One Last Time

Ch.10: Decision

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Chapter 10: Decision

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Year 839

"I already fucking told you that I don't need your help!"

"Too bad I am still going to help you,"

It was only a broken leg, but Nicholas found himself being treated like a baby by a brunette. A young woman who's name was Maria. Yes, a few days ago he found her to be the most beautiful woman in existence. Or at least the most beautiful one he has seen in a tavern.

"Why are you even helping me? I am a stranger," Nicholas asked. He complained like a child. His superior officers must be angry at him for not showing up at work.

"Since I was young, I was trained to pleased men," Maria said as she placed some soap on Nicholas' red hair. "I was taught that the only way to be happy was to marry a good man ... So I was taught, to cook, clean and other things to entertain a man ... So, I guess that's why."

"Oh, so it's really a custom ... You are not helping because its the right thing to do. It's because you were taught that helping is what you are supposed and expected to do," Nicholas was good at reading people and the brunette was just like many women he had met before. Pretending to be nice but not out of the goodness of their own heart.

"Maybe,"

"Oh, at least she is honest," Nicholas thought.

"But I also like helping people from time to time," the brunette began to massage his hair and although it was a nice act, Nicholas wasn't one of contact.

"But why?"

A few seconds passed in which the brunette was quiet as if she was in deep thought. It was a lovely morning and the small house lets in a good amount of sunlight. And even when Nicholas didn't want to admit it, he was enjoying it.

"There's not much to do around here if you are a woman," Maria said, "Also ... I think helping people is fun!"

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He didn't know what about her intrigued him so much. Even after he was healed from his injury, Nicholas would go to her house and see her. Every day after work without no-fail and they had developed a friendship of some sort. They never established it like that, but it was one of those silent mutual understandings.

And Maria appreciated the company and Nicholas liked the food she would make for him. With time, Nicholas learned a lot from Maria. Like the reason why she became a tavern dancer, how she escaped from home and how this has been her fifth year as a saloon girl. He understood her, the reason why she couldn't quit her job. Because what else could she do? She had no education, everyone in Wall Maria knew at this point she was a tavern dancer, meaning that she won't be able to get a proper job. Besides, dancing gave her good money to support herself. He didn't judge her.
He admired her.

"Why don't you get married?" He asked as he ate his pasta in the small wooden dining table. "Just get a fat-rich man, there's a bunch of those and you don't have to dance anymore."

"And be unhappy for the rest of my life?" Maria asked as she watched him eat the food she made. "I prefer to show my legs to them than to sleep with one of them."

She had a good point, and Nicholas thanked her for the food as he finished eating the pasta.

"Also, don't act stupid, I know," Maria said and at that Nicholas looked at her with an amused look. "You've been having opium, haven't you?"