Lucilia made her way to the next lead she’d had. The Prim and Pricked. It was only about six in the morn when the noble woman made her way towards the brothel. Considering the night before it was little surprise that the brothel was closed. The sounds of banter among a few women could be heard from outside. The establishment itself was rather innocuous, and without much inspection a foreigner might mistake it for a tavern. The only evidence to the contrary were the vibrant red curtains that shown through the windows. They were enough to obscure the chattering inside.
It came as relief to Lucilia to know that the whorehouse was closed, primarily for her own dignity’s sake. With an inhale of breath and a calming of her nerves, the Wolfram knocked on the door of the building, yet she did not announce herself as she did not want to draw any eyes to herself. To be seen going to a brothel would ruin her, rumors of her becoming an alleged whore would humiliate the family for all of eternity. The thought wracked her mind and she couldn’t help but look down to her armor and contemplate whether she looked like a man enough for any people walking outside to simply ignore her. The armored skirt didn’t do her justice, but she just had to hope.
The banter from within the brothel’s inner walls quickly ceased in response to Lucilia’s knocking. The shuffling of feet against carpet was the only replacement for noises inside. The door to the tavern slowly creaked open, and a woman reared her head out past the pink silk that hung from the doorway, no doubt as a means of welcoming haughty patrons.
The woman that opened the door was older, but not so much so that the lines about her face seemed particularly noticeable. The delicate wrinkles that danced about her face twisted as she frowned at the noble before her. Her dark brown hair was decorated with hints of gray at the root. Her eyes darker still pierced through Lucilia with some kind of apathetic fervor if ever there was such a thing.
“It’s always the bloody woman who knock,” the woman spoke passed Lucilia in a hushed and annoyed tone. “We’re closed, m”lady, I can assure you that your Lord isn’t with any of my girls.” The woman’s voice was soft, but carried with it a subtle venom. She had a bit of weight on her no doubt from a life of apparent luxury given the quality of the clothes she wore. She was adorned in a white robe with veils the color of lilies draped carefully from her shoulder like a sash. Her hair was done up in a loose fitting bun and loose wild hairs frayed out as if purposely chaotic.
”Watch your tongue, whore,” Lucilia spat, not wanting to hear this disrespect. She crossed her arms and explained herself, ”I am here to investigate a clue to Viceroy Cadby’s murder. I must speak with one of your associates. A Wolfram will not take no for an answer.” Her own tone was filled with annoyance as she responded to the older woman, a response in kind. She let a huff and uncrossed her arms as she looked away, embarrassment coming to her in a very subtle manner. ”I must speak with Elize, this is of utmost importance.”
The woman’s apathetic appearance quickly turned to one of anger before a subtly wicked smile painted her face. “I’m afraid there’s a first time for everything m’Lady,” the woman protested. She had pushed the door fully open at this point, and the elaborate decor left the sight of satin reds and pinks in view for all on the street to see. Unlike many in the city the women seemed firm in her stance unwavering in her distaste for the noble in front of her. She quickly motioned to slam the door in the Wolfram’s face.
Yet, the door was caught, caught by the hand of the very noblewoman who the peasant tried to keep out. Her eyes now shown as what could be comparable to a demon’s, no longer hindered by the thoughts of being ruined in reputation or dignity. Lucilia would not accept this blatant act of disrespect. With a swift motion, she tore the door away from the old woman’s hands and the whore quickly found herself with a clenched fist buried in her stomach. Lucilia had hit her with all the strength she could muster, using the opportunity to also push the woman back into the brothel before drawing her rapier and stepping in, slamming the door shut behind you.
”You have attempted to shut out Lucilia Von Wolfram, daughter and heiress to Lion Von Wolfram, such disrespect cannot go unpunished, whore. I should skewer you here and now, but I will spare your pitiful life of debauchery and sin if you get Elize, now,” Her rapier was pointed at the woman, daring her to try and tempt her with thrusting the blade. Her eyes went to scan the room of the other women, her eyes still filled to the brim with anger. ”Where is Elize?!” she commanded, pressing the edge of the rapier to the old sow’s throat.
The sudden outburst from the doorway startled most of the women inside of the brothel. Many of them rose from their seats, but a quick stare from their mistress backed them down. The proprietor turned her hardened gaze towards Lucilia.
