An hour later, belle had washed up and she joined the women in the brothel to go into the market, She followed behind them ,knowing they were not exactly friendly towards her. Belle was being watched by the guard that Rubin had assigned to watch over her and make sure she didn't try anything funny. After the stunt she pulled in the past, Rubin made sure that she was never alone when she stepped out of the brothel.
Belle looked over her shoulders and glanced at him and he was right there, he couldn't afford to make the mistake the other guard made that had cost him his life, Belle didn't like when someone was harmed because of her but still she badly wanted to get away.
"Do not think about it, the guard said as he noticed how belle looked around the market place as if looking for a route to escape."
" I am only looking at the items being sold, she said as she picked up an apple from a crate"
The guard did not trust whatever belle had to say, after all he had caught her looking around the market many times in a suspicious manner. He would not loose his life because of her, he was well aware of what had happened to the guards ,who were tasked to watch over her in the past, if she was to try anything , he wouldn't hesitate to drag her back to the brothel.
"You must not fill my ears with the same lecture , every time we leave the brothel", belle said as she put down the apple she had picked up from the crates as the stall owner gave her a nasty look of disapproval.
"You will have to pay for the apple that you have touched", no one will want to buy an apple that has being touched by the likes of you," The stall owner said. Belle sighed, as she took a coin from the money given to her by Rubin ,which she had kept in her purse.
She placed it on the side of the crate and picked up the apple she had dropped, she thought to her self that she would eat the apple when the night came.
Belle continued to walk behind the other women but kept her distance , she tried to avoid the stares that came from the people in the market, A lot of people despised the women from the brothel, they didn't like the work they did, but it wasn't like they wanted to leave such a life, it wasn't their choice to be sold into a life such as this, so it was hard to understand why they were judged.
She continued to walk around, noticing that there were many foreigners, what had moved the king to make a truce ,what was life outside the brothel like, she wondered.
She tugged on the cloak she used to cover her face, the only reason it was known that she was one of the women from the brothel was because of her guard, The other women had gone ahead to buy dresses from shop owners that will take their money and also to flirt with any handsome man , or rich man they came across.
Thinking of how that could eventually be her life if she didn't leave the brothel, she frowned, she would have to seduce every man that she crossed paths with.
"Aren't the beautiful, they are the maids from the palace. They are only maids, but they look so elegant when working, If only I could work in the palace all my troubles would disappear."
"It's not so easy to get a position in the palace, so stop day dreaming. hmm, it looks like they accompany a lady of the royal court, but what would a lady of such high stands be doing in the market place?
Belle, looked around seeing the people talk about the maids from the palace, the crowd started getting bigger ,everyone wanted to take a look at the beautiful maids from the palace and who they had accompanied, she also noticed that the women were escorted by three palace guards.
Belles guard immediately grabbed her hand," you will not outsmart me today, stay close and do not wander off.
Belle tried to forcibly remove his hand from her arm, he knew that she didn't like to be touched, "Let go of me," she said, as she couldn't remove his hand by herself, he was obviously much more stronger than her.
Her guard continued to hold onto her in fear that she will run away, he had heard the surprises of how she could slip up and run away if given the chance in a crowded space.
If not that she was Rubin's little pet, he would have given her a good beaten a long time ago ,the guard noticed that the crowd had reduced so he finally let go of her hand to end her whining .
Belle held her wrist were she had being grabbed by the guard, it ached a little and it felt warm, she immediately backed away from him," Do not touch me again" , she said softly.
The guard had no intention of pitying her , he was only doing his job. Get whatever you want so we can return to the brothel, we should be catching up with the other women. She knew that if she were to return to the brothel now, it will take a long time before she would be allowed to step out again, she had to enjoy the little chance at freedom she had.
She distracted her self by looking at the palace maids which were been guided through the market and back to the palace, at how the people called out and talked about them, she would also love to be so carefree in her life.
"Let's go ...- Maya? Belle whispered out of disbelief as the woman guarded by the palace maids passed by her.
The woman reminded her of her half sister who promised to return to save her .Belle immediately walked in the direction in which the woman was headed ,she jumped to look over the crowd were the woman was passing. Belles guard stood right behind her incase she sought to trick him, but he was lost in confusion as to why she suddenly showed interest in a woman from the palace, it was common for the maids to go through the market and belle had never showed any interest, and he didn't know her to be interested in women.
The more belle looked at the woman, the more she kept seeing a familiar face, Her sister , even though she was so little when she last saw her, she couldn't forget her facial features, if this was truly Maya then it means her friend alexander might be somewhere close.
Belle walked faster in the woman's direction, trying to find an opening in the crowd to get a closer look and know if it was truly her. Maya! belle yelled, wanting to see if she would look around if she heard the name." Maya!! she yelled, much louder than the first one.
Belle couldn't help but smile at the excitement that the woman could actually be her sister." Maya!!, she yelled once more.
Just then her guard grabbed her hand, "what the hell do you think yo are doing?"
"Maya!! she yelled again as she ignored the guard.
The last attempt before her guard covered her mouth seemed to work as the woman turned and looked her way, belle was certain that she had been seen because their eyes met. The woman looked confused at first as she couldn't see her face fully, so belle did something risky.
Belle bit her guards arm which covered up half of her face. Maya! she called again, watching as the woman looked shocked and could not believe their eyes.
Belle tried running to her long lost sister, memory of the last time she saw her came rushing back.