The Female Knight of Doom - TFKOD 70: A Familiar Bartender

A look of confusion crossed the bartender’s face as he eyed Alice.

He paused, his curiosity piqued, and asked in a hesitant tone, “Are you… Alice?”

The sound of her name, spoken by a stranger in a place she’d never been, sent a shiver down her spine.

Her eyes widened as she took in the bartender’s face, now illuminated by the light.

Her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped, “Oh my God, you’re Hewlett!”

It was a staggering coincidence—on her very first day in the East, she had stumbled upon the man who had once been her boss, a person from her past she never expected to see again.

Hewlett’s appearance had altered significantly since their last encounter. His face told the story of recent struggles, with deep, dark circles under his eyes, a testament to his poor sleep and overall health. Although he hadn’t been particularly robust in Poztar, his current thinness was striking.

As he smiled and gestured to Corimo, “I’ll cover this one,” his eyes seemed to betray a deeper fatigue.

“However, he’s still on his own for drinks,” Hewlett added, his tone laced with a mix of warmth and weariness.

Alice’s response was nonchalant, “It’s of no consequence.”

She casually placed a silver coin on the table, “You’re not the proprietor of this establishment, are you?”

His sigh was barely audible as he handed Alice her change, his expression a map of the challenges he faced.

“Establishing a tavern in the East is no easy feat, especially when capital is scarce,” he reflected, the weight of his struggles evident in his words.

“I exhausted nearly all my resources just getting here,” he confessed, his voice tinged with the hardships of his journey.

Alice’s curiosity was piqued, but she chose not to pry further, sensing that some things were better left unspoken.

Her gaze lingered on his face, and she knew that certain questions were unnecessary. However, her mind wandered to other pressing matters, such as the whereabouts of Lina, a person she deeply missed since leaving Poztar.

During her time at the tavern, Lina’s care had been a lifeline, providing comfort and support after the loss of her mother. Her gentle nature had been a soothing balm, and Alice had come to regard her as a maternal figure, despite their relatively small age gap.

The thought of inquiring about her fate was tempting, yet Alice hesitated, fearing the possibility that Hewlett might be unaware of her current situation or, worse still, that Lina’s sparkle had faded.

The memory of her vibrant smile and energy was etched in Alice’s mind, and the prospect of seeing her diminished, much like Hewlett, was almost too much to bear. The potential discovery of her decline was a burden Alice feared she couldn’t handle, and so she remained silent, her questions unspoken.

As the scene unfolded, Corimo observed with surprise, unable to resist chiming in, “Had I known you were acquainted with Hewlett…”

His words trailed off as Alice turned to him, and he sheepishly fell silent, accepting the drink Hewlett had offered and stepping aside to give the pair some space.

Hewlett’s gaze followed him, his expression incredulous, before refocusing on Alice.

“It seems this individual is inclined to listen to you,” he remarked. “Tell me, what brings you here? How did you come to be in a position of authority over Corimo? I recall you departing with the mercenary Rom.”

A hint of embarrassment crossed Alice’s face as she remembered Hewlett’s previous encounter with her.

“It’s… complicated,” she replied vaguely, noticing Hewlett’s uncertain expression.

She elaborated, “I’m not associated with this man; I’m actually en route to the Flamel Mage Tower, and he’s merely guiding me.”

“Hiring Corimo is ill-advised,” he whispered to her, his voice laced with caution. “Beware of their deceit.”

Alice heeded the warning, her expression unwavering. Despite the passing of time and their chance encounter in this place, Hewlett remained as soft-hearted as ever. He should have been more discreet, considering the risks of reminding her of such things in this setting.

“I’m aware he’s a swindler,” she replied, her tone confident. “I have methods to keep him under control.”

Hewlett’s commitment wavered, his gaze drifting from the greatsword secured to her back to her distinctive red hair, a hallmark of the Flamel family, which stood out in the tavern.

In the East, the Flamel family’s red hair was renowned, and no one was unfamiliar with it.

“Are you bound for the mage tower in search of your family?” He inquired, his curiosity piqued. “Who could have foreseen that the orphan girl from Poztar, once without parents, was actually born into the most influential mage family in the East?”

Alice was aware of the mistake, but it suited her just fine. In fact, it wasn’t entirely inaccurate.

