Chapter 89: What will it be?
Anastasia’s hands shook as she stood in front of a door, with Madame Minerva standing beside her. She said,
"I thought I needed to be trained before I would be expected to service anyone." She was sure she would get at least a few days of respite before being pushed into servicing men. She offered an excuse, "The wounds on my back haven’t healed—"
"For someone who didn’t speak, you certainly have much to say," Madame Minerva interrupted her, their voices low. She said, "Normally this doesn’t happen. But Mr. Langston holds a prominent position in the court and has been instrumental in expediting orders through the Elder ministers. I mentioned that you were inexperienced, but he still wants you. So it seems you may have to learn the ropes quickly. The first time is scary, but you will get used to it."
Anastasia’s body refused to open the door and step inside, where the sleazy man waited for her. In a state of panic, she vehemently protested,
"I am not ready for this. I want to go back to my room!"
However, she managed to take only a single step back before Madame Minerva grabbed her arm in an iron grip that made her wince in pain. The older woman glared down at her,
"How dare you refuse to service him when it is your job now? Be grateful that you are here instead of scrubbing footprints from the floor, or else it won’t be long before your head hangs on the wall, mounted on a spear."
Anastasia despised terms such as courtesan and concubine, which fueled deep-seated hatred within her towards the woman standing before her and the inhabitants of the palace. She gritted her teeth and said,
"Then I would rather choose death than stoop so low." She knew she was digging her grave by saying this, but she was left in a tight spot. Whichever option she chose, it wasn’t one she wanted, and no one understood her predicament.
Madame Minerva let out an exasperated sigh before looking up and down the new courtesan. Her lips twisted in displeasure, and she stated, "It looks like the lashes you received yesterday weren’t sufficient. King Maxwell was kind enough to elevate your position, as was Queen Maya, and instead of being thankful, you rebel. I have seen enough individuals like you in my time, and I have remedied their defiance. I cannot wait to rectify your behaviour."
Suddenly the door before them opened, and Mr. Langston smiled, looking at the young courtesan. He commented, "I thought I heard some voices."