"How many I help you my nobles."
The woman's voice was smooth, practiced, carrying no fear. Her eyes moved briefly over Berryanna, then the men behind her.
She did not bow. She did not rush. She spoke like someone who had said those words a thousand times and lived to say them again.
Berryanna gave a small signal to Vinegario and Levi to stay outside.
It was subtle, just a tilt of her fingers, but both men noticed.
The signal was familiar. It meant listen, not argue. Vinegario didn't want to leave. His body shifted as if ready to protest, as if instinct alone demanded he stay close.
His jaw tightened beneath the mask.
But the look Berryanna gave him made him pause. It was calm. Final. Not a request.
He hesitated for half a breath, then stepped back. That half breath was all it took for him to realize this was not a moment to test her.
Reluctantly, he ended up standing outside.
Levi followed without a word.
And the woman whose name happened to be Bam instructed her pleasure men to leave, and they both leave.
Her fingers flicked once, dismissive. The men did not complain. They grabbed their things and slipped out quietly, already used to being dismissed. They did not look back.
The door closed behind them. The sound landed heavier than expected.
The room felt smaller. Not because of the walls, but because there were fewer witnesses.
"Have a seat," Bam said.
She gestured toward the floor casually, as if offering a favor instead of an insult.
"Plain floor?" Greyhouse Jr said.
His brows furrowed as he glanced around, clearly offended. His weight shifted, uncomfortable with the idea.
"This a inn not some five stars," Bam said.
Her tone sharpened just slightly, daring him to argue.
Berryanna sat down in front of the woman.
She did it without hesitation, lowering herself to the floor as if it were a throne.
Her movement was controlled, deliberate.
A small table was in-between them.
It held nothing of value, only space.
Enough space for words to land hard.
Greyhouse stood. He was posing as her bodyguard, hands clasped, eyes alert.
His posture was stiff, ready.
A young girl with dark hair came in.
Her steps were quiet, careful, like she feared making noise. She dropped some refreshment on the table, settling things down before she leaves the room.
Her hands trembled slightly as she worked, fingers moving fast.
She and Bam gave each other an eye contact which Berryanna noticed.
It lasted only a second, but it was enough.
It spoke of understanding. Of warning.
"So what brings you here to my inn my lady," Bam said. She leaned back, studying Berryanna more closely now. Her eyes narrowed just a bit.
"Am sure this is where the nations taxes end up." Berryanna's voice was calm, but the words were heavy.
They sat between them without apology. Bam laughed. It was loud, sharp.
The kind meant to dismiss, not entertain.
"What can I say, nobles are thirsty morons rather care for their desires than the nation and the King nor the princess are doing nothing about the nation. The only thing they are good is hiding in the palace. Hahaha," Bam said. She threw her head back, expecting agreement. Expecting shared bitterness.
Berryanna gave a dead stare. Her eyes did not move. Not even a single blink. Berryanna was busy clenching her knuckles hearing those words but was trying to stay in character. Her fingers curled tighter, nails pressing into skin. The pressure grounded her.
"I need the names."
The words cut through the laughter. Clean. Direct.
"Names of what?" Bam said.
Her smile faltered just a little.
Just enough to notice.
"Names of the traitor behind the late king assassination."
Berryanna went straight to the point.
There was no reason to dance. The room went quiet now.
"My lady what are you trying to do, make my poor life short, I still have many more years to leave and I do not know what you are talking about."
Bam shifted slightly, laughter gone now.
Her fingers tapped once against her thigh.
"Really, Noble come hear night and day dropping coins off pleasure imagine if everyone single one of your whores are slathered tonight… you will go dry plus I heard you own a lot of debt... wonder what you use your blood money for."
Berryanna's voice did not rise. Each word landed where it was meant to.
Bam's expression hardened. Her jaw tightened.
"Before you stepped out of my inn you will be the one slaughter, and I will serve you body to the crows," Bam said.
Her hand moved instinctively toward the side of the room. The threat was no longer hidden.
Berryanna gave a side mouth smirk.
