The kitchen was crowded with cooks rushing around to prepare the afternoon meal. There was some discussion about dinner that drifted to Parisa's ears as well. People were chopping up vegetables, stirring pots, roasting meat. All the scents came together and drew a grumble from Parisa's stomach. Her cheeks heated when a few passing staff looked her way. None of them seemed particularly upset at the noise, rather, they appeared amused by it.
Cordelia led Parisa to a small table off to the side, Xavier following behind them. Parisa took a seat and Cordelia disappeared into the crowd of cooks. Beside her, Xavier leaned against the wall. Parisa peeked at him from the corner of her eye or, at least, she thought she was peeking.
"Yes, my lady?" Xavier asked, looking down at her. His voice was pleasant to her ears. It was the second time she'd heard it, the first being when he'd introduced himself earlier. She'd wanted to tell him to refer to her just by name, but she hadn't been able to muster up the voice then.
"Are you going to follow us all day?" she asked.
"Well, I prefer the word 'guarding.'" he said. Parisa frowned. Xavier chuckled and placed his hand loosely on the hilt of the sword that hung at his side. "And yes. The baron assigned me as your guard, my lady. Wherever you go, I go."
Before Parisa could respond, Cordelia returned with a plate of cooked rabbit and vegetables. The smell drew out another growl from Parisa's stomach, though the girl had little care about it this time, her focus entirely on the meal.
The moment the meat touched her tongue, she hummed in delight.
"Is it to your liking, Parisa?" Cordelia asked, though from the way her eyes were dancing with amusement.
"It's amazing," Parisa said before shoveling in another mouthful. A few other staff members looked at her as they passed, each of them seeming to hold back a laugh. "How did the chef make this?"
Cordelia took a seat across from Parisa, leaning her chin on her open palm. The lighting in the kitchen made her dark freckles stand out more. They reminded Parisa of the stars outside. A smattering of light and beauty.
"I'm not sure, but I'll let you know when I ask him."
Parisa nodded. "Please do."
The conversation between them faltered, and all the continued was the sounds of Parisa eating and the everyday noises of the kitchen as life continued. The light dimmed in Cordelia's eyes when she said,
"After you're done, I'll take you back to your room. Lord Astri will be in after dinner."
Parisa could only nod as she continued her meal. The flavor seemed to have disappeared.
When Parisa returned to her room, the fire in the hearth was still cracking and spitting. The sun beyond her windows had already begun to set and her small space was dressed in a warm, ambient glow that eased her fatigue from the day. She left her shoes at the door and slinked towards the large chair. Beside it, on the end table, sat a fresh steaming cup of tea and a slice of what looked to be a strawberry cake. Her mouth instantly watered at the sight.
She'd only ever seen strawberry cake once before. It had been one of the few times her father had taken her into town. While he'd been discussing things with a client, she'd been gazing to the windows of the shops. One had been a bakery and there, on display, was a perfectly cut two layered cake. A thin line in between the two slices had looked light and fluffy like the frosting on top and, within that line were finely cut pieces of strawberries. Her stomach had gurgled at the sight, but she hadn't dared to ask her father for the sweet treat. It would have gotten her a lashing.
This slice of strawberry cake looked almost identical and, for a moment, she wondered if it would have been the same baker. The thought was soon pushed away when she recalled she was no where near that town. Parisa wasn't even in the same empire, for crying out loud.
She pulled the fine white plate towards her, the dainty fork clanking against it as she did. On top of the fine white frosting sat a full strawberry, just waiting to be eaten. Just as Parisa reached out for the juicy looking fruit, her room door banged open. She jumped from her chair, nearly toppling her tea and cake.
"Ah, there she is," the voice sent chills down her spine. Parisa'd heard it only once, but that was enough. She'd dread hearing it for the rest of her life.
The girl turned slowly, her eyes coming into contact with the plump form of Lord Astri.
He was dressed in a fine tailored suit that no doubt cost more money that Parisa would ever see in her life. The jacket was a fine royal purple and his tie matched, the piece of clothing laced with what looked like golden thread. The man's greying hair was slicked back. If his red-rimmed eyes weren't the first indication, the way he slurred his words and stumbled into the room told Parisa the man was well into the realm of intoxication.
"Do you know no manners?" he asked, looking Parisa up and down. The corner of his mouth curled into sneer. "I was under the impression you were trained."
Parisa's throat closed up and she immediately lowered her eyes. She swept one hand in front while moving the other to the back and she shifted into a formal bow. Cordelia had taught her the movement this morning before they'd left her room in case they ran into anyone deserving such a respect.
"I-I greet L-lord Astri of the Astri e-estate." Parisa said, stumbling over her words. Her face heated with shame and her legs trembled, not used to such a movement or exertion. She would have to practice if she didn't want trouble in the future.
Lord Astri clicked his tongue but said no more on the matter. When she heard nothing but his stumbling around, she looked up, finding her door to be firmly closed and the two of them the only occupants of the room. Lord Astri stumbled his way around the small space as if inspecting it. He nodded as he went.
