[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: WAVE ~ BROOKE BUTLER]
Oriana walked casually, enjoying the inn's scenery; it was very simple the exterior design, yet the place gave a homely feel. She picked up a blade of grass and held it up while she walked inside until she got to another gate where two women held a big register.
"Name?" One of the women asked.
Oriana furrowed her brows, "Oriana," she said. Maybe they needed her name to take her orders. That was fine with her, as long as she gets to have her chicken.
One of the women raised her face to look at Oriana, "Seems like we are now accepting just anyone."
The statement made Oriana angry, but it was free chicken so she didn't mind. And her dress looked like this because she had ripped it. She wasn't going to explain to them either.
"This one needs a little touch on her face and dress. Apart from that, she looks really beautiful," the other woman added.
This had the princess nodding with a bright smile; she could almost feel the sisterhood bond with this woman who had eyes for beauty. "Thank you for the compliment; I really appreciate your eyes for beauty. Now, can I make my order?" She asked, getting impatient as the aroma of the food made her salivate.
"Order? Is that what you outsiders call it now? That's fine, what type do you like?" One of the women said, checking their guest lists.
Oriana nodded; now this is what she came for. "Let's see, what's on your menu..." She asked them with a bright smile.
The two women looked at each other, not quite understanding what she was talking about.
"In fact, I'll go with what brought me here. Richly sauced chicken, since it's already paid for." Oriana said with a nod.
The first woman chuckled, "You really know your style; that's fine richly sauced chicken it is."
The other woman added, "Why don't you come and work here full-time? I love the way you put the words without really saying it." She said, ringing the bell.
Oriana raised her brows, she wasn't understanding them but she had to smile. She casually rested her body on the table, looking around the place for when her table would be shown to her.
"She's bold too; she'll be good for business." The first woman told the other who nodded in agreement.
Soon two very tall women walked in and came to stand beside Oriana, who raised her brows at them.
"Sorry, can you move a little? I don't look like it but I love ny personal space," Oriana said to one of them, but before she could say anything else, they held her hand and started walking.
"Stop, bring me down!!" Oriana shouted, trying to wriggle herself out from their hold.
The first woman stood up from her chair and watched the new girl, "She even knows how to act surprised; I don't think she's from our town."
When Oriana tried to scream, one of the women covered her mouth with her hand, muffling her shouts.
"You better watch it; Madame Rosalie hates noise."
Oriana stopped screaming, not because she was scared of Madame Rosa-lee or whatever this lady had just said but because she wanted to understand her situation.
"Where are you taking me to?" She asked, now quiet.
"I guess this is your first time, did your family or husband sell you this time?" One of the very tall women asked.
Oriana chuckled; it was more like her situation where her family sent her away to marry the man she didn't love, then she ended up being sold off by her plus one. "I guess it's both."
The two women released their grip on her, feeling sad for the girl. "Welcome to House of Demi-Monde," Oriana repeated the name of the inn to herself. It flowed freely on her tongue.
"Don't worry, if you do well, you can even find a man here that could take you in as a kept woman." One of the women tried to reassure her.
Oriana nodded, now understanding where she was. "What type of men can one find here?"
"All kinds, even most times I heard the Kin-" one of the women was going to spill when the other nudged her.
But Oriana was smart enough to grasp it, The King. Of course it would be her father. She had seen him years ago after her grandmother's death, a woman was brought to the palace as the new governess, but she was just a bed warmer for the king. When the Queen had found out, she cried and threw tantrums for days until the woman was finally removed. Everything was covered within the palace, and nobody heard of it. So, Oriana hearing her father's name mentioned here was no news to her.
"What kind of women do the men here like?" Oriana's hand was now free, as she walked freely nodding her head in approval for the place.
"Oh, talented women, that can carry themselves with class. And of course, beautiful, you already passed on that." The woman answered. When they got to the bath, Oriana didn't wait to be asked; she dipped her leg inside the water.
"Wow, you draw baths better than the palace maids.." her voice trailed, as she rested her head on the bathtub with her eyes closed.
The other woman left, seeing that Oriana was no longer being defiant, while one stayed behind to help her out. The one who stayed behind asked, "You wish you were born in the palace?"
Oriana shook her head, "I wish I wasn't," she sighed, raising her leg inside the water for it to drip back. The woman who didn't understand her reply shrugged her shoulder.
As Oriana got dressed, she smiled to herself. For some reason, the service she got here made her feel happier than the suffocating palace. The ladies here smiled genuinely, chatted away with each other without being worried of class, and nobody bowed to her feet begging for their life to be spared all because they broke a hairbrush.
"The new girl is ready.." After Oriana was dressed she was announced. Other ladies gaped at her, seeing just how beautiful she looked.
"You look like a princess!" One of them chimed.
Oriana nodded, "Because I am."
Others threw their head back in laughter, "And she has a good humor too," they said while laughing.
Oriana shrugged her shoulder, seeing that they won't believe her, she held her gown up and started walking to the room she was led to. Her eyes moved to look around the place; it looked fun, somewhere she would like to visit again.
"This is your first guest; make sure you're on your best behavior."
Oriana scoffed, "I failed in that class," she muttered.
"Hm?" The woman asked, but Oriana waved her off, picking up a small stick she slipped it inside her mouth and walked inside the room fearlessly.
"Good luck on your first day! And be careful of Madame Rosalie; we are all under her watchful eye, the unseen but ever-present ruler of this twilight world." The woman's voice now sounded mysterious.
Oriana cringed at this introduction, rubbing her hands to get rid of the goosebumps that now formed.
The room was beautifully decorated, with the air in the salon hung thick with a heady mix of jasmine perfume. Crimson velvet drapes, heavy with dust motes dancing in a single shaft of afternoon sunlight, shrouded the room in a perpetual twilight. Intricately carved mahogany furniture, plush armchairs, were strategically positioned around the room. The only other source of light emanated from a crackling fire in the grand marble fireplace, casting flickering shadows.
Oriana, adorned in silk and satin that now gleamed in the dim light, noticed the carved double doors at the far end were closed, startling her for a moment.
On a nearby table, a worn deck of tarot cards lay abandoned.
"I don't know how to read tarot," Oriana tapped her finger on her lips.
"Don't be shy..come over," A man's voice was heard.
Oriana squinted her eyes; she didn't notice that someone was already in the room.
She made her way to the bed where the man was sitting, raising her gown enough to make her comfortable. When Oriana saw the face of the man half dressed, she burst out laughing.
The man narrowed his eyes at the girl, "Is this some kind of new entertainment, get undressed I have something to do elsewhere."
Oriana waved her hand, "Before we start, I'll love to read a tarot for you." Without waiting for the man to accept she picked up the cards and said.
"Don't worry I'll just choose," she said with a smile, using the card to cover her face while the man sat there surprised at the girl's behavior.
"Oh, would you look at that," Oriana smiled, "It's the sword..wait, the ten swords? Ten of swords! For free, I'll give you the meaning Minister Cavendish...or should I say father in-law?"