Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
“Those are flugelhorns,” the red-headed woman remarks, noticing my gaze. “They’re native to Lysenia.”
“Of course,” I say hastily. “I’m Lysenian, so I should know.”
The woman smirks, her crimson lips curving into a pout.
“Yeah, but you’re not from around these parts. Those flugelhorns are crafted in the traditional Old Town style with four valves instead of three.”
I swallow, trying to look knowledgeable.
“Oh yes,” I say with a confident nod. “I can see.”
The woman merely harrumphs before going to the back of the bar. There’s a rickety spiral staircase behind her that I hadn’t noticed, and she looks up before bellowing to the second floor.
“Lily! Come down this minute! You have a visitor.”
Total silence ensues.
“Lily!” the woman screams again. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Get your ass down here this minute.”
Goodness, that was certainly raw. I wasn’t expecting a fine lady, but I also wasn’t expecting a woman who swears like a sailor. Meanwhile, I smile wanly, hoping I don’t look too out of place.
Finally, there’s a clatter of steps, and the blonde woman appears. She’s washed her face so that the tear tracks are no longer visible, but her hair is still a rat’s nest. Her dress has been changed too, and I see she’s now wearing a tightly-laced purple dress with a bodice that highlights her big bust, while also drawing attention to her narrow waist.
“What?” she asks sullenly, crossing her arms over her chest. “Who are you? I don’t know you.”
I manage to smile.
“Um, I’m Matilda, I mean, Martha, from the palace. You left these when you ran off this morning,” I say, holding out the crumpled pair of panties in my hand. “Sorry I didn’t put them in a bag or anything, but you took off and I had to give chase.”
Lily narrows her eyes at me.
“Yes, I saw you following me,” she says in a snide tone. “Who did you say you are again?”
“Martha,” I reply quickly. “I work in the kitchen. I was carrying a jug of water to the Lady Daphne, when I saw you exiting Prince Haakon’s quarters.”
Lily’s just about to answer when the red-haired woman turns on her.
“You dumbfuck,” she curses, rolling her eyes. “What kind of whore are you?” Then she turns back to me. “Lily wasn’t ‘exiting’ the prince’s quarters. She was tossed out on her ass like a common-born whore!”
“But I am a common-born whore!” Lily protests, waving her slim hands about. “I never pretended to be any highfalutin lady! You knew that when you hired me!”
The red-haired woman merely rolls her eyes and puts her hand on her hips again.
“You don’t have even two dimes to rub together, you’re so common. But you know what else common girls have? They have street smarts, and you never got your fair share!”
Lily’s lips tremble as she goes pale.
“Yes, but I tried my best to please him, I swear, Nerilda. Just give me another chance. Haakon was in a bad mood, and I tried so hard but you know how the prince can get—”
The red-haired woman, whose name is evidently Nerilda, merely puts her hands on her hips and glares at Lily.
“I know exactly how the prince can get because he’s been using my girls for months now! And you know what? The prince pays in gold coin. No credit cards, no crypto, no barter, and definitely no personal checks. He pays in cold hard coin, and I’m happy to have it. Now you’ve probably gone and lost our best customer!”
“No!” Lily exclaims, her cheeks going pale. “I didn’t! Just give me another chance, Nerilda. Please.”
At this point, the panties have dropped out of my lifeless fingers because this is something I didn’t expect. I had no idea that Prince Haakon had been using whores. I thought that as a member of the royal family, he’d be wining and dining supermodels, or at least using girls from high-end escort services. Instead, it seems our prince has a taste for filth of the dirtiest kind, and has been canoodling with two-bit prostitutes available on every street corner.
“Um, I’ll just go now,” I say in a small voice, already turning to leave. “Glad I got those panties back to you.”
But then, Nerilda barks, “Stop!” in a voice that sounds like the crack of a whip. I halt in my tracks.
“Yes?” I manage in a whisper. “Was there something else?”
The red-headed woman looks me up and down.
“What did you say your name was again?”
“Martha,” I murmur with a tremor to my voice. “I’d best be going now.”
Nerilda shakes her head violently, her red hair almost coming undone from its elaborate updo.
“You’ll do no such thing,” she hisses, still glaring at Lily. “Especially since Haakon has already called to complain.”
“I can explain,” Lily says again, her blue eyes wide. “I swear.”
Again, I try to make my escape by tiptoeing away, but Nerilda turns back to me, her green eyes almost jade-colored with enmity.