66“God, just look at him,” a woman at the next table sneered, her voice like a dagger. “You’d think he’d at least try to look decent if he’s going to a place like this.”Her friend leaned in, whispering loudly enough for Allvar to hear. “Maybe he’s lost. I mean, who dresses like that? I didn’t realize this place had started letting 'anyone' in.”Allvar clenched his jaw, feeling the burn of embarrassment creep up his neck. He could feel the sweat gathering at the nape of his neck, and every second in that chair felt like an eternity.Just as he thought it couldn’t get worse, a man at a nearby table laughed, loud and obnoxious. “Can you imagine him trying to pronounce anything here? He’s clearly not from around 'this'part of town.”Allvar wanted to disappear. His vision blurred with frustration, his hands trembling. He felt as though he was under a microscope, every move he made scrutinized by the sneering faces surrounding him.Someone else chuckled. “Guess anyone can walk in here the
67Allvar sat quietly, drumming his fingers against the table, trying to drown out the incessant whispers. His gaze flickered toward the entrance, weighing the possibility of making a quick exit. But his pride held him firmly in place. He wasn’t about to be run out by a bunch of strangers who had no idea who he really was.A loud voice cut through the soft ambiance. “I bet he asked for it well-done. I mean, of course, he did,” the man scoffed, his companions laughing along.Allvar’s grip on his glass tightened. He could feel the sting of their laughter more with every passing second.“Excuse me,” a voice interrupted his thoughts. Allvar looked up to see a tall, silver-haired woman in a tailored suit approaching his table. Her face was a picture of composure, though her eyes held a glint of something else—curiosity, perhaps.She was undeniable beautiful with her blue eyes and long hair. She seemed to be in her mid twenties.“Mind if I join you?” she asked, already pulling out the chair
68Allvar’s jaw clenched, but Seraphina was quicker to react. She turned toward the source of the voice, her expression sharp. “Must be nice to judge from such a comfortable distance,” she said, her voice slicing through the tension like a knife.The man’s laughter faltered, eyes narrowing. “Excuse me?”“Yeah,” one of his companions chimed in, snickering. “What’s a guy like you doing with a woman like that, anyway? Using her to shield you from the truth? How pathetic.”Seraphina tilted her head slightly, a smile dancing on her lips. “Oh, darling, you misunderstand. I’m not here to defend Allvar. He can do that perfectly well on his own. I’m just here for the entertainment.” She raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying their discomfort.“Entertainment? Is that what you call it?” the loud man scoffed, crossing his arms defiantly. “Seems more like you’re just trying to elevate your status by association.”“Status?” Seraphina replied, feigning deep contemplation. “How quaint. You must be new t
69Allvar leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the edge of the table, a small smile playing on his lips. The whispers from the nearby table hadn't stopped; if anything, they'd grown louder, punctuated with thinly veiled insults."Look at him, hiding behind her," one of the men sneered, not bothering to lower his voice. "Coward can’t even stand up for himself. Pathetic."Allvar’s eyes flickered with irritation, but he kept his composure, glancing at Seraphina, who sipped her water, entirely unbothered. “They’re persistent, I’ll give them that,” he murmured.Seraphina chuckled lightly. “Desperation has a way of making people louder.”“Hey, you!” Another voice called out, louder this time. “Yeah, you with the cheap white shirt! What’s it like having a woman fight your battles for you?”Allvar finally turned to face the table of men, his gaze calm but cold. “Is that the best you’ve got?” he asked, his voice steady. “I was hoping for something a little more creativ
70 “Gentlemen, I’m going to have to insist that this stops now. You’re disturbing the other guests.”“Disturbing?” The man sneered, but his bravado was slipping. “You’re worried about disturbing people? Fine. Then why don’t you just throw them out?”The waiter crossed his arms, his patience clearly wearing thin. “I will, if this continues. But I’d prefer not to have to do that.”Allvar smiled slightly. “Don’t worry. We were just leaving.” He reached for his jacket, signaling to Seraphina with a nod.She stood gracefully, smoothing her suit as she did. “Pity,” she said, glancing back at the table of men. “I was starting to enjoy the show.”As Allvar and Seraphina turned to leave, the waiter who had served them earlier hurried over, his face etched with disdain. "Excuse me, sir, ma'am," he began, his voice sharp, "but where do you think you're going?"Allvar stopped mid-step, his hand gently resting on the back of Seraphina’s chair. "I’m sorry?" he asked, his brow furrowing.The waiter
71The snickers continued around the room, growing louder with every passing moment. One man leaned over his table, pointing in Allvar’s direction. “Bet he doesn’t even have enough to cover half the bill,” he scoffed. “Classic pauper move, relying on the lady.”Allvar kept his gaze forward, but Seraphina noticed the flicker of anger in his eyes. She leaned toward him, her voice a quiet murmur. “Are you going to let them continue?” Her eyes were twinkling with a mixture of amusement and irritation. “Or should we remind them that not every insult requires a response?”Allvar gave her a brief smile, more tense than warm. “Some things don’t deserve a response.”Allvar gave her a brief smile, but his gaze remained cool as he turned back to the waiter. “I apologize for the delay. Let’s settle the bill.”The waiter, clearly still convinced they were trying to pull a stunt, huffed. “About time,” he muttered, retreating to fetch the check.As the snickers continued around the room, a woman’s v
72Seraphina could feel the tension thickening around their table, like a storm brewing just beneath the surface. She leaned closer to Allvar, her voice low yet firm. “Don’t let them get to you. They’re nothing but a bunch of fools who think mocking others makes them important.”Allvar’s jaw clenched tighter, his frustration spilling over. “I didn’t come here to be humiliated, Seraphina,” he muttered, glancing at the waiter, who was now relishing the chaos he had sparked.“I know,” she replied softly, her eyes locked on him, willing him to see the bigger picture. “But stooping to their level won’t help. Let’s just pay the bill and leave.”A woman from another table chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, come on! What’s the matter? Afraid to show us how poor you really are?” Her companions burst into laughter, and the laughter spread like wildfire, igniting the whole room.Allvar’s composure began to crack, but Seraphina placed a steadying hand on his forearm, grounding him.
73Seraphina placed a calming hand on his arm, though her eyes remained locked on the waiter. “Ignore them,” she whispered. “They’re beneath us.”The waiter, however, wasn’t finished. “See? Even the lady’s trying to calm you down,” he said with a chuckle. “Maybe she knows something you don’t—like how this place runs on appearances.”Allvar stood abruptly, his chair scraping harshly against the floor. He glared at the waiter, his patience threadbare. “You want proof I can pay?” His voice was low, dangerous, each word more venomous than the last. The waiter took a step back, momentarily surprised, but recovered quickly. “Oh, I’m not asking for proof, sir. Just pointing out that some places have certain... standards.”“That’s enough,” Seraphina interrupted, her voice as sharp as ice. “Your insinuations are unfounded, and frankly, unprofessional.”Allvar leaned in closer to the waiter, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “Do you think insulting me will get you a bigger tip?”The wa