Chapter 230: Business Proposition

Closing the door behind her, Isis played with the note in her hand and walked over to her bed. Looking at the bedside table, she saw the two bottles of wine prepared for her and reached out, popping the cork on one of the bottles before pouring half its contents into the massive glass placed by its side. Stripping out of the depressing dress she had been forced to wear, she finally felt free, even enjoying the cold breeze that hit her bare body from the open window.

Night was one of the few times she could choose what she wanted to wear, and going to the wardrobe prepared solely with nightwear, she pulled out a thin, blue nightgown, slipping it on before going over to her bed. Just in case anyone arrived unannounced, something that had happened one too many times, she grabbed a random book from the bookshelf and pretended to read, placing the letter inside its pages.

’We wish to talk. Come to the Vine Tower in three days. You know who we are.’

Staring at the paper, Isis grabbed the glass of wine, taking two massive sips to keep herself calm. "Why are they even talking to me?" It was obvious who it was; after all, the only group she had any form of contact with inside the city bar was Augustus and Justinian. Leaning over, she placed the note atop the candle burning to her side and slowly let it burn, dropping the paper before her fingers were caught by the flame.

’Why can’t anyone leave me alone?’ It was a stupid question to ask. Even if the Chained Brothers fought for the liberation of the Lessers and the end of the system of Danmor, Isis knew such an organisation wasn’t willing to be hypocritical in their pursuits. If they were, then they would have already failed. She was a piece they could use, and there was only one person they would want to use her against.

After all, she had seen how tightly Justinian kept himself insulated. ’But then what? I do what they want, and if I can even kill Justinian, what about me? I doubt they would protect me.’ There was only one person she could trust to protect her if she did anything, but Seth was kept far enough away that if she did do anything, he would likely only arrive to help her after she died.

A knock on the door broke her train of thought, and after letting them in, a man in a butler uniform with a collar around his neck bowed towards her. "Master Justinian would like to see you." Hiding her annoyance, she finished the glass of wine she had poured.

"I have already dressed to sleep."

"The Master says he would like to see you urgently. He will not care how you are dressed." Isis could already tell he had purposefully delayed summoning her and sighed, getting up, following behind, and putting on a pair of slippers. It was disgusting walking through the halls of the manor wearing so little. The lessers didn’t bother to look at her, continuing their work, only speaking when spoken to, but those without collars made sure to stare.

The free servants were reserved in how they looked, only giving passing glances, men and women alike; the men’s eyes wandering down her, enjoying her as much as they could whilst pretending to be polite. What really disgusted her were those who resided in Justinian’s manor as guests. Although sparse, when she passed one, they didn’t hide their looks of desire. Their disgusting gazes watched, stripping her of the little clothing she was already wearing. It was a gaze she remembered, one given to her mother and the others who worked in the brothel alongside her. One that saw her as a commodity to be used to sate their desire.

Unconsciously, her hands rose to cover her chest, but the action made her feel more ashamed, like she was trying to mimic the actions of those in the brothel who played up the shyness to entice customers. Using whatever pride and willpower she had, she forced her arms down and stared ahead, ignoring the feeling of their gazes.

The lesser servant knocked on the door to the dining room. A minute passed, then two, which turned into five. The five minutes dragged endlessly; each cold breeze, when someone walked past, sent a shiver down Isis’s spine. It was humiliating, and it was only allowed to end when Justinian called out, allowing entry.

Sitting at the end of the table, Justinian held up a glass of wine; to his right, a young boy with similar looks stared down at his plate, trying his best to be polite as he ate, but clearly wishing to tear into it at his own accord.

"My dear, you must forgive me for calling you, but I was worried. You went straight to your room when we returned and forgot to eat." Clicking his fingers, a collar servant stood to the side, walking over and placing a plate of food down at one of the empty spaces. Isis looked at him and took a deep breath, walking over and taking her seat. Looking at the young boy, she wondered how such a child came to be the man by her side. His gaze was bright and innocent. His looks were cute, lacking the disgusting slyness of his father. His clothing was adorned with gold and silver, carrying the wealth Justinian refused to wear, and his ears were pierced with two diamonds.

