The innkeeper, Finley, glanced over at Scarlett with a stern expression, his bushy eyebrows furrowing. He walked over, his voice filled with authority. "Scarlett, mind your tongue. We can't have you scaring off our paying customers. Keep your emotions in check.""Doesn't it bother you that filthy men like Grayson believe they can touch us the servant without permission simply because they're purchasing a drink or two?""You know they mean no harm, dear," he countered. "And you know it's all in good fun. They would never go too far. And if they dared to, you know I would intervene.""Finley-""This inn is my business, girl. And I have the right to run it as I see fit," Finley replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "You knew the terms when you agreed to work here and reside in the cottage out back."Her gaze hardened, observing that he purposefully mentioned her living arrangement to remind her of her vulnerable position."Your fiery temper is sure to drive away my customers. And wi
Tobias Richfield walked into the busy common room of the bar and took a deep, shaky breath before slowly letting it out. He had seen this scene many times before: the loud noise, the people doing bad things, and the wild recklessness. He couldn't help but think about all the nights he had spent in places like this, living a life of debauchery and acting like a rude, self-centered man.As he looked at the wreckage of his old life, he really hated and was very ashamed. The things he had done in the past weighed heavily on him, and he could see how damaging he had been.He was determined to leave that life behind, so he made a serious promise to start a new journey that would be marked by selflessness, honesty, and integrity. He had decided to start over and live a life of service, trying to make up for what he had done wrong and do what was right.Despite being a strong and powerful ruler who was respected by his people, he grew up as a street urchin before becoming a skilled fighter an
Tobias had meticulously prepared for this journey, knowing that there were important missions awaiting him. With a mind focused and resolute, he reviewed his plans and objectives, ensuring that every detail was accounted for. The tasks at hand were of utmost significance, requiring his unwavering dedication and skill. He made a conscious choice not to bring his henchmen with him on this particular mission. He knew that privacy and secrecy were important, so he decided to look like a simple, unremarkable commoner to fit in with the crowd. He didn't want to draw too much attention to himself, so he dressed modestly and kept a low image. This was a smart move as it let him move around unnoticed among the crowds and watch and listen without giving away his true identity. He knew that this level of anonymity would give him the freedom to deal with the difficulties he would face in the future and do his jobs well. The previous night had been a restless one for Tobias, as he found himself
Tobias felt uneasy when he looked at how the woman was behaving. There was something about her that made him suspicious and gave him a moment of doubt.Even though her questions seemed harmless, they had a tone that made it feel more like an interrogation than a casual chat. He wasn't sure what it was, but something about the way she looked at him made him think she didn't like him.Because he wasn't sure what she wanted, he was careful about what he said and didn't want to say too much about himself. Tobias couldn't get rid of the feeling that there was more to this interaction than what he could see, so he couldn't help but wonder what it was all about."Well, I'm on my way to the north now. Just arrived from the neighboring town," he said, deciding to disclose his true identity.Tobias felt a slight twinge of vulnerability as he shared this information, allowing a glimpse into his true identity. It was a departure from his initial guardedness, an acknowledgment that he didn't need
Tobias's mind was consumed by the enigmatic encounter with the waitress. The unexplainable connection he felt with her lingered in his thoughts, like a thread tying their fates together. It was as if they were connected by an invisible bond, transcending time and place.His curiosity grew with each passing moment, and he couldn't help but wonder if their meeting was orchestrated by some greater force, one that wove the tapestry of their lives. The feeling of familiarity gnawed at his heart, urging him to dig deeper into the mysteries surrounding their connection.His gaze lingered on the woman, his eyes tracing the contours of her face and the subtle nuances of her features. He noticed the way her hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing her face in a cascade of dark waves. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of grayish-green, held a depth that seemed to carry a world of untold stories.As he locked eyes with her, a wave of recognition washed over Tobias, transporting him back to a pivotal
Finishing his meal, Tobias pushed his plate away, a lingering warmth from the sweetened wine coursing through him. Determined to discover what Scarlett had to show him, he rose from his seat and shouldered his pack. Following her lead, he trailed behind her as they made their way through the bustling common room.Exiting through a back door, Scarlett closed it behind them, enveloping them in the tranquility of the open field behind the tavern. The sight that greeted Tobias was a serene panorama of rolling green, with a scattering of quaint cottages dotting the landscape. The vast expanse seemed to stretch endlessly before them, inviting curiosity and contemplation.As Tobias stood alongside Scarlett, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. The simplicity of their surroundings belied the mysteries that lay concealed within. With each passing moment, he became more intrigued by what awaited him in this seemingly ordinary setting.With his senses heightened and his heart stirr
