Courtesans - English version

4 I'll Kill You First

The red-haired woman, with a pouty mouth and a considerable amount of nonchalance, but still with some interest, scrutinized the girl standing in front of the mirror. She watched as Dina diligently brushed her hair, running the wooden comb through her perfectly straight strands over and over again, then leaned closer to her reflection, anxiously inspecting the faint, pinkish tint in her hair. Finally, she turned toward the woman with the glaring red hair and only now seemed to notice her, though she still didn't realize that she had been watched the entire time. She was still preoccupied with herself.

"Oh, Siss, you're here? If I'm not mistaken, you have our shared earrings, right? I'd like to choose a pair for tonight."

"Mm-hmm," hummed the woman. Reluctantly, she slid a simple wooden box toward Dina, then remarked sarcastically, "Is it something special today?" Her tone carried not only curiosity but also a hint of mockery.

Dina looked back at her in surprise, lowered the bluish gemstone earring from beside her face, blinked a few times in confusion, but then turned back to the mirror.

Siss stepped closer to her, as if she wanted to help choose in a friendly manner, and looked into the mirror. However, Dina found the woman's close presence stifling.

"Do you want this light blue one? For you... well, it'll suit." she said, then abruptly closed the box and, slowly swaying her hips, walked away.

Dina frowned as she watched her leave, then looked back at the mirror. She placed the bluish gemstone earrings in both ears and examined them once more. She saw herself beautiful and didn't let Siss's petty jealousy bring her down. However, she needed to keep in mind that she couldn't trust the brothel's number one courtesan. Dina saw the woman heading upstairs, possibly toward Harod's bedroom.

Siss was likely Harod's informant; the half-elf clearly learned secrets and tricks from her that no prostitute would have willingly shared with Harod. Dina just wasn't sure how detailed Siss's reports were.

Once she was ready, with brushed hair, freshly washed, wearing her green velvet dress and the blue earrings, Dina headed toward Harod's office. She practiced how to smile joyfully and cheerfully at the half-elf as she walked down the hallway. She knocked.

A disdainful voice answered, "Come in."

Dina fluttered in with feigned joy and closed the door behind her. Harod couldn't hide his surprise at her presence; he looked up from a parchment, then let it curl up and stood as he saw Dina approaching the desk.

"I just wanted to thank you for your generosity," Dina chirped, standing in the middle of the room with her hands clasped behind her back.

Harod raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Well, well..."

"Yes, that's right. Until now, I've been so..." she pretended to search for the right words, "...so nasty and withdrawn with you. But you really do give me everything. I have food, I have a place to live... without you, I'd be on the street," Dina pointed to the building. She was actually telling the truth; if not here, she would indeed be living on the streets, but she was far from feeling genuine gratitude. The price was too high.

Harod nodded, waiting curiously for her to continue.

"I'd be happy to go to the inn tonight as well. I don't want to shirk my duties anymore. I want to truly belong to you and apologize for until now..."

"So" Harod interrupted, perhaps finding the sudden flattery too much. Besides, who knows what Siss had told him if she had passed by. The man stepped closer, scrutinizing Dina. "I'm glad to hear that. And if I may ask, what brought you about this strange change? Not long ago, you were very reluctant."

Dina put on a puzzled, innocent face, shaking her head with her mouth wide open. "Well, I just... you know... I realized that being a prostitute might not be so bad after all. Yesterday, I had a very kind client who introduced me to the true mysteries of physicality, and... It wasn't bad at all with him, so..."

Harod stepped even closer. "Really? Tell me more. I'd love to hear some juicy details about how you became such a little lamb all of a sudden." He smiled contentedly, placing his hand on the girl's shoulder, then slowly sliding it down her arm, examining her. "Or, you know what? I have a better idea. Show me how lively you've become. After all, the shopkeeper has to try out the merchandise."

Dina forced herself not to recoil, even though she could already smell Harod's stale breath. With a fake smile on her face, she simply said, "That's true."

"Who was this kind client of yours?"

"A refined man, maybe a politician or something like that," the girl chattered innocently, glancing at the ceiling. "I'm not sure exactly."

At the word "politician," Harod paused and turned pale.

Perubia and the entire region were divided by two major parties, the Veilers and the Guifol party, who were constantly battling each other. The Veilers got their name from the black veils their soldiers wore, and the party members were mostly descendants of impoverished landowners or newly wealthy merchants climbing up the social ladder, who resented being considered inferior to the born nobility. The party was often accused of being aggressive, violent, and vulgar.

Of course, these accusations mostly came from the Guifol side. Even their name carried their attitude: divine. To emphasize their rank and wealth, their soldiers wore light gray cloaks. Members of this party, by their lineage, considered themselves superior, viewing the Veilers' upward ambitions with natural disdain.

And the rift was widening. The members of the two parties often clashed openly in Perubia's main squares, plundering peaceful commoners, and the factionalism soon spread from the capital to the surrounding areas and cities as well. The public mood was rapidly deteriorating, some people harbored hatred toward anyone associated with a party, while others feared them. One thing was certain: it wasn't advisable to cross someone who was a recognized member of either party in Perubia or its surroundings. Their methods were no different, executing people legally in the name of their party.

"A politician? Guifol or Veiler?"

Dina shrugged indifferently. "I have no idea. I don't recognize them," she lied.

Harod glanced aside anxiously.

At that moment, there was a knock, and a guard entered the office. "Harod, someone's here to see you."

"Who is it?"

"A messenger boy from Tharoden."

The half-elf wrinkled his nose. "What does he want this time? I'm not giving anyone girls on credit; he can forget that!" The half-elf hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "We'll continue this later," he tossed the sentence to Dina and ushered her out into the hallway. Dina, with a somewhat vacant expression, complied. As the door slammed shut, she watched the departing guard and Harod with her old, determined gaze.

To try the new goods, Harod? You won't get it. I'll kill you first.