The Duke and the Prince walked quietly to the shared room they'd rented in the house. Ethan twirled the room key on his right index finger, a proud grin on his face.
"Why did you ask them to get us a shared room?" Felix asked, sighing in frustration, while using his index and middle fingers to massage his sore temple. "Are you trying to ruin our reputation or something? If mother hears about this, you will be face the consequences. Alone."
Ethan scoffed, catching the key smoothly into the middle of his palm. "You worry too much, Lixy," he said, turning to Felix and using the mouth of the key to playfully poke his vexed brother's cheek. Causing Felix brushed off the action as if it were a pesky fly. "Mother won't get mad because she'll understand why I did it."
"We're practically brothers, Felix. We have to stick together. I can't let that sleazy bastard of a 'Commander' send a girl into your room. If news of a lady even stepping a foot in your room, in a slave house, gets out, you'll be done for. So, you should actually be thanking me for my service, dear brother."
The prince rolled his eyes and pulled the key from his brother's hand before walking ahead. Ethan easily caught up, matching paces with his friend. "I want to buy her."
"No!" Felix answered, shutting down his proposal quickly. "We have enough maids at the palace as it is. We just came here to get a new hall cleaner alright? We wouldn't even be here if you hadn't sent the last one out to find forest berries."
"It was a joke. I didn't think she'd actually go into the Dark Forest. I'm innocent. And besides, now that you are busy with all your royal duties, I have no one to talk to."
"Three hours later that poor girl was found dead, Ethan" They arrived at their room, and Felix entered, blocking Ethan at the door. "You are not buying her, end of discussion. If you're lonely, get a dog or a wolf or something, anything rather than a human."
"But—"
"No. End. Of. Dis-cussion. Now go down and get yourself another room. I want no disturbances." Felix warned before shutting the door and locked it with the key, leaving a disappointed Ethan outside.
🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆
Katrin followed quietly behind Nick as the man led her through a series of long corridors before they arrived a very large door. He opened the door, and immediately her nostrils were met with the savory smell of different kinds of delicious scents mixed together.
She went in after him into the bustling kitchen, filled with various workers moving around in harmony, each efficiently and elegantly performing their tasks.
The village girl was amazed. The amount of food that filled the kitchen could likely feed everyone in her town, and there would still be leftovers. Her mouth watered at the sight, and she resisted the urge to rush forward and grab a bite of anything she desired.
Then, two solid claps from who brought her there was enough to grab everyone's attention, including Katrin's who looked away from the food.
"Good morning, Master Nigel," all the workers greeted with half bows as the man stepped into the middle of the room, the young girl following closely behind him.
"Good morning to all of you." Nick greeted them back, a smug look on his face that made Katrin noticed he seemed to have a trill from the power he held. "I expect that preparations for tonight's event are going as smoothly as planned."
"Yes, Master Nickolas," they all answered in unison.
Nick nodded in satisfaction before dismissing them back to their tasks. He motioned for Katrin to follow him, and they entered a door that connected the kitchen to a small room.
Inside the room sat a young woman, around the age of 22 to 25, her attention focused on the papers spread out on the table in front of her. They waited for a while before Nigel cleared his throat loudly, finally gaining her attention.
"Nigy," the woman called as she looked up, a teasing smile playing on her peach-colored lips, "you've finally decided to visit me."
Nigel rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed, and took a seat at the table. Katrin could tell that he didn't appreciate the playful nickname. "I'm here on business, Willow. And I've warned you too many times, stop calling me by that stupid nickname."
'Willow?!' Katrin's eyes brightened upon hearing the name. This was the friend Lucy had mentioned, the one she was supposed to find. The task was easier than she had expected. Willow had dark and slightly wavy hair with dark lavender eyes, her lips held a sinister smirk as she proceeded to tease the slave trader.
"Oh, come on, I'm just having some fun, Nigy." she said, as she giggled and leaned back in her seat.
A low growl from Nigel indicated his displeasure, and Willow realized she had pushed his patience too far. "Alright, I'm sorry about that," she said, raising her hands as a gesture of peace. "I'll be serious now. What do you need from me, Master Nigel?"
She has said his title with such sass that Katrin could sense that Willow had no intention of stopping her teasing, and while the two conversed, she took the opportunity to survey the room.
The room had a spacious, one-room layout. It contained a bed, a dresser, and a cozy atmosphere. Plates were strewn across the desk, suggesting that Willow received her meals from the kitchen, as there was no fireplace in sight.
Willow kicked her feet up onto the table. Her playful demeanor had faded, replaced by a more business-like expression. "Make it quick, Nigy. I am a very busy witch."
Nick rolled his eyes at how untrue those words seemed; Willow didn't appear busy at all. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying the leisure of the kitchen's work without actively participating. However, he knew that for some reason, the slave house wouldn't be faring well without her.
He wished he could take a more forceful approach with the witch, but he needed to maintain a semblance of professionalism.
"The Commander has asked me to tell you to take care this slave. So, feed her well, give her good shoes, then let her stay here with you for a while. Send her directly to the auction house afterwards. Hope you can handle something that simple, Willy."
Willow's eyes turned serious and her eye immediately darkened. "We said you wouldn't call me that anymore..."
"Well, too bad, Willy. You don't get to decide what I call you," Nick scoffed, standing up from his seat and heading for the door. "Now do your job before we find someone else to do it for you. And remember this, Willow: I got you this position, this room, and your precious little job. And I can darn well take it away from you if you don't behave."
Katrin shuddered when Nick closes the door loudly behind him, leaving her alone with the fuming witch who grunts while weaving her hand through her dark hair.
Willow looked up and noticed the fear in Katrin's eyes. She realized that the girl was standing so still that she seemed almost to be made of stone, it almost made laughed at how well she was blending with the furniture.
"I'm sorry about that," she said, her gentle smile returning and her eyes calming. "Please, have a seat."
Katrin obeyed and sat down in the chair Nick had vacated. The chair felt uncomfortably warm, and she could sense Willow's eyes following her every movement. "Nice to meet you, Katrin Clunch, I'm Willow."
"You my name?"
"I know your name Katrin. But not just your name, I know your destiny. I could sense Lucy's potion magic emanating from you the moment you walked in." The witch leaned forward; her gaze fixed on Katrin. "Show me the bottle."
Though uncertain, Katrin reluctantly retrieved the tiny bottle from within her clothing and let it hang on the outside of her dress. Willow gasped upon seeing the potion a small smile settling in her eyes.
Without delay, she reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a small silver bell, ringing it twice. In a matter of moments, two maids entered the room, each carrying a food tray that they respectfully placed in front of the ladies at the table.
Katrin's mouth watered at the sight of the delicious spread before her, she was too stunned she had to confirm if the meal was actually hers.
The moment Willow gave her the go ahead, she wasted no time in devouring the food. The flavors danced on her tongue, a delightful symphony of tastes and textures. Within minutes, she had cleaned her plate.
Now it was time for them to discuss, time for Katrin to learn the truth.
* * *