Scarlett gazed into his eyes, seeing the same piercing gaze she remembered from the night her family was brutally massacred. In those eyes, there was no trace of remorse, only a chilling indifference that had haunted her nightmares for years. The pain of that night still lingered in her heart, fueling her quest for vengeance.But as they looked at each other in that tense moment, Scarlett saw something that intrigued her. In the depths of his eyes, there was a hint of kindness and tenderness. She hadn't thought about that detail, and it made her feel a confused mix of emotions.It was his eyes that made her doubt, especially the little flicker of warmth she saw in them. If not for that spark, she would have killed him right away without a second thought. But the fact that the man who killed her family wasn't looking at her with a cold, uncaring stare gave her reason to pause. This revelation changed her strict, black-and-white view that she had held for so long. She had thought of To
Frustration ate her away, as she took pride in her skill at reading people. But with the man in front of her, it felt like trying to decipher an empty page, one that held no hidden meaning or clues. "Are you in the lycan king's service?" she asked directly. Tobias tilted his head, giving her a puzzled look. "In the lycan king's service?" "Do you carry out his orders? Are you one of his accomplices?" she clarified. Tobias's face grew darker, his expression tightening. Scarlett noticed the friendly warmth in his eyes turning into fiery anger that caught her by surprise. She couldn't tell if he was mad at her or not. She instinctively tightened her grip on her dagger, ready for whatever might happen. "Nope, I'm not his accomplice," he said with disdain. "To be honest, I don't even see him as the rightful leader, if you want to know the truth." Scarlett blinked, taken aback by his candid response. "You're telling me you don't? Well, that's quite unexpected. Why do you say that?" He
Frustration ate her away, as she took pride in her skill at reading people. But with the man in front of her, it felt like trying to decipher an empty page, one that held no hidden meaning or clues. "Are you in the lycan king's service?" she asked directly. Tobias tilted his head, giving her a puzzled look. "In the lycan king's service?" "Do you carry out his orders? Are you one of his accomplices?" she clarified. Tobias's face grew darker, his expression tightening. Scarlett noticed the friendly warmth in his eyes turning into fiery anger that caught her by surprise. She couldn't tell if he was mad at her or not. She instinctively tightened her grip on her dagger, ready for whatever might happen. "Nope, I'm not his accomplice," he said with disdain. "To be honest, I don't even see him as the rightful leader, if you want to know the truth." Scarlett blinked, taken aback by his candid response. "You're telling me you don't? Well, that's quite unexpected. Why do you say that?" He
Scarlett gazed into his eyes, seeing the same piercing gaze she remembered from the night her family was brutally massacred. In those eyes, there was no trace of remorse, only a chilling indifference that had haunted her nightmares for years. The pain of that night still lingered in her heart, fueling her quest for vengeance.But as they looked at each other in that tense moment, Scarlett saw something that intrigued her. In the depths of his eyes, there was a hint of kindness and tenderness. She hadn't thought about that detail, and it made her feel a confused mix of emotions.It was his eyes that made her doubt, especially the little flicker of warmth she saw in them. If not for that spark, she would have killed him right away without a second thought. But the fact that the man who killed her family wasn't looking at her with a cold, uncaring stare gave her reason to pause. This revelation changed her strict, black-and-white view that she had held for so long. She had thought of To
Finishing his meal, Tobias pushed his plate away, a lingering warmth from the sweetened wine coursing through him. Determined to discover what Scarlett had to show him, he rose from his seat and shouldered his pack. Following her lead, he trailed behind her as they made their way through the bustling common room.Exiting through a back door, Scarlett closed it behind them, enveloping them in the tranquility of the open field behind the tavern. The sight that greeted Tobias was a serene panorama of rolling green, with a scattering of quaint cottages dotting the landscape. The vast expanse seemed to stretch endlessly before them, inviting curiosity and contemplation.As Tobias stood alongside Scarlett, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. The simplicity of their surroundings belied the mysteries that lay concealed within. With each passing moment, he became more intrigued by what awaited him in this seemingly ordinary setting.With his senses heightened and his heart stirr
