“I see, the Dreskins' gatekeeper!"

After delivering her quip, Claudia gasped, hand over her mouth, feigning surprise as if her words were unintended.

The butler's face reddened. He could only appeal to Bennett, "Sir, she..."

Bennett calmly questioned the butler, "So, are you suggesting we cannot enter?"

His words were gentle, almost feather-light, but the undercurrent of his tone left the butler rigid. "No, sir." The butler dared not utter another word.