𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 ✦ 𝘳𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭

-02

So you could be anyone tonight

There were no strict rules to follow or expectations to fulfill. Tonight, you could live a little, even for a few hours, as rack up as much experience as you could before you return to the duchy.

Bawdy shouts and whistles snapped you out of your own mind. A woman in red sat on the edge of the table next to the one you left earlier. She wore a gown made of scraps of red satin and gauze that barely covered her tights. One of the men grabbed a fistful of the diaphanous little skirt.
Smaking his hand away with a saucy grin, she lay back, her body forming a sensual curve, her tick, blonde curls spilled across forgotten coins and chips. " Who wants to win me tonight?" Her voice was deep and smoky as she slid her hands along the waist of the frilly corset "I can assure you boys, i will last longer than any pot of gold will"
"And what if it's a tie?" One of the men asked, the fine cut of his coat suggesting that he was a well-to-do merchant or businessman of some sort.
" Then it will be a far more entertaining night for me" she said, drawing one hand down her stomach, slipping even lower to between her-

Cheeks heating, you quickly looked away as you took a sip of the champagne. Your gaze found its way again to a man you recognized as a guard rose from a table, turning to a woman wearing a white mask like yours. He extended a hand to her, speaking words too low for you to hear, she answered with a nod and a smile before placing her hand in his. She rose, the skirt of her lilac-hued gown falling like liquid around her legs as he lead her from the room toward the only two doors accessible by guests.
The right one led outside while the left one led upstairs where Rona had said all manner of things occured.
The guard took the masked woman to the left.
He'd asked.She'd said yes. Your attention lingered on the door long after it had closed. Was that another reason you have come here tonight? To...experience pleasure with someone?

You could if you wanted to. You overheard conversations between the Ladies in Wait, who weren't expected to remain untouched. A nervous flutter beat in your chest as you forced yourself to take another sip of the champagne. The sweet bubbles tickled the back of your throat, easing some of the sudden dryness in your mouth.

Truth to be told, tonight had been a spur-of-the moment decision. Most nights, you couldn't fall asleep until it was nearly dawn. When you did, you almost wished you hadn't. Two times this week alone, you woke from a nightmare, with screams ringing in your ears. It felt like a harbinger.

Drawing in shallow breath, you glanced back to where you've been looking before. The woman in red was no longer on the table. Instead, she was inthe lap of the merchant who'd asked what would happen if two men won. He was inspecting his cards, but his hand was where hers had been heading earlier delved between her tights
Oh, my.

You pulled away from where you stood before your entire face caught on fire. You drifted into the next space that was separated by a partial wall, where another round of games was being played. You were unsure of what to do. You could join another card game or strike up a conversation with any of the numerous people who lingered around the tables, but you weren't all that good at making small talk with strangers. There was no doubt that you'd blurt out something bizzare or ask a random question that would make little sense to the conversation. Maybe you should just head back to your chambers. The hour had to be growing late and-

A strange awareness swept over you, a tingling sensation along the back of your neck and intensifying with evey passing second.
It felt like being watched.

Scanning the room, you didn't catch sight of anyone who's paying much attention to you. Unease blossomed in the pit of your stomach.

"No need to be agitated, it could be my imagination" you muttured slowly turning toward the entrance

"Why, hello there"

Startled, you turned at the sound of the voice. A woman stood behind you- one of the ladies who worked here. One that was utterly beautiful.
Her midnight hair hang low before her shoulders. The red gown she wore was sleeveless, cut low across her chest
"I'm sorry?" You said unsure of what else to say "Do i know you?"

Her red-painted lips curved into a smile "No, i know you, little one"
A wave of shock rolled through you as your grip tightened on the the slippery champagne glass "I don't know what you mean-" You touched your mask just to make sure it hadn't slipped.

"Your mask is just fine" she leaned in, her voice lowering "You are Duke Balfour's younger daughter, aren't you?"

"What are you? A seer?" You spoke crossing your arms over your chest

"Don't worry, little one. Your little secret is safe with me" she chucked, lightly touching your cloaked arm.

You stared at her for what felt like eternity before you recovered the use of your tongue. "Why would that kind of secret be safe?"

"Why would it not?" She returned "What would i gain by telling anyone?"

"You'd earn the favor of the duchess. You'd be well compensated. Isn't that enough?"

"Oh, believe me. I have no need of a favor from a noble, especially her"

Especially her?

Your gaze sharpened and zeroed in on the beautiful woman. She titled her head "as i said, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to me. Him? That's another story"
"What do you mean by him?" You asked

She moved to the side as the main door opened as a sudden gust of cool air announced the arrival of more patrons. A man walked in, and behind him was an oh-so familiar face, He was dressed in an elegant suit of clothes, more loosely tailored than the tight-fitting, the easy drape of fabric did not obscure the powerful musculature beneath.
The chandelier glitter slid over the shiny dark scarlet surface of his hair. The thick locks had been clipped much closer to the shape of his head.

"Mag?" Your eyes widened in disbelief. It was Magnus Heinrich. Your best-friend. What was he doing at the Red Paradise?