The King's affection

The walls remain

A week and half later…

A cool breeze blew into the open window, as Esmerelda sat by the windowsill, looking outside. She could see people milling about as they went about their day in the pleasure district. It seemed to be a rather busy day, considering the sheer amount of people on the streets this time of day.

Her legs started to cramp from the position in which she was sitting, and she adjusted herself – wincing as her muscles groaned and ached from the strain she’d been putting on her body these last couple of days.

She looked down at her bruised knees and blistered feet. The heels they’ve had her walking around in had really done a number on her.

The door to her room swung open and Stella walked in, “I have great news,” she chirped, bouncing on her heels.

Esmerelda just stared back at her with a brooding expression on her face, uninterested in whatever she had to share. Considering the place she found herself in, unless the news were that she would be set free, then nothing was good news to her.

“Madam Lee is not particularly happy with your progress thus far, but she said we should at least give you a trial run and see how you fare out on the floor,” Stella was practically the sun, she was beaming so brightly.

“Meaning what, exactly?” Esmerelda asked, internally panicked at having to go out there and serve men who may be groping at her body.

“Meaning that we get to go to the market to get some clothes for you. It’s masquerade Monday today,” Stella chirped excitedly.

“Yay,” Esmerelda replied sarcastically.

“Oh, come on, Rae,” Stella tried, “At least be excited for the shopping part. We never spend our own money for that, you know,” she wiggled her eyebrows excitedly. “Every girl has got to enjoy spending money that isn’t hers.”

“Not if they have to pay it back,” Esmerelda responded.

“Tell you what, why don’t you get ready. I’ll be back for you so we can head to the market. Okay?”

“Can I say no?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, of course not. See youuu,” Stella sing-songed as she left, closing the door behind her.

Esmerelda heaved a sigh, before she turned back to continue staring at the people outside.

---

“Try this on,” Stella chimed, holding up an emerald-green dress coupled with a mask to Esmerelda’s chest.

She reluctantly grabbed it and walked off to the changing room. She took off the clothes she had worn and put on the dress. It was a floor-length flowy A-line dress with a plunging neckline. The bodice was corseted, accentuating her waist and popping her boobs out just right. She examined herself in the mirror – twirling around, not entirely hating the design of the dress, before opening the curtain to show Stella. She was not where she had been sitting originally – right in front of the changing room.

Confused, Esmerelda stepped further out of the room to see if she could spot Stella. She scanned the small store but there was no sign of her. She was about to be a good girl a go back to the changing room when a thought crossed her mind, run.

She noticed a rack of scarves and quickly grabbed one. She hurriedly changed out of the dress and into a grey abaya before covering her hair and face with the scarf she picked from the rack, only leaving her eyes exposed.

She walked to the cashier and told them to put her outfit on the Midnight Muse’s tab. The cashier didn’t even question her because she had seen her walk in with Stella, so she simply nodded and added the clothe to the tab.

Esmerelda stepped out onto the busy street and bolted in the opposite direction from where they came earlier with Stella. She ducked into narrow alleys and took questionable corners – anything to get away from the main street where she could potentially run into Stella and run the risk of being recognized.

Once she was certain that she was far enough, she slowed to a walk to not rouse suspicion. She walked, constantly looking back to ensure she was not followed. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized she was alone.

She ducked and dived, blending in with the crowd, with no destination in mind, just the thought of getting as far away from the pleasure district as possible.

She wasn’t looking where she was going when she hit a wall, causing her to fall on her ass with an ‘oof.’

“I’m terribly sorry,” a male voice quickly said. “Are you alright?” he extended his hand to her, offering to help her up. She looked at his outstretched arm warily, unsure if she should take it.

“I promise I won’t bite,” he gave her a dazzling smile.

She slowly reached her own hand out, taking his and he helped her up.

“I’m sorry too, I wasn’t looking where I was going,” Esmerelda said once she was back to her feet. She scanned the man – boy rather – who had helped her up. He was wearing a black and purple armor with a crescent moon crest with stars. He had striking blue eyes, a sharp jaw with a very light chin dimple, tanned skin, and a buzz cut, but you could tell his hair was dark.

“You’re fine,” he waved her off with a chuckle, revealing a dimple on his left cheek. Esmerelda was mesmerized by him.

“Do you mind if I ask where you’re headed in such a hurry?” he asked when she just kept staring at him.

“Nowhere,” she quickly said, snapping out of her daze. “But thank you, and I’m sorry once again,” she ran off.

Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest as she thought about those gorgeous blue eyes and that dazzling smile accompanied by the single dimple. Was this love at first sight? She wondered.

She was distracted and in her own head when she hit a solid chest again. Only this time, not only did the scarf covering her face come loose – exposing her, but she also recognized the owner of the chest she ran into.

“Found you,” Lester said, a menacing grin slowly stretching across his face.