Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 66
With the guests ordering more drinks and snacks lately, Hawk was all smiles. He knew that some of them ogled Roel while drinking, and a few even tried to make advances. Roel was a diligent and compliant worker, greatly contributing to sales.
Hawk thought she was almost perfect, except for her appearance. If only she could just fix her boring and dull appearance.
“It’s warming up now. How about I get you some new work clothes?”
“Work clothes?”
“Yeah, yeah. My wife has some dresses from her youth. I’ll bring a few for you to wear starting tomorrow.”
Hawk remembered how he had fallen for his wife the moment he saw her in a figure-hugging, low-cut dress.
Those dresses that his wife wore when she was slim were just collecting dust in the wardrobe, wasting away. If Roel wore them, the guests would surely appreciate it. Sales would increase, and with the upcoming Founding Day, it could open the wallets of generous guests.
“Being good at your job is great, but you should also pay some attention to your clothing. The way you dress for guest interactions is a bit… It doesn’t give off the best impression for our inn, you know?”
Startled, Roel waved her hands.
“Oh, no! I’m sorry, I don’t really have many clothes…”
“Oh, I’m not scolding you. I know how hard you work.”
Hawk laughed heartily and reassured her.
As he went back to the kitchen, Roel looked down at her attire, feeling suddenly self-conscious. Was it really that bad? She felt embarrassed, having never cared much about how she looked.
“Roel, another order!”
“Ah, yes! Just a moment.”
More guests began to trickle down to the dining room. Soon, the restaurant was full.
In the past many guests would dine out instead. With the inn’s increasing popularity, Roel found herself busier than ever.
Roel couldn’t leave the dining room until late evening, as she was busy taking orders and clearing tables. Afterwards, she had to wash dishes in the kitchen. Ideally, the drinking patrons would leave soon after eating, but they tended to linger, extending their stay well into the night.
Hawk, noticing the continuous orders for beer and food, decided to let the boozy guests be, since it was good for business.
As a result, Roel’s workday extended late into the night, forcing her to handle room cleaning and laundry tasks in the early hours before preparing breakfast. Her workload intensified with the surge of guests.
Then.
“Whoa!”
“Why is he here?”
“Shhh! Keep it down. We don’t want to stir trouble.”
The previously noisy dining room hushed in an instant. Even the typically rowdy mercenaries quieted down and stared at the entrance.
Roel sensed something amiss and turned her head.
There was Kyden.
Even among the large-bodied mercenaries, his towering presence emitted an intimidating aura.
Her heart pounded as soon as she saw him. She fussed with her hair as she led him to a table.
“Please, sit here.”
Fortunately, a table had just freed up as the guest from the leather workshop had left after finishing his meal.
Kyden sat down with a frown, seeming in a bad mood. What could have upset him? While Roel was curious, she wasn’t bold enough to ask.
“What would you like to eat?”
“….Anything.”
His gaze fixed on Roel as he responded. Taken aback by his indifferent order, she nodded and turned away.
‘I should bring him stew and bread, and some pork as well.’
Thinking he deserved a hearty meal, she passed the order to the kitchen.
Kyden ate quietly, and the mercenaries, who had been wary of his presence, gradually relaxed. The dining room’s silence slowly gave way to the usual din.
“Did you hear he crushed the Blood Wind Organization?”
“That’s Kyden, the Wild Dogs mercenary group’s second-in-command. Heard he’s even more formidable than their leader.”
“Hmph, he doesn’t look that impressive. Maybe it’s all just exaggerated rumors?”
“Why don’t you go and pick a fight, then? Let’s see you get thrashed!”
“Ahem.”
Roel flinched as she overheard the mercenaries’s murmurs. They seem to be talking about Kyden as they glanced at him. Organizations and the Wild Dogs Mercenary Group. She didn’t understand.
“Roel! Another beer here!”
“Right away!”
As Roel moved swiftly between tables, serving and taking orders, someone casually slapped her behind.
“Ah!”
Though not her first experience of such disrespect, she still reacted with a startled jump. Much to the amusement of some patrons, who burst into laughter at her shock.
“Please, don’t do that.”
“Ah, sorry, sorry! It was an accident.”
Her embarrassment prevented her from responding more angrily as she turned away.
Crash-!!
Everyone’s gaze snapped towards the source of the noise. There stood Kyden, his face flushed with anger and eyes glaring fiercely.
“This f—ing bastard.”
