Nom Nom Nom!! [Open to many]

Was she scowling at him? To be disgraced once was intolerable; it was only because a Counselor encouraged it that he even resisted retaliating, but to have this mere soldier…!

“Because you’re about ready for a bit of straightening up and I just needed to know who I should let know after the fact,” he spat, clearly tensing. Temper, temper. His lip curled into what might pass for more of a snarl than a frown. “You clearly need to learn to watch your tongue. And, eat like you’re civilized!” he commanded.

He hesitated. “… you are being fed properly, though, correct?” As much as she was in need of some proper schooling—what an undisciplined beast stood before him!—if she wasn’t having her needs attended to he had half a mind to simply take her off the Valedge Noble’s hands. Loyalty was to be rewarded, after all. If her attitude came from a lack of trust her superiors would tend to her needs and hunger, he could forgive this.

But only if that were true. She still needed some refining, he decided. "What's your name and rank?" She better not be a captain.

That was the only reason?

See, it was things like this that affirmed for Bernard that you should treat people how they acted. If they were refined and civil, due respect should be given. But, since this girl wanted to behave like a dog…

When she growled, threatened, him… Well—

His hand raised quick as lightning and would be down upon her just as swiftly. Her cheek he’d crash into with the back of his hands, knuckles likely to land upon the edge of the bones which protect her eye if she didn’t dodge, if she proved to just be a low ranking soldier.

They’d garner attention. Plenty. For a moment. Then people would move on. It was just a Noble disciplining a soldier, after all.

--Bernard was rather infamous for his disciplinary ways. If this mere Lotus Karan—why should he know her name when she was a grunt, blessed enough that the Empire should give her a pokemon, a place of power, food—knew he was a Noble, was aware of the fine things he handled and the tight ship he ran…

Then why did the little fool continue to run her mouth like that?

“Hit me back, and I’ll drag you down to whatever passes for a jail cell here,” he warned, certain she didn’t know how things worked. Who trained her? He’d have a talk with them and the Valedge Noble. “I suppose no one’s ever sat you down to explain how things work, but you’re entirely too far beneath me to go threatening me, even if it’s just to explain your ‘power’.” And, really, could she break his spine? He was huge. Bones were some of the most capable and sturdy materials on earth! And, with her bare hands! What a laugh.

But, there was no mirth in his cold blue eyes.

Most of the crowd went on about their business. They knew how the Empire worked. A few gawked but didn’t dare intervene. Goldsmith was one of the least treacherous Nobles, one of the least likely to randomly whirl upon another for the sake of it, but when his temper was tested…

If his aim struck true, the bruise upon the girl’s cheek would be all the evidence required.

His head tilted. Eyes narrowed, lips pursed, mind whirred. She reminded him of that one soldier, the one he dueled, the one who put the scar in his side.

No control over her?

Others were hearing this, had heard this, had seen it all happen. And, she was going to proclaim that anyway.

He had a bit to say, yes, but he heard enough to make his decision.

“You—“ he spoke shortly, no longer paying the soldier any mind. He’d seek out her superior. “Clean this up.” He was speaking now to a custodial servant. The woman seemed hesitant, having seen the confrontation. Maybe she was aware of how both were.

To be caught between two snarling dogs was probably a terrifying situation for such a meek little mouse.

“You,” he commanded, flicking his wrists. “You. You. Follow me.” Witnesses.

He gave Lotus no bow nor a dismissal. He merely turned his back to her and walked away.