An Interesting Woman

"Pardon me, guests."

In front of the heavy oak doors of The Golden Crucible, which were inlaid with brass decorations, a young doorman in a crisp uniform raised his arm slightly, stopping a man and a woman who were about to enter.

The doorman's gaze quickly swept over these two uninvited guests.

They were dressed like typical adventurers, both wearing hunting outfits made of a mix of leather and coarse cloth for ease of movement. At the moment, however, their clothes were covered in mud and grass stains, and he could even catch a faint scent of blood mixed with the smell of damp earth.

The male adventurer had tangled hair and a scruffy beard, while the female adventurer bore the fatigue and grime of battle on her face.

Their travel-worn appearance was completely out of place against the polished marble steps of The Golden Crucible, the fragrant potted plants on either side of the porch, and the elegant, luxurious interior visible through the stained-glass windows.

"The establishment has a policy. To ensure the dining environment and experience for all our guests, we have basic requirements for attire."

The doorman wore a professional smile.

"Your attire... I'm afraid it's not quite suitable. I cannot allow you to enter."

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, the female adventurer's eyebrows shot up. The flush on her face from travel and combat deepened, her temper clearly flared by exhaustion and hunger.

"We just finished a difficult commission and earned some money for a good meal! What's wrong with a little dirt? We won't be short a single copper!"

Her voice rose involuntarily, drawing the attention of occasional passersby at the entrance.

The doorman's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but his smile remained fixed.

"My deepest apologies, Madam, but these are the rules of the house."

His tone was still polite, but he leaned forward slightly in a silent gesture of obstruction.

Seeing his companion about to explode, the male adventurer quickly grabbed her arm and urged her away in a low, hurried voice.

"Alright, alright, that's enough! This isn't the little tavern we usually go to..."

As he spoke, he warily scanned his surroundings. His gaze swept over the exquisite sign, the grand storefront, and the doorman's expensive uniform. He lowered his voice and said, "The people who eat here are either rich or noble; we can't afford to offend them. Let's go. I'll take you to The Old Anvil. They have plenty of roast meat and ale there!"

The female adventurer was still indignant, but under her companion's persistent pulling and persuasion, she gave the doorman a fierce glare. She muttered something about "looking down on people" and "too many stupid rules" before finally being half-dragged away by her partner.

Watching their grumbling figures disappear into the distance, the young doorman breathed a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief, his stiff back relaxing slightly.

He straightened his meticulous bowtie and grumbled to himself.

Tsk. Another group of country adventurers who don't know the rules. Do they think earning a bit of blood money means they can act like big shots at The Golden Crucible?

They should look at their own outfits first. I could smell the rank scent of magical beasts and the moldy stench of cemetery soil from a mile away.

If I actually let them in and they disturbed some noble lord or wealthy merchant, wouldn't I be the one in trouble?

Rules are rules. This uniform isn't just for show.

As he was thinking, his gaze wandered toward the street, preparing to welcome the next potential guest.

However, when he saw the four figures turning the corner, his hand froze on his bowtie, and his eyes widened slightly.

Walking in front were three young girls, each with a vastly different but equally striking style.

The girl on the left had rare long gray hair with slightly flipped ends, giving her a vibrant aura. She wore a sharply tailored, silver-gray knee-length dress made of a slightly stiff fabric that outlined her straight, slender legs. A wide black leather belt adorned with small sapphires was cinched at her waist, and she wore black ankle boots that fit her calves perfectly.

The girl on the right had smooth long pink hair, loosely held up by a simple pearl hairpin, with a few strands falling against her neck. She had chosen a pale pink chiffon dress with lace trim. The light hem fluttered slightly with her steps, and the cuffs and collar were decorated with delicate ruffles, making her skin appear even fairer. Her gentle and graceful temperament was tinged with a hint of sweetness. She seemed somewhat unaccustomed to the slightly ornate outfit, her cheeks faintly flushed, but her eyes were bright.

Walking in the middle, with the most composed air, was a girl with brilliant long blonde hair. Her azure eyes were as calm as water, and she wore a simple yet noble royal blue velvet evening gown. The gown perfectly fit her slender figure, with a tasteful V-neckline that revealed her exquisite collarbones. The hem reached her ankles, the velvet fabric flowing with a soft luster as she moved. She wore very little jewelry, only two small diamonds on her earlobes, yet she was already breathtaking.

"Heavens... what kind of lucky day is it?"

The doorman was shocked.

Less than half an hour ago, two young ladies with excellent looks and poise had entered, causing a stir in the hall. He hadn't expected three more of the same caliber to arrive so soon!

Just looking at them made it hard to turn away.

However, when his gaze finally fell on the blonde youth following slightly behind the three girls, the doorman felt his breath hitch.

