The whorehouse they moved to was nicer, cleaner, newer, fresher. The girls let out squeals of joy as they explored the building. Alea and Feri step gingerly into the house.
The manager instructs them to pick a room and they hurry to pick a room beside each other. It isn't too hard since all the girls picked rooms far from both of them. If they're hurt, they don't show it.
They are mandated to decorate the place to make it more luxurious because the new customers are going to be better than the last ones.
Alea and Feri pick a spot and begin decorating the place. They play, make jokes and giggle just to pass time as they worked.
They finished late in the evening and retired to bed after a light dinner. The opening ceremony was the next evening and though none of them were looking forward to it, they were proud of their work and they loved the upgrade.
The next morning was possibly the worst for Alea as a loud screeching woke them all up. It was even worse than Madame Zima's voice and more nasally.
"What the hell is this?" They rushed out of their rooms to see the person who had screamed. She wore visibly expensive clothes and had a royal hairpin on. Her mouth was twisted in displeasure and she tapped her feet impatiently.
"What is this?" She inquired from the manager. He flinched and was sweating heavily. The girls had never seen the manager scared before so, they took pleasure in it, secretly.
"Consort Liyu, I asked them to decorate" the manager replied meekly. A loud sound and a red mark on the man's face showed what happened next. The jaws of the girls almost dropped when tears formed in the manager's eyes. Thankfully, all of them were smart and kept themselves in check, lowering their eyes.
"This is NOT a whorehouse and the prince has no use for whores" she spat in a venomous tone, causing all the girls to flinch.
"This is a pavilion and from today, all of you are courtesans. Where's the mage?"
"Right here" Feri answered quickly. Consort Liyu looked her up and down critically, before asking her question.
"Hope all the girls are free of diseases, because that was your job"
"Yes they are. I gave them all regular checks. I'll do that again today and heal anyone who's sick"
"Better. Learn manager Zue, from someone more useful than you. Disgusting pig"
"Take all these decorations down and the ones in your rooms. There is already a team coming to decorate the place already. Manager Zue will lodge you all in an inn till the pavilion is ready. There, mage, you'll carry out all the tests and make sure everyone is ready for work.
Manager Zue, if I see one mark on their bodies, I will dismember you, piece by piece. Now, all of you, get moving!"
They all scrambled from her presence, took their things, and left the place. They followed Manager Zue to a nearby inn and he lodged them in, two to a room.
Feri set up her kit and Alea helped her assemble all the herbs she would need.
"She's scary. Scarier than Madame Zima. I didn't think it was possible" Alea said with a shudder.
"She's most likely a noble. There are lots of people in this kingdom scarier than her. Perhaps, her husband, Prince Lee, is scarier than her by far. I've heard things from drunken nobles that show the prince may be more than what he seems"
"I'd rather avoid him"
"You'd do well to. So Alea, what's your talent?"
"I fuck things up to the point they are extremely useless?" Alea replies with a shrug. Feri rolls her eyes.
"Be serious Alea. What can you do? You know what a courtesan is, right?" Alea nods.
"You know they have to use an art to impress the customers. The other girls can dance, paint, and sing. I'm sure the consort will still bring people to train them in the arts but let's establish what you can do"
"I'll only say if you do"
"Fine! I can enchant people with my magix and potions"
"That's so cool. Do you mind enchanting the toad so we can run away?"
"It's not that simple Alea. The slave brand prevents us from harming our masters and using magix against them"
"I hate brands"
"So Alea, tell me, what's your talent?"
"I can sing" she replies quietly.
Feri's brows furrow in confusion.
"I've never heard you sing before. I don't believe you. Sing for me"
"Not here. Somewhere much private. My voice has the same effect your magix has; hypnosis"
"Okay. After we're done here, we'll sneak into an alley. I'm sure I saw one not too far from here. It won't affect us with the save brand because we won't be too far from the manager"
"Okay"
Feri looked outside of her room to see the girls all in a line.
"First person can come in now" she says and begins her testing.
Alea watches as she works dutifully and wanders if Feri would be able to handle her truth, the whole truth.