Losing A Glass

Eve followed the trail and saw the couple taking the exit that was meant for the staff. It was a small door hidden with a ragged cloth. Many servants in the kitchen that is mixed with a bar gave a glance to her but no one asked anything or said anything. She followed the couple and soon, she was out of the room. No one followed her. No one knew she was here. She inhaled a deep breath to ease her senses.

So. She was here, then. End of the road. She swallowed against a hot wave of emotions. A mix of fear, caution, and worry.

This is not the time to fear. She had a lot of things to do. But before she could run away, she saw more people from the factory coming toward the bar. The one she had tripped and the one she had kicked. They were laughing.

"Tonight, the bitch would be ours. The boss had promised." her heart thudded. Just how many people had been promised to take her? They were beasts... Cold-hearted beasts!

But she could not outrun them and she could not let them spot her. The entrance of the bar was all empty except for a few drunkards and…. That carriage. Her eyes gleamed with joy as she knew, the foolish rich bloke did not lock his carriage well.

"I think we are due for another meeting."

—-

Dion looked around when the ugly drunkard fell on the ground. He kicked the drunkard by his shoes to make sure that he did not wake up, the moment Dion turned to find the girl.

The girl! His eyes scanned the crowd he had collected. Instead of scrunching their noses like nobles, they cheered him all the time. If not for the stale air mixed with strange smells, he might have appreciated their thrilling voices.

He looked around to see another old man had fallen on the ground. It must be the work of the crowd. But the girl was nowhere. His lips twisted into a strange smile. The girl had dared to use him twice and then leave him alone.

"Ha! What a shrewd woman," he asked as he walked away. He did not care about her running anymore since he knew her name. It would be easy to find her in this small town.

"Mister, you have to pay for the damages. Or I am calling the knights." someone announced and ran behind him. Dion paused. He had no intention to gain attention and let the world know that he was in the darkest part of the empire. 

Grothem town, the forgotten land of the poor. He could not be found chasing her.

"Hey, if you left without paying…" the man shouted again as he reached Dion. but he noticed that Dion was not running away. Yes, that was how those rich blokes were.

The man was the owner of this small bar. He had started bets when he noticed the fight. Since there were always fights and it damaged a good amount of furniture. Most of the time neither winners or losers had anything to pay later. 

So he earned from bets to make sure that he did not bear loss.

He stared at the man dressed in luxurious clothes. Even the breath he was taking was different and he imagined a rain of gold pouring on him. 

"I did not damage any furniture." It took the owner a second to understand what the rich bloke had said since his eyes were settled on the gold pocket watch. He had heard a lot about it but he had never seen one in real life. "So, why should I pay for the damages?" Others might have laughed when they saw Dion. a noble haggling! It had never happened but Dion was conscious about his condition. He could not act like a fool and believe he had tons to spend but he was anything but a fool.

The man frowned, not expecting this reply. He had thought Dion would take out gold coins and throw them on the ground. Isn't that how nobles behave normally?

"Yes, you have not used any furniture in your fight but you have collected the crowd and they have broken it as they watched you enthusiastically. It was bottles of wine, beer, and a lot of glasses. You have to pay for them." he announced with a righteous look on his face when Dion tilted his head.

He could see a few broken shards on the ground and a lot of spilled drinks. But he could also see people getting coins and others paying for it. 

"They did not seem to be in a hurry. Why don't you ask them to pay for the losses they have created." he shrugged and decided to leave but the owner frowned deeper and called the guards. 

They blocked Dion, making him raise a brow.

"So this filthy place does have guards. Surprisingly they did not come where the furniture was broken." the owner felt embarrassed. He had not asked for compensation before but the rich had never fought before too.

His eyes narrowed but Dion was too strong. He had thrown Dallon as if he was made of cotton.

"I do not want any more trouble. You can leave as soon as you pay compensation." the man pressed the words again and Dion rolled his eyes. He could punch both guards and leave without a worry but he did not want another rumor circulating around him. The last one had done enough damage.

He took out thirty pounds from his pocket and threw it toward the man. The man frowned at the small amount but Dion's face told him that he was not going to pay further.

"Fine, we will manage this." Dion laughed again, the amount was enough to replace all the glass that this place could ever buy. What was this greedy man expecting?

He noticed a waiter standing beside the door with glasses of beer in his hands and laughed.

"Since I have paid enough, you would not mind losing another glass right." with that he picked up the glass and threw the contents with glass on the head of the owner.