It was small, almost amused.
Like she had been waiting for this.
"Do you want to try me, those men outside is enough to slaughter every single being in here plus the only reason why you have customers is the Inn downtown close due to a noble's death."
Berryanna's eyes never left Bam's face.
Not even when Bam moved.
The moment Berryanna said that, Bam irritated by Berryanna's threat stood up.
Her chair scraped against the floor. The sound was sharp.
She dragged a sword nearby, open the sheath and placed the sword on Berryanna neck. The metal pressed against skin, cold and sharp. Close enough to draw blood.
Berryanna unmoved by her act just sat down there like a normal thing to do. She did not flinch. She did not blink. Her breathing stayed even.
"I see a commoner now has the right to own a weapon," Berryanna said. Her voice was almost curious. As if observing policy. She gave a look at Greyhouse Jr who happens to be in charge of weaponry rights.The meaning was clear. A silent reminder.
Greyhouse Jr swallowed hard knowing after this scene his will be next. Sweat formed at his temple. His throat felt dry.
"Take you and your three men out of my inn and don't you set foot here again if you don't want your head off," Bam said.
Her grip tightened. Her knuckles went pale.
Berryanna stood up. The sword was still on her neck. The edge did not move away.
She looks at Bam a few feet away from her and she go closer. One slow step. Controlled.
The sword made a mark as Berryanna walked closer. Skin split. Warmth followed.
It was sliding through her neck as blood came rushing down. Red traced a thin line.It did not stop her.
Bam eyes were wide open. Shock froze her in place. Her breath caught. She was surprised that Berryanna was not in pain.
There was no scream. No hesitation.
Only calm.
Berryanna now close to her. Close enough to feel Bam's breath. Close enough to end it.
"How are you not even in pain you," Bam said. Her voice shook. Fear crept in.
"Would you guess or should I kill you with the sword and then everyone here and find another way to get the names I want."
Berryanna's tone was almost bored. As if discussing options.
"You are not a noble are you?" Bam said.
Her hands started shivering. The sword wavered.
"Are you guessing or you are asking? Which one, if it's asking I will kill you and if it's guessing I will stab you," Berryanna said.
Her eyes were cold now. There was no mercy there. She held the sword by the steel tightly. Blood came from her hand, dripping down her fingers. She did not react, then collected the sword from Bam with no flinching. It was very easy. Almost effortless. No strength or force pulled. Just control.
"You are a Bloody Royal," Bam immediately said. Fear finally broke through her voice. Recognition hit hard.
Berryanna used that sword to stab her.
Not too deep to die but enough for her to bleed. Enough to remember.
Bam fell to ground ground. The impact was heavy.Her breath knocked out.
Berryanna throws the sword to the ground.
It clattered loudly. She bend to the level of Bam. Lowering herself slowly. Deliberate. She raised her chin up. Forcing her to look.
No escape.
"Now tell me the names of those who killed my father." The words were sharp, personal.
They carried weight.
"I don't have any names I swear to you on my daughter. I don't know any of them," Bam said. Her voice cracked. Tears gathered.
"They were seven. They only came here few years ago to discuss, I barely had customers that day they paid for every room for a month until the last day." Her breath came fast. Panic spilled out.
"Any features or symbols to remember," Greyhouse Jr said. He stepped forward slightly. Careful.
"I only know one, he wore a crescent necklace that's all."
Her eyes squeezed shut. As if bracing for death.
"Crescent necklace," Berryanna mutters.
Her mind worked quickly.Searching memory.
She tried to picture where she had seen that necklace before but it didn't get to her. The image slipped away. Just out of reach.
But seeing that Bam had no other information. The silence stretched.
"If you leave this city or nation just know I will trace you and kill your daughter," she said.
Her voice was flat. Certain..She turned away. No hesitation. No second glance. And Greyhouse Jr followed.
Outside the room, Levi and Vinegario were not where they were meant to be.The hallway stood empty. Before Berryanna could take a move, the whole place was in chaos as people began to scream.