On the tables stacked in the very center of the establishment majestically danced a girl in red. It almost seemed as though she wore flames over her body.
Her outfit was so flashy that a priest would surely faint at the sight; but what drew the eye more was the large red umbrella she held. It was decorated with golden thread, which meant it was likely a special item from the desert countries far to the south of here. In contrast to the intense passion the strange umbrella dance gave, the girl’s face was cool and calm—almost delighted. Nyohhira, too, offered patrons the chance to watch dances while partaking in drink, but this differed from any performance Lawrence had ever seen in the bathhouse.
Either way, a beautiful girl performing an elegant dance was not reason enough for the tavern to be overflowing with people. There were dishes Lawrence had never seen before lining the tables here and there, and the patrons were plenty drunk, regardless.
At a glance, Lawrence could tell that most of the patrons enjoying themselves indoors were well-off—many looked to be merchants, clerks, or mercenary captains by the looks of it. One needed a certain amount of money to participate in festivities like these.
Lawrence pushed forward, careful not to lose Holo in the crowd as he headed for the far end of the tavern. He had caught glimpses of a corner in the back where things seemed to be different. Sharp-eyed guards stood, protecting particularly well-dressed patrons.
If Matthias was right, then the exotic girl dancing with the red umbrella was a member of Eve’s entourage.
Lawrence had no way of telling how rich she was now, what sort of status she held now.
And so he racked his brains, but ultimately was not sure how he should approach her.
Regardless, he knew he would speak whatever first came to mind when he saw her.
There were so many emotions swirling in the pit of his throat, after all.
Matthias’s and Meyer’s beloved forest, the one they were on the brink of losing, was of an entirely different world here in this tavern.
Lawrence had so much he wanted to say to the great merchant seated at the highest-status seat.
“Hey.”
The guards were good; they immediately noticed where Lawrence was headed and came to stand in his way.
“Bathroom’s that way.”
“No, I’m going the right way.”
Beyond the guards, Lawrence spotted who he was looking for.
She smiled elegantly, drinking from a delicate-looking glass cup, one that seemed like it would shatter at the slightest touch.
Though she nodded with great interest, perhaps listening to the cooks describe what sort of meal she was having, she made no move to touch the food. She ultimately passed the plate to a plump merchant sitting nearby, showing just how magnanimous she was, as though demonstrating that a leader’s job was to share with others.
But that price would be paid by the lumber from the great trees of the Tonneburg Woods. Was this party worth destroying the homes of the squirrels that ran across the branches, the mice that hid within the hollows of trees, the rabbits that burrowed in the ground? Those that fed the livestock in the forest, who fertilized the fields, whose fingernails were caked in dirt from their hard labor every day, were unlikely to ever step foot in a place like this in their entire lives.
It was hard to believe that this dizzying crowd and the stillness of the woods belonged in the same world.
Lawrence pushed past the guard with his chest, pressing forward, heeding no commands to stop. Hands grasped at his shoulder, and just as he tried to shrug them off, another guard held him back.
It was so loud in the tavern he could scarcely hear the person next to him; nearby patrons did not even look at him. The special guests, of course, stared in disbelief at the trespasser. One of them, the queen of the tavern, with her glass cup in hand, stared and blinked, as though wondering if she was seeing correctly.
It was Lawrence’s will alone that kept him rooted in place as three guards tried to pry him away from the table, when Eve finally spoke up.
“He’s an acquaintance.”
Lawrence could feel through the grip on him that the guards were momentarily bewildered. And after a beat, they let go. From the nimble way they moved, it was clear they were simply not strongmen interested in gold—they were people who had spent many years with her.
Lawrence straightened his clothes and checked to make sure Holo was okay—she stood a short distance away, quietly with her coat draped over her, like a girl who had wandered into the tavern purely by accident. Lawrence, ignoring the town authorities who stared at the scene in amazement, stared straight at Eve.
“I need to speak with you.”
Those staring at Lawrence turned their attention to Eve.
Eve scrunched up her nose slightly, then gently placed her glass down with a quiet huff. At the same time, the music and singing swelled, the instruments struck a powerful chord, and then it all came to an end.
Ear-splitting applause tore through the tavern, and the dancer in red gracefully smiled at the crowd.
Eve spared her one glance before deigning to stand up.
“It’ll be quieter out back.”
She told the other patrons to keep enjoying themselves before walking off, one guard in tow.
Lawrence followed after, and a moment later, so did Holo.
Though applause still filled the tavern, a new song began and the hall filled with even more life.