The Night's Watch brothers' unreservedly coarse laughter was like a bonfire, always letting Jaime, in a daze, briefly forget the grief nailed deep in his heart.
A faint curve touched his lips as he followed the voices over.
"Shalia said I was too fierce last night. Sigh, seeing her tears broke my heart, so I had no choice but to toss her my entire purse."
The speaker was plainly showing off. The bearded man across from him froze. "A few days ago, she said I was too fast. I... I had to pay three extra Silver Stags to placate her."
The surroundings fell silent for an instant, then erupted in deafening laughter.
Another Night's Watchman with woolly curls laughed so hard he pounded the table, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes. "Next time, she'll definitely have some new trick to drain your purses dry. Hehehe. Among the Underground Treasure, she's the craftiest!"
The Night's Watchman who had been boasting immediately glared. "No, my brother, that's slander! Oh, Shalia is the most honest beauty!"
The bearded man nodded in agreement. "Just listen to that name—Shalia. How lovely. She's so gentle, and she understands me so well..."
"Hey, my Night's Watch brothers, most of those girls are using new names." Jaime's voice cut in as he sat in an empty seat.
"Lord Jaime, oh, don't try to shake my love for Shalia."
Jaime shrugged. "Then you must first accept that she loves everyone, devoted Kahn."
The Night's Watchmen burst into laughter again. They all promised to put in a good word for Kahn before Shalia—but only afterward.
"Hey, you bastards! I'll have Shalia tell everyone that you're all useless—fast and small!"
"Hahaha, we'll be more popular than cheese. They like them small and fast."
"Fuck, no wonder..."
Watching the Night's