“Do you think I care for you petty titles? When I’ve seen the red of every statemen’s ass from here to Cambridge,” her voice was strained. There was a fearful lament that while fragile was bitter and cold. The woman’s face was red either from shock or embarrassment from being brought to her back so quickly. Her gaze slowly turned from Lucilia to the rapier that threatened to pierce her.
“Do it, then. Show the city just the kind of killer you are Lady Wolfram, I’m sure the guards would be interested to see it!” She called out Lucilia’s name with a particular venom. “You think yourself above us,” the woman spat as she spoke. “I give these women a better life. They may whore themselves for money and pleasure, but what do you whore yourself out for, m’Lady? A repugnant man living in his repugnant tower?” Her eyes studied the weapon again before looking to Lucilia. There was a sharp silence that was louder than any tavern or crowd.
Stepping out from the shadows a delicate voice called out. It was a thick Penaultish accent. “Miss Praxilla, please…” Making claim to the voice was a rather curvaceous woman adorned in fabrics as delicate and soft as the ones that decorated the establishment. Her purple fabrics lined delicate caramel skin, and given her endowments it was quite clear to Lucillia who the woman was.
“I am Elize, my Lady,” the courtesan stepped forward towards Lucilia carefully as she motioned to try to ease the noble.
Lucilia was close to butchering the backtalker, the pressure to the woman’s through increasing as she spoke each word. However, Elize’s intervention brought her back to reality and the rapier came off the whore’s throat but still at the ready. ”Miss Elize? Good, we have important things to discuss. However, I’d like to speak in private, where I won’t have to speak to an old sow’s nagging. I am sure you can accommodate,” her voice was cold, cold enough to send shivers through the building itself. It was as if all anger had left her voice and had been replaced with a simple unnerving nothingness.
After a few moments, Lucilia sheathed her blade and stepped her boot onto the old woman and carried her other leg over her, effectively concentrating her weight on the woman’s stomach for a few seconds, as she walked to meet Elize who visibly flinched at the noble’s act of malice.
Elize fumbled for a moment at the sound of her mistress in pain. “O-of course, my Lady.” She motioned for the Wolfram to follow her as she made her way down an elongated corridor.
The sounds of shuffling could be heard from behind the two as the women that had looked on at the display rushed to Praxilla’s side.
The corridor was lined with a plethora of rooms on either side. The brothel seemed to be rather cleanly given its manner of business. The walls to the corridor were painted with an elaborate ornamentation. The design wasn’t recognizable as anything in particular but the painter took care in tirelessly detailing each flower that lined the abstract designs. Various pillows dotted the hall, tucked away neatly in corners for seating pleasure. The aroma of lilac and cinnamon seemed more native to Murcia than anywhere in Astoria.
Pulling a key from her sleeve Elize carefully unlocked a door on the left side on the far-end of the hallway. Elize pushed the door open motioning for the noble to enter first.
“This should afford us privacy,” Elize said.
”Please, after you. After the trouble I caused I wouldn’t be so quick to trust someone behind my back.”
“How mindless of me, of course.” Elize made her way into the room. Her long ebony hair was an elaborate mess of healthy curls as it danced with every sway. “You must forgive Miss Praxilla,” Elize noted taking a pause. She pursed her lips before letting out an nearly inaudible sigh. “We’d heard that Edwin Myer had been taken in by the guards. Given his enjoyment of my...services.” Before continuing the woman sat gently on the bed that sat in the middle of the room. It was close to the floor, and lined with numerous pillows. There were an inordinary number of dressers in the room, but the smells and purposefully sensual furnishings made the allure of the room easily apparent even for the prudish. “I’m afraid she’s been quite tense ever sense.” Her eyes studied Lucilia pleadingly. “She wishes only to protect us, my Lady. The disrespect you’ve been met with is inexcusable, but burden me with punishment if you deem it necessary.” The woman let out a breath.
”Please, as if I’d waste the energy on a punishment that I am willing to forget should I get the information I need,” Lucilia scoffed, crossing her arms and giving her standard pompous look. Though something noticeable was apparent in her body language, she wouldn’t directly look at Elize, for it made self-conscious that the men were right about the whore’s looks. ”Tell me, was Edwin acting out of the ordinary the other day when he was in you company?”
