Enslaved Sister Harem - Chapter 15
We ended up in a two-story inn that was supposed to be of a good quality for delegations and dignitaries. Usually, the guards would have been stationed at a nearby cheaper inn, but I only had four with me and I wanted to slowly make them dependent on me. By fronting the inn costs and drinks, these men were steadily eating out of my hand. In time, theyβll grow accustomed to the bounties I give them, and after putting fear in them as a will user, that meant respect and loyalty would follow.
βWhat is the meaning of this?β Mother suddenly stormed up to me, her face in a pouty expression.
βWhat is the meaning of what?β I asked carefully. βTaking a sip of wine a table over from the men, who were quickly on their way to becoming drunk.β
βYou have rented a large room for the men, and then three additional rooms.β
βIt is okay. I suspect that Bela will not be staying the night. Aeryn can bunk up with Baba, and you can have your own room.β
βIβm the grand magus!β Baba said while burping, downing her third mug of ale. βYou wish to *hic* make me share a room with a servant?β
βThat isnβt the issue at all!β Mother snapped. βRather, who will be sleeping with you tonight?β
βEh? I will be having a room to myself tonight.β I shrugged.
βButβ¦ sweetieβ¦ youβre in a strange city.β Mother whined. βYou will be scared if Iβm not there with you, I just know it!β
She happened to speak these words in the middle of the inn. At that point, I had my hood up and was hiding my face. Aeryn, Bala, and Baba were all aware of the behavior of my Mother, so they basically ignored it. Even the drunk bodyguards were tone deaf on the issue. It was the remainder of the inn that burst out laughing. I couldnβt help from blushing, even though I knew that most of these people would flee in terror if the saw my real face.
βHey, body, do you need your mommy to put you to bed!β a certain drunk guy walked up, eyeing my mother somewhat lewdly.
She responded by shooting him a cold look. Aerynβs expression, surprisingly enough, was just as cold. I was used to her looking that coldly only at me. I was wondering if I should be jealous. Instead, I stood up and turned my back to the man.
βBala, Iβd like to see the city. The other men are drunk.β
Bala was standing nearby but had not sat down nor joined anyone. As a result, she had been targeted a few times by drunks who wanted to hit on her. She had sent them scrambling. That didnβt stop her from making an annoyed tsk and then getting up to shadow.
βSweetie?β Mother asked tearfully.
βIf mother stays here and acts good, Iβll bring her a present.β
Momβs face turned from one of worry to one of glowing obedience. Several of the men sitting around the common room could only gawk. I could see the question on their minds. Was I a mommaβs boy or was I her handler? The reality was regrettably a bit of both. Aeryn stood up to follow as well. I was a bit surprised by this, as I didnβt ask her to come.
βHey, buddy, donβt walk away, you coward.β The drunk man lunged for me, I blocked his hand with my arm, but the motion caused my hood to fall back.
The commotion brought most of the eyes in the tavern. There was a gasp. The drunken manβs mouth fell open and he fell back a couple of steps.
βA-a-a devil!β He cursed.
The expression of each person was different. Some looked shocked. Some looked angry. I shook my head put my hood back on.
βLetβs go,β I commanded Bala.
The two of us walked out of the inn. It was probably best to stay away for a few hours until things settled down. I wasnβt looking to create any conflict.
βWhy is my lord walking out through the sitting in the evening hours?β Aeryn demanded.
βWhy are you following me?β I answered with a question.
βYou have ordered me to stay close to you at all times.β She spoke matter-of-factly.
βIs that soβ¦β I responded, feeling a bit surprised that even now, she was following what I said. βIn that case, I will answer your question as well. Iβm going shopping.β
Aeryn blinked. βThe guards will go out tomorrow and make sure to purchase all of the goods we will need for the next leg of the journey.β
βTrueβ¦ but not everything theyβll buy is stuff I particularly want. At the very least, how can I buy any souvenirs.β
βSouvenirs? What is a souvenir?β Bala had taken an interest in what I said and asked.
βItβs an item you purchaseβ¦ to remember where youβve been.β
Bala frowned. βWhy do you have such trouble remembering.β
βItβs not about remembering. Itβs about having a reminder. Sometimes, when a place is meaningful to you, it is nice to have something that reminds you of it.β
Balaβs brow furrowed. βIs this place memorable to you for some reason I am unaware?β
I let out a weak laugh. βWell, the night is still young.β
This didnβt help Balaβs confusion any better, but I wasnβt in the mood to explain anything to her. Part of me just wanted to visit the shops and see how they compared. While it was true, I could afford to buy just about anything I wanted, and there were maids like Aeryn I could send out to buy it, where I grew up, there was a joy in just being able to pick something out myself.
βBala, what kind of place does your sister like to eat?β
βHuh?β Her confusion suddenly flipped into shock and surprise. βS-seriously?β
βWe have a date tomorrow, remember?β I said and then mumbled quietly. βAnd if I let her pick the place, sheβd probably set up a trap to kill me in it.β
Aeryn glanced over at me. βI thought you were just joking about going on a date with Saria. She is a woman who wants you dead.β
βIβm out walking with you this evening. That is like a date.Β You certainly want me dead.β I shot back.
