The three women took turns ordering, as if they were trying to outdo one another. While occasionally they took turns shooting sideways glares at Amber, as if she were a grave robber. The doctor stood up while the women were ordering and walked around the other side of the table, to sit next to Amber.
"May I have the honor of knowing this enchantress's name?" The doctor said with a lecherous look plastered on his face. His nostrils flared, as if his nose was straining to breathe in as much of her deep floral scent as possible. Amber looked at him sideways and then scooted her chair away from him a little further.
"Screech!" Amber jumped slightly in her seat as the man scooted his chair closer to her.
She could feel his hot breath curl around her as his ragged breathing picked up momentum and his cheeks flushed in excitement.
"Did you know that I'm considered a great man?" He said while breathing heavily through his mouth.
Amber glanced at him. Then looked him up and down, while raising her eyebrow in skepticism. Just then, her tea arrived with a plate of sushi rolls. Amber poured herself a cup of tea from a light blue teapot and took a delicate sip. She sat her cup down, then picked up some sushi with her chopsticks, and slipped it into her mouth.
Doctor Denari watched as she pushed the sushi roll past her beautiful lips and wrapped her mouth around the chopsticks, right before she started to chew. His saggy double chin jiggled as he swallowed with greed glittering in his eyes. He allowed his eyes to wander down her body in an overt way. He didn't even bother looking away when his food was set in front of him. She continued to eat while his eyes caressed her curves and irritation bubbled up inside her.
"It's true, I'm a well known physician within the province and am known as a divine doctor of the Zephyr Sect. People come from miles around in the hopes of being seen by me," he continued. Then reached out his hand to her hair while she drank tea. She instinctively dodged his outstretched hand and tossed her tea in his face. She looked down at her empty cup mournfully and then picked up the pot to refill her cup, while tea dripped down the doctor's face.
His face turned red as the tea dripped down his face and onto his white robe. He pulled out his handkerchief and patted his face dry. However, when he looked back into her stunningly beautiful appearance, he couldn't suppress his strong desire to subdue and claim her as his property. These other women had also bent to his mighty will eventually.
"Rest assured that you will be well taken care of from now on. I have decided that you are now my woman and are now my fourth concubine. I don't have a main wife yet, so if you please me enough, you may be able to take that honor for yourself. Listen up girls, this is now your sister concubine."
"Yes, Lord Husband," they all said in unison while glaring at her angrily.
Amber took another sip of tea while watching this strange play they were putting on. This was decent enough entertainment, since she had no access to her favorite dramas in this life.
"Bang!" Amber looked toward the closest stairway to see a large man laying face down on the floor. He lifted his face up and reached up, rubbing his bright red and crooked nose. He grabbed hold of it and yanked it to the side. "Crack!" He reset his nose and stood up to his monstrous height. If Amber were standing, the top of her head would only reach to his chest. Not only was he tall, he was also big boned. His shoulder length henna hair and dark brown eyes looked like a friendly, but oversized playful dog. He was wearing a simple white tunic with a thin brown leather vest, matching brown pants, and boots.
He lowered himself on one knee and lowered his head to Denari. "Great Doctor, I heard that you're here and urgently need your help. My name is Fudd Hill and my mother is Mabel Hill."
"Let me stop you right there." Denari smiled down at the man and then looked at Amber, while pointing at Fudd. "You see, I'm a great man. Who knows how far this man has traveled in order to be in my presence? My name can be heard far and wide. You wouldn't want anything at my side."
Amber took another sip of her tea and then set her cup down. "Hill, why don't you stand up first and then tell me the situation," she said.
He looked down at her in confusion, but stood up anyway. "Yes Miss?"
Amber poured herself another cup of tea. She must remember to purchase tea leaves from here before checking out. "You may call me Lady Jinks."
He lowered his head respectfully. "Yes, my lady."
Divine Doctor Denari's face turned red, while his double chin jiggled in outrage. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been slighted to such a degree. She didn't appear to take him into her eyes whatsoever!