Tobias's mind was consumed by the enigmatic encounter with the waitress. The unexplainable connection he felt with her lingered in his thoughts, like a thread tying their fates together. It was as if they were connected by an invisible bond, transcending time and place.His curiosity grew with each passing moment, and he couldn't help but wonder if their meeting was orchestrated by some greater force, one that wove the tapestry of their lives. The feeling of familiarity gnawed at his heart, urging him to dig deeper into the mysteries surrounding their connection.His gaze lingered on the woman, his eyes tracing the contours of her face and the subtle nuances of her features. He noticed the way her hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing her face in a cascade of dark waves. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of grayish-green, held a depth that seemed to carry a world of untold stories.As he locked eyes with her, a wave of recognition washed over Tobias, transporting him back to a pivotal
Tobias felt uneasy when he looked at how the woman was behaving. There was something about her that made him suspicious and gave him a moment of doubt.Even though her questions seemed harmless, they had a tone that made it feel more like an interrogation than a casual chat. He wasn't sure what it was, but something about the way she looked at him made him think she didn't like him.Because he wasn't sure what she wanted, he was careful about what he said and didn't want to say too much about himself. Tobias couldn't get rid of the feeling that there was more to this interaction than what he could see, so he couldn't help but wonder what it was all about."Well, I'm on my way to the north now. Just arrived from the neighboring town," he said, deciding to disclose his true identity.Tobias felt a slight twinge of vulnerability as he shared this information, allowing a glimpse into his true identity. It was a departure from his initial guardedness, an acknowledgment that he didn't need
Tobias had meticulously prepared for this journey, knowing that there were important missions awaiting him. With a mind focused and resolute, he reviewed his plans and objectives, ensuring that every detail was accounted for. The tasks at hand were of utmost significance, requiring his unwavering dedication and skill. He made a conscious choice not to bring his henchmen with him on this particular mission. He knew that privacy and secrecy were important, so he decided to look like a simple, unremarkable commoner to fit in with the crowd. He didn't want to draw too much attention to himself, so he dressed modestly and kept a low image. This was a smart move as it let him move around unnoticed among the crowds and watch and listen without giving away his true identity. He knew that this level of anonymity would give him the freedom to deal with the difficulties he would face in the future and do his jobs well. The previous night had been a restless one for Tobias, as he found himself
Tobias Richfield walked into the busy common room of the bar and took a deep, shaky breath before slowly letting it out. He had seen this scene many times before: the loud noise, the people doing bad things, and the wild recklessness. He couldn't help but think about all the nights he had spent in places like this, living a life of debauchery and acting like a rude, self-centered man.As he looked at the wreckage of his old life, he really hated and was very ashamed. The things he had done in the past weighed heavily on him, and he could see how damaging he had been.He was determined to leave that life behind, so he made a serious promise to start a new journey that would be marked by selflessness, honesty, and integrity. He had decided to start over and live a life of service, trying to make up for what he had done wrong and do what was right.Despite being a strong and powerful ruler who was respected by his people, he grew up as a street urchin before becoming a skilled fighter an
The innkeeper, Finley, glanced over at Scarlett with a stern expression, his bushy eyebrows furrowing. He walked over, his voice filled with authority. "Scarlett, mind your tongue. We can't have you scaring off our paying customers. Keep your emotions in check.""Doesn't it bother you that filthy men like Grayson believe they can touch us the servant without permission simply because they're purchasing a drink or two?""You know they mean no harm, dear," he countered. "And you know it's all in good fun. They would never go too far. And if they dared to, you know I would intervene.""Finley-""This inn is my business, girl. And I have the right to run it as I see fit," Finley replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "You knew the terms when you agreed to work here and reside in the cottage out back."Her gaze hardened, observing that he purposefully mentioned her living arrangement to remind her of her vulnerable position."Your fiery temper is sure to drive away my customers. And wi
Scarlett went about her duties at the inn with diligence and determination. She swept the floors, cleaned the tables, and served the patrons with a smile, despite the weariness that settled in her bones. The hard work was second nature to her, a testament to her resilience and self-reliance.In exchange for the cottage behind the inn, Scarlett had willingly taken on these responsibilities. She didn't believe in relying on charity or handouts; she preferred to earn her keep and stand on her own two feet. It was a lesson her father had instilled in her from a young age, teaching her the value of hard work and the satisfaction of self-sufficiency.As she moved from one task to another, her mind would occasionally wander, replaying memories of her father's teachings. She could almost hear his voice, guiding her through each chore, reminding her to take pride in her work and to never back down from a challenge.Despite the physical demands and the long hours, Scarlett found solace in her d