>>6337786“A-a thousand pardons, my lord!” The serving girl begs, tears already beginning to well in her eyes. She kneels on the floor, picking up the shards with her bare hands. She couldn’t have been older than 14. Adeline had seen her sort before. A girl like her wouldn’t have looked out of place on the streets of Fhirdiad. This was likely only one of several jobs the poor girl held to make ends meet. So, this sort of thing existed here too?
“Clumsy brat! Do you have any idea who I am?” The mage scoffs. “You’ve just struck a Chief Researcher of the Royal College! Right as I was on the cusp of a new breakthrough on how to remove tough grease stains using arcane magic!” He slams his fist on the table in a show of force. “A dirty little runt like you could have benefitted from that sort of thing, you know?!”
Adeline’s eyebrows raise as she watches the scene. This was not uncommon back home either. A noble throwing his weight around to humiliate a commoner. Adeline herself had been victim to such a scene numerous times throughout her life. Most recently, just a few months ago, at the hands of one Lord Alexander Gideon. She could still recall with shame how he’d chastised her in front of the entire Solis tavern. How he’d threatened to beat her senseless right then and there. How, in all likelihood, he’d have been incapable of such a thing. But Adeline had been too timid and beaten down to defend herself. So Tristain had to step in and do it for her.
The mage’s buddies laugh, sharing a knowing look. Evidently, this wasn’t the first time the “Chief Researcher” had done this. The serving girl continues to belt out apologies to no avail, all while attempting to clean her mess. The mage hears none of it though. Clearly enjoying the spectacle, he grabs her by the hair and pulls up.
“You’re gonna have to make up for this som-”
Adeline does not wait to hear more. At some point, she’d left her seat, and now towered over the mage. Aware of the shadow he now resided in, he turns from the serving girl to regard her. First with fear, and then with the same smug attitude as before.
“Back off, foreigner. In that armor, I could roast you-”
The mage is yanked up by the collar. He lets out a squeal as he is brought face-to-face with Adeline.
“Pay for your drinks and leave. Now.”
She drops the man, who falls onto his ass into the puddle of tea. Him and his friends do just as Adeline commanded, leaving a scattering of coins on the table, before bolting out the door. Adeline watches them go with a stern look, though her harsh glare soon gives way to a creeping blush, and the knight exits soon after them.
She felt hot in the face. She only did what she thought Tristain would have done, but such assertiveness felt unbecoming. This sort of thing was expected of knights though, right? Embarrassed, she groans, making her way back to the embassy. Eventually, she realizes she’d forgotten to pay.
