Chapter Text
You are tired.
Your body aches after several days of not being able to move properly. You crawl across the ground, which is mostly dirt, and as a result, you get dirty like the other vagabonds.
You try to get up, even if it's just your torso, but your legs won't respond. They are numb from lack of physical activity.
You are weak.
Deep down, you curse yourself for not being born with a silver spoon in your mouth or a damn tiara on your head.
Because if you had been, you wouldn't be in this situation now. You wouldn't even have to think about how you're going to eat tomorrow without having to steal from a street vendor in the red-light district. And what's worse, they don't even look at you with pity, they look at you with contempt, with disgust.
As if you were a damn worm.
Because you don't have a clean, well-groomed face thanks to medicinal plants and makeup, nor do you have a phenomenal body like the three current princesses you've only been able to observe from afar. All you have is a dirty face, accompanied by greasy, mistreated hair. They never go unnoticed because of the shape of your body, so destroyed by bruises. There are also your dirty teeth from eating things that could be lethal to others, but for you, it's your daily fare.
It's disgusting, and you can't stand being perceived as someone so despicable.
All of this made you resent not only those around you, but also the royalty, who never cared about their people. You always heard great things about what they did, yet no one bothered to do the same for their subjects.
The soldiers who passed through these parts? A bunch of bastards who were only looking for pleasure. You still remember the faces of some who spat in your direction, but the stupid man never hit their target
If you had the power to make them feel even the slightest pain you have suffered, you would take it. There is no doubt about it.
Because in your eyes, men are filthy pigs, and you despise them as they despised you. They made you feel as if your value as a human being was worthless.
You lie on your back to look at the night sky and take a breath. Enough to fill your lungs and feel a burning sensation in your throat in the process, so you close your eyes tightly, trying to hold on as you have always taught yourself to do. You are agitated after using what little strength you had left to try to get out of that alley where you survive every single day.
And for the last time that night, you hope you'll make it out. Deep down, you try not to blame your body for the little balance you have left and thus move toward the main street. You grab a solid wooden stick that has served as your cane for the past few months.
Luckily for you, you go unnoticed by most vendors and customers, because this time you are not the only homeless person in the crowd, and you are grateful for that. You were not willing to acknowledge those looks of pity or disgust.
Without a fixed destination, you continue on your way, limping. Lifting your head from time to time to analyze the beauty of certain courtesans who were on some balconies to seduce potential millionaires, you did not deny that most of them were attractive. However, in the opinion of the animals, they would never match the beauty of the three princesses of the House of Verdigris. You cannot say the same, you do not even know who makes up that place.
Finally, you delved deeper into the streets of the Red Light District, seeing so many men with flushed faces, some drunker than others, but all more cheerful than ever thanks to the same result: the pleasure achieved by being with a beautiful damsel.
Disgusting.
Still, you weren't going to shout your thoughts from the rooftops. So you continued in silence, feeling chills from the night breeze so cold that it could cause someone as emaciated as you to suffer from hypothermia. Not far from where you were, there was a fairly long river with the most extensive plains you have ever seen.
Finally, you no longer hear fake laughter, music, and bells announcing things that don't matter to you. You hear the sound of insects in nature, the peace that comes from seeing fireflies fluttering near plants that no one touches because of how poisonous they can be.
A beautiful sight you would never forget.
Slowly, you sit down in front of the river, maintaining a serene face in the face of life's circumstances.
And then you jump.
Without any farewells, without a sad internal monologue.
You just dive into the water, which was as cold as you expected. Your body shakes in reaction to the coldness of this hole. You couldn't bear another day of being miserable, poor, and dirty.
At least you wanted to die without pain. Your body was already weak, so all you could do was close your eyes and accept whatever came after death.
•••••
You feel the touch of velvety, warm palms on your face, gently moving from side to side. You couldn't help but shiver.
The cold that surrounded you is no longer there. On the contrary, you feel the warmth of a room and the scent of lavender candles...
“Can you hear me?” asks a voice you don't recognize.
Even so, you don't refuse to accept it when you feel its genuine concern. It is sweet, like its touch on you.
It is probably the calm before the storm, a preparation for when you receive your divine punishment for wanting to leave this world by your own hand. So you just resign yourself, trying to open your eyes.
You didn't expect to see a woman of enchanting beauty standing over you, her brow furrowed with anguish covering all her features. It's strange, because you think that young woman shouldn't be concerned about someone as insignificant as you. She doesn't even know you.
“Oh, I'm so glad to know you're still alive...”...
What?
“One of the workers found you unconscious in the river, your skin was so cold that they had confirmed your death at that very moment... b-but our lady had called a doctor and they performed a miracle by bringing you back!”
She turned her back on you to look for a small cup of tea, and then you understood something.
They will probably use this disadvantage against you to tie you to a debt that you could never pay off.
You want to cry.
You had done nothing more than give up on this world. You had nothing to lose but your life. Where is the supposed miracle she is talking about?
“Have this tea. The doctor said you should drink it to warm up your body.”
“Thank you...” You cough suddenly, feeling your throat burn at the same time as your nostrils. Another sign that you were drowning. “Could you explain to me how you performed this supposed miracle?”
“We had to take off your clothes and put you in hot water.”
A new voice, this time from someone older. You turn your head just enough to see who spoke to you.
An elderly woman wearing luxurious clothes. You could tell right away that she was someone of above-average status. You knew it instantly after taking a quick look from top to bottom, but the mere idea of it upset you...
“You all undressed me!? Who—?”
“Calm down, girl. It was just me and another one of my girls.” She interrupts you with a dismissive gesture.
Well, at least that makes you feel less upset, but... you don't want to be kicked out so soon, so you kneel on the futon where you were being attended to by the young woman and then lay your head on the floor. Both strangers gasp at your sudden action.
“My apologies, distinguised Madam.” Your leg hurt, but you raised your torso enough to see the woman. “If it's not too much trouble... may I ask who you are?”
“There's no need to kneel. Lie down, young lady.” You obey instantly with the help of the girl who was acting as your doctor, while the other woman takes a few puffs from a rather expensive pipe in her mouth. Probably made of ivory. “I am the owner of this house. And she is one of my courtesans.”
You analyze what she has said for a little longer than necessary, realizing from the older woman's puzzled expression. You are instantly embarrassed, as your face must look haggard and probably lifeless from hypothermia.
“Wait, courtesans?”
“You are in the Verdigris House, dear.”