Victoria had completed her inspection of the outer avenue and come back completely stupid. The things she saw, the food she ate, and the clothes she brought back were nothing like anything else in the capital if not the continent. The southern continent was thought to be the biggest change to what they knew as true. They brought food, spices, materials, and technology never before seen. But all those things were exclusive to the nobles and rich merchants. No way someone from the slums would be able to afford such luxuries.
Now I remember. The parchment I have been seeing here is similar- no- identical to the parchment delivered by the Ambranca Union… but they only deliver a limited supply and the process was kept a secret...
When they made it to the floor, which was really the lobby floor, the first floor was lower. It was open, but the stairs went down instead of up. Silver Members were truly basic standards and the lounge for them was the largest. Bronze members would probably want to spend even more money to get to this basic level of standards. The crown Prince looked around the floor and groaned. Women who he presumed were servers wore practically nothing, and the patrons had brought dozens of bouquets. The building was three stories high and one story low. He now realized what this building used to be. Romero also realized this would be nothing at all like the noble salons where women discussed arts and men discussed business.
“This is dangerous… they are trying to bring together two separate worlds… the status quo…”
How many hats does this business intend to wear? One of the knights guarding the crown prince thought. Even the knights could see what this ‘lounge’ was doing. This was not a space-separated by gender and social status. This was a place where men and women, and people of all backgrounds could enjoy new things… if they paid the right price.
According to the receptionist, every Wudu, Tierra, and Umbra night, the second-floor “burlesque” lounge catered to the primal yet artistic dreams of these oh-so-conservative nobles and aristocrats. While never indulging in prostitution, they danced and sang on the stage singing sweet dreams to men and women alike. Because they all could agree, there was something enchanting and intoxicating about these people who had found themselves in this career. This store and this district were nothing like the slums and Red-Light District of the past. Instead of being a dirty little secret, everyone here seemed to have manners, style, class, and education and still chose they seemed freer than anyone in the country.
And it was on this Umbra night that all the free knights and soldiers in the capital found themselves at the beck and call of these sirens. The sign before the double doors had told the patrons the theme of the night. Tonight, of course, was also the night many Knights and Soldiers had a day off. The Royal Knights of the Imperial Family were here, knights stationed in the capital to guard the homes of all four Ducal families had also made an appearance and some regular soldiers from the palace and mercenary side had come out to play.
In this large and stylish building, an unlikely group all found themselves dressed casually but with flushed cheeks as they gripped their belongings close to their chests. All around women wore what looked to be a scandalous attempt at a maid’s outfit. They wore no long skirts but a simple and tight black leotard with a matching bustier that hugged every curve of their bodies, the aprons were snow white and had little to no frills and a center pocket. The garter belts and stockings teased viewers with glimpses of their skin and their necks had chokers. Every girl in this building had a coy but knowing smile on their face. Even the boys wore what looked to be mismatched tights and long songs and cut-off blouses and tight-fitting shirts. The only ones wearing “civilized” clothing were the musicians. If not for the giant and prominent warning signs placed around this floor, none could know what would happen here.
“Your highness…” Riel whispered. His voice was trembling. Out of nerves or spite, even he could not tell.
Everywhere around him, he was faced with improprieties. He was a just and honest knight. So much so, he was the most sought out knight by many of the temples to become a Paladin. Thus, this place was truly far out of his comfort zone. His naturally blue eyes were wary as they sat at their table. Menus had long since been placed on the table. The menu was made of thick parchment much like the one the card they received in the lobby was made of and had the same design pattern as everything in the building.
His two other partners for the mission also seemed out of their comfort zones. Now that they were practically in a safe space, the blank masks they had kept up at the reception desk were long gone and replaced with a cold sweat.
His Highness, Crown Prince Romero Frederick Fantasia, was the only one with a cool expression. He had a duty to know each and every cranny of the empire. Even the dirty ones. However, in the last few hours, hell, days he had spent in Scarlet Avenue, once known as the red-light district and slums, he was confused as to where the dirt was. Not a trace of the old district remained and it left him stumped and cautious.
“Let us order something first to get situated-”
Just as he was about to comfort his guards, the lights went out and the musicians began playing. The band was to the far right of the stage. He had no idea where the district found musicians willing to play here. Little did he know that many musicians who fell into debt or lost their way were in the slums and the new leader had snatched each and every one of them up.
The entire building was a circle. He chose to enter from the right and as such, his seats were on the right. They were not as close and personal as he would have liked, but he chalked that up to the membership level. Romero’s thoughts were all over the place as he began to draft building outlines and business speculations. Everything he thought he knew and what he would find out were way out there and he was having a hard time coping. It was when one of the scantily dressed women came to their table, to perchance take their order, did Romero come back to reality. If only for a moment.
A husky, but feminine voice rang throughout the building. Everyone gasped as the vocalizing echoed throughout the dark hall. All spotlights turned on and were then directed to the center stage. The heavy wine velvet curtains were still low but seemed to hide a voluptuous silhouette that held a magic microphone stand.
Every patron in the hall held their breaths in anticipation, including Romero. Not because of the music, but because of the pressure coming from behind the curtains.
None could guess the figure behind the curtains. When he looked around, he saw all the workers had dreamy smiles on their faces as they gazed at center stage. It was then he knew that the person he came here to meet was behind that curtain and the one singing.
***
The woman behind the curtains herself held a Cheshire smile on her lips as she continued to sway to the intro music the band was playing. It was a slow melody meant to tease. It was a song she never thought she would sing in this world. The skin-tight mermaid dress she wore was sequin in tiny alexandrite gems. Irene had cried at the design and all but blackout when she had Salem try it on.
It was off the shoulder revealing her deep chocolate skin and the low neckline would give all a view of her supple chest. To the left of her hips started a slit that left her toned and long legs out with little to imagine. Her locs were intricately wrapped in a high ponytail and were still long enough to drape down her right collarbone. She was fully decked out to make a commotion. None but her children and dancers backstage had seen her as she hadn’t left her home in the woods in two months. And even they had frozen dead in their tracks at the sight of her. This was going to be the first time she was seen by the public for the first time since the war.
It was worth convincing so many abused and unfairly treated apprentice fashion designers to join my side. This dress is flawless.
She could feel her heart beating rapidly.
I can sing again. A dream long forgotten renewed in a new world.
Her plump lips ceased the humming she had been doing and the band stopped as well. The curtain rose slowly and the patrons all leaned out of their chairs to catch the first glimpse of this mysterious performer in the new and illusive burlesque lounge.
When they were all greeted with the never-ending hem of a mermaid gown some groaned, but they too soon stopped when the image of a milk chocolate thigh crossed over the left one teasingly. Everyone in the building went dead silent with shock. The curtain still rose. And with her pearly white teeth on full view from the wide grin she wore, she belts out in a low sultry voice,
“This is a man’s world…”
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