Chapter 329: The New House of Roses (1) The Building
The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the hills of Grafen, illuminating the open site where the new House of Roses was to be built. Four women stood together, gazing at the vast expanse before them, each lost in thought as they imagined what their new home would look like. The breeze was soft, carrying the scent of the nearby forest, and in the distance, the silhouette of Lyan’s castle loomed like a silent guardian. The laughter of nearby villagers echoed faintly, the sound of new life and prosperity blossoming in the Barony.
Belle, Alina, Xena, and Josephine huddled around the area where the first foundation stones would soon be laid, their expressions a mix of anticipation and excitement. This wasn’t just any house—they were building the new House of Roses, a courtesan house, but much more than that. It would serve as a refuge, a base of operations, and a testament to Lyan’s generosity. The four of them had been through too much together to treat this lightly, and with Lyan’s approval and a significant budget of 250 gold coins, they had the opportunity to create something truly special.
"So," Belle began, her voice thoughtful as she pushed a lock of her wavy pink hair behind her ear. "I was thinking we should have a laboratory. A proper one this time, not just a small corner in the back like before. There’s so much I want to experiment with—potions, alchemy, and... well, certain substances." Her eyes sparkled with the excitement of possibility. "It would be perfect. I could finally do my work without interruptions."
Alina rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. "You and your experiments, Belle. Last time you nearly blew up the kitchen with that concoction of yours."
"That was different!" Belle retorted, a playful pout forming on her lips. "It was a simple miscalculation. Besides, Lyan said it wasn’t that big of a deal." She shot Alina a knowing look. "And he said I could have what I needed for my studies."
"Of course, he did," Xena chimed in, crossing her arms over her chest. Her crimson hair shone in the sun as she stood confidently, her body language always direct and unbothered. "Lyan can’t say no to you when you bat those eyes at him."
Belle blushed but didn’t deny it. "Maybe. But you know it’s for the good of the house."
Josephine, who had been quiet, chuckled softly, drawing the attention of the others. She stood with her arms relaxed at her sides, her purplish-red hair tied back, exuding an air of calm authority. "You’re all getting ahead of yourselves. We need to think practically. The new House of Roses should have the same elegance as before—a place where people come to relax, enjoy themselves, and escape from the world. But the underground," she paused for emphasis, "the underground needs to connect discreetly to the castle. Our personal quarters should be well-hidden and linked to everything we need. Lyan’s given us his skeleton crew to handle that part. We’ll have all the privacy we could ever want."
Alina nodded in agreement. "I get that, but we also need a training ground. A proper one. We can’t just rely on the castle’s yard. The house should be more than just for pleasure. It should have everything we need to keep our skills sharp." Her eyes gleamed with intensity. "There’s always something out there, waiting to challenge us."