On another sunny day, while looking up at the blue sky with little to know clouds, an idea popped up on her mind. Recently, she had been too busy attending parties and entering the torture room that she hasn't had a day for herself. Tena has gone to water her flowers, so she was alone.
Calling her, both went to Irene's room. Athena changed to simpler clothing, typical for a merchant's daughter. She informed the butler that she was going and also asked for some allowance which the butler gave after a long stare and after Athena showed the two small knives she brought for self-protection.
She and the Tena left for the commoner's market. It has been two years since she has visited. It felt nostalgic. Skipping along the streets and purchasing products, the hands of her maids were already full. Seeing how the maid was gasping for air as she followed her, Athena was kind enough to offer to sit down in a café. It was the café she's always eaten at whenever she came, and she was familiar with the owner.
"Where do you live?" Athena asked Tena. Tena, not expecting the question, looked up with a confused expression. Athena inquired once more. "Where does your family reside in?"
Tena opened her mouth and reluctantly answered, her shoulders shivering. Athena nodded her head and proceeded to eat her pudding. Tena, this maid, has built up a reflex to shiver whenever asked something by Athena. However, Athena can't really push the blame on her. There have been times when Athena came out with a face covered with blood since the person in the torture room was too active.
It most likely began to haunt Tena when she entered the room without knocking and saw Athena holding a knife, and there were rain and thunder as background. Ever since that day, Tena has stopped stealing her jewelry. It appears she values her life more than her mother's.
Due to this, Athena bought a lot more than necessary. She plans on visiting this girl's home and give the goods to them personally. Athena doesn't want to take the responsibility of indirectly being the cause of someone's death. In the midst of lifting up the spoon to her mouth, there was a loud voice that screamed her nickname. "Lady merchant!" Yelled the owner of the shop.
Athena smiled and looked at the direction of the voice when she noticed the café owner facing somebody by the door. It was not her.
A figure entered the Café with three other people. Who could it be? Naturally, it is 'Athena,' and two other people she does not want to see. The two are viscount's daughters.
Athena scoffed. Two fake followers.
She thought this, but as she watched the Cafe's owner fawn over 'Athena,' it only made Athena's blood boil. What right does she have in manipulating people Athena was close to. Seeing a face so familiar to her be fooled made Athena realize that she has been accustomed to her life too comfortably. She needs to go back and claim what she owns.
'It's best to test things now.'
'Irene' stood up and walked towards where the three girls sat. "Pardon me, you ladies seem familiar?" She asked in a whisper.
'Athena' swept her a glance and smiled. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" 'Athena' looked at her friends to ask who the 'Irene' is.
The two looked 'Irene' up and down and shook their heads.
'The audacity!' Athena screamed in her head. 'Excuse me, you ladies. Shouldn't you be greeting me? Mind your status!'
"Greetings, lady Athena." Athena ignored the two lower ladies. "I believe we have met at Lady Aurelia's party. Irene Wrae?"
Athena saw 'Athena's face change from neutral to shock. Had 'Athena' actually forgotten the person she was the most cautious to? Or had Irene's face change too much? Athena recalled what she had put on her face and realized that she had put too much make-up. Naturally, nobody would recognize her since Irene's usual appearance in tea parties is sickly and without any make-up.
"Oh, lady Irene, I hadn-"
Before this fake Athena could finish her words, 'Irene' interrupted her. "I don't mind it. No need to apologize. I've wanted to say to exercise caution in these streets since there are many robbers, but it seems that it's not necessary." 'Irene' smiled. "Also, be cautious since there might be people who know about your 'real identity.' It's quite apparent to people." She whispered before leaving.
Athena doubt 'Athena' understands the underlying message since her expression didn't change, but this didn't worry her too much. There are many chances to hint it in the future.
"Let's go, Tena." She ordered Tena and left the maid behind to carry her things. Tena leads the way after noticing that they had gone in circles. When they opened the door of the small house, the bedridden mother's figure entered her eyes. The house was so tiny that when she entered, she could already see three other sides of the wall. There was only one room, the living room, and that is where Tena's mother lay. She was lying on the cold floor with only a thin blanket.
The mother was sleeping peacefully, and Athena didn't have the heart to wake her up. She pulled Tena and whispered, "Stay here for three days and take care of your mother. Here is 5 gold. Buy the things you need. It's up to you what you will do, but you must come back after three days." Athena said and gave a small threat. 'If you don't, then you'll be next in that torturing chamber." She pointed at the place where she hid the blade.
After saying that, she left alone. It has been a while since she wandered alone in these streets. The butler was quite generous. He gave her 30 gold in total, and she had only spent 11, including Tena's 5 pieces of gold. While walking about, she saw 'Athena's group once again. Who wouldn't notice a person wearing pink and blue amongst the crowd wearing plain clothes with mostly dull colours?
They had gone into an Auction house. They wore a mask prepared beforehand. A person like Athena, who had nothing to do, chose to follow them. Conveniently, the auction house sold masks, and she was able to acquire one. Wearing what she wore, she was still not given a VIP seat, whereas the three were given a prepared balcony. Athena didn't bother too much with it and listened to the auctioneer. All the items were not very eye-catching. She waited until the first Auction ended, and everybody was forced out of the Auction house. Athena complied, but right when she left, she turned towards another store close to the Auction house. "Where can I buy slaves?" She openly asked with her ask still on. The store manager was surprised but then gestured that it was at the back of the Auction house.
Athena went back and entered the black Auction house where forbidden items and people are being sold. Most of these slaves are usually commoners, but there are some with noble blood being sold. Athena's father might often be nice, but Marquess Denfir still has a dark side. Those slaves at their land were purchased in these markets. The leader of slaves has noble blood.
The Auction still hasn't started, and so, Athena took this opportunity to investigate the inner interior of the Auction house. It was a completely different place compared to the standard auction house. The black house has unique chairs for people, and there are some paintings hung on the walls.
Somehow, it appeared more sophisticated. There was also a bar at the corner. She went and ordered a cup of beverage to fit in with the atmosphere. When she chugged it, her head tilted back and saw two pairs of blue eyes staring directly at her from the VIP balcony. The beer turned tasteless as the man sitting gestured for her to go over.