After The Heroine Vanished

4: BLOODY ENCOUNTER

[Content Warning: violence and mention of sexual assault.]

***

"YOUR GRACE, please save Nata! At this rate, she might get sold to those vermin!"

Sonata couldn't help but laugh and clap her hands while watching Lili, the nineteen-year-old theatre actress, perform in front of her and Madam Margo.

Right now, the three of them were in the Madam's dressing room.

It was because Sonata had to doll up in order to blend in as a 'flower.'

[Aka a prostitute.]

The courtesans of the Marigold Pavilion, the group that Madam Margo led in the Red-light District, were known for wearing expensive silk robes.

[Marigold Pavilion is the richest among the five pavilions, after all.]

In fact, Madam Margo was currently wearing some luxurious red feather robe tulle. Thanks to the tulle fabric, the sexy lingerie the Madam had inside was visible– exposing her ample breasts and creamy legs.

[That's the Red-light District's number one courtesan for you.]

But Sonata was wearing a cheap white robe.

[After all, I'm going to pose as a 'flower' in Carnation Pavilion– the poorest and the most dangerous pavilion in the Red-light District.]

She dyed her hair black and tied it in a neat bun. Since she was going for the 'pure and innocent look,' she didn't apply any make-up at all. Thanks to her bare face, she looked younger than her real age.

Moreover, she also used a binder to make her chest look flat.

[The clients of the Carnation Pavilion like their 'flowers' young and fresh. Just by that, you already know what kind of hell that place is.]

Sonata's thoughts were interrupted when Lili fell on her knees, crying.

"Please help us, Grand Duke!" Lili cried, reaching out her hands to nothingness. "Please save our Nata."

Once again, Sonata burst out laughing. "How much did Grand Duke Hexford offer you, Lili?"

Lili suddenly stopped crying, her face as bright as the sun outside. "Three gold bars."

Sonata whistled approvingly. "Ohh. That's generous even for the Grand Duke."

"I know," Lili agreed energetically. "That's why I'm going to give His Grace a grand performance!"

"His Grace is that desperate to make you his daughter-in-law, Nata," Madam Margo teased her. "He's willing to pay three gold bars just to guilt-trip his own son into "saving" you."

Pfft.

That was funny, but not fascinating.

[His Grace already knows about my mission today. But why would he send his son here? Is there a reason why Lord Diether has to see my work?]

The Grand Duke and the king were starting to annoy her now.

[Should I just commit treason and kill them? But is it treason if I'm not from the kingdom anyway?]

"Is this okay with you, Nata?" Madam Margo asked worriedly. "What if Commander Hexford really showed up here to "save" you? You're already taking a huge risk by going undercover alone. Won't the commander just get in the way?"

"Probably. But we're not sure if the commander will even show up," Sonata said, shrugging. "But if ever he does, I hope the commander shows me something fascinating."