After the stranger spoke, Aries followed quietly—not that he had much choice.
First, there were guards around, and being discovered would be deadly. Second, he had been told he was being taken to a tavern, which was likely safer than the streets he was currently wandering, filled with dangers he didn't fully understand.
Soon, they entered the place, and Aries finally got a proper look at the person who had dragged him along. She was a beastwoman, with tiger ears perched on top of her head and a long, swaying tail behind her.
Her eyes were a deep brown, intense, sharp, but not as striking as the King's. Even so, there was a commanding aura around her, a presence that made Aries instinctively tense.
"Who are you, and why have you dragged me here?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
But the woman didn't answer. She continued pulling him forward, her grip firm and unyielding, and dropped a row of bronze coins on the counter.
"I need a room, just for the night," she said simply.
"Hold on while I get the key," the attendant said.
Moments later, a key was handed to the beastwoman, who didn't pause to thank him or exchange words. She led Aries toward a narrow corridor.
As they reached the door, she unlocked it, and Aries glimpsed another side of the Beastworld. This room was… modest. It was a stark contrast to the grandeur of the palace he had just escaped.
The room contained only a bed, a table, and a chair, all looking worn and aged. The sheets on the bed, however, were neatly arranged and surprisingly clean, a small detail that comforted him in an otherwise strange and tense environment.
Aries glanced around as the woman sat herself on the bed, and then asked again, "So, why did you bring me here?"
"Because I think we can be useful to each other," she said. "I noticed you were scared of the guards. You didn't do anything wrong, right? Your clothing is too… secretive for a free person, and you seem lost. You aren't a tigerbeast, are you?"
Aries assessed the situation carefully. He wasn't sure what to do yet. The woman seemed like someone he could follow, at least for now, and if they truly could be useful to each other, he needed to know how.
Before he could respond, she suddenly commanded, "Strip!"
"Huh?" he said, looking up, shocked and confused.
[System Alert!
Manipulation Spell detected.
Dispel or Accept?]
'Of course, dispel this nonsense,' Aries thought, fuming inwardly. 'What pervert is this again?'
The woman's eyes narrowed as she repeated, her tone sharper this time, "Strip!"
This time, the manipulation spell could no longer control the system. The choice was entirely Aries'. He started with his cloak, slowly removing it to reveal the clothing the King had ordered to be sewn for him.
He believed that following her command, at least partially, might give him insight into her intentions, so he complied carefully.
The woman's eyes widened in surprise. She scrutinized him, her gaze lingering over his remaining garments.
"You should fully strip," she said, almost as if studying a specimen.
'What…' Aries muttered inwardly, a wave of frustration hitting him. Outwardly, however, he complied, reluctantly removing the last two pieces of clothing, covering his body with his hands in a vain attempt at modesty.
The woman appeared further shocked. She rose from the bed, circled him slowly, and asked, "What are you?"
Stepping closer, her eyes narrowed. "You aren't a wolfman, are you? And your hair… how old are you?"
"I'm twenty-two years old. How does that even matter? And what exactly are you doing, telling me to strip?"
The woman's forehead furrowed, and she grabbed his chin, lifting his face to meet her gaze.
"You're lying. You aren't twenty-two, you're probably between fifteen and seventeen."
"Why would you say that? Why do you think I'd lie about my age?"
"Oh… that's true. Are you a runaway servant? Is that why you were scared of the guards? You should know that only servants, guards, or young beasts shave their heads. But you aren't a tigerbeast or a wolfbeast. What are you?"
'What am I? I can't exactly tell her I'm human. Most outside the palace don't even know humans exist. I'll have to lie,' Aries reasoned quickly.
"So… I'm a hybrid of serpent and tiger," he said, improvising. Serpent-beasts naturally have no ears or tails, which conveniently explained his lack of them.
"My parents were selfish," he added. "They were from opposite tribes and conceived me anyway. I'm an unnatural occurrence… and this is why I am like this."
The woman seemed to accept his story. "Is that why you were scared of the guards?"
"I had just come from the serpent territory," he explained. "I didn't know the customs here, so I was naturally scared of armed figures. And that is the reason I was also scared of you dragging me away without saying anything as I know no one here."
"I see.." The woman nodded, then she said, "So you don't have anywhere to stay, or know what to do. That's why I said we could be useful to each other. How about you work for me?"
"Work for you?" Aries asked, pulling his clothes back on while he processed her words carefully.
"Yes. Let's strike a deal. I have a very potent Beast Veil spell. If you use it, you'll appear as a tigerbeast—no trouble with the guards. But it only lasts twelve hours a day, and you must avoid being exposed. In exchange, you will work for me."
"And what work is that, exactly?"
"You'll service my clients," she said matter-of-factly.
Aries was still far from comprehension, "What clients? What do you mean by that?"
"I own a pleasure house," she continued calmly. "You'll work there as one of the male attendants."
"What?!" Aries' mind reeled. So I escaped being a breeder, only to become a sex worker?