Crazy Duke and Fallen Queen

«I'm not even sure we can agree on how this all looks,» Alexander chuckles.

The woman in front of me, the prostitute who has trained the servants sent to Ethiro, stares at him with wide eyes. She covers her mouth with her hands, wondering what kind of trouble she pushed me in.

«It's very, very simple, actually,» I start, blinking in the most innocent way I can. «This woman once worked in the Palace.»

«And what use did you have of a prostitute?» he continues. «I didn't think you were that kind of woman! If I knew I had to protect you for women as well... I thought that keeping men far was enough, but with my wife's charm... It's not enough!» He shakes his head, displeased about his own plan of action.

«It's not like that,» I repeat. What does he have in his head, in the place where the brain should be, pork ribs? What made him think that I was the one using the services...

«Then, how is it?» he asks, crossing his arms and waiting for an answer.

«My Queen called for me to show how... ehm... the tricks of the job to the servants sent to Ethiro as part of the treaty,» madam prostitute explains. She has calmed down a bit after seeing how my husband started pouting instead of getting angry.

«Oh,» Alexander utters. «It makes sense... It all makes sense, now.»

Since she doesn't know what he's referring to, she just explains all about the way we tried to protect the youth by transforming potential slaves into seductive spies.

«So, that's where you took all those ideas,» Alexander says to my ear.

My cheeks become red like peppers, and I move my eyes down to hide my face. Too late, as madam prostitute catches my expression and understands the matter.

«We don't have to stand here, my Queen. Will you come in?»

«It seems like a wonderful idea,» Alexander answers for me. «I heard you talking about tea...»

Damn it, his ears are like those of a wolf.

«How are the youngsters doing?» the prostitute inquires while opening a side door for us. «We can use this room: it's our resting chamber.»

«All right,» I murmur while sitting on a wooden chair. «I don't know anything about the youths. I haven't met anyone of them, but my husband promised me they wouldn't be harmed.»

«Your husband...» she repeats, analysing Alexander's handsome face and relaxed demeanour. He seems rather used to this kind of environment. Not even the underwear drying near the fire is troubling him.

Could it be that he visited this kind of place before getting married? In his first or second life?

Did he have a favourite lady?

There are so many questions I'd like to ask, but it doesn't feel like the right moment. It wouldn't be so polite to ignore the woman and flood my husband with words.

«Please, tell me how you've been doing, my Queen,» the prostitute asks.

And I decide to set Alexander aside for a few minutes and talk with her. Whatever comes out from this conversation, I'll be able to explain later.

Her eyes analyse my figure for the whole time, wondering if I've gained weight or something. She doesn't dare to ask about the child until she's sure.

She noticed the rounded stomach almost immediately, to be accurate. Most people haven't even after minutes or hours.

I ask her about the soldiers and how the Ethirians behave, and she doesn't have anything to complain about.

«It's the usual,» she says with a shrug. I guess her usual was already difficult before the war. Now, it must be worse.

Soldiers can't take out their rage on civilians, as they've been ordered not to. Hence, they'll seek out this kind of place and opportunity to blow off some steam.

It can get dangerous, but these women are used to it. They know how to defend themselves. Or that's what madam prostitute tells me.

As evening comes, the sounds from the other side of the walls become noisy.

«I'll have to go,» she utters, unwilling. She'd prefer to sit here and talk with me. «The boss will get angry if I lose much time. I hope my Queen will visit again.»

«We're leaving tomorrow,» I say. «We're going back to the capital.»

Madam prostitute sits down again and queries about my life in Ethiro and my husband's position. Only after making sure that I'm safe, she stops the interrogation.

She opens the door and calls for a couple of girls that seem jobless. She whispers with them for a while, and their eyes start shining as they look at me. They run to the table and sit around it, and they observe my face from up close.

«My Queen, we're so glad that you're all right!» one of them exclaims as if she was looking at an idol.

«We knew you were beautiful, but your skin is so white... What do you use to keep it hydrated?»

As we talk about girls' stuff, Alexander stays in a corner, watching over us with his usual puppy expression. He's kind of jealous that I'm talking with someone that isn't him. But these girls won't take me away, for goodness!

«My Queen,» one of them whispers, close to my ear. «I can tell you a couple of tricks if you're interested...»

My eyes become suddenly curious, and Alexander moves his eyes on the chimney, trying hard to erase his presence. The prostitute whispers a couple of things that might come in handy one day. Some of them I already knew, but others I didn't.

Night comes by the time I've learned new things. Oh, I'm looking forward to trying it... After the baby is born, I will bring new ideas and not just listen to Alexander's experienced propositions.

After the professional explanations are over, Alexander gets up and reaches us. He towers over us with his height and rummages in his pocket until he finds a golden coin.

«Here,» he says while passing it to the dumbfounded prostitute. «Thank you, girls, for entertaining my wife.»

That said, he clutches my hand, and we leave into the night.