Minnielle ran, her feet barely able to catch her. The walls flew past her as she ran up the stairs and into the Alishe’s hallway. The doors to his room were large and surrounded by gold details, and guards in shining armor stood at attention just at their sides. There, she found a group of maids rushing into the Alishe’s bedroom, and bravely followed them inside.
Minnielle pushed past them forcefully. A familiar face met her on the other side. Minnielle let out a sigh of relief and held Angelique in her arms. “I’m so glad you are alright!” she cheered.
Angelique gasped when Minnielle hugged her. “Is that you, Minnielle? What are you doing here?” Minnielle lifted Angelique’s arms and checked her face. ‘Good, she’s unhurt.’ “I'm sorry if I worried you Minnielle, I never intended to stay the night.” Angelique brought Minnielle’s hands from her face down to her lap and squeezed them with a smile. “I’ll be safe.”
Minnielle choked a bit and looked around. There was a group of maids staring in shock at the two, seeing a noble lady embraced by her maid was insanity. The group was whispering around about not only that but something else. It only took Minnielle a second to understand that all of the maids had seen Angelique cook them a meal just the other day. To those maids, Angelique was a servent from the kitchens, but now she was in the Alishe's bedroom, sitting upon his bed. Angelique looked at them with a confused expression. “What do you all need?”
A young maid stepped from the crowd with a stern expression. “We were ordered to prepare you for the night with the Alishe.” Angelique and Minnielle both stared at her. “WHAT!” Minnielle shrieked, clutching Angelique closer with a sniffle. “No, we politely refuse!”
The stern maid walked forward and pried Minnielle from Angelique. “It is not your place to refuse the Alishe himself. Just follow orders.” Minnielle wiped her eyes and turned to Angelique, who was rather bewildered. “What are they talking about?”
Minnielle sniffled and whispered the answer to Angelique, who promptly blushed dark red and stuttered. “Is it okay if we don't do that…” she whispered. The maid shook her head. “No, my Alishen. We must prepare you now, please, follow us to the bathing room.” Angelique held on to Minnielle’s arm tightly. “Stay with me please!” she whispered. Minnielle dutifully nodded.
…
The crowd of maids assisted in adding flowers and oils to the large tub. It was much larger than Angelique’s old bathtub, more like a large circular pool. The water was far too hot, and the oils smelled strong. Angelique could barely breathe through the steam and fragrance. Though the splashing of water was loud, the voices of maids gossiping still reached Angelique's ear. Minnielle sat at her head, talking to her in a low voice as the ladies prepared her arms.
“Who even uses this tub!?” Angelique gasped, splashing her foot in the water. “Ah, yes. This bathing room was prepared for the Alishen because the Alishen usually sleeps in the same hallway as the Alishe. But, um. We don't.” Minnielle stuttered. Angelique nodded. “I don't mind, I’m not a big fan of extravagance. So, I’m fine with the small tub we have in our hall.” she winked at Minnielle assuredly.
Angelique was brought out from the bath and dried with a towel. She was given lotions and more oils and dressed in an evening gown. As the minutes ticked by she felt her throat start to close. Minnielle shared the feeling. In their one minute alone, Angelique handed Minnielle a small plate of lamb chops with side-dishes and sent her away.
The maids guided her to the room, where the bed had been made and candles had been lit. Angelique was walked in, and seated on the bed, and the maids rushed out of the room and closed the door.
Angelique swung her legs and stared around the empty room waiting for Julian. ‘This is so strange. One moment he wants me dead, the next he wants to take me to bed.’ Angelique buried her face in a pillow. “How troubling,” she grumbled.
The door could be heard opening with a click. Angelique shot up from the bed and awkwardly stood, staring at Julian, who was removing his coat. “H-hello,” she said. ‘GAH I sound like a robot! He’s gonna kill me for that isn't he!’
Julian took off his dress shoes, grabbed some clothes from his closet, and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door. Angelique blinked as he walked by. “Did he not see me?” she said, looking at her hands. After just a few minutes, Julian exited the bathroom with a robe slung on him. He stepped past Angelique and lay on the bed. Angelique whipped around to him, with a stutter. “Pardon, but why am I here, I thought you wanted to-” Angelique let out a gasp as she was grabbed by her arm and was back on the bed, laying beside Julian. “Sleep.” he said, glaring at her.
