Chapter 15: Monster Subjugation (VIII).
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Town of Alamana: Koliö Tavern
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"Cheers to our successful adventure!"
"Aye! We killed it on our quest today and the pay is good!"
"Hear! Hear!"
Tavern music started playing on the side, everyone was in a good mood after getting down to their business and finishing their job for the day- the adventurers from the guild can finally earn their cold beer.
Cling! Cling!
The bell chimed as new customers popped by to visit the tavern, a few glanced their heads around who could be the newcomers and realized it was the noble girl from the Alarie family- her and her striking silver hair.
"They're here again." One lost their appetite after seeing the two, adventurers are usually friendly but when it comes to noble families like the Alaries they have their reasons to be careful.
After all Olivia's former reputation is not really trustworthy, she may have won over the hearts of the citizens but… as for the few guilds- not really. "Agh, just don't mind them and drink, we deserve a celebration."
His friend wanted no trouble and just told him to ignore the young noblewoman.
Sebastian and Olivia on the other hand… were looking for a way to pass the time and maybe forget the stress of today's adventure. "Two of your finest beers."
"Hi there." The same waitress from yesterday sees them and gladly takes their order. "Noted, welcome to the tavern. Anything else?"
Sebastian looks over to the villainess who had a serious expression plastered on her face. He asks, "How about you, Lady Olivia? Perhaps you want to order any meal to go along with our beer?"
Olivia sighs, wanting one thing in order to turn this hellish day around. "...If you have rice then my mood will certainly be lifted."
The waitress' eyes blinks and shakes her head- rice is something that the elven empire trades and getting your hands on it is almost impossible with the strict trade rules going on.
"Erm… my apologies but we don't have that, it's a rare delicacy from the east. We do have steak." She tries to offer alternative options and Olivia looks away, clearly not in the mood to talk. "Lamb chops?"
"Then I'll have steak and a beer."
The waitress smiles and goes back into the kitchen to grab their order.
…
The waitress weaved skillfully through the crowded tables, her apron swaying with each step, until she reached their table. Setting the plate down with a satisfying thud, she placed the beers beside it, the foam still bubbling over the rim.
"Here is everything. You can call me if you need anything else." She excuses herself as the two go drinking.
He lifted one of the beers, clinking it lightly against Olivia's. Drinking it like there was no tomorrow, sure he might've picked up the whole mannerisms of how a proper butler would be- all fancy and sweet but it can never make him forget the sweet taste of cheap ale liquor that comes with the perks of his old job after a hard day at work.
"Pah! Now this is a good drink! Isn't that right, Lady Olivia?" Sitting in front of him was his young lady who he should discourage drinking but- from the looks of it she's using it as some sort of coping mechanism.
Olivia did not reply and ate her steak quietly.
She didn't think she deserved to eat. Not with today's result of their scouting mission.
"Ah… not in the mood huh." (Sebastian) looks at his own reflection in the beer and decides to not poke the bear when it doesn't want to talk.
…
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Four empty cups landed one after the other on the table, their rims rattling softly against the wood. Olivia, unfazed, lifted her fifth cup with a grin, taking another long sip as if the previous four had barely touched her.
Usually that would be her limit but she demanded more out of the beautiful server who was flirting with her yesterday, "Another one."
"Oh dear." The waitress chuckles, staring at the empty cups and at the miserable charming woman from before, she refills her cup and couldn't help herself to ask. "What happened to you, darling? Could it be perhaps a case of a love problem?"
Olivia stops chugging her beer and glared at the waitress, who had zero malice in her question. "No… you couldn't be more wrong. If you have nothing good to say, you can go."
It's been a tough day, she thought the mission would be a walk in the park but it was unexpected for them to find the one thing that would make the villainess panic and stop all her tracks, she looks so down and unmerry.
"My apologies if our young lady is not in the mood to talk, a horrible case of goblin attack happened right outside the town. We managed to stop it and save a few people but not without seeing a few… lives lost." (Sebastian) explains, hoping the waitress would understand. "I hope you understand why the young lady is not in the mood to talk."
"O-Oh." The waitress looked at Olivia and her demeanor immediately changed, it was no longer flirty instead replaced with understanding and guilt- it was wanting to cheer her up. "I'm sorry to hear that… It's most unfortunate. In that case- don't tell anyone but your drinks are in the house tonight, thank you for your service."
The villainess hearing this, shakes her head. The last thing that she wants is for everyone in the tavern to think of her as someone who threatens waitresses that she won't pay- that is not the Japanese way. "No… no… My apologies for being rude- today was just rough, miss. And no need for your generous offer, we'll pay properly as we should. It would be unfair for everyone here."
Indeed it would.
The whole people in the tavern is already eyeing her like she's one big trouble magnet, any noble knows not to converse with other commoners for reputation- they couldn't help but think ill of Olivia Alarie, as to why she would even want to be in a common tavern when her rich family could afford nicer things.
The server nodded and decided to take something out of the kitchen to give instead, "Then wait here."
Clack.
