Chapter-60 A Night To Feast

The mission was officially over.

Frederique leaned back against the plush seat of the Velvet Veil's private lounge, feeling the tension finally ease from her shoulders. The air felt lighter, the strange weight lingering from Crystal's presence now lifted. She shared a glance with Selora and Lira, who both seemed more relaxed, even if Selora's usual composed demeanor barely shifted.

The door opened with a soft click, and the Director entered. She moved like liquid silk, her high heels barely making a sound on the velvet carpeting. Her perfectly manicured fingers held a small black pouch that clinked softly as she approached.

" Ladies," the Director began, her voice as smooth as honey.

" A job well done. Thirty-three coins in total. A bit more than usual, thanks to Selora's performance. Seems you drew quite the crowd during your stay."

Selora offered a smirking half-bow, brushing her hair back from her sharp fox-like features.

" I do aim to please."

Frederique raised an eyebrow but said nothing as the Director counted out the payment... eleven coins each, though the way the pouch felt lighter than expected made her wonder how many of those clients had really tipped extra.

Lira, as usual, was the first to break the seriousness. She clutched her share like a dragon hoarding treasure, grinning wide.

"Dinner's on us tonight, right? I'm starving!"

"Of course you are," Selora teased, tucking her own share gracefully into the folds of her outfit.

"But I'm choosing the restaurant. I think we've earned something special tonight."

Frederique glanced down at her coins. She still wasn't entirely sure how the Fey economy worked... these strange, weighty disks didn't seem useful outside their world, but here, they were more valuable than gold.

----------------------------------------------------------

The restaurant Selora chose wasn't marked on any human map. Hidden behind a wall of twisting ivy, it revealed itself only when the right sigil was shown. A glamour rippled like a veil parting, revealing a cozy yet elegant space built into the roots of an ancient tree. Soft amber lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting warm shadows over wooden tables carved directly from the tree's bark. Fey patrons whispered in hushed tones, the air filled with the scent of spiced meats and honeyed wine.

A grizzled, burly Fey man wearing an apron that looked like it had seen centuries of use emerged from behind the bar. His eyes, dark and deep as tree knots, narrowed immediately as Selora stepped forward.

Without a word, she reached into her coat and revealed a small, shimmering sigil etched into a polished piece of obsidian. The crest of the Shadow Corp.

The cook's frown deepened.

Selora's voice dropped into that syrupy, commanding tone she used so well.

"Feast for three. On the house. And," she added with a smirk, tilting her head toward Frederique, "add three extra servings to accommodate the Redcap."

Frederique blinked.

"Wait, wha..."

The cook grunted.

"Tch. Of course. Shadow Corp, always taking advantage."

He turned, barking commands in a language Frederique didn't understand.

Frederique's stomach growled audibly. She offered an innocent smile.

"I mean… I am really hungry…"

Lira giggled, flopping onto the cushioned bench of their table.

" Red, you always look like you're starving. Honestly, it's impressive. Do you even have a stomach, or is it just a void?"

Frederique feigned a dramatic gasp, clutching her chest.

" Excuse you! I have layers of void. Complex void. Fancy void. And dessert void"

Selora raised a delicate eyebrow.

" You're not helping your case."

The food arrived in grand fashion. Plates of roast pheasant dripping with spiced plum glaze, honey-drizzled breads, bowls of fruit so ripe they seemed to glow, and rare cheeses spread across the table. Three extra servings piled onto Frederique's side.

Lira, already tearing into a loaf of sweet bread, paused just long enough to raise a glass.

"To us! For not dying horribly!"

Selora smirked but raised her own goblet of deep red wine.

"To teamwork."

Frederique lifted her glass of some glittering, fizzing drink that smelled like summer berries.

"To…uh…free food?"

They laughed, the tension of the past days finally melting into genuine celebration.

----------------------------------------------------------

As the feast continued, their personalities blossomed in the warm candlelight.

Lira's bubbly nature was impossible to contain as she hopped from topic to topic, recounting stories of past missions, often exaggerating for comedic effect.

"... and then he turned into this massive squid-thing, and I was this close to getting tangled, but you know me! Fast as a cat, slippery as soap!"

"More like slippery as a prank," Frederique snorted, pointing her fork at her.

Lira grinned.

"Pfft, same thing."

Selora remained the picture of elegance, sipping her wine gracefully as she watched her teammates. Though reserved, she occasionally dropped a biting comment with perfect timing, often aimed at Lira's tall tales.

"So the squid-monster just let you go?"

Selora's eyes sparkled with mischief.

Lira pouted.

"You wound me, Lady Selora. My honor!"

Frederique, meanwhile, was having too much fun with her food, experimenting with how many grapes she could fit in her mouth at once while Lira cheered her on. Selora simply shook her head, unimpressed yet mildly entertained.

As the night wore on, Frederique felt a strange sense of belonging. The Velvet Veil was complicated, the supernatural world even more so, but here... among these women... it felt lighter.

Safer.

Like a real team.

Eventually, as the plates emptied and the lanterns dimmed, Selora gave a satisfied stretch, her fox-like grin softening.

"We did well during those three days."

Lira yawned, leaning against Frederique's shoulder.

"Yeah… I guess we make a good team, huh?"

Frederique smiled softly, her eyes lingering on both of them.

"Yeah… we really do."

And for once, the hunger inside felt quiet.