Chương 126: A Stranger in the Tavern

Felicity and the rest of the group were forced to remain at the tavern for a few more days. Agnes had fallen ill. A severe cold had confined her to bed, leaving her weak and congested. Ethan sat beside her, holding a steaming cup of green tea in his hands.

"Drink. It should make you feel a little better". Agnes took the cup with both hands.

"I really hope so", she mumbled through her stuffy nose before taking a slow sip. Ethan placed a hand on her forehead.

"What are you doing?" she asked, barely lifting her gaze.

"Checking if you're warm. If you develop a fever too, that would be a serious problem".

"I'm fine", Agnes replied, letting out a small cough.

"It's not that bad". Ethan lowered his gaze, visibly tense.

"Maybe bringing you to this tavern was a terrible idea. This place is disgusting. You could have caught something here. What was I thinking?" Agnes stared at him for a few seconds. She knew that look all too well. Behind his words, she could see the fear Ethan was desperately trying to hide. She wanted to punch him, or at least pinch him, like she did whenever he became excessively protective. But at that moment, she barely had enough strength for even that. So instead, she took his hand and gently squeezed it.

"Stop being so paranoid", she said with a weak smile.

"Instead, keep reading that book you got for me". Ethan hesitated for a moment, then smiled.

"You're enjoying it, right? Have you seen how loyal he is to the kingdom?"

"Not really. It's a little boring".

"Boring? You haven't reached the best part yet". Ethan stood up to retrieve the book, picked it up from the bedside table, and immediately returned to sit beside her. Then he began to read. The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Downstairs, Felicity, Xia, and Leah were sitting at a table, eating. Felicity opened her coin purse and looked dismally at its contents.

"Staying here is draining all our crowns".

"Agnes can't travel in this condition", Leah replied.

"If necessary, we'll sleep outside. She and Ethan will stay here until she's recovered". She stood up from the table.

"I'm going to get some more mead. Do you want any?" Felicity and Xia both shook their heads. Leah walked away, making her way between the tables. The tavern was particularly crowded that evening. It almost seemed as though every poor person in the city of Axi had decided to gather there. Leah tried to make her way through the crowd, careful not to bump into anyone. She failed. She collided with someone.

"I'm sorry, miss". Leah looked up. Standing before her was a tall man with extraordinarily long black hair and striking red eyes. He wore an expensive white uniform, utterly out of place in such a run-down tavern. It wasn't merely his beauty that drew attention. It was the contrast. A man who looked so refined and wealthy seemed as though he belonged to an entirely different world. The man immediately bent down and offered her his hand.

"Are you all right?" Leah studied him for a moment, then took his hand and rose completely to her feet.

"Yes…actually, I should apologize to you. It was my fault. I didn't see you at all". The man smiled.

"Mason Dillon. A humble soldier of the kingdom". His tone was cordial, almost playful.

"May I know your name?"

"Leah. Leah Fox". Mason gently took her hand. Then, with effortless naturalness, he pressed a kiss to the back of it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Fox". Leah was momentarily surprised by the gesture. Mason smiled.

"May I buy you a drink? I would like to make up for the accident".

"There really is no need".

"I insist. Please". Leah hesitated. Then she nodded.

"All right". Mason smiled in satisfaction. They moved toward the counter and began to talk. At first, Leah merely answered his questions. Then, almost without realizing it, she began asking questions of her own. There was something unusual about the way Mason conversed. His voice was calm, his tone always measured. Every word seemed to be spoken at precisely the right moment. Leah couldn't explain why, but talking to him felt surprisingly natural. It was almost like speaking to someone she had known all her life.

Hours passed without her noticing. Night fell over the city of Axi, and the tavern grew even louder. Mason turned toward the counter and picked up another glass of mead. He handed it to Leah with a smile. She stared at it, feeling her head beginning to spin slightly.

"Another one…? How many drinks are you going to buy me?" Mason tilted his head slightly.

"As many as a lady as beautiful as you deserves". Leah burst out laughing. She took the glass.

"All right…but this is the last one". Mason smiled. He seemed to have no intention of reminding her that she had said the exact same thing only a short while ago. Across the room, Xia watched Leah laugh and chat with Mason.

"She seems to be having fun". Felicity followed her gaze for a few seconds. She looked at Leah. Then at Mason. Her expression remained impassive.

"When you're drunk, it doesn't take much to have fun". She rose from her chair.

"I'm going to bed. See you at dawn tomorrow".

"Good night", Xia replied. Felicity walked away. Mason continued talking to Leah, wearing the same polite smile. Then, almost casually, he turned. His red eyes settled on Xia. He stared at her. It wasn't a distracted glance. It was intense. Attentive. As though he were studying every detail of her. Xia shifted slightly and, for a moment, seemed about to meet his gaze. Mason immediately turned his attention back to Leah. The smile remained perfectly intact. And he continued talking as though nothing had happened.