White Queen Ascending

"Luci, I am happy you're okay now! You didn't know how worried I and uncle was when you didn't wake up for days!" Oleander said in a rising tone with his hands moving, as if telling an exaggerated story.

Torin knocked his head lightly. "Who's worried? You brat! Just eat your food!"

Oleander looked at him with resentment. He still wanted to continue his story, but he still complied. He will no longer talk until he finish eating.

Luciana happily tastes every dish served on them. They ordered vegetable and meat dishes. She especially liked the meat. It was called spicy stir fried beef. Red and green bell peppers, added with mushrooms enhances the color that makes it appear appetizing. Plus the spicy taste that has a slight burning feeling in the tongue is really satisfying for Luciana.

Torin watched as the two enjoys their food. He decided to treat the two children in a restaurant. They have all been under so much stress these days. He thinks that going out to have fun for a while was a good idea for the two kids.

"HOW DARE YOU BLOCK ME!" a sudden shout of a man from the top floor where VIP's stay, startled everyone. "DONT YOU FORGET! I AM STILL A NOBLE!!"

"Tse. A fallen one you mean?" Then the laughter of a group of men sounded. Ridicule was obvious on their tones.

"Sir, please just leave." The waiter said towards the one who shouted, his tone was not a bit polite.

"WHAT THE HELL!? DO I LOOK LIKE I DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO PAY?!" The man shouted once again. His face was all red in embarrassment, but the waiter just stood in front of him, not intending to let him pass through.

The prices in the restaurant varies on where you're staying. Obviously, Torin and the two kids stay in the lowest level. Though, you can't underestimate the prices in there. It is still costly even for an average family. Imagining it like that, the price in the VIP section should be worth a lot.

"Dax Mavi, are you even sure you can afford a single meal here?" One of the Noble's asked mockingly. "You should stay away from us, we don't need leeches here."

Dax gripped his hands. "FINE! I'M LEAVING!" He said, then flipped his sleeves and turned around to leave.

Murmurs began to start. Some even pointed their hands towards the man who's leaving, making him grew more irritated.

"Tsk Mavi family only have few members and Dax didn't even have magic. How could he still call himself a noble." A man spoke, though not loud, it was still audible to a lot of people.

"Indeed. Truly shameless." Replied the man beside him, as he chuckled.

Dax was so frustrated, he was born a noble. If only his parents didn't die, then these people would still look at him with respect. Now, even some unknown people talk shit about him.

In his irritation, he suddenly got an idea. If he couldn't fight against the Nobles then he'd just vent his anger out to others that he could bully. Thinking like that, he slammed the table nearby where three common civilians were sitted.

*Bang*

The table was immediately broken, and the food now scattered on the floor.

It just so happened that the table the guy broke was the table Torin and his group were using.

Luciana was still holding a fork, and was about to swallow the meat on it when the table was ruined in an instant. She looked at the food on the ground with furrowed brows. It is her first time to eat in a restaurant, and she didn't even get to enjoy it before it was all gone.

Oleander was also disappointed when he saw the wasted food. He glared at the young noble. He look as if he wants to say something, but he didn't speak in the end.

"What? Do you have a problem?" He taunted. Obviously looking for trouble.

Torin just took Oleander towards his back, to avoid a fight.

"We don't. I'm sorry if we have ever offended you." He said.

The noble sneered, "pathetic". He was disappointed when they were not provoked. He turned around again, then completely left the restaurant with a bad mood.

Luciana glanced at the disappearing back of the young noble. She felt that there is something amiss. So she just continued to observe.

The Noble's action really made Oleander angry. "Uncle, are we letting him just like that?"

"Let it pass." Torin said. "The consequences of offending a noble is severe. Even if the Noble's family isn't prominent."

Luciana saw Torin's action as a bit abnormal. In her view, Torin isn't someone who's afraid of provoking a noble. He always have a protective attitude towards them, yet he seems to be avoiding a fight. Acting now or later, Torin obviously do not have any intention to retaliate.

"But uncle!" Oleander complained. His eyes clearly shows that he wants to fight back.

"Stop!" Torin sharply said. The atmosphere turned colder than usual.

Oleander felt Torin's mood now, and shut his mouth. He was really reluctant to leave. He glared at the direction where the young noble went and harrumphed.

'Too arrogant!' he said in his mind.

Torin right now was actually shocked. He didn't expect to see the young noble here. He was glad that the boy didn't recognize him. If he did, then there'd be more problem.

He, of course wanted to protect the children he brought with him, but he also didn't want to hurt the other person. Since the young noble didn't actually harm them, then he could let it go.

Luciana has seen all the facial expressions Torin has made in a short time. Now, she's even more convinced that there's something about Torin and the Mavi guy. She decided to ask him after they went home. Besides, talking here is inconvenient as everyone inside looks at them like a spectacle.

The three are wearing cheap clothes. Although it was clean, you could still guess their humble origins. Everyone looks at them with disgust in their eyes. The three were originally seating at a corner, so as to not catch attention. But with the commotion the noble made, the people started to notice them.

She feels unsettled with everyone's gazes. It's like she's back in the cage. She was the center of attention, and the people looked at her as a source of entertainment. With the familiar feeling, she unconsciously emitted a bloodthirsty aura making everyone looking at her shiver.

Torin also felt the change in Luciana, which made him recover from his thoughts. He went near her and patted her head, making her back to herself.

"Let's go home. We'll eat again here next time." He said to her. Torin knew she was uncomfortable, so leaving the place now is a wise choice.

The influence of being trapped really has a huge effect on Luciana. She can still remember every look the people from the fighting house gave her. Some looks at her with disgust, some with pity, and some with scorn. It really isn't nice to be watched.

'I am no longer caged. I am free.' she repeated in her mind like a mantra.