At some point, she had silently placed her spoon back into the bowl. Her spine was ramrod straight, and beneath her lowered eyelashes, a cold fire seemed to ignite within the depths of her pupils.
Not far away, at another small table, the spoon in Flora’s hand also came to a stop. Her hand beneath the table slowly clenched, fingertips pressing firmly into her palm.
Ilya remained seated, her posture unchanged. She even picked up her water glass and took a slow, deliberate sip.
However, her gaze drifted over the rim of the glass, landing coolly on Glen’s back — a gaze as calm as still water, yet deep as an abyss.
*Clink.*
A crisp, unmistakable sound sliced through the stagnant air of the restaurant.
The sound came from nearby. Ilya had gently rested her silver dinner fork against the edge of her porcelain plate.
She didn’t look up toward the center of the conflict, instead staring down at the little stew remaining in front of her, as if this were merely an unconscious pause in her meal.
But almost at the same time as that sound, Flora, sitting across from her, slowly stood up.
Her movements were not quick; in fact, they carried a deliberate, leisurely grace. As she rose, her cream-white and light-blue skirt fell naturally like ripples on water, without a single extra tremor.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze calmly sweeping over Glen and his group. There was no fear in those eyes, nor any anger — only a cold, evaluative scrutiny.
Then she spoke, her voice not loud, but clear enough for everyone to hear.
“Gentlemen.”
Glen was stunned for a moment before a surge of offended rage rushed over him. A slender, delicate-looking girl? She dared to interrupt him?
He whipped his head around, his fierce gaze landing on Flora.
“Who the hell are you?” Glen snarled. “Mind your own business! Get lost!”
Flora seemed not to hear his profanity. She merely frowned slightly, her tone remaining flat.
“Could I ask you to move somewhere else?”
Her gaze passed over Kaan’s tense shoulders and Eileen’s pale face before settling back on Glen.
“If you have a personal grudge to settle.”
“I’m not interfering,” she added, her voice still steady. “It’s just that… your shouting has already ruined the mood for me and my Mother.”
She turned slightly, gesturing to the surroundings — other guests who either had their heads down or were stealing glances, clearly unable to enjoy their food.
“If you fight here and break the tables, chairs, and porcelain plates, scaring away the customers, how is the store owner supposed to do business?”
She even gave a slight shake of her head, carrying a sense of ‘How do you not even understand this simple logic?’ helplessness.
“Everyone came out to eat and have a good time. Why ruin the peace and make everyone miserable?”
Her words were reasonable, even considering everyone’s perspective. But combined with her expressionless face and her complete disregard for Glen’s threat, they exerted an invisible pressure.
The thin man beside Glen, Lex, shrieked, “This little brat sure can talk! Who are you to tell us what to do? If you know what’s good for you, get out of here!”
Flora finally turned her gaze toward Lex. Her eyes were still devoid of emotion, but Lex felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up for no reason, and the rest of his words caught in his throat.
“Whether I have the right is not for you to decide,” Flora’s voice was a degree colder than before, like frost on an autumn night.
“I am simply making a more civilized suggestion. Your grudge is your business, but if you insist on settling it here and making a mess… or if blood is spilled, it probably won’t be good for anyone, will it?”
She let the words ‘blood is spilled’ fall lightly, making Kaan and Cole’s hearts tighten and causing Glen’s gaze to sharpen even more.
This girl wasn’t just unafraid; she was hinting that the conflict would escalate, which was practically adding fuel to the fire!
“Hah! Civilized? A suggestion?” Glen laughed out of pure anger, the scars on his face twitching. “I’m settling this right here, right now, in front of everyone! If you say one more word, I’ll take care of you too!”
Before he finished speaking, he lunged forward, seemingly wanting to grab Flora’s arm to teach her a lesson.
The moment his fingers were about to touch Flora’s sleeve, she moved again.
It wasn’t a retreat, but a very subtle sidestep. Her feet seemed to glide half a step to the side, causing Glen to grab nothing but air.
Her movement was smooth and natural, her skirt barely swaying, as if she had merely adjusted her stance unintentionally.
Having missed his mark, Glen’s body leaned forward from the momentum, and his fury reached a boiling point.
He let out a low growl, his fists clenching until his knuckles cracked. Logic was swept away by rage; he was about to throw a reckless punch.
“It seems you won’t listen to reason.” Flora let out a sigh that seemed to carry a hint of genuine regret, as if she were lamenting his choice to give up the last chance for a peaceful resolution.
She looked up, staring straight into Glen’s bloodshot eyes, and spoke clearly and slowly.
“Since you insist on fighting, let’s go outside.”
She raised her hand, her slender finger pointing toward the heavy night outside the restaurant door.
“At the town east end, there’s an open space. It’s wide and no one will disturb us. I’ll wait for you there.”
Glen was stunned. He hadn’t expected the girl to propose a location herself. He glared fiercely at Flora, then swept his gaze over Kaan’s group, sneering, “Fine! I’ll be waiting! Don’t even think about running!”
With a wave of his hand, he led his four henchmen out, roughly bumping into several chairs. Amidst the sounds of suppressed gasps, they stormed out of the restaurant.
The wooden door swung violently behind them, and the night wind rushed through the cracks, causing the candlelight to flicker.
The restaurant was silent for a few seconds before low whispers broke out.
Kaan shielded Eileen tightly, his face grim and his fists still clenched. Cole stood beside him, sweat beads forming on his brow.
Flora stood in place, her back straight, her eyes fixed on the slightly swaying wooden door as if she were waiting for something.
A few seconds later, she slowly turned around.
Instead of returning to her seat, she walked toward Kaan.
Eileen subconsciously shrank back before forcing herself to stand tall. She watched this strange girl, who wasn’t much older than herself, approach.
A complex wave of emotions surged in her heart: gratitude, curiosity, and something she couldn’t quite name.
“Are you all alright?” Flora asked, her voice much gentler than before, even carrying a hint of softness. Her gaze landed on Eileen’s face for a fleeting moment before moving to Kaan and Cole.
Kaan took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “Th—thank you for your help, Miss… But those people are trouble. You shouldn’t have stepped in for us…”
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