Lilian's quick steps took her back to her tasks after assisting Decimus, the bar's tough owner. Amid the debris of the broken door, she spotted a familiar figure navigating the chaos, heading straight for her. The young woman's dress, a mix of reddish-brown and shimmering gold, seemed out of place amidst the chaos.

Rather than entering the room smoothly, the young woman burst in with the energy of a child throwing a tantrum. Her determined strides were a sharp contrast to her tearful breakdown upon reaching Lilian. The embrace that followed was a mix of desperation and relief, as if finding solace in the midst of the commotion.

With sincerity in her gaze, Lilian looked down at Susan, offering a sense of comfort amid the chaos. Susan, the daughter of the high-ranking noble in Ravenwood, knelt before Lilian, her face streaked with tears, finding a sanctuary in this moment of distress.

"He...h...he," Susan struggled to speak, her voice wavering with emotion, reflecting the depth of her turmoil.

Lilian's words, though unintentionally sharp, pierced the air with a careless edge. "Did he run away too?" she casually inquired, unaware of the potential hurt her words might cause Susan.

"Y-yes…" Susan's response trembled through tears, her emotions too raw for her to fully articulate her feelings.

As Susan wiped her eyes, she added with a mix of frustration and confession, "But I nearly killed him."

Lilian's touch, soothing and gentle, offered a sense of solace as her voice carried encouragement. "I'm sorry you went through that, Susan. Finding the right partner isn't easy, especially when our feelings aren't reciprocated. But don't worry, there are plenty of other options out there, you know?"

Still caught in her sulking, Susan hesitated. "But..."

Lilian, her voice laced with playful reason, interjected, "Maybe it's time for a change. How about aiming for a rich, famous, and handsome catch?"

Susan's pout persisted as she countered, "But it was just one incident. Why do men have to be so weak?"

Lilian, her tone thoughtful, retorted, "Well, saying 'most' might be a bit of an exaggeration."

With a sigh, Susan lamented, "But if I don't find someone, my mother will force me to marry some arrogant aristocratic bastard."

Taking a seat next to the very chair Decimus occupied, Susan let out a sigh and slumped her head onto the table, her stifled sobs reverberating softly through the room.

Lilian couldn't help but draw parallels between Susan's current situation and the past. Susan had a history of turning relationships into engagements, only for them to unravel, not due to her appearance or behavior, both of which were charming.

Instead, it was her unusual practice of challenging her potential partners to endure three punches from her, testing their strength. This quirk had resulted in not just heartbreak, but often in the incapacitation of her suitors, rendering them incapable of pursuing their livelihoods in a world where skill, be it martial or magical, was key.

"Let me get your usual," Lilian's voice was soft and empathetic, an attempt to steer the conversation away from Susan's apparent heartache.

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But Susan was insistent, her tone shaky. "No. Get me something stronger."

Seeking a diversion, Lilian tried again, "I was just about to bring your coffee."

Yet, Susan remained resolute. "No, bring me whisky."

While Lilian was expected to fulfill customer wishes, the specter of Madam Scarlett's potential ire weighed on her mind. Given that Madam Scarlett was not only a powerful figure in the Empire but also Susan's own mother, Lilian didn't want to be seen as contributing to Susan's perceived unruliness.

Decimus, engrossed in his own drink but seemingly aware of the situation, interjected with a suggestion, "Let the girl have some whiskey, Lily. Ain't no crime in taking the edge off a broken heart."

Pausing to consider, Lilian nodded, her course decided. "Very well, Sire Decimus." She moved to fulfill Susan's request, all the while noting the irony that she and Decimus occupied the same table.

"Deci—" Susan's voice began, but she paused upon hearing Decimus' hearty laughter. "Ya forgot my name, huh?" he chuckled, his voice carrying a warm jest.

"No, but I was about to search for you," she declared with determination, locking her eyes onto Decimus.

He flashed a knowing smile. "I'm right here."

"Will you go out with me?" Susan's question hung in the air, her cheeks tinted with a slight blush.

The rejection was swift but kind. "No," Decimus responded with a firm but gentle tone.

"Instead, denial!" Susan exclaimed in mock protest, her disappointment coated in humor.

"I'm forty years old, you know?" he retorted.

Her tone both playful and pointed. "Don't dump me for that; I can handle a few-year age gap."

"Na, I'm fine," Decimus sighed, his voice carrying an air of finality.

Susan, her lips in a pout and a huff of mock annoyance escaping her, attempted to throw a series of playful punches Decimus' way. However, each of her strikes was effortlessly deflected by Decimus' robust forearms. Unfazed by her display, he maintained his calm demeanor, taking a leisurely sip from his drink. "Now, now, don't be too hard on this old fella."

Lilian, sensing the good-humored sparring between the two, intervened with a glass of whiskey for Susan. "Here, take this. But, don't blame me if you get scolded."

"..." Susan took the proffered drink, a hint of guilt mingling with her anticipation. She downed the whiskey in silence, the warmth spreading through her as the conversation shifted.

Decimus' countenance grew more serious as he raised a topic of significance. "Did your mother say anything about labyrinth"

Susan nodded, the weight of the matter evident in her expression. "Yes, that's the reason I was looking for you."

His curiosity piqued, Decimus inquired, "What did she say?"

Susan's gaze sharpened as she answered, "She told me to let you know about it, but you seem to already know."

Susan, sensing Decimus' familiarity with the topic, inquired with a note of concern, "Wasn't it top-secret?"

"Not anymore," he admitted with a trace of frustration, his tone souring. "Some moron spread the news all over the places."

Decimus' brow furrowed as he pondered the potential consequences of this breach of information.

Susan sighed. "Everyone will now know about the lord's treasury," she admitted.

"That's correct," Decimus agreed, grimacing. "Ravenwood will soon become a battlefield."

"Nothing we can do to stop that now," Susan concluded, a note of resignation in her voice. "The secret is out. Now those in search of power will come and seek their fortunes."

The whiskey's warmth spread through Susan's body, a comforting numbness replacing the worries that had filled her mind. Her eyelids grew heavy, and the chatter of the surrounding patrons faded into a distant hum.

With a gentle thud, her head found solace on the table's surface, her consciousness slipping into the embrace of deep slumber. Unaware of her surroundings, her mind danced in the realm of dreams.

Decimus watched her with a mix of concern and worry etched across his face. "Yer alright?" he asked, his voice tinged with apprehension. However, his words fell on unresponsive ears as Susan remained lost in her slumber. A heavy sigh escaped him. She appeared serene in her drunken sleep, yet the situation left a bitter aftertaste.

"Alright, I'm goin'," Decimus announced with a wave to Lillian, signaling his departure. With a determined stride, he moved deeper into the bar, leaving behind the scene that had unsettled him.

A final glance over his shoulder confirmed Susan's continued slumber. With a heavy heart, he turned away and ventured deeper into the cafe, eager to distance himself from the peculiar occurrence.