….
10 Minutes Before
Julian had just finished his dinner and some paperwork. His butler walked into his office with a low bow. “The Alishen is ready, my Alishe.” Julian put down his paper and stood up straight. “Very good, please, open the door for me,” he said, walking towards the door. The butler paused for a moment. “My Alishe, good luck.”
Julian glanced at the butler's face with a bewildered look. The butler looked rather awkward. ‘What the hell is he talking about?’ Julian shook his head and walked to the bedroom, opening the door and walking to get changed.
He was so fatigued he barely noticed the thin woman on his bed dressed in a flowing gown and the smell of flowers. In fact, he was so tired he had entirely forgotten she was there.
Once Julian had finished getting dressed his eyes finally fell upon Angelique. Her dress was thin and made of white silk, draped over her body gracefully. He stared at her for a second and then walked past her, laying down gently. 'Why is she so stiff? Are her clothes too cold?'
Julian turned to see her turned away, the dress revealing the majority of her back. His face reddened slightly and he hastily yanked her down to the bed. "Sleep." he said. 'Show no weakness to her seduction.'
…
Angelique stared at Julian’s eyes. “I’m sorry but I thought we were going to, uh, yknow” Julian stared at her red face. “Stop speaking like an idiot, sleep.” he growled. Angelique shut her eyes forcefully, “Yes, sorry!”
Julian wrapped his arms around her and held her close, once again falling asleep swiftly. Angelique stiffly stared at him, unable to rest. ‘This is so uncomfortable.’ she thought, unable to move. Her back and neck were stiff, and she had been thoroughly embarrassed. 'What a disaster...'
…
Morning came slowly, and Angelique had not slept a wink, instead toying with Julian’s hair to calm her nerves. Julian moved once or twice during the night, startling Angelique, only to find he was still asleep. He had only moved to pull her closer and bury his face into the crook of her neck once again. Angelique had never been more frightened.
The butler once again was the one to open that door in the morning, only to see a sleepless Angelique and Julian with tousled hair. The knights and butler were thoroughly embarrassed and turned away their eyes. Angelique was released from Julian's grasp and stretched her sore bones, and the butler left the two alone hastily. “You are not allowed to leave this hallway for a week,” he said, standing up and walking to his closet. “What?” Angelique stared at his bare back as he put on a shirt. “Just as I said, you cannot leave.”
Angelique stood quickly and planted her feet into the floor. “But I still have work to do, it's already been a month since the contract!” She said furiously. Julian paused in buttoning his suit, then turned to her. “That was your own fault for setting such a short time, now, don't forget, I’ll kill you if you disobey.” He finished dressing and left the room, door slamming shut behind him.
Angelique immediately turned to the window, flinging it open and looking down. 'I can still escape with Minnielle to Rebecca's house again!' The rope she had set out from her last visit was gone. Still struggling, she swung herself out of the window and planted her feet onto the stones with a masterful twist. Her wrist tinged with dull pain, but she continued, climbing downwards in a frantic blur.
For a moment her hand slipped and she yelped out of fear.
After reorienting herself Angelique was about to step down another stone when a shout came from above. The howling wind carried it to her, and she recognized it as Julian. She hurried to climb down faster, but it was too late, he had grabbed her arm and yanked her back up into the window.
Angelique let out a gasp and quickly;y backed away from him “What are you doing! I told you not to leave!” Julian shouted at her, his angry face glaring at her. Although he seemed angry, he was turning to check her wrist every few seconds, as she gripped it tightly. “Please don't hurt Minnielle! Punish me instead!” she shouted, her eyes shut tightly. "I just wanted to see her!"
Julian pulled a small key from his pocket and locked the window. “One week, you can have Minnielle join you,” he said, turning away. The key slipped into his pocket and he stormed out Angelique rocked on her heels, holding back tears and a choked breath.
Minnielle dashed in moments later with a concerned expression. The door had been swiftly shut behind her and locked tightly. “Are you alright!?” she said, rushing beside her. Angelique put on a brave face and sniffed. “Yes, nothing happened. We just slept.” Minnielle let out a relieved sigh. “Have you had breakfast?” Angelique asked, pulling Minnielle to sit in the room’s salon.