"Julius. I believed I told you to wait until our guests arrived before we began eating." Justinian’s voice was warm as he spoke, his smile not the usual fake thin one but real. The young boy stared at his plate and then at Isis before looking at his father, asking with his eyes if he could start now that she had arrived. "It’s fine." His head turned to Isis, the real kind smile changing to the thin one he showed her. "You may eat, but a few more guests will be joining us."

"What?" Isis asked and looked down at herself. It was already bad enough that she had to walk the packed halls looking as she did.

"Just wait. I wish to discuss a few things with some people. It’s not in regard to the war, but a personal business venture I am considering, and I feel you may be useful to help persuade them." His eyes narrowed into thin slits, along with his widening smile. Her body tensed as goosebumps ran all over her; the intent behind the smile terrified her, even though she didn’t know what it meant.

"What..." Looking down at the plate of food, she struggled to get the words out. "How could I help?"

"Well." Justinian paused, clapping his hands. Leaning back into his chair, he reached out and grabbed the glass of wine, swirling it before bringing it to his nose and taking a deep inhale. Finally, he took a sip and sighed, "It is in regard to something you know very well, and we have touched upon before. Now I understand you may be worried about Julius, but do not; he is on...."

His words trailed off into silence in Isis’s mind. Staring at the plate, she could hear her own shallow breathing so clearly, and feel sensation everywhere across her body worse than she had before. As guests entered and took their seats around her, she didn’t register any of it, instead continuing to stare at the plate of food.

A clap broke her out of her thoughts, and stiffly looking up, she turned to Justinian as he stood up and held his glass up for the guests. Around the table, men and women sat, not sparing her a glance, completely focused on Justinian, lifting their own glasses towards him. Each covered themselves in wealth, their outfits competing with one another to try and show off more. They all varied in age, the oldest a withered old man with deep, sunken eyes and the youngest a lady roughly around her own age.

"Thank you all for joining us. I first wish to offer a toast to Zeno." The group turned to the withered old man, who proudly smiled and lowered his head towards Justinian. "Ninety years of life is a testament, and although I sent my gifts, I wish to congratulate him in person, now that I have the chance."

"There is no need, my friends." The old man replied with a half chuckle, his voice dry, "But if you insist on toasting me, it will be rude to decline." The table smiled and toppled their drinks, only Isis and Julius not doing so; the young boy poked at his plate, nervous at the sudden arrival of so many adults.

Taking his seat again, Justinian looked around. "Now, let us get the business out of the way first, and we can enjoy ourselves after." Clicking his fingers, the rows of servants around the room moved, placing plates of food for the guests, stepping away, all in perfect silence. "I didn’t call you here to discuss the war, or the benefits, but a private business venture I believe could be interesting for us all."

Isis stared at Justinian, and for a moment she felt she could see his eyes peek at her. "All of you have made your wealth in one of two ways. The colosseum or brothels." The disgusting feeling Isis had been feeling flared up instantly. Forgetting to breathe, she reached out for the wine glass before her and lifted it, trying her best not to let her hand shake, hoping that the feeling was wrong.

"Within the colosseum, your fighters don’t only rely on their skill but their presence. An ugly fighter rarely becomes one beloved by the people. We have had a rare few, of course, who won the crowd by their character as a person, but as I said, it is rare. As for the brothals, clientele are always searching for something that is... exotic." Justinian rose and circled around the table, slowly walking, looking down his nose at everyone seated with him.

It wasn’t just Isis but a few of the guests; those younger and less used to the man tensed up, trying their best to hide their discomfort by eating or drinking. "Men and women from Korth, with their skin as dark as obsidian. The nomads of the green sea with their primal beauty." Slowly, he arrived behind Isis and stopped, placing his hand on her bare shoulders. His cold touch nearly made her vomit. "The Lunarians with looks like moonlight itself." Carefully squeezing her shoulders, he let go and circled around behind his chair, grabbing the back of it and leaning forward.

"All of these groups and many more, when they have arrived within Danmor, have always been in high demand. Of course, we are not slavers and must ask them to wear the collar." There was a light chuckle around the room as Isis covered her mouth in disgust. "But it came to me. These people and their kin always have issues with us when they decide to join our city. So, it made me think. Why don’t we get those who share their features but are not them?"

The world once again fell into a silence, only a faint humming echoing in Isis’s mind as she stared at the cut of meat on her plate. Around her, she could feel the gazes of the other guests turn to her one by one.