Today, she earned only a few cents from the passersby. Barely enough cents for a slice of bread. Counting it, she went and bought herself some food, and when she returned back to her place, a tall hooded person is waiting.
Her heartbeat increased as she turned around to hide from the person. Minutes passed, and the man had not left yet. He turned around and leaned against the wall, exposing his face to her direction. It was "GEORGE!"Her heart could not be any more full. Running towards him, tears fell down her eyes.
He looked up and welcomed her in his arms. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Words could not express the feeling of guilt in him. It was a tight hug before he took her luggage and led her somewhere. A week of living and sleeping on the road caused her to be stinky and dirty. Following George, they finally reached a place. It appears to be a rundown inn close to the slums.
"We can't be too obvious. The Baron's ordered me to abandon you, and I'm here since the young master ordered me as well. He wishes you well."With a pouch on his hand, he gave it to Letizia. "These are what we've come up with. Use it until we can revisit you. Denis had written you a letter." He says as he hands a letter to her. Talking with the inn/ Restaurant owner, he rented the best room and escorted Letizia there. After finishing his advice on things, he finally left, leaving Letizia alone.
During the day, Letizia was calm, knowing that two people are there for her to rely on. But that changed when night came. Thunderous yells could be heard from downstairs, even if she's on the third floor. On the stairs, she watches as the horror enters her eyes and inscribes itself on her brain. Drunk men and women have parties, grinding themselves on each other and laughing without any reserve. The feeling of unsafeness and regret returned back to her as she returns back to her room and attempts to drown out the noise. Unfortunately, things are not that easy. A few times that night, people accidentally entered her bedroom. Some began doing obscene acts, and she even has to scream and push them away. Using a table and a small cabinet to push the door closed, Letizia was still not calm. It wasn't until morning that she fell asleep.
Days passed, and the pouch of money keeps diminishing. The coins little by little disappeared. A month has already passed, and not a single visit had she received again. At night, she had resorted to working in the inn/bar/ restaurant after being offered by the owner. Although she was only there in the afternoon and night. It was a job she had never expected to go into. For Letizia, serving men with low morals and evil citizens are against her wills and morality, as she was educated not to. Yet now, she chats with a group of people and asks them of their catch.
"Oh, it's a wealthy man, alright." They all laugh as she puts down a mug of beer.
She left as she caters to more customers when she sees a familiar hood. It was similar to George's. Making an excuse to the innkeeper, she left, secretly pulling the hooded person to her room. After locking it with her made-up lock, she asks, "George?" Though, she knows that it is not him. The height and body built were different.
"Letizia, have you forgotten me?" The sweet and melting voice of Denis entered her ears. He pulled her in, causing her to crash into his hard chest. In a tight embrace, they spoke to each other, saying their woes and their current situation. Letizia bitterly smiled. The Baron is now stringent on Denis. He had even sent letters to a few noble families who might be interested in marriage. Truthfully, those are unnecessary. After taking the cap off his head, his dark brown eyes revealed themselves from darkness and enraptured the image of Letizia in front of him. She's wearing less clothing than usual. No sleeves and shorter skirts with a push-up binder. He leaned in, and immediately, Letizia noticed something. "Denis, are you drunk?"
He smiled and leaned even closer. His soft lips grazed hers, then began sucking on them. Confused, Letizia attempted to push him away, yet unfortunately, Denis did a twirl and pushed her against the wall, kissing her even deeper. The taste of alcohol entered Letizia's mouth. Her body became warmer, and the rhythm of the kiss drowned her mind, causing her to focus only on him and the passionate exchange. Things developed from then on, and they were on the bed, doing the actions that must only be behind the doors. Not once has the thought of the consequences, their minds were only filled with each other.
The very next morning, Letizia wakes up with nobody beside her, but two pouches of coins. After her mind cleared up, last night felt like a dream. It's something that she had never expected to do. Nevermind enjoying the deed, looking at the pouch of money on the bed, she felt like a prostitute. There are three prostitutes in the inn. Sometimes, they would also act as servers. It was customary to pay them before or after the action, and with the coins, she felt like a whore. Not a good feeling. Taking it and putting it on her bag, even locking it, she fixed herself and endured the pain in between her legs then proceeded to go downstairs. She's not the type to hide after neglecting her duties, and she is right. The never-asleep inn owner's eyes quickly connected with hers. His eyes are icy yet, at the same time, with emotions. He waits as she walks towards him.
"Do not ever do that again. If you do, tell me honestly so we could prepare substitutes." She was not surprised that he is very accepting. She's heard that this place has been open for 30 years, and he most likely had already seen enough. Nodding, Letizia began working. The owner is actually pretty chill most of the time. That is another reason why she had accepted the job despite the risks. He is not covetous and minds his own business. No doubt that some people come back for these reasons. Letizia is satisfied with her life, recently, she's getting more and more visits from Denis, but something unexpected happened. After the night, he left again, leaving a pouch on the bed, but this time, it was with a letter.
Letizia tore it apart and threw it. Even the pouch was thrown on the ground as she grabs her hair in despair. She curses for minutes straight, making use of the words she had recently learned. "Bastard of the frog king and his rat of prostitutes!" Words she had known spurted off her mouth as she griefs. The owner, the prostitute, and a few more people who rushed to her room were greeted by the scene of mess and disgrace. She had not worn anything as she lay, surrounded by sheets, coins, and other furniture, thrown all over the ground. Nobody said anything like the owner and the three prostitutes immediately pushed everybody away, covered her with the blanket as they cleaned up the room. Nobody spoke, there was just tacit understanding between the four as if this had occurred multiple times enough that they're very familiar with it. After tidying up, they left, leaving her alone as her mind goes through millions of thoughts.