The commotion inside the restaurant undeniably spilled over into the front lobby. The receptionist, the middle-aged man who had nearly fainted the night before upon discovering the true identity of his guests, felt his heart skip a beat the moment he heard that familiar, authoritative female voice.
He recognized it instantly. It was the voice of "Arale", the woman who had arrived with Young Master Calian Larvin.
"Trouble! This is trouble!" the receptionist panicked, his voice a frantic whisper. The quill in his hand was tossed carelessly onto the desk as he bolted.
Ignoring the bewildered stares of other guests who were just checking in, he rushed toward the restaurant. His breath came in ragged gasps, not from the short sprint, but from the sheer terror of imagining the fate of his inn if the most feared Ducal family in the empire were to be offended under his roof.
As he reached the threshold of the dining room, the scene before him made his blood run cold. Elara stood tall, radiating an overwhelming, crushing aura, while the foolish new waiter stood paralyzed, his face as pale as a ghost.
The receptionist didn't waste a second. He burst into the room, nearly tripping over his own feet as he scrambled toward their table.
"Please, forgive the conduct of this employee, Young Master! My Lady!" the man cried out, his voice trembling. He bowed so low his body formed a perfect ninety-degree angle, a posture of absolute submission.
Seeing the man in charge arrive, Elara did not soften. Instead, her clear blue eyes sharpened, as if she were putting the entire management of the establishment on trial.
"Are you the one in charge here?" Elara asked coldly, her voice cutting through the silence of the restaurant. "Educate your employees properly!"
The words were not a mere suggestion; they were an absolute command. Elara took a small step forward, causing the receptionist to hunch even lower in fear.
"Do not let the quality of service differ just because someone is a beastfolk!" Elara declared, her voice ringing out across the room, ensuring every ear heard her. "If you are in the service industry, serve all customers with the same standard. Your waiter's insolence nearly made me reconsider whether this inn truly deserves the title of the 'best' in Argam!"
The receptionist's entire body stiffened. The underlying threat was crystal clear: if the Larvin family was displeased, this inn could be leveled to the ground by morning.
"I-I am deeply sorry! Truly, I beg for your forgiveness!" the man exclaimed, his face now white as parchment. "I assure you, he will be terminated immediately! We will not tolerate such a fatal lapse in professional conduct!"
At the word "terminated", the waiter, who had been frozen in shock, finally snapped out of it. His eyes widened in disbelief.
His wounded ego and pride drove him to act recklessly. He turned sharply toward his superior and his guests, his expression contorted with rage.
"Wait a minute! Why should I be fired just because of a beastfolk?" the waiter demanded, his voice high and laced with deep-seated hatred. He pointed a trembling finger at Wolvin, who was sitting quietly. "Is it wrong for me to be wary of a low-born race like—"
"SHUT UP!"
The receptionist's roar cut the waiter off mid-sentence. The middle-aged man stared at his subordinate with a look of pure horror mixed with fury. He was not about to let this fool drag the entire establishment into a shallow grave.
"Hold your tongue before you make this situation any worse!" the receptionist hissed, his chest heaving. "Pack your things immediately! As of this moment, you are fired! Get out of here right now!"
A heavy, suffocating silence blanketed the restaurant. The other guests held their breath, witnessing the sudden public dismissal.
The waiter stood rooted to the spot, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He had never imagined his life would be ruined just for serving an "animal". The shame of being fired in public slowly fermented into a boiling, poisonous grudge.
He turned his gaze slowly toward Wolvin. It was no longer a look of mere disgust, but one of pure, unadulterated hatred.
Just you wait! his mind screamed, his eyes flashing with a predatory light as he looked at Wolvin, who had lowered his head to avoid further conflict. You'll pay for this, you filthy beastfolk. And you, crazy woman, and that arrogant young master... all three of you will regret crossing me! I will not forget this humiliation!
With a violent motion, the waiter ripped the name badge from his chest and tore off his uniform vest.
Thud!
He hurled the uniform onto the floor at the receptionist's feet and spat to the side, a final, bitter insult. Without another word, the man turned and stormed out of the restaurant, roughly banting his shoulder against other customers as he headed for the exit. A lingering aura of malice remained in his wake, making the air feel thick and unpleasant.
Once the former waiter had vanished behind the doors, the receptionist let out a long, shaky breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He turned back to Elara's table, his face etched with genuine remorse.
"Please, accept my apologies for the inconvenience, My Lady, Young Master..." the man said softly, sounding utterly exhausted. "I am truly ashamed that this occurred."
Elara looked at the man. Her anger was slowly receding, replaced by the composed grace of a noble who had achieved her objective. However, she felt the need to instill one final principle before the matter was truly settled.
"Listen carefully." Elara said, her voice lower now but still sharp and pressing. "Regardless of race, be it Human, Elf, Dwarf, Beastfolk, or any other... if they stay or eat here, and as long as they pay with legitimate currency and maintain public order, treat them as equals."
Elara leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with the receptionist. "Never give them a cynical look, and certainly never treat them with such blatant disrespect based solely on your own prejudices! Do you hear me?"
"Y-Yes, My Lady! I understand perfectly!" the man replied quickly, nodding frantically like a woodpecker. "I will ensure that from now on, none of our staff will ever be disrespectful to any guest, no matter who they are."
Elara gave a sharp nod, satisfied with the lesson she had delivered. She leaned back into her chair with elegance, looking for all the world like a lioness who had finished her roar and was returning to a state of rest.
"Very well. You have fired the man, so I consider the matter closed." Elara said, waving her hand dismissively. "Now, bring us the menu immediately. We require breakfast, not drama."
"O-Of course! Right away, My Lady!"