Her sudden movement caused the chair to fall over. She was shaking as she stared at the woman outside. Aspez was also stunned to see the woman.
"Do you know her Miss Elaheh?" Sebastiene asked, his red eyes glued to the woman without prejudice.
"S-she is one of Karciel's people!" She answered shakily.
"Oh?" I raised by eyebrow interested at anything or anyone that is connected to that Karciel.
"She was sent to the whorehouse after Karciel found a new woman." Aspez said, staring intently at the lady outside.
I looked at the both of them and then stared at the woman below.
"Seb, go get her." I instructed.
Athy's head snapped towards me.
"I'll talk to her downstairs." I added, knowing that Athy would lash out at me if I dared to take that woman in front of her.
Sebastiene offered his hand as I stood up and the knight also followed suit.
"All of you stay here with Athy." I instructed them.
I went down with Sebastiene and the Shalit couple who brought me to a table in a corner. Though there was no one else but us inside, I still appreciated their thoughtfulness.
Sebastiene went out to get the woman while the couple went back to the counter to get some snacks and another cup of tea.
"Do you have wine?" I asked them.
"We do, but we do not sell to the young, lady Castellan." Francis answered.
"Bring me the most expensive one, I won't be the one drinking it anyway."
The couple looked at each other and nodded. Cheska went into the counter and pressed something on the wall. The wall opened, revealing a secret stash of bottled wine that were obviously hidden to protect the taste.
She went back on my table and popped open the bottle and the fragrance filled the air inside the tea house. One whiff of the amazing aroma could make one gulp down involuntarily as the red, blood-like liquid slowly filled the glass.
One thing came to my mind.
'I miss drinking alcohol.'
"That is one amazing wine you've got." I commented.
"This is home-made with the recipe passed down in our family. This one was brewed by my great-grandfather fifty years ago." Cheska explained.
"What did you name it?"
"My ancestors named it, Chased Nectar. Lady Castellan." She blushed.
"Beautiful name. Send two bottles of it to the Castellan castle every month, starting today."
She turned red from both excitement and embarrassment as she nodded with pride.
After serving me, they both went back behind the counter and acted as if nothing was out of place.
Sebastiene came back after a few moments with the drunk lady who was having a hard time being upright. When the lady who was walking unsteadily took a sniff of the fragrance, her eyes became wide, like waking up with extra energy! She quickly turned her head everywhere to look for the source until her eyes locked on the wine bottle in front of me. She scurried towards me bumping uncaringly on the tables and chairs. When she reached her hand for the wine, Sebastiene stopped her.
"Please mind your manners in front of the lady." Sebastiene smiled with displeasure.
The lady yanked her hand harshly from Sebastiene's grip.
"Does a lady as young as yours allowed to drink alcohol?" She mocked him. "I suggest you stop her while is still young as she may end up like me."
"I suggest that you do not use that tone of voice towards my mistress." Sebastiene looked at her with a daunting grin.
The lady shuddered and backed off reluctantly.
Sebastiene stood behind me with a set smile again.
The lady fidgeted in front of me, her eyes going between me and the wine. I stared at her in an indifferent manner. She ended up staring at the wine greedily, almost drooling at the sight.
"Why did the young lady ask for this Madam's unsightly appearance?" She asked rather politely.
I stared and her for a few more second before sighing.
"I heard you were once the woman of Karciel?" I openly asked her.
She stiffened for a moment before a scowl appeared on her face.
"Hah! Was his woman. Right! I was once that bastard's woman." She snarled, her eyes glint with hatred. "He found a new whore who stuck to him like glue and discarded me like an old toy."
"A woman as beautiful as you got discarded?" Sebastiene smiled enticingly.
"You have good eyes boy." She retorted. "He is an idiot, taking another woman who couldn't even protect him. He even threw me to the whorehouse for hurting the lowly bitch. Who does he think ran that whorehouse for him? Who took care of information gathering for him? I'll see what that idiot can do without me!"
"He must be so stupid to let someone, as capable as you, go." I tried to lead her on.
"As conceited as he is, he is nothing without my knowledge and connections." She sneered.
I smirked.
"If given a choice, would you like to go back to him?" I asked before I smiled menacingly. "Or would like to get back at him?"
"Of course I'd choose to get back at him!" She snapped. "A person who dared to discard me shall be discarded by me!"
"Then, would you like to work for me?" An enticing smile on my face.