"Excuse me, sir."
Before the Golden Crucible Restaurant's two heavy oak doors, inlaid with brass ornamentation, a young doorman in a crisp uniform raised an arm slightly, stopping a man and woman about to enter.
The doorman's gaze swept quickly over the two uninvited guests.
They were dressed like typical adventurers, both wearing hunting outfits that combined leather and coarse cloth for ease of movement. At the moment, however, their clothes were covered in mud and bits of grass, and even carried a faint smell of blood mixed with rotting earth.
The male adventurer had tangled hair and unkempt stubble, while the female adventurer's face also bore the fatigue and grime of battle.
Their travel-worn appearance was completely at odds with the gleaming marble steps outside the Golden Crucible, the fragrant potted plants on either side of the entrance, and the elegant, luxurious interior glimpsed through the stained-glass windows.
"Our establishment has a basic dress code to ensure a pleasant dining environment and experience for all our guests."
The doorman wore a professional smile.
"Your attire... I'm afraid it isn't quite suitable. I may not be able to admit you."
"What?!"
The female adventurer's eyebrows shot up at once. The flush left on her face by travel and battle deepened, her exhaustion and hunger clearly fueling her anger.
"We just finished a difficult commission, and we wanted a good meal with the money we earned! So what if our clothes are a little dirty? We won't short you so much as a copper!"
Her voice rose without her realizing it, drawing glances from the occasional passerby.
The doorman's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but his smile remained.
"My sincerest apologies, madam, but those are our rules."
His tone remained polite, but he leaned forward slightly, silently barring their way.
Seeing that