Chapter 60: The Dining Hall

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: The Dining Hall

They walked into the dining hall together.

The morning crowd had thinned out. Most adventurers had already eaten and left for their missions. A few lingered at the tables, nursing cups of tea and talking in low voices.

Daniel found a table near the window. He sat down. Lyra sat beside him. Fluffy climbed onto the bench across from them. Paul took the seat next to Fluffy.

The dining hall was warm. The smell of fresh bread filled the air. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting long rectangles on the wooden floor.

Daniel leaned back in his chair. He felt good. The healer had done her job. His body was healed. His energy was back. He was ready for the day.

A serving girl appeared.

She was beautiful. Long blonde hair. Bright blue eyes. A perfect smile. Her dress was cut low. Very low. She leaned forward as she placed menus on the table.

"Good morning," she said. Her voice was soft. Sweet. "What can I get for you?"

Her eyes were on Paul. Only Paul.

Paul looked up. He smiled. A polite, distant smile.

"I’ll have tea," he said. "And porridge."

The girl’s smile widened. "Anything else? Anything... special?"

Paul shook his head. "No. That’s all."

The girl’s smile faltered. She leaned closer. Her hand brushed against Paul’s arm.

"Are you sure?" she purred. "I can be very... accommodating."

Paul pulled his arm back. His smile didn’t waver.

"I’m sure," he said. "Thank you."

The girl’s face twitched. Her smile became forced. She straightened up.

"Fine," she said. Her voice was colder now. "What about the rest of you?"

Daniel ordered. Lyra ordered. Fluffy ordered three plates of meat.

The girl wrote it all down. She didn’t look at any of them. Her eyes kept darting back to Paul.

She left.

Daniel leaned toward Paul. "She was into you."

Paul sighed. "I know."

"Why’d you reject her?"

"She’s not my type."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "She’s gorgeous."

Paul shrugged. "Looks aren’t everything."

Daniel nodded. He understood that. Sort of.

---

The serving girl returned with their food.

She placed the plates on the table. She didn’t look at Daniel. She didn’t look at Lyra. She didn’t look at Fluffy. Her eyes were fixed on Paul.

She leaned over him as she set down his tea. Her hair brushed against his shoulder.

"Let me know if you need anything else," she whispered.

Paul nodded. "I will."

She lingered for a moment. Then she straightened up and walked away.

Daniel watched her go. Then he looked at Paul.

"She’s persistent," he said.

Paul sighed again. "She always is."

"You’ve met her before?"

"She’s been working here for a month. She’s tried this three times."

Daniel laughed. "And you’ve rejected her three times?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Paul looked at him. His expression was serious.

"She’s not interested in me," he said. "She’s interested in my face. My status. My connections. She doesn’t care about who I am. She cares about what I can give her."

Daniel nodded slowly. "I get it."

Paul looked at him. "Do you?"

"Yeah. I’ve met girls like that before. Back in my world. They’re pretty. They’re charming. But they’re empty. They don’t want you. They want what you have."

Paul nodded. "Exactly."

---

The serving girl returned.

She had been watching them. Daniel could feel her eyes on the back of his head. She was angry. Humiliated. Rejected.

She walked to their table. She didn’t look at Paul this time. She looked at Daniel.

"Can I get you anything else?" she asked.

Her voice was different. Lower. Husky. She leaned forward. Her dress dipped. Her eyes locked onto his.

Daniel looked at her. At her pretty face. At her perfect body. At her practiced smile.

He knew what she was doing. She was trying to prove something. To Paul. To herself. That she could make anyone fall for her. That she wasn’t rejected.

She was using Daniel to prove a point.

He didn’t like that.

"No," he said. "I’m fine."

The girl blinked. "Are you sure?"

"I’m sure."

She leaned closer. "I can be very... nice."

Daniel leaned back. He looked at her. His expression was flat.

"I said no," he said. "And honestly? Your attitude stinks."

The girl froze. Her face went red. Then white. Then red again.

"What did you just say?" she hissed.

"I said your attitude stinks." Daniel didn’t blink. "You’re beautiful. You know it. You use it. You think you can get whatever you want by batting your eyes and leaning forward. But that’s not how it works."

The girl’s hands were shaking. Her eyes were wet.

"You don’t know anything about me," she spat.

"I know enough." Daniel picked up his bread. He took a bite. "Now, if you don’t mind, I’m trying to eat."

The girl stared at him. Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

Then she turned and ran. She pushed through the door to the kitchen. It slammed shut behind her.

The dining hall was quiet. A few adventurers had watched the scene. They were staring at Daniel.

Paul was staring too. His mouth was open.

"That," he said, "was harsh."

Daniel shrugged. "She was annoying."

Lyra looked at him. "You rejected a beautiful girl."

Daniel nodded. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because she doesn’t like me. She just wanted to prove she could get me. I don’t like being used."

Lyra smiled. "That’s... actually mature."

Daniel grinned. "I have my moments."

Fluffy looked up from her meat. Her cheeks were stuffed.

"Fluffy doesn’t understand," she said.

"That’s okay," Daniel said. "You don’t have to."

They went back to eating.

---

A few minutes later, the kitchen door banged open.

A man stormed out. He was huge. Tall. Broad. Muscular. His arms were like tree trunks. His chest was like a barrel. His face was red with rage.

He looked around the dining hall. His eyes landed on Daniel’s table.

He stomped over. His footsteps shook the floor. The plates on the table rattled.

He stopped in front of Daniel. He loomed over him. His shadow blocked the light.

"HOW DARE YOU TRY TO RAPE MY GIRL FRIEND!"