“I suppose so,” she replied, her voice laced with a hint of indifference. “I’ve always been curious about my father.”

As she spoke, a pang of emotion stirred within her, like a switch had been flipped. She quickly masked it with a swig of pale ale.

Hewlett’s expression softened, his face looking slightly more at ease.

“I’m glad to see you’re doing well,” he said. “When I saw you leave with that mercenary, I worried about your safety, but it seems I overreacted. You appear to be thriving.”

In a quieter setting, Alice would have relished the opportunity to engage in a more in-depth conversation with Hewett, sharing her remarkable journey from mercenary to knight of the duchess. However, the tavern was teeming with people, and she was reluctant to publicly disclose her identity.

Aware that her stay was fleeting, she decided to inquire about Lina, lest she later regret not doing so, “Could you tell me where Lina is?”

Hewett’s response was that Lina was also in the area, employed as a servant by a mage.

Yet, his demeanor suddenly turned somber, and he added, “She hasn’t been around for a while.”

As Alice observed his expression, she began to suspect that she had misjudged his circumstances. It seemed that financial struggles might not be the primary cause of his fatigue, and the true reason for the dark circles under his eyes might be more closely tied to Lina herself.

Alice’s memories of her time with the group at the pub were hazy, but one thing was clear: Hewlett had feelings for Lina, and Lina seemed to return them, despite not being officially together. It was evident that Hewlett was smitten, and Alice was desperate to know what was really going on. However, the atmosphere was not right for prying questions.

As she glanced around, she caught Corimo’s eye, sitting in the corner, winking at her and clearly wanting to talk.

She toasted Hewlett, got up, and made her way to the seat across from Corimo, “Is everything okay?”

“I didn’t mean to listen in,” he replied, “but I overheard a bit of your conversation…”

Alice turned her attention to him, intrigued.

He confessed, “I did attempt to eavesdrop, but that’s beside the point. My concern is that I’m aware of Hewlett’s recent activities, as well as those of his girlfriend, Lina. Would you like to know more?”

Alice nodded fervently, encouraging him to proceed.

Corimo let out a chuckle and rattled the ice cubes in his empty glass, “After standing in the sun all day, I’m parched.”

At Alice’s request, Hewlett poured Corimo a glass of beer, which he downed in one gulp, exhaling in relief.

As Hewlett returned to the bar, Corimo turned to Alice and stated, “It’s clear he was dumped.”

After clearing his throat, he continued, “Having known Hewlett for years and met Lina on several occasions, I’ve observed that they were an affectionate couple, but Hewlett’s limited income as a bartender likely hindered their ability to commit to each other officially.”

As he sipped his drink, he reflected on the situation, “Lina and Hewlett’s relationship had been strong, but things changed when she started working with independent mages. They began to clash, and about a month ago, they had a huge argument. Since then, Hewlett has been a shadow of his former self.”

It seemed clear that Hewlett had lost his way after losing the one he loved.

Alice glanced over at Hewlett, who looked lost and despondent.

While she might have been able to offer some assistance, it was clear that matters of the heart were best left alone.

Alice and Corimo finished their drinks, left Hewlett a generous tip, and exited the pub together.

After a couple of drinks and some chatter about Hewlett, Corimo began to rebound from his earlier slump.

Having sneakily eyed Alice’s purse at the pub, he noted that although she despised being swindled, she was undoubtedly wealthy. Thus, he made up his mind to be as charming as possible, aiming to serve her so impressively that she’d be inclined to loosen her purse strings.

“Where to next, boss?” he asked, “I’m familiar with all the local inns and can guarantee the best rate. Would you like to stay at the prestigious Beatriz Inn, typically reserved for esteemed guests? I have connections there and can arrange for the most lavish suite to be prepared.”

Corimo had ties to several local inns, which often granted him substantial discounts. Whenever he brought in a lucrative client, he would naturally keep the discounts and commissions for himself. However, with the ring’s limitations this time, he could only earn a modest commission by taking Alice to one of these inns.

Typically, he scoffed at such meager earnings, but his circumstances had changed. Now, he found solace in the prospect of earning any commission at all.

Unfortunately, his expectations of Alice’s wealth were shattered when she shunned the hotel idea, “It’s too pricey. Since you live nearby, we can stay at your place tonight.”