Hazel, whose eyes were still on food, finally looked above. Her elbows were on the table with her beautiful chin on her interlocked fingers.
Her pose was so enchanting that others could not help but gaze at her with stunned eyes. Her smile was so pleasing, completely opposite to the insults they were throwing at her.
"I think there is some confusion here." started hazel in a soft voice as she received the attention of all the spectators, who had been silently listening to the whole conversation.
Many were already feeling pity on her, others were a bit jealous and disdaining her.
"I never said that I am rich. I just asked do you think looking at my face and confidence that I have run away from the house?''
It was you whose eyes did not leave my clothes and jewels even once." even this time she did not talk about whether she was wearing real jewels of imitation. After that, she avoided them and continued having her meal.
".............." of course, she had not even once mentioned her clothes and jewels, but what else did it mean by wearing them here. She wanted to show off what else?
"It is okay, Hazel, we know that you are not educated and know etiquette. That is why you try to look more presentable but wearing imitated clothes and jewels would only be more embarrassing. That is why as your friends we wanted to advise you.
But look at you. You are even blaming us for keeping an eye on these fake things. It was not like the dress was designed by Madame Helena or the jewels were real!" The girls shook their heads in disappointment at the rude behavior of the girl.
Many of the spectators were rich commoners who had collected all their money to share an occasional meal with their families.
Every part of the empire street was for nobles and nouveau riche. Eating there was a status symbol. So, they did not know much about the jewels and madam Helena about which the girls were talking. But when they looked at the dazzling jewels of the girl, they could not believe that it could be real. After all, even if it was Empire street. It was still a stall. How could a rich noble like her eat there instead of the big inns that provide private rooms on the other side.
Richard looked at the women coldly but stayed silent. He sat there crossing his one leg over another. Even those who were looking at him did not dare to gaze at him for a long time due to the strong aura he was emitting.
Even when Madeline and Melisa were insulting Hazel, they did not dare to include the man sitting with her in it. As if the man had a cold shred of layer around him that was warning others to dare not approach. How could a mere messenger have such a strong aura? But they did not dare to approach him.
Hazel wanted to shrug them off and eat her meal in peace yet they were not ready to leave!
Now she was regretting to recognize them.
"Are you done? Why don't you go and meet those noble ladies that match your status then?" replied hazel as she rolled more noodles on her for and slurped them.
Her actions were carefree yet enchanting. Never had one thought that eating noodles without any reservation could be a matter of attraction too.
The faces of girls turned ugly as she shooed them like they did not have respect.
"How could you be so brazen? Wait, let me send my maid to your house and inform them that you are here. They will deal with you then.
I mean take care of you." added Madeline as she looked back at her maid.
Hazel rolled her eyes. How caring her old friends were! Why had she never realized that before?
"Sure, in fact, we were thinking of going to pay a visit to my family with a few friends, why don't you join us there?" asked Hazel, finally letting her fork lay in the bowl.
She looked at Richard who was sitting there silently and took a breath of relief. At least, he was not angry.
"And if you are so concerned about my meal. Why don't you pay for my bills then!" she asked nonchalantly and the smile that had been frozen when they heard that she was going to the count palace turned upwards again. By paying for her meals they would be able to show their superiority over her. How could they let the chance go.
"Are you telling the truth? You are actually brave enough to go back to their palace from where you have run away in the darkness of the night?" though they did not explain their half said words were enough to go the imagination of the spectators wild.
"Sure, we are always open for charity. Do not worry, we will clear the bill of yours.`` Madeline nonchalantly placed her hands in her bag and looked at the little boy who was serving the meal nearby.
"Hey you? Come here." the boy blinked but did not dare to deny, he knew how haughty these nobles were.
"Bring the bill of this couple to us. We will clear it and you are lucky! We even believe in giving a generous tip to the poor!" their tone was full of arrogance that all the people sitting there felt like they were too beneath her.
It made them ashamed but a bit resentful toward both girls too.
The boy felt ashamed too but did not dare to talk back, he nodded his head and left towards the stall owner to get the bill.
The man who was listening silently over the whole matter looked at the young girl with worried eyes. Hazel sensed his gaze and looked back at her. She nodded her head with assurance and the man finally sighed.
Wiping his hands from the nearby napkin he walked towards the ladies himself.
"My lady, I am the owner of this small place." He introduced himself politely but the girl did not pay any heed to him. They just rolled their eyes and snorted.
"You dirty old man. Do not try to make acquaintances with us. We will never eat here or recommend it to others.
Just bring the bill that was promised by this girl, we will pay it and leave." they replied as they stomped their feet on the ground with impatience.
The man nodded and took out the paper from his pocket, "then I will dare to ask you for 5000 gold coins, my lady with a 10 percent discount. But as I heard that you will pay in full with a generous discount, it is 5500 gold coins, my lady. I did not dare to add the tip by myself.
You can add it according to your generosity." as the words left his mouth, the whole place turned into an uproar.
All of them had ordered a few dishes but none of their bills crossed over 100 gold coins. A few of them only had 20 gold coins as their bill. Then how did a pair of people have eaten so much to accumulate so much?
Even the girls' faces changed colors when they heard the sheer amount of will. It was more than the amount they had spent in the whole month. Even the shopping today did not cost them more than 1000 gold coins.
They glared at the old man who was standing there silently to receive the amount and then at Hazel who had once again continued eating as if the matter had nothing to do with her.
"You! What nonsense you are sprouting old man? How could the bill be too much? What are you serving gold or pearls! How could a single person eat up to this amount?
You are definitely trying to trick us when you see our generosity!" they screamed in an over exaggerated manner. After shopping for 1000 coins, they did not have this much left.
But after announcing that they would pay the bill, it would be insulting if they would tell that they did not have money.
"My lady, you are right. A single person could not have this much bill." replied the man with the same calm voice and a smirk formed on the face of Madeline who was about to shout at the old man again, but he continued before that,
"This is the bill of serving the same meal to all the roadside poor kids there." he pointed at the corner where a few men wearing the same uniform as the old man were giving food to all the poor kids who had a warm smile on their faces, "this generous lady there had offered the food to all the poor in this area.. So, her total bill is 5000 gold coins."