As she spoke, she began to move around the room, her boots clicking against the floor as she inspected the surfaces of the dressers for any powder that Raux had found. She may not have the sense of smell that the cat did but she did have a keen eye, especially now that she knew what to look out for. She picked up a vial with a strange, gelatinous liquid in it, ”What is this?”
The woman’s brown skin quickly gained a rosy hint as she eyed what Lucilia had picked up. “My...my Lady. That’s oil,” Elize said taking a careful pause. “For...ease of entry,” she continued trying her best to stifle the stirring of laughter in her gut.
Lucilia instantly set the vial back and shook her hand as if trying to shake free any dirt that cling to her, making a very audible sound of disgust. While Lucilia was intelligent in her own right, she was wholly oblivious to anything regarding a whores work, never taking a interest to it in the slightest. The noblewoman turned back to Elize and cleared her throat, an embarrassed red tinge clung to her face as she tried to mask it with her normal calm look. ”Please… Answer my first question.”
The Penaultish woman composed herself before settling into a thought. Thumbing at the jewel that rested at the top of her upper lip. “Edwin is usually quite out of the ordinary, but aside from our usual business I can’t say that he was acting strange in any way.”
”So he was telling the truth…” the noble muttered to herself and began pacing as she attempted to piece together the story in her head. ”Did anyone seem to be following the boy? Anyone look suspicious that day, anything inherently magical in nature?” Lucilia stopped in her track and looked at Elize directly in the eyes.
”He states that he saw someone just like him who spoke in whispers before he awoke to be dragged off his horse outside the city. While he is innocent, I must find the person who had done this for it was that same person who took me to the company of Ser Cadby. A man looking just like Edwin, but it was not at the same time.”
“Have you tried speaking with the Grand Maester at the Mage Academy? I’m not entirely familiar with magic, so I’m not sure I’d be of much help.” Though her accent marked her as a foreigner the woman seemed quite proficient in Astorian common perhaps even better than some locals.
“The shadows you speak of sound like Farrea herself. Had I seen such a sight I’d have reported it to Praxilla immediately. Is Edwin alright my Lady?” Elize looked toward Lucilia as her upper body motioned slightly away from the bed.
”The boy is fine, slightly beaten before being dragged to me, but still fine,” Lucilia confirmed, nodding her head as a sign of confirmation. However, then another question came to her mind, not one specific to the case but one curious enough to warrant investigation. ”Do you care for Edwin?”
“Edwin...is a sweet boy.” Elize looked away from Lucilia in that moment. She seemed to want to shy away from the topic.
Lucilia did not say another word more, instead turning away from the whore and walking towards the door. She stopped just in front of it before letting out a sigh, turning back to face Elize with a softer face, ”Do you enjoy the occupation you have? Allowing men to have their way with you as they see fit? Having nothing to your name other than being a well-endowed whore sounds like hell in my own personal opinion.” Her tone was light as her thoughts went to the past, remembering her powerlessness to protect someone she cared about. Her fear of allowing her father to control every aspect of her, in which he had succeeded.
She saw that same powerlessness in Elize, she would have nothing if she left this place, Lucilia could guess that. The noblewoman did not like that thought and so she awaited the whore’s answer with her eyes gazing into Elize’s own.
“My-my Lady? I’m not sure I understand…” Elize’s eyes trailed behind the noble’s movements and her defined brows furrowed in hesitation. “I...this is all I’ve ever known my Lady. I don’t come from this land. There is little choice in the matter.” She sighed before picking herself up off the bed.
”Then I would recommend learning a trade, other than… this,” Lucilia motioned to the room around her before she untied a small pounce from her side. Small movements made the pounce jingle, the sound of coin clinking together in a pleasant harmony to any. ”Find something that you want to do with you life and chase after it, do not accept defeat for that will mean your life will never progress in any way you want. I am not the wisest person, far from it, but I do know that if you let something control you, it will ruin you,” the noblewoman tossed the coin pouch to Elize, a pouch filled to the brim with only gold coins.
”Have a pleasant day, Miss Elize. May Cristo light your path, and hopefully we may meet under better circumstances and in better scenery,” With that Lucilia turned and left the room, not waiting for Elize to respond. Giving one last look at the head whore, Lucilia left the establishment in general and headed back to the inn.
When she managed to get back into her room, she changed out of her armor and into her more girlish attire, in a dress. She wrote down her findings, compiling everything into a report to be handed to the Mikeal when she had the chance.
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