She returned, holding a small dessert cake on a plate, her eyes twinkling. "You can have this dessert that I made extra by accident, no one is willing to grab it so you can have it. A gift from me to you, well if you also don't like gifts- rest your worries. You can just think of me trying to cozy up so you'll give me a better tip."
"...well if you don't mind I'll take it. Thank you, I'll make sure to leave a good tip." (Olivia) who was fond of sweets, takes the cake.
The waitress chuckles, gently taking a loose strand of her hair and places it behind her ear. "The young lady sure knows how to make a woman's heart happy. You go ahead and eat, call me if you need me."
The other patrons of the tavern couldn't help but overhear their conversation. One man even stood up when she was walking to help another table and yelled to get her attention, "Oi! Who said no one was willing to grab dessert! I want some if you have any more!"
He winked and even whistled.
The waitress sighs, looking annoyed. It was one of their regular adventurers that hangs out around the place- their party just got done with a job and now they're celebrating to eat. Honestly, the young man that called out to her is not her type.
She gave a customer service smile and told him that they don't have any more. "Too late lads! You'll just have to stick with what you have~ not unless you're giving me good company and a huge tip!"
"Hey, I can give good company! The ladies love me! The tip is… err… I can give you a decent tip too! Hah even higher than hers!" He continued thinking of this as a competition and the waitress, having much better things to do than talk to him, ignored him- taking the other table's orders.
"Fuck." The adventurer huffs sitting down feeling ignored.
The healer of the party took a swig of her beer and mocked him for looking so desperate. "I hardly believe that you're good company, I'm a lady and I would rather fuck a goblin than fuck someone like you, Al. Hell, that girl at that table is a much better catch."
The rest of the party agreed in unison.
Al, the adventurer, looked offended by her words and told her off by taking a huge swig off his beer. It's been his fourth cup now and little by little his mind is getting more dizzy.
"Ay fuck off! All you need is one try with me and I bet you'll come back begging."
"No thanks."
He glared not only at Olivia but also at the waitress, being drunk he takes a hold of the hilt on his sword and almost unsheathes it. He knows that he can't mess with nobility- so… that waitress girl would be enough for him to destress.
"Hic! I ought to teach a woman how to be obedient." He stood up from his chair.
"..."
Olivia who's been observing him while watching cake, feeling the danger she almost stood up herself but stopped when she saw that one of his friends sat him back down quickly worried that he'll end up doing something he'll regret. "Calm down man, she's Koliö's daughter and it's well known that she just has a soft spot for women."
The adventurer fixes his pants, flushed red and drunk. "Heh, I'll tell you what a man can give that a woman can't-"
His friend who was slowly losing his patience sat him down and groaned in annoyance. "Watch yourself. Just finish your drink and don't make a commotion."
Olivia notices the trouble brewing- she believes that her presence is making a few people uncomfortable and blames herself. Even if she picked her reputation among some of the citizens, having this silver hair is a dead give away that she's from nobility.
They're not welcome in a few common public areas. In the game it was already a huge inconvenience.
"Sebastian, we should go." She takes a few silver coins and one gold coin as a promised tip. "I've had my fill."
Sebastian, who was still holding his beer frowned and shrugged, he downed his drink in one gulp and exhaled sharply. "Alright, let's go then."
The villainess stood up, sharpening her eyes and trying to not let the alcohol get to her. The pressure and stress from today was too much, she really should break her lying habits and fix drinking problem. 'I told myself that I wouldn't drink anymore.'
As they exited the tavern opening the door the two went on their way back to the inn.
"Wait-! Are you leaving already?"
But a familiar waitress stops her.
Olivia feels that this waitress was a little too nosy, shouldn't the tip that she left her was enough for the free cake? She should've known it was a trap- she thought it was free and besides what she gave should be more than enough to cover the cost of dessert!
"Is the tip that I left not enough?" She crosses her arms, asking.
The waitress chuckles nervously and now out of the workplace her demeanor becomes more different. No longer did she use her flirty personality that would get her attention and tips at work. "I was hoping, you know… I'm tomorrow. If you're still hanging around town then you can swing by the tavern and we can go to a few areas in town- I mean… I know it's your town but um… It would be nice if we could get to know each other better, Lady Alarie."
Olivia blinks, knowing what the girl could be implying with that invitation. Her half-drunken state could only wish she could drink more if not for the bad memories of last time she got drunk- she doesn't want to go beyond what she can handle and end up waking to a naked woman by her side.
"My apologies but I would have to decline. You're… beautiful but not my type."
"Ouch." Hearing that definitely hurt her, the girl played it off and nodded respectfully. "Well it's a shame I'll only be here until this week, perhaps the third time is the charm. If you need some company, you know which tavern you need to find me. My name… is Eunice Tavner."
She knows when to leave.
With a sad smile and a wave of her hand goodbye she tells Olivia, "And you know, I… actually don't care about the tip. It's just nice to see you again."
She went back inside the tavern, the noises inside screams for orders.