“No, have you?” Angelique’s stomach growled. “Actually, I haven't eaten for an entire day.” She held out her hand and formed fluffy pancakes and bowls of seaweed soup. “What a weird combination,” Minnielle said, choosing the pancakes. “Don't judge me, I need something calming for the stomach.”
Angelique placed her empty soup bowl onto the table. “I assume you will be let out regularly? So you can do my tasks for the contract?” Minnielle nodded. “I need your items of identification and a list of things to do.”
Angelique looked around the room for a pen and paper. “Here!” She exclaimed, pulling a piece of loose parchment out and setting it on the table. “My signature, your name, and your instructions. Do you happen to know where our next lady is?”
Minnielle nodded and held out a note. “From Rebecca’s statements, we have them all here.” She said. “Next up, Sumiatra.” Minnielle pointed to a name and an address. “She was a Rinchen, its a title earned my wealth instead of royal favor, so just return her money and estate.”
Angelique nodded and handed her signed slip to Minnielle. “What other forms of identification will allow us to transfer a house over, though?” Angelique rubbed her head. Minnielle shook her head as well. “You need your stamp, as the eldest child of your family you would usually have it as a ring but…” Minnielle drifted off. “The Alishe confiscated it.”
Angelique smacked her forehead. “So what you mean is I can't do anything.” Minnielle nodded with a sigh. “Well, what do we do now?”
…
Lorden Thinsen once again stopped by to drop off paperwork from the castle and idle around. He walked around the halls, listening to the whispers of the maids.
“Oh my! That's shocking! I didn't realize the Alishe would be so vigorous!” one maid giggled to another. A smaller maid chimed in, “I doubt the guard was exaggerating! He says the Alishen looked so tired she seemed half dead! And just beside her, the Alishe was sleeping soundly, with a head of messy hair!” "I hope we'll be seeing a little master running about the halls soon!" An elderly maid stormed between them. “Silence! Idle gossip will be the death of you!”
The maids only spoke more to the head maid saying, "Maggie, you should know the Alishen well, right? Well, some are saying she was the kitchen maid who made us dinner last night, did you recognize her?" The hed maid shook her head. "I've never seen the Alishen, only her hallway's maids have ever laid eyes upon her. Now get back to work and no more gossip."
Thinsen, after hearing what the maids said, rushed faster to the Alishe’s office. “Julian you wild animal! Cant a woman rest!” He cackled, a bright smile on his face. Julian looked up with reading glasses balanced on his nose. “What are you talking about Thinsen. You have gone insane.”
Thinsen nudged Julian with a sharp elbow to the side. “Don't you dare deny it! I just heard the maids gossiping about your night with the Alishen! How risque.” Julian blinked at him. “I am serious Thinsen, I have no clue what you are saying. We just went to bed together.” Thinsen stopped dead in his enthusiasm. “What now? Just slept?”
Julian shook his head. “Everyone seems to be acting strangely for no reason. As I said, all we are doing is going to sleep together.” Thinsen held himself back from flicking Julian's brow. “You must be joking, do you truly not understand?” Julian shook his head. “What did you and the Alishen do on your first night after the wedding.”
Julian thought back to that night. “We…. slept in separate rooms?” Thinsen pinched his wrist. “Aha, so you've never.... when was the first time you've slept with the Alishen.” Julian once again took a moment to ponder. “A few days ago. I was sick, and she stayed the night. That's it. Now, can you tell me why everyone is being so flustered?” Julian said, lifting his paperwork in front of his face once again.
Thinsen took a deep breath. “This isn't something your friends tell you about, ask somebody else, like your butler,” he said softly. Julian sighed. “I don't even know what to ask, but it doesn't matter, it's probably unimportant.” Thinsen pinched the bridge of his nose and inhaled once again. “It may be important to your wife...how long do you plan to keep sleeping with her?” Thinsen asked.
Julian didn't have to think for this answer, saying, “A week, or forever, or never again. Depends”
"That's absurd Julian! What nobleman sleeps in the same room as his wife FOREVER!"
Thinsen seethed a bit inside. “Fine, I will help you, for the sake of the Alishen. I’ll bring some informational textbooks tomorrow.” Julian only peeked out from under his paperwork. “Very well. Now go back to work, the day is yet done.” Thinsens shook his head as he left the room. ‘What a mess.’
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