[??? PoV]
Kota Tarakat—a city that was once part of the territory of the State of Kuwalid is now under the control of the Empire, 20 years after the civil war in that state ended.
The entire El-Arami dynasty, which was the ruling power at that time, was executed. However, they did not know that one of the Sultan's wives at that time managed to escape abroad after being declared dead before the peak of the war.
That Sultan's wife was my mother—Raheema.
At that time, I was five years old, and my younger brother Umaya had just been born. Still a toddler and not understanding anything, I followed my mother to this city to avoid the searches of the Kuwalid State intelligence units. If they knew that there were still remnants of the El-Arami dynasty alive, then we would surely be hunted to the ends of the earth by them.
When I was 8 years old, my mother died, leaving us alone. Two orphaned children in a city full of people with bad intentions. We were unlucky enough to fall into the hands of a syndicate in this city.
We had no choice; we had to survive, and they were willing to take care of us if we were willing to work for them.
At first, we were only employed as scavengers at a garbage dump not far from the city. However, when I turned 12, they placed me in a brothel full of lecherous men.
That was the worst experience of my life.
Being forced to serve men who were two, three, or even four times my age was like living in the hell that Mother always talked about if I disobeyed the orders of Goddess Diana.
But does that loving Goddess really exist in this world? Why did she not help us when her servants were in trouble and suffering? As time went by, I forgot the teachings of the Temple that Mother had taught me.
I have worked here for nine years, in this place where men toy with women as they please.
"Woahh! Aliya has arrived!"
"The number one dancer and entertainer in this place!"
Right now, I am working as a dancer in this place. But at night, I am just a woman of the night whose job is to serve the lusts of the men who come to rent me.
Going up onto the stage, the sound of music begins to fill this place. I start to sway my body, dancing to show every beautiful curve of my body to them.
The men fall silent; they look at me with disgusting, lecherous gazes like animals. However, I am used to this.
Why must I live a life like this?
I once read a book about the love story of a princess who was saved by a prince. Reading it really makes me want to laugh.
This world is not as beautiful as a fairy tale land; there will not be a prince on a horse who will always come to your rescue gallantly. You have to be able to achieve it yourself if you want happiness in this world.
But not everyone can do that; I am just a fish swept along by the current, unable to fight the fate that has befallen my family, unable to change my destiny of living a life full of suffering.
I am not a princess from a fairy tale land...
After entertaining the visitors, I rest in a room provided by the syndicate.
There is a comfortable mattress, a complete dressing table, and beautiful clothes. At first glance, this looks like a comfortable room, and the syndicate are good employers who have provided a place this nice for their employees.
However, for me, this is the place I most want to leave and forget. This is the place where I was defiled when I was only 12 years old; this is the place where I serve those disgusting men, the place where they touch my body to satisfy their depraved lusts.
· Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Big sister, it's me, Umaya."
Hearing a very familiar male voice, I erase the negative thoughts filling my head.
"Come in, Umaya."
The door opens, revealing a man with black hair, tan skin, and golden eyes like mine; he is my only remaining family.
He then enters the room and sits on the mattress.
"Big sister, I have officially become a syndicate fighter," my brother said in a serious tone of voice. "I will save up money so I can free you from this place."
Hearing his good intentions makes me smile. He truly is the only person in this world who sincerely cares about me.
"Hee~ So now you're acting grown-up, are you, Umaya?" I said to tease him. "I can't believe you've gotten so big and become a real man now."
Umaya's face turned red upon hearing my words. "Shut up, Big Sister Aliya. Why has your tone of voice with me never changed? I'm officially an adult now, you know."
"Fufufu... You're right, look at your body now, it's already surpassed my height," I said, stroking his hair. "But Umaya, don't push yourself too hard; come back safely when you work later, promise?"
He responded to my words with just a nod. It seems I have to change the way I treat him starting now. It feels quite heavy to see my only family, who always depended on me, now become free and grown-up.
"Aliya, Umaya, are you in there?"
I hear a very familiar voice.
A burly man enters my room; Umaya then stands up and positions his body in front of me.
"Boss, what business do you have coming here?" Umaya asked the man.
That's right, this is the man who picked us up back then, who made me start this life full of suffering.
"Why are you so rude to the person who saved you, boy!" the man snapped, grabbing Umaya's collar. "If I hadn't found you, then you and your sister here would surely have died on the streets and only become food for stray dogs!"
Umaya struggles to break free, but his body is much smaller, so his efforts are in vain.
"Forgive Umaya, Mr. Boris! He didn't mean to be disrespectful to you! Please let him go!" I pleaded with him in a desperate tone.
