lead. Eustace had sent Lori to take Mel around the vicinity of Grime. While Eustace had made sure Mel got ac

a young teenager in Grime, but the fact that Lori was taking her around the streets didn't go unnoticed by the residents of the larg

from walking here and there. Soft pants exited her mouth and beads of sweat dotted her forehead despite the weather. The curious stares lessened and they became the least of her problems when she real

g Mel's attention to the sky, and presumably the

t down," Mel whispered hoar

s she stared down at Mel. "I-I am very sor

collapsing on the wooden seat. The owners of the shop gleefully crept out to meet Mel

nd complains about this a number of times," she finished with a chuckle and then looked off into the

eep apologising." Mel looked away.

how different you would be... No, not in a mean way. Like-" She smacked

g and she honestly hadn't been able to keep up with the Grime woman. Not once

ught of that," Mel wh

ha

g to myself." A soft s

in a sheepish smile and she fidd

eaded braids were too heavy to be lifted by the soft wind, and so they twinkled instead, guided by th

during the day. The woman beside her now seemed to be at peace, and now that Mel paid more attention

caramel eyes that matched her brown hair, it produced a pleasant combination that Mel co

never bothered about her features since she had what she considered "en

d with him that she hadn't considered his own feelings in the matter. She bl

the matter?" L

t Lori. She folded her lips inward and avert

gh. "Well... I want to ask. What is

_________

beaded braids were too heavy to be lifted by the soft wind, and so they tinkled instead, guided by th

lier that day. The woman beside her now seemed to be at peace, and now that Mel paid more attention

caramel eyes that matched her brown hair, it produced such a pleasant combination that Mel

onsidered "enough". But that might not matter now that she was in a different land, with a smaller frame compared to these people

ght on my par

't considered his own feelings in the matter. She blushed, embarrassed as she recalled the moment he

the matter?" L

t Lori. She folded her lips inward and avert

gh. "Well... I want to ask. What is

ly her brows shot up as if she was just be

name basis... Eustace hadn't mentioned having another child. But it wouldn't hurt to a

lips. "I do not know how to put it. Bjorn is a childhood friend of my husband and I." She paused and looked at the sky. "Now that you've broug

band. The woman was taken. She didn't have to worry about a

husband?"

, but it pleases me to know how much Dov cherishes my behaviour. Bjorn has called me a leach on occa

's cheeks and she looked away wit

voice softened. "And here I was thinki

would allow for that. But she had one thought. "He

e some sort of frown. He had just been polite in his gree

is. You should see him around

s something that had worried her. Back in her father's manor, even though they weren't the richest clan, they still had ov

lans in Orion... Here, we don't have servants. We're all one big family in r

ead slowly, ave

periods where the house will be left to you and Bjorn alone." Lori cast a mischievous gl

to shift the discussion from the unfamiliar territory when another thought occurred to

he cleaning but within a fixed time. You'll barely see them. And of c

she dreaded. She didn't do well back home with this particular task. The last time her mother had left the manor

Nothing much happened then, but it felt as if the servants were more in control than she was. They had been the ones to teach he

lacking in information about the Grime clan, she couldn

rd, didn't I?" Lori whispered, a far-

s just lost in thought... Being the clan leader

shifted, drawing close to Mel. She took hold of her hands within her warm hold, hands sligh

e continued, "I don't mind. I-" Mel's eyes watered and she paused in a state of shock. "I-"

hild they had, and so she had resigned herself to the confines of her family home. Not only had she been distressed about leaving so suddenly, but her family also couldn't

ldn't b

l was simply voicing out what she felt. She repeatedly asked for Lori to forgive her shameless demeanour. If Harriett were to see her now, she might have gotten

and comforted the young girl. They remained like that for a considerable amount of time. Mel had stopped

d shifted, frantic eyes wandering about for something to wipe her face. She would have used the sleeves o

hat will

t some wipes from the store when Lori shrugged off the sleeveless

at Lori's ac

she couldn't utter a word. The situation was embarra

_________

an odd feeling. Her previously heavy heart was now light as if she had expelled all the negative energy along

her, she had to do it with dignity. Mel stared into space with mixed feelings. She couldn't bring herself to hate her father. She didn't even know how to feel. But one thing sh

union with Bjorn, or a family of the Grime clan, the underground city was off limits to her. The ceremony was originally supposed to hold at the end of the week, but Mel had wanted just a little more time to be accustomed to the clan and learn more about it. At least to make up for the preparation she hadn't prope

be added to their clothing along with simple to lavish jewellery. These were accessories even the simple folk had access to. The men rarely wore tunics, unlike how it was back

s thrown layer on top of another layer. Just looking at the garment stoked the flames of distress

nts could be made, the tailors simply laughed and Eustace

er tha

e bed, the last of her worries hit her, unsealing the gates she had kept locked. A tear escaped from the corner of he

y pulling the sandals off Mel's f

ispered back. Her stomach grumb

the awkward silence,

he welcoming bed. "I am tired. I don't even h

er. I wi

ed, her voice muffled but distinct enough to

period and a worried sigh came out of Annie. "I will be taki

eyes, feeling drained and a little bit guilty for behaving in such a way to

________

the most chaotic scenes Mel had e

ious preparation this early in the morning. She had woken up to a chattering noise and opened her eyes to the blinding

ing, and rushed to the bathing chamber, similar to the one back home. This time, the ceramic bathtub

only to be relaxed by the helpers, letting her know A

spat out more water as more w

serve this? Not even the servants

ailing about in the water and sp

e! You seem to forget that I don't have such a strong physique for you to treat me so roughly. That aside, I get my sleep disturbed, dragged from the bed, and all of a su

. "We're sincerely sorry. I have no excuse for our rash beh

bled, sinking back

before continuing to wash Mel. Their grasps were firm, but a little mor

discover, that was

lengthy preparations running for the whole day. Mel thought back to how the servants had prepared h

s laid on the table and her stiff muscles relaxed mere seconds into the strange procedure. Her initial alarm subsided as the helpers kneaded her flesh a

m the mind-boggling sensation.

nk as the warm stones were placed on her back and the heat seeped into the pores of her skin

..my... m

, snapping h

e her hands. "Why did you stop?" she asked weak

rted Mel to a seated position, her legs d

simply said. Her forehead creased with a worrying look and the

young woman noticed there were fewer helpers in the ch

ssed the cold substance to Mel's face, she instinctively flinched at the contact and closed

ched up to hold the wrist of

e out weak, "Forg

ime for a helper to tear off the solidified

a blood curd