"Where are you from?" Amber said.
"I live here at the hotel with my mum. She's sick and If she doesn't get better soon, they've decided to throw her out onto the streets. I'd be fine, but she's getting old. I can't bear to see her suffer any more than she already has," said Fudd.
"Please tell me the situation with your mom," said Amber.
"Well, three months ago my mum went on a trip to visit my aunt in a neighboring country. My aunt married a merchant who travels a lot. When I came to pick her up two weeks ago, she had been admitted to Merida Clinic near the shore here in town. She never made it to her sister, because there had been a nasty storm. During that time, a strange illness spread around the ship. When they made port, the entire crew and passengers were quarantined. They decided that it's an incurable illness and say that she will likely pass away soon. No one is allowed to go near them in fear that the illness will spread," said Fudd.
"What are the symptoms of this illness?" Amber said.
Fudd's face paled and a tear trickled down his cheek as he cleared his throat to speak. "Full body weakness, sleeping all day, body covered in sores, large bruises, bleeding gums, bleeding through her skin, orange tinted skin, yellow eyes, high fever, uncontrollable body shakes, and the old whip scars on her back broke open. They said that she should die within the week."
"Now you see here! I never told you that I would treat anyone! I know exactly the illness that you're talking about. It's ghastly and obviously highly contagious! I will have no part in it! I'm also here on a date with my concubines and I don't take kindly to all of these interruptions," he said to Fudd.
Then he turned to Amber. "My dear, I know that you're trying to catch my attention, but you don't need to go through all of this to do it. I'm well aware that women's minds are too dull to understand the medical field and that's alright. A woman's place is to stand obediently by her man and improve the surroundings with her beauty. There's no need for you to fuss anymore, since I will generously allow you to join my other concubines. Women are meant to be beautiful, obedient, meek, produce heirs, and stay out of the way when the men are speaking. You'll need to learn that well, otherwise I'll have to punish you."
Amber looked at Denari and the young women who quietly looked into their laps. He suddenly felt the surrounding air cool by a few degrees as her frozen gaze zeroed in on him.
"You're the first man I've ever seen sleep and talk with his eyes open. It's definitely been a novelty, but I've grown weary of it now. Your games are not nearly entertaining enough, so I'll propose a new game. I will cure this incurable patient with my inferior woman's brain. When I win, you will call me great aunt, kowtow to me in front of all these people, and slap your own face. Also, 'Divine Doctor,' was it? You will write a recommendation letter so that I can participate in this year's medical exams and hand over the deed to one of your clinics. If you win, I will allow you to make one request of me," Amber said.
He loudly slammed his hands down on the table. "Good! Then if you win, I'll also become your subordinate, and you'll become my teacher!"
"No, I don't need such a trashy subordinate. What I asked for will be sufficient. Dare to bet?" Amber said.
"Good! Such a disagreeable woman needs to be broken in properly. If you don't catch this disease, I'll take great pleasure in instructing you on the proper way to behave as a woman. You'll know your place by the time I'm done with you!" Denari said.
He stood up and shook out his sleeves, filled with great outrage. By the time he was done with this blind woman, who doesn't know how to be grateful for his interest in her, she'd be a devoted, and obedient puddle at his feet!
She glanced at him with bored eyes before looking back at Fudd. "I'll need a few moments to prepare and then I'll meet you over there."
Denari grinned and puffed out his chest proudly. "Don't even think about trying to run away. I am a great man in this city, so if I say so, you won't have anywhere to hide! Come along girls, we'll have a great show to watch from the other side of the viewing wall." As he walked down the stairs, he talked to the growing crowd around them. "You should all come join us! This young lady here is going to show me what a real doctor looks like! Ha ha ha ha! This shall be quite entertaining!"
As they walked past her, the women hanging on his arms raised their noses up slightly and appeared as if they were trying to look down on her. The restaurant slowly cleared out as the crowd headed across the street to the clinic's viewing area.