The glass from the bottle being thrown on the hardwood floor is heard. Meredith flinched as she watched her father glare at her with a drunken stare.
"You're useless," he hissed as he began opening another bottle of wine on the table. "A daughter is supposed to find a man to marry, and yet you are unworthy enough for even a man of dirt status..." He grumbled.
"Do not glare at your father," Meredith's mother said lowly, lightly raising Meredith's chin to turn the other way.
"But how am I useless? Father is the one drinking all our money away. How is our family supposed to provide the dowry to a man who will marry me?" Meredith swiftly followed her mother to the kitchen, making sure she was not heard by her father.
"Your father works."
"He does not make enough," Meredith answered. "Yet he uses half of it to buy himself wine. We barely have enough to buy ourselves a dozen eggs."
"If you are so concerned about the family's money, then go work yourself." Meredith's mother continued to chop the potatoes and put them in the pot. Meredith stared at her, watching her calloused hands hold the knife. She remembered years ago how her mother did not even know how to hold one, how her hands were smooth and soft. Now, the labor they had never once experienced is imprinted and scarred on her hands.
Meredith looked at hers. It was the same. This was not the life she was accustomed to. This was the life she did not want for her family. For herself and a husband or children she may have.
She sighed and silently helped her mother with dinner. Her other siblings were still young, unable to help. However, they still understood the circumstance they were in. They knew how different this life was to the one they had two years ago.
Two years... Meredith thought. It had been that long already.
It was the next morning, Meredith's mother was waiting for her by the door, a dark cloak covering her body.
"You are dressed well," she said and handed her a hooded robe. "We must go."
Taking the robe, Meredith furrowed her eyebrows. "Where?"
Her mother gripped the handle of the door. "I will take you."
Meredith pursed her lips and decided to stay silent as she followed her mother outside the house, walking through the bustling town. They had become poor, yes. But they were lucky they were still able to live in a town that wasn't as poor as they were. It was the only thing Meredith was glad of.
Meredith watched as her mother made her way into a dark alley. Unable to go further, she asks: "Where are you taking me, mother?"
"Just follow me." She ignored Meredith's concerned voice, hoping she would still continue to stay silent and obedient.
Meredith gulped and slowly followed her mother. The alleyway had become another street. It was full of life. If life was drunken men on the streets laughing and watching women do erotic things for their pleasure. If Meredith was a man, this would indeed be life to her.
"This is a brothel," Meredith looked at her mother in disbelief. Her mother ignored her. Her eyes wandered as if she was looking for someone.
"Lady Ryvetsky." A man approached, a scar on his left cheek. He was tall and bulky.
"Ah, yes. This is my daughter. I'm sure we have our agreement?" Meredith's eyes widened as her mother pulled her beside her, a tight grip on her wrist.
The man eyed Meredith. She shook, her body trembling. He looked at her hungrily and smiled at her mother, taking out a pouch from his jacket.
"Yes, of course." He gave the pouch to her. Meredith heard the clanking of coins inside.
"Mother!" She shouted. Her hand was then grabbed by the man, her mother's grip on her letting go as she allowed her to be taken away.
Meredith's mother shook her head. "This is the only way for you to work, Meredith. We will have your payment every month if you continue to be obedient."
Meredith's heart thumped, her breathing accelerated, the ringing in her ears became louder and louder, the coins clinking together repeated in her mind as her mother took the money.
"H-how am I supposed to get married like this?" She yelled as both her arms had been gripped by the man. Her eyes welled with tears. She could not believe that her mother would sell her like this. She could not believe that this was how she would treat her own daughter.
Meredith's mother gave her one last glance. "We have your sister."
Meredith's eyes widened. "Mother! You can't do this--mmmph!" She screamed as her mouth was covered by a cloth the man held.
"My, my, aren't you a tough one," the man chuckled, struggling to keep the cloth on her mouth.
Meredith continued to cry as her muffled sobs echoed through the street, the women glancing and looking away immediately, remembering how they got here. The men, however, looked at Meredith with eagerness, wanting to try her next.
~~~
Krillien's hand was on his chin, listening intently to Aurelius as he read the documents in his hands.
"She escaped a brothel?" Krillien asked, looking faraway.
"Yes, she did not spend the night. Or with any man as they say. Her Lady is untouched, I assure you." Aurelius said, his spectacles gleaming.
He raised an eyebrow, not understanding why Aurelius needed to add the last part. He straightened his posture and waved his hand, continuing the work on his desk. "Prepare a banquet for her. Our engagement is to be announced."
Aurelius bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Do make sure all the nobles will attend." Krillien looked up from the papers in his hand.