carried herself, even in the aftermath of the chaos, spoke volumes about her background and composure. It was clear to Lira that this was no ordinary patron.
Her eyes flicked briefly to the spilled meal and the overturned dishes. Without hesitation, Lira approached Valeria, her steps measured and deliberate. When she reached her, Lira bowed slightly, her voice soft but sincere. “I deeply apologize for the inconvenience we’ve caused you,” she said, her eyes meeting Valeria’s. “It seems your meal was ruined because of us.”
Valeria, her gaze steady, simply nodded, not yet offering a response.
Lira straightened, her expression still composed despite the fatigue evident in her eyes. “Allow me to compensate you for the meal you couldn’t have,” she continued. “If you don’t mind, I would also like to accompany you during the meal. It’s the least I can do to make up for what happened.”
As for Valeria….She just stood there.
Since she had not encountered such a thing in her entire life before.