Soon, the dishes were served: a medium-rare signature crown steak, a pea and meat soup, and a blueberry iced drink.

The young waiter attending to the table couldn’t help but glance occasionally at the dining, light-cherry blossom-haired girl.

It was quite impolite, and explicitly prohibited by the Blue Stone Crown’s employee code of conduct, to gaze at customers while they were dining, but the young attendant simply couldn’t resist.

Those who dined at the Blue Stone Crown were usually individuals of some standing in the capital, either nobles or wealthy merchants, and thus, their manners and etiquette were impeccable.

The young man had worked at the Blue Stone Crown for quite some time and had seen all sorts of young ladies.

Their table manners were always impeccable.

Well, at least in form.

Usually, he found their etiquette to be quite proper and their dining very refined, until he witnessed Vanessa’s dining posture.

Compared to hers, the manners of other young ladies seemed awkward and overly rigid, as if they were merely imitating without truly understanding the essence of proper etiquette.

This contrast made other young ladies seem like pretentious imitations, while she was the genuine article of a noblewoman.

The light-cherry blossom-haired girl slowly cut a piece of steak and leisurely brought it to her petal-like lips, chewing gently.

Every movement, every detail was so natural, appropriate, and graceful.

Not forced, not deliberate, every gesture was elegant and refined, as if every frame slowed down would still be flawless, perfect from every angle.

What was merely a simple act of satisfying hunger, she turned into a form of performance art, every frame, every detail imbued with a unique artistic beauty.

She was the very embodiment of the term “noble lady.”

One couldn’t help but wonder which prestigious family could cultivate such a perfectly elegant and graceful young lady.

“The lady at the next table is truly beautiful… I wonder which noble family she belongs to. It’s strange, I’ve never heard of such beauty in the capital.”

“Indeed. Hey, don’t you think she looks a bit like the goddess?”

“Shh! Don’t say such things. If the Priest heard, they’d surely accuse you of disrespecting the goddess. Who could bear such a charge?” The neighboring diners whispered among themselves.

“But, I’m stating a fact. That lady really does resemble the Goddess of Graceful Radiance. And, if I recall correctly, the goddess also had light-cherry blossom hair and peach-shaped eyes. Could it be…?”

“Enough, enough, don’t speculate wildly. Spreading such rumors is something we can’t afford. The direct descendants of the goddess have long since dwindled. You know there’s no longer a saintess in the Church of Radiance.” One diner glared at his companion.

“I hadn’t even finished speaking. Who’s speculating wildly here? Besides, it seems that the direct descendant of Varelis is indeed in the capital.”

“Really? Are you serious?” The diner looked at his friend as if he were a fool.

“Keep your voice down. I won’t dine out with you anymore if you keep this up. If others hear your words, it would be a great embarrassment.”

“Tsk, stop being cryptic. You know I’m not from the capital.”

“You may not be from the capital, but surely you’ve heard of that infamous mad dog noble, Winnie, right??”

“I’ve heard of him. But are you sure there’s any connection between what we’re discussing?”

“You still don’t get it? That Winnie is the last direct descendant of the goddess Varelis.”

“………Today isn’t April Fool’s Day, is it?”

“Who’s joking with you? Do I look like I’m joking? Go ask around in the capital about that mad dog’s surname, and you’ll see.”

“……That’s truly bizarre. How did the descendant of the goddess end up like that?”

“So, you see, don’t go around saying such things. The only descendant of the goddess is a useless and cursed individual. There are no other descendants. What are you implying by suggesting there are unknown descendants? Are you accusing the goddess for impurity or the past saintesses for impurity??”

“If the Priest heard this and it reached the Bishop’s ears, you might as well forget about ever coming to the capital again!” The diner glared at his friend.

“Alright, I see your point. Thanks for the warning…” The other diner felt a bit scared.

“As for that Winnie, you know how he is, crazy and wicked. He’s done all sorts of evil deeds in the capital, from shamelessly harassing the princess, sending her his own hair and nails, framing his colleagues, hiring assassins to attempt to murder other nobles, to bullying the elderly and stealing candy from slum children. And, and………”

“And what?” The other diner asked eagerly.

“And, it’s said that after being publicly rejected by the princess, that twisted individual became even more deranged! He started becoming indiscriminate in his tastes, keeping young male servants in his villa to vent his twisted desires…….”

“Clink.”

The sound of cutlery being placed on the table made the two diners, who thought they were speaking softly, startle.

They then saw the stunning light-cherry blossom-haired girl at the next table stand up.

“Thank you for the meal~” With a beautiful smile, Vanessa took a gold coin from her purse and placed it gently on the table.

“Ah, are you finished with your meal?” The young waiter, snapping out of his daze, quickly took the money.

“Let me get your change, just a moment!”

“Thank you, sir.” Vanessa replied with a smile.

After the waiter left, her smiling eyes suddenly fell on the two merchant diners at the next table.

“Uh…” The two merchants, who had been engrossed in their gossip, were suddenly captivated by the girl’s enchanting peach-shaped eyes.

“Forgive my abrupt intrusion, but which of you will be settling the bill after your meal?” Vanessa clasped her hands together and placed them gently on her abdomen, her polite tone filled with grace, like the sound of silver bells and flowing water.

“…Ah, ah, it’s me. My friend isn’t from the capital, so as the host today, of course, it’s my…” The girl’s beauty and voice seemed to possess a bewitching charm.

Though he didn’t understand why she was asking, the merchant instinctively answered, then reached for his purse, his expression suddenly changing.

“No, no! Where’s my wallet? Where’s my wallet?!”

“Hey! Don’t joke around like that! You said you were treating today, I didn’t bring any money!” The other merchant panicked.

Forgetting to bring money for a meal wasn’t a big deal, but it was embarrassing enough!

After all, they were respectable merchants.

If word got out that they had to dine on credit at the Blue Stone Crown, how could they face their peers? They’d be the laughingstock for life.

Vanessa watched with a smile as the two men flustered about, waiting a few seconds before pretending to notice something by the merchant’s feet.

“Sir, might your wallet be tied with a golden silk ribbon, embroidered with roses and colored glass?”

“Huh?” The merchant was stunned. “How… how did you know?”

“Because it’s right there, close yet far.” Vanessa covered her mouth with a light laugh.

“Ah?” The merchant then realized and found his wallet on the ground beside the table.

“My wallet! Thank goodness…”

“You’re too careless! You didn’t even notice your wallet falling out of your pocket.” The other merchant sighed in relief.

“Miss, thank you for the reminder! Otherwise, this would have been a huge mess…” The merchant thanked Vanessa profusely.

“Not at all. I believe it must have fallen when you were talking and eating with such big movements.” Vanessa said softly with a smile.

“The goddess once said, ‘Do not speak ill of others behind their backs.’ Perhaps you’ve slighted her, and she’s playing a little joke on you?” Vanessa said in a light, joking tone, her voice gentle and not the least bit offensive.

“Well…” The merchant was at a loss for words, feeling inexplicably guilty under the girl’s gaze.

“Just a jest, no offense intended. Please forgive my intrusion. Now, I won’t disturb your meal any longer.” With that, Vanessa gave a slight bow and gracefully turned to leave.

The two merchants stared blankly at the girl’s departing figure, and from then on, they ate in silence, not uttering another word.