"Huh?" (Olivia) tilted her head and furrowed her brows trying to understand her words. She turns to Sebastian hoping he could answer for her, Olivia pointed to herself and asked. "Did… she know me or something?"
Sebastian watching the whole thing wanted to question what in the world did their young lady do that some random side quest popped up. "I don't know, young lady. You must've done something to make her interested in you."
"Ugh… I don't feel that good."
"How are you feeling? I know we've had our experiences but today seemed to have worn you out if you're looking for tavern beer and not your usual wine."
"I need to keep my mind away from all of the trouble, I thought this will be an easy mission to solve. Now I don't think I can sleep soundly tonight, I'm worried that Lady Mariana is hurt. I hate to think that if we turned our backs… If I didn't manage to smell blood-" She didn't want to imagine what would happen if they didn't make it in time. "I hope those guards are alright."
Sebastian pats her back- noticing that she's blaming herself for something she can't control. Monster attacks happen, people get hurt and the only thing they can do is save who they can. "A few were just in pretty bad shape, might have lost an eye or a hand but at least… they counted their stars right and loved to see another day."
"I only took this quest to keep myself busy and help people in need! Of all the times that I have to see her it was today- hurk-!" She tries not to puke and manages to keep it in. It would be embarrassing if she puked in front of Sebastian. "Hah… I hate that she's tolerable to look at, Sebastian."
Sebastian almost let out a chuckle, the way that she even spoke of compliments was like her father when he was younger. Quite the denier when he first started taking interest in his wife.
"Hmph! That woman is not that bad to look at! But she sure is annoying!" These were the young words of the young thirteen-year-old Owyn Alarie. When he was training under Sebastian, the two were inseparable and he was engaged to such an arrangement that luckily brought on love.
"That's quite the compliment, you're definitely your father's daughter." The years behind him suddenly flashed. Oh how he watched two generations turn into… well decent nobility. What a shame that she took after his father when it comes to lying.
"Listen when I say she's tolerable to look at as another woman- she's… you know. She's pretty… but-! She's too clingy and annoying!" She wanted to refute but ended up leaning on Sebastian's soldier. "Ugh… my stomach doesn't feel too well."
Sebastian held the intoxicated young lady in his hands, he tried balancing her footing. "I don't feel well with her around."
"I see…" (Sebastian) hearing this- with a few experiences beyond his years his mind managed to guess what was bothering Olivia. Though, not many would understand her words- "I know you might have been influenced by a few swigs of beer but milady even if it's the two of us alone. I don't think you should trust me knowing your preferences. Are you not afraid I would tell your father?"
Olivia chuckles, looking up at the sky.
The memories of her relationships from her past life never depended on the gender, whether they were a man or a woman… She doesn't mind. In this world, that kind of concept is rare especially for a kingdom she's currently living in.
She proudly smirked and replied to Sebastian. "I do not care, men or women, they're the same to me. I would love anyone as long as they can stay by my side."
…
Meanwhile…
As the waitress went back inside the tavern she smiles sadly of how the young lady Alarie doesn't remember her at all. "What… a shame."
She thought it would be nice if they met again and once they did- she'll do her best not to let her go. Be courageous and give her whole feelings out. It seems that her trying did not bear such a sweet fruit but one would commend her for trying.
"Eunice, I don't think you can hand out free dessert like that. If mother knows what you're doing-" Her sister doesn't believe that they should give much special treatment or else their tavern won't be safe from the regular customers ending up to find another bar.
Eunice the waitress looks back at the door, defending her action. "She'll be pleased with what I'm doing. I'm just giving a guest something I made. Besides that girl needs a little pick me up, don't you know she's Lady Olivia Charlotte Alarie?"
"She… doesn't remember me but she saved my life before when she became active with her duties." (Eunice) remembers that day, the first time she stepped foot into town.
Everyone loathed the noblewoman when she told the people that she would try to help.
Everyone blamed their problems on her, from the high taxes, broken roads, and them leaving their homes because the rent was too high. His father once promised a solution, everyone in the town ended up never having the patience to wait any longer and cursed the family to their downfall.
It's only been four months but the town's condition has improved.
Everyone… slowly recognized Olivia's efforts and accepted her.
The adventurers however… not so much, they are wary of nobles and many worked for the Alarie noble house before.
"T-This is the same girl you told us?" Her little sister asked and was perplexed. That noblewoman is truly high when it comes to standards. She wanted to tell her sister that it was foolish for her to not only love a WOMAN but also someone from nobility.
"Mm, quite the beauty right?"
However, seeing her once shy sister who never smiled turning into a lovely girl in love, it was hard for her to continue her words and just went along with it. "Indeed sister, I don't understand your tastes but as long as you don't steal some of the male customers I don't mind."
Eunice fixes her clothes no longer trying to show off skin, because it was only meant for one woman and her alone. "You're lucky my options are wide."
Her sister hits her by the shoulder sticking out her tongue, "And you're lucky I'm not coming with you to the academy or else I'll be an annoying thorn at your side!"
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