"Yes, yes, this shall do for you." he turned and looked at Parisa, though she could tell he wasn't entirely focused. "Do you know why you're here?"
Parisa's throat closed up at the question but she forced herself to regain control. She was used to this. It was nothing more than work. She'd been doing this for most of her life.
Parisa nodded and walked towards the Baron, keeping her legs from trembling. She rolled her shoulders back and strode with a confidence that was as fragile as a paper house. The Lords eyes never left her and she didn't speak until she stood in front of the man. It took all of her willpower not to gag on the stench of alcohol and smoke. She almost worried about second hand intoxication, though she wasn't even sure that was a thing.
"Yes," she whispered as she reached up and placed both hands on the mans chest. She looked up through her pale lashes, turning the corners of her mouth into a smile she knew most men enjoyed. "I do know, my Lord."
The baron seemed at a momentary loss for words. His heavy gaze traveled from her dark irises to her soft, supple lips. Thanks to Adele's care the night before and Cordelia's this morning, they were no longer chapped and rough. They were soft like silk. Even Parisa had found herself running her fingers over them multiple times today when she hadn't been thinking about it.
The baron's momentary shock didn't last long, his hands found their way to Parisa's hips and pulled her roughly against himself until both their bodies touch at several locations. His head dipped and his damp lips held no hesitation as they found her neck. Parisa's nose crinkled but she bit her tongue to keep from speaking. The sounds of sucking and licking filled the space that had been cozy and welcoming moments before.
"Goddess above," he breathed against her pale skin.. "You really are trained." Lord Asrti dampened a trail lower to her collarbone, only stopping when he reached the edge of her dress. His hands, however, continued traveling down. They traced the silhouette of her body, groped her ass, and fisted into the skirts, pulling them up until the warm air kissed her bare legs. Parisa shuddered, but not in the way the baron no doubt thought it meant. He read it as a means to continue further, not that she thought he'd stop if he knew it's true meaning. "Get on the bed." he commanded and she did as she was told. Parisa turned and walked a step forward, letting her fingers trace the Lord's arm until she found his hand. He released her skirts and they fluttered back down, hiding her legs but not releasing her from the phantom touches that haunted her skin.
Lord Astri followed her to the bed she'd found so warm and welcoming the night before. Now, it looked little more than a prison sentence. She hoped her thoughts didn't show on her features. Even if she had trained hard to master her emotions and expressions, every now and then, some managed to slip from her grasp. The baron was either too intoxicated to notice or didn't care.
Parisa laid back on the bed, letting her dress ride up her legs. Lord Astri ate up the sight, his eyes devouring her as if she were his meal for the evening. Parisa's stomach clenched and she had to look away. Her eyes landed on the door where she knew Xavier was standing just beyond. Her face heated more. All of the servants she'd met today probably knew why she was on the estate grounds. Of course they'd watched her today and greeted her with smiles but what had they been thinking beneath all the pleasantries?
Parisa didn't want to know. She didn't have time to think, anyway. The baron pushed her dress up further until her undergarment showed. He leaned down, trailing another damp line of kisses up her skin, only stopping when he found his end goal. Parisa's heart thundered in her chest and her breathing hitched. He pulled her stockings down in such a rough manner that she heard them tearing in parts. Part of her felt bad for the loss of such fine clothing though, from what she'd seen of the estate, a new pair of stockings would hardly be noticed in anything having to do with finances.
"Oh my, little fairy," Lord Astri said looking up at her from between her pale legs. His eyes were large and hungry. He grinned like a beast ready to consume. She tasted copper in her mouth as she forced her smile to return. "You are exactly what I've always wanted." as he climbed higher over her, his hands traced her inner thigh until they found her center. Her legs tried to pull together, but Lord Astri clicked his tongue and forced her to remain open. He chuckled as he lifted his other hand, letting it caress her face and move hair from her eyes. "We shall have much fun tonight."
Parisa only held her grin and nodded. She lied back and let her Lord take what he paid for.
***
When the baron was finally done for the night and snoring beside her in bed, Parisa dangled her legs over the edge, letting the cold tile floor jolt feeling back into her body. The fire had started to die about an hour ago and now winter's chill had begun seeping through the windows.
She walked, naked, across her room to where her now cold up of tea sat beside her uneaten cake. Her hand clutched at a blanket tossed over the back of the sofa and she pulled it tight around her body before sitting on her chair, pulling her knees to her chest. Her thoughts were silent, though there was nothing peaceful about it. This was the type of silence that tortured her for hours—sometimes even days—on end.
Parisa wanted to cry. She wanted to do or feel something, but all that remained within her was a cold and dark nothingness.
She picked up the plate and fork, careful to remain quiet. The last thing the girl wanted was to awake the baron. Her fork cut effortlessly through the baked sweet and when she placed it on her tongue all she tasted was the ashes that remained in the fireplace.