The man impatiently freed his arm from Marie's grip. Marie also quickly let go, certain that if she didn't, just the force of his tuck would have sent her flying. But she still maintained the intense eye contact with the other, pushing through any fear growing inside her.
A minute passed, neither of them backing down, although Marie could already feel a trail of cold sweat running down her back.
"Hahh-", finally, the silver haired man relented with a sigh, withdrawing his intense glare, "Fine, show me those skills of yours."
With this he turned his back and walked towards the stairs. Marie quickly followed him, flashing Sarah a smile and a quick wink as she passed her by.
Sarah's thoughts were unknown, but her eyes remained glued to the slender back of this strange 'uncle' of hers, as she also made her way through the main hall.
The silver haired man led Marie up both staircases, bringing her up to the third floor of the brothel before coming to a halt in front of a door that stood in stark contrast to its surroundings.
A luxurious, heavy-looking double wing door with beautiful ornamental carvings all over stood imposingly next to all the other cheap sliding walls. Lining it was a pair of tall vases adorened with feathers so stunning that Marie wondered whether birds like that actually existed.
The man pushed the door open, immediately a waft of the same aromatic Marie had smelled all around the building entered her nostrils, but it was much more intense this time. It was a very heavy smell.
They entered the room, Sarah had also caught up in the meantime.
Inside stood several pieces of furniture created with the same material as the door, but not nearly as ornate. The ground was covered by a thick rug of various animal skins and wools, but the true eyecatcher of the room was a tall, elegant chair covered in shiny black scales that coldly reflected the soft candle light of the lanterns in the room.
Marie was utterly speechless, she had never seen such a lavish room in her entire life, let alone entered one.
"So? What are you standing around for, start your presentation," the man said to the overwhelmed Marie, sitting down on the chair.
Marie instantly awoke from her daze and faced the man with a business smile once more.
"Ahem, I need make up, how can I show my skills without the nessacery tools?"
"Tsk," the man clicked his tongue in displeasure before directing Sarah a glance and motioning her to go.
"..."
Sarah silently left the room.
And Marie continued to stand in the middle of the room, keeping up the business smile on her face despite feeling slightly guilty towards her niece. But she simply couldn't take out the make up she had stolen from the estate earlier for obvious reasons.
It didn't take long for Sarah to return, several different tubs in hand.
The man waved his arm, telling Marie to start.
He didn't have to tell her twice, immediately Marie took the tubs from Sarah and opened them. After assessing what she would be working with, Marie got to it.
Facing her niece, about to put the first brushes of powder on the other's face, Marie was reminded of a long past memory.
'You can use me for practice anytime you want, it's always so fun to try the different looks!'
Marie's lips curled into a sad smile after recalling these words, but she quickly shook it off, instead grinning reasuringly at her icy niece.
Mouthing a 'Don't worry, your uncle got this!' before getting to work.
She added brush stroke after brush stroke and just like that the ten minutes Marie had claimed passed.
The man got off from his seat.
"Let's see the results."
He walked up to duo, obviously not that interested in the results.
Everyone had seen make up before, so most beastmen didn't really care about it. At the end of the day it was just some powder and oil smeared on the female's face.
But now, it left him stunned.
Otherwordly.
That was the only word he could come up with to describe what he saw. He continued to speechlessly stare with an open mouth.
Marie glanced at him, feeling satisfied.
She wasn't a professional make up artist for nothing!
But she hadn't actually done that much, her niece was already exceptionally beautiful, with her flawless skin, a slightly long, straight nose, intensely green eyes and elegant lips, although her face was practically frozen in an almost unnoticable, permanent scowl.
With the make up added however, it just enhanced her icy beauty image.
Especially with the green, silvery eyeshadow catching your attention before the dark eyeliner led you directly to her unrelenting gaze.
Funnily enough, now, with make up on her face, Marie finally realized how different her sister and Sarah actually were, but even then, Marie could still feel that certain connection. And it just strengthed her conviction that Sarah was really her niece.
"You convinced me, let's discuss your terms."
The man's sudden annoucement awoke Marie from her thoughts and she immediately started smiling again.
"That's great!"
The man nodded with a satisfied expression on his face, like someone stumbling over an unexpected treasure.
He waved for Sarah to leave, so Marie and him could discuss privately.
And Sarah left wordlessly once again, taking the make up tubs with her.
"Please sit down," the man pointed at a seat while he walked to the black scale chair and sat down himself.
Marie obediently sat down on the seat he had pointed at.
Soon, the man began his introdcution.
"My name is Raegn, I'm the owner of Dropping Blossom Brothel," Raegn said leaning back in his chair, watching Marie enthusiastically.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Mario, I've only recently entered town, but I plan on staying for a good while..."
Raegn nodded thoughtfully at Marie's response.
"So you are looking for a place to stay and a way to earn money? I can offer you both as long as you agree to my requests," Raegn focused his gaze on Marie, " You can only use your skills on the females of my brothel and you can't teach them to anyone else, you also have to keep it a secret that you are the one doing it."
Marie almost winced hearing him call the female beastmen simply 'females', it reminded her of a certain movement of mysognists back on earth. Although she probably wasn't much better, going around calling them 'female beastmen'...
But Raegn just continued, oblivious to Marie's qualms.
"In turn, you will receive a private room here on the third floor that you can use however you like, as well as a salary of 30 beast coins a day. This should show you how much I value your skills. What do you say?"
Even before Marie could answer, Raegn added: "Also, you can ask for any one of my females anytime you want."
He gave Marie a sly smile.
But Marie wasn't interested in such a condition at all, instead she stiffened slightly before calming herself answering with a disbeliefing, bright expression.
"Really?! You're too generous, I'd gladly accept your offer!"
Raegn laughed, leisurely stretching out a hand to seal the deal, forcing Marie get up from her seat and walk over just to accept his handshake.
But Marie didn't mind this obvious demonstration of superiority, after all she wasn't hoping for a pleasant cooperation from the very start.
Far from it actually.
Small theater:
Raegn: With this, I will crush my competition!
Marie: And I will crush you!
Raegn: What?
Marie: What?