βNow, you are truly making a joke,β Aeryn said flatly.
βIf youβre rather, you can come with us tomorrow. I could set you up with someone. It could be a double date.β
βWho would Master dare to set me up with?β Aerynβs voice turned slightly dangerous.
My eyes crept over to the girl dressed as a boy on the other side of me.
βHuh?β Bala looked over, realizing the pair of us were staring at her.
βYou foul devil!β Aeryn cursed.
βYou could do worse.β I smiled.
βIf youβre going to continue to have such flights of fancy, then I will make sure the door is left open for your mother tonight,β Aeryn growled.
βAhβ¦β I winced. βMy apologies. I went too far.
Our conversation was going too fast for Bala. She had her brow furrowed. She suspected she had been the brunt of some joke, but she didnβt understand what. She opened her mouth, ready to start a fight, but I abruptly stopped.
βWeβre here.β
The two girls looked in the direction I was pointed. Before the three of us was an accessory shop. I nodded to the pair of them and walked into the shop. Bala remained at the door, while Aeryn stoically followed me inside.
The jeweler looked up from a magnifying glass he had on a stand along with a glowing stone and then smiled. βAhβ¦ customers. What can I do for you this evening?β
βIβm looking for a gift,β I responded. βJewelry for a beautiful lady.β
Aeryn frowned nearby, looking at the cases full of various rings and necklaces with a dismissive glance.
βEnchantments?β He asked.
βNo, but valuable. As valuable as she is.β
βHow sweet.β The man smiled, but I was pretty sure he meant to say βhow profitableβ.
βI thought youβd want some kind of surveillance on her,β Aeryn spoke up.
βIf I did that, she would certainly find it out.β I shrugged. βThis is a rare opportunity to make herβ¦ wellβ¦ ally might not be the right word. At least, not plotting against each other.β
βYou truly plan to go through with thisβ¦β Aerynβs voice took on a tinge of disbelief. βI thought that you had plans to take revenge on her. Instead, I see you plan to seduce her.β
βWhy not? I asked as I looked casually through the cases of jewelry from one to the next. βIt worked so well for you.β
βI told Master to quick with the humor. Youβre bad at it.β Aerynβs mood seemed to be deteriorating quickly.
Ah well, since she was there, I could use her. I picked out various things. I tried to get things that looked like stuff I had seen on Saria in the past. I mostly stuck to necklaces and earrings. Although, it probably would have made more sense to use Bala as my model, the likelihood of her being willing to do it would be unlikely. As for Aeryn, she still followed my orders, even though she was glaring at me most of the day.
βThat one looks particularly beautiful on her.β The man smiled, complementing a simple piece that wrapped around Aerynβs neck. It was a chocker style neckless which had leather mixed with diamonds. It looked very fancy but fit well with her maid outfit.
βIβll take it then. Iβll also take this, this and these.β
I picked out several options. Having money in this world was very nice. Up until now, I hadnβt spent very much of my personal wealth, which meant I had money to go around. This was mostly because my mother had used her monthly allotments to care for me herself, that meant that mine remained in reserve.
Aeryn reached back to take off the necklace. βDonβt bother. I bought it for you.β
Aerynβs hands froze. βYou said you were shopping for Saria.β
I nodded. βAnd thanks to your hard work, I selected several things that may work. As for that, it looks best around your neck, so leave it there.β
Aerynβs hands slowly dropped from her neck. She was looking at me, but her face was as expressionless as ever. I couldnβt make heads or tails as to what she thought about the whole thing. When we reached the entrance, I pulled out a jewelry box and handed it to Bala.
βWhat is this?β Bala asked.
βIt is an item I purchased for you. It is an earring.β
βFoolish boy, Iβm dressed as a man, I canβt be wearing earrings.β
βI didnβt say earrings, I said earring. Itβs a single one.β
She opened it, and there was a single earring, jade and silver wrapped in a close-fitting, yet elegant shape.
βIβve seen some of your elf men wear an earring in the left ear, so itβs not a girl thing.β
Balaβs expression turned slightly ugly. βThose earrings are given to a man by his lifemate when he makes her pregnant. It is an indication that he is a father, and a symbol of their bond as mother and father.β
βReally?β I responded with a raised eyebrow. βThen I probably shouldnβt give the other to Saria then, huh?β
βYou shouldnβt have given this one to me!β Bala snapped, pushing the earring box back in my face.
I help up my hands and didnβt take it back. βWear it. It will further sell your disguise as a man then. Furthermore, you wonβt be hit on by any women if they know you have a child back home.β
βYou wonβt take it back?β Bala demanded.
βIn truth, I think you would look nice with an earring.β
βDo you wish to die now instead of later?β
βActually, now that I think about it, I heard there is a trick. If you ever been locked up, you can use the sharp part of an earring to open the lock. You can see this as a tool I purchased to help you do your job.β
βIs that so?β Bala looked doubtful but seemed to be taking the bait.