Mr. Boris then throws Umaya, causing him to hit the wall of the room; my brother looks to be groaning in pain while holding his head.
"Tch, lucky my mood is good," the man said, then turned and walked out. "You two, follow me. There is an important guest who wants to meet you."
Hearing this, my mood darkens.
The important guests that Mr. Boris always talks about are usually nobles who want to rent me for a few nights. However, why does Mr. Boris want Umaya to come with me too?
I don't know, but like it or not, I have to go with him.
Umaya and I follow Mr. Boris from behind to the exit door of this building. Outside, a horse-drawn carriage is already parked and ready to depart.
"Get in, you two," ordered Mr. Boris.
Umaya and I get into the horse-drawn carriage, followed by Mr. Boris. After we have all entered, the horse-drawn carriage starts moving, leaving this place.
"Mr. Boris, where are we actually going?" I asked, quite curious about this unusual situation.
Mr. Boris lights his cigarette with a match, inhales it, and then exhales cigarette smoke from his mouth. The smell of tobacco begins to be inhaled inside this carriage.
"You are going to meet a High-Ranking Noble Heir of the Empire," he answered casually.
A high-ranking noble? Isn't the highest noble title under the Emperor here a Duke? If it's an heir, it seems the guest Mr. Boris mentioned is still young.
Not long after, we arrived at our destination. We then entered an inn and walked to a room on the 3rd floor.
· Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Mr. Raul, it's me, Boris Fernando," the man said in a polite tone. "I have brought both of them."
"Come in, Boris."
Mr. Boris then opens the door to the room; inside, a black-haired man in academy clothes is seen sitting and writing something in a book.
He looks very young... Maybe the same age as Umaya or even younger.
"Mr. Raul, I have brought them," said Mr. Boris while bowing. "Aliya, Umaya, introduce yourselves to Mr. Raul de Garcia."
Umaya and I step forward to face him; the man then glances at both of us.
"My name is Aliya, young master. My profession is an entertainer," I said after bowing my head to greet him.
"My name is Umaya, a Fighter," said Umaya, who still sounded stiff.
The black-haired man nodded and said, "My name is Raul de Garcia—the sole Heir of the Garcia Family," the man introduced himself to us. "Please sit down, both of you."
He then turned his gaze to Mr. Boris. "You may leave the three of us; I want to talk with them for a moment."
"As you wish, Mr. Raul." Mr. Boris bowed and then left, closing the door to this room.
"Alright, let's do this quickly," the man said, looking as though he wanted to ask us something. "You two, where are you from originally?"
"The State of Kuwalid—Amrani City under the rule of Emir Bardak—Leader of the El-Dawudi Clan," I answered naturally.
"You are quite knowledgeable about your hometown, it seems," the man said casually. "Not like the usual entertainer."
Hearing his words annoyed me, but I had to maintain my attitude and expression as best as I could. Of course, the information I gave him was a lie.
"What is your opinion regarding the El-Arami dynasty that oppressed the people of the State of Kuwalid before the Revolutionary war took place?" the man asked again.
Why is he asking me about this? What is his actual purpose? I can't read his intentions with that flat expression of his. "I don't know; I was very young when that war happened," I answered him.
"What is your opinion regarding the current government of the State of Kuwalid?"
To be honest, I don't care about the state that abandoned my family. All the people in that state have branded my family as traitors to the state, and I have no reason to care about them.
Right now, I just want to live happily with Umaya without anyone else restricting our freedom.
"Full of rotten people."
I hear a voice beside me; Umaya suddenly speaks, expressing his hatred for the people who have abandoned us.
"Their economy is still stagnant after the war; several territories have been taken by other states, and the diminishing supply of water and food has caused many residents to leave that state," Umaya said, explaining the current condition of the State of Kuwalid. "That war was a big mistake created for those who wanted power at the expense of the common people. The government appears just on the surface but is corrupt upon deeper inspection."
So, Umaya still has not forgotten or forgiven them. He is still trapped in the past and our family's history.
"Is that so?" the man murmured, his gaze now more focused on Umaya. "If you had the power to change that state, what would you do?"
"Of course, I would change it and punish those corrupt officials!" exclaimed Umaya with passionate enthusiasm.
"Alright, you two will work for me starting now," the man said, revealing his purpose for meeting us. "The pay will be more promising than where you are now. Your older sister will work at an entertainment venue I am building, and you will become one of the security members there."
In the end, my fate has not changed. However, at least Umaya does not have to do dangerous work to earn money. With a larger salary, he might be able to start a family and find happiness.
"Pack your belongings and give this paper to the driver waiting outside," the man said while handing a piece of paper to Umaya. "He will take you to the Imperial Capital—Terragon, the place where you will be living starting tomorrow."