The boy wore a well-fitting black slim-cut suit. The fine tailoring perfectly accentuated his tall frame and smooth muscle lines. Beneath it was a crisp white silk shirt with a dark red bowtie, simple and elegant. His dazzling blonde hair was combed meticulously, with a few rebellious strands falling naturally over his forehead.

Most striking of all was his face. His features were deep and handsome, with a high bridge to his nose and a curve to his lips that held a charm somewhere between lazy and sharp. His eyes, in particular, now reflected a translucent amber under the warm yellow magic lights of the restaurant entrance. He scanned the surroundings calmly, as if he could see through people's hearts, yet seemed indifferent to everything.

Hiss—!

The doorman sucked in a breath of cold air.

"This... this young master... his looks and bearing... are simply too much...!"

He prided himself on having greeted many handsome noble sons and dashing mages at the doors of The Golden Crucible, but he had never encountered anyone like this youth, who blended beauty, handsomeness, mystery, and an indescribable magnetism so perfectly!

No wonder... no wonder he could walk with three peerless beauties of such a level at once!

This wasn't just coming for a meal; this was bringing a walking spectacle along!

"A true role model for our generation!"

An exclamation mixed with envy and admiration rose involuntarily in the doorman's heart.

The impatience he had felt toward the adventurer couple earlier had long since vanished, replaced by absolute enthusiasm and respect.

As the four approached, he immediately stepped forward half a pace. A smile ten times more sincere than before bloomed on his face. He leaned forward slightly and, with an impeccably elegant gesture, personally pulled open the heavy doors for them, his voice loud and eager.

"Good evening, honored young master and ladies! Welcome to The Golden Crucible. Please, come inside!"

Compared to the business-like coldness he had shown when blocking the adventurers, his attitude now was like night and day.

Greg reflected that it was a good thing he had changed his clothes as well, otherwise he might have been barred from entering just like those two adventurers.

He gave a slight nod and led the three girls into the restaurant.

The interior of the restaurant was even more spacious and luxurious than it appeared from the outside.

Soft magic crystal lamps hung from the high vaulted ceiling, illuminating the aisles covered in deep red carpets and tables draped in white cloths, set with silver cutlery and crystal glasses. The air was filled with the aroma of gourmet food, high-end fragrances, and a faint scent of wine. The soothing sound of a harp flowed from a corner.

The appearance of the four of them was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples immediately.

From the attendants responsible for reception to the guests at the nearest tables who were conversing in low voices or dining, everyone's gaze was involuntarily drawn to them.

Surprise, admiration, curiosity, envy, jealousy... all sorts of emotions intertwined in those looks.

Whispers could be heard faintly over the beautiful background music.

"Look over there... what beautiful young ladies!"

"Who is that blonde boy? He looks unfamiliar, but his bearing is truly outstanding..."

"Three at once? Which family's young master is so blessed?"

As soon as Greg and the others walked in, they attracted the gaze of almost everyone—except for one person sitting at a table for four by the window.

Sitting there was a woman with dark gold hair. Her hair had a unique luster under the lights and was simply tied back. Unlike the other guests who were poised and elegant, tasting their food in small bites or speaking in low tones, she was buried in a large plate of fragrant, hearty roast ribs, eating with extreme focus and... gusto.

She seemed completely immersed in her own world of food, oblivious to the commotion at the door and the gazes from around her, creating a strange contrast with the refined and elegant atmosphere of the restaurant.

"Hoh."

Greg's eyebrow arched slightly. "So instead of looking at handsome men or beautiful women, she's more interested in devouring her meal? What an interesting woman."

He was about to look away.

However, the moment his gaze shifted, he caught sight of another girl sitting at the same table as the feasting woman.

It was a girl with hair the color of honey.

She had been turned slightly, conversing in a low voice with a richly dressed middle-aged noblewoman sitting across from her. Her expression was gentle, with a perfectly poised smile on her lips.

What surprised Greg was the honey-haired girl's appearance. Although it was only a profile, her exquisite features, delicate skin, and the calm, soft aura she radiated made him feel that she was not at all inferior to the three girls beside him. She belonged to the same tier of beauty!

"It seems... I really shouldn't underestimate the other background characters."

Greg thought to himself silently.

"Hey."

Victoria's lowered voice came from beside him, carrying a hint of subtle dissatisfaction. "Are three beautiful girls by your side not enough to satisfy your eyes? You're staring so intently over there... just how repressed are you?"

Greg withdrew his gaze and looked at the gray-haired girl who was glancing at him sideways. A playful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Hmph. A sparrow like you could never fathom the heights of my vision!"

"You!" Victoria choked, giving him an annoyed glare. "I think you're just asking for a beating!"

"There seems to be an empty table over there. Let's head over."

Silvia intervened in time, pointing to an empty table for four in the inner part of the hall, relatively quiet and leaning against a decorative pillar.

Catherine didn't say anything, but her azure eyes swept over the table by the window, lingering for half a second on the honey-haired girl's posture.

"Are they nobles from the Empire...?"

END