I let out a breath of relief as Bala finally started to calm down. She didnβt put the earring on, instead, sliding it into her pocket. How was I supposed to know that elves had such customs? I just thought it was a fashion thing. Well, these two girls didnβt appreciate what I picked out, but I had a clear idea of what Baba would like.
βAlthough,β I said, in a store three buildings down, while I looked through lane after lane of bottles. βIt does feel a little sad buying alcohol for a minor.β
I asked the man what was their tastiest, and then bought his recommendations. Of course, I didnβt owe Baba all that much as of yet. Her present would wait until I really needed her to do something for me. Other than that, I located a small cafΓ© and reserved a place for the following day. I also ordered a bouquet, as flowers seem to work on girls no matter what world. I gave a single rose to each of the girls traveling beside me. Aeryn smashed hers on the ground and stepped on it. As for Balaβs, she disposed of it when I wasnβt looking.
Finally, it was time to head back to the inn. The light was starting to dim, and I didnβt want to be caught outside in the dark. The city may be considered the last safe place before the wilderness, but that it was perfectly safe within the walls. The last thing I needed was to be assaulted or mugged. I had kept my face on the down-low since entering the town. The only reason I had exposed myself going through the front gates was that I thought it would be worse if I tried to sneak in. I also wanted to rumors of my arrival to go around, so while people knew a devilkin was in the city, they didnβt necessarily know where.
Well, that was the intent, except that I was seen in the common room of our inn. Upon my return, I saw a large mob of people outside the inn. Sneaking up behind the mob, I listened in.
βThere is a devilkin staying at this inn!β Someone shouted.
βBring him out of here and kick him out of the city!β Another demanded.
βHang him!β
The innkeeper looked panicked and was shaking their head. βHeβs not here right now. Please, guests. If I knew he was a devilkin, I wouldnβt have let him in my doors.β
βWe should just burn down the inn!β Someone shouted.
βNo!β The innkeeper cried. βPleaseβ¦ if there is someone to blameβ¦ itβs the gatekeepers! Theyβre the ones that let him get into town. Yesβ¦ itβs not my fault, you see?β
A few people agreed with him, but the majority of the mob was out for blood. I could only let out a sigh. I had really thought the news would have traveled. If they knew I was their prince, they might be uneasy, but they wouldnβt be at this state. Perhaps the noble had purposefully shushed the people around the gate to cause me further trouble. Thinking back, I actually realized that this would be something he would do. A slight miscalculation on my part.
Without hesitating, I walked forward until I was in front of the inn. Aeryn and Bala followed behind me silently. Bala would cut down every person here if I ordered it. She had no particular love of humans anyway. As for Aeryn, I didnβt know how she felt about the hate that I received. At least, she probably thought I deserved it.
I pulled back my hood, my grey skin instantly standing out amongst the crowd and their torches. A few gasped as they saw me. However, I didnβt give anyone time to say anything stupid. My only desire was to set everything straight as quickly as possible.
βI am Lord David, Prince of Pria. I was allowed through these gates with the expressed permission of Lord Stebe. Since you speak so fondly of hangings, who among you would like to be hung first for treason!β
The mob turned to dead silence as my words were allowed to sink in. A few of them looked like they wanted to argue back, but who else could I be but the prince. After all, I was a devilkin who was allowed into a city. I had to have some noble lineage. Even though I was hated here, the people could only grit their teeth and bear it.
The crowd didnβt end with a sudden explosion, but with everyone turning around and leaving, their teeth grinding and their unfounded rage unsatisfied. Some lingered, but a few stern looks was all it took until finally everyone gave up and the mob was extinguished.
I turned to Bala. βThis inn will not be safe tonight.β
βThat is not my issue,β Bala responded. βYou should have stayed in the keep.β
I pulled out a small vial and dropped it. Balaβs eyes followed and then widened as she realized what it was. Before she could do anything, my foot slammed down and the vial was smashed under my feet.
βYou bastard!β She cried out.
βLetβs see if you can resist staying the night away from my inn now,β I said, turning away from her and approaching the innkeeper, who was looking at me with fear and consternation.
He wanted to kick me out of his inn more than anything, but that would definitely be the last thing he ever did. He was stuck between satisfying me and satisfying his town and his own prejudices.
βIβm sorry for the trouble my presence causes,β I said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
The man shook but didnβt respond back.
βI will compensate you generously for tonight and tomorrow.β
Even though I said this, we both knew the truth. After I left, his inn would have a reputation for harboring the devilkin. His clientele would drop permanently and he may not even survive that long. My presence meant that he would be going out of business shortly. I planned to give him enough to be able to buy a new inn, however, heβd probably have to leave this city and set up somewhere else. Even though I was a Prince, this wasnβt the capital. People out here had never seen me and had only heard rumors. They were far closer to the devilkin, who were very real in their hearts.
I didnβt stick around the common room. That event had put a sour feeling in me and I just wanted to lie down with a book. When I reached my room, I instantly noticed a note on the door. I opened it and glanced at the words on it. They were somewhat elegant, but the content was just a single line.
Stay away from Perang.Β
And another mystery presented itself.