The next morning...
Bram is now awake. Medicine paste covers multiple areas of his body, stitches mark the places where the whip simply split his skin open, and bandages are wrapped almost everywhere other than his head and middle section.
For the last few hours, he flinches when the door creaks, or when the elderly man tries to move closer to his body. The physical trauma of the lashes hasn't left his body yet, but despite the physical agony, his eyes still haven't lost their fire.
The girl, Sophie, who brought him here, now sits on the chair beside his bed.
But, unlike yesterday, she doesn't look sad, not even a bit. Instead, her arms are crossed over her chest, her eyes burning holes into the bedsheets beside Bram. She doesn't speak, but she seems to be holding on to something.
Bram wears a nervous smile on his face while looking at her. The effect of her intense expression affects him clearly. He tries to shift his hand toward her. "Hey, Sophie..."
"Tch!" Sophie yanks her hand away from the bed, brushing it as if the mere proximity of his hand did her dirty. "Don't touch me."
She glances at him sideways for a moment, her gaze moves over his body and, for a flicker of a second, her jaw tightens. But she hides it immediately and lets out a loud hmph. "If every girl has a damn brother like you, then they would never be able to rest properly."
The words are delivered quietly, not even loud at all, but the way Bram's eyes fall down explains his reaction to those words.
A couple of minutes later, he murmurs quietly. "Sorry..."
Sophie's head turns fully toward him, and as she notices his fallen expression, her fingers tremble suddenly. Slowly, she shifts and settles down beside him on the bed.
Bram's eyes follow her movement with a shimmering hope. He reaches out again, and this time she doesn't pull back. His hand finally lands on the back of her hand.
Sophie's hand stays loose under his. Her face twitches with restraint, but she cannot seem to hold it back properly anymore. Her body leans slightly to the side, her head against his shoulder. Her lips tremble imperceptibly.
Bram's free hand comes up, weak but steady. His palm rests against her cheek, and he holds her face there. "...It's fine. You did a good job yesterday bringing me here. Thanks, Sophie."
His touch and words are the final push for her. She leans into his touch almost instantly, her face pressing fully against his shoulder before she finally stops holding back.
After a moment, the sound of loud cries and sobs leaks out of the half-closed door of the clinic.
Outside, the elderly man glances toward the door briefly and nods his head before continuing with his chores.
"Good siblings..."
---
CLINK... TINGLE...
The whispers of clinking gems and rustles of expensive silks come from almost every direction.
Women and men, dressed beautifully in seductive clothes and attractive jewelry, roam around the place. The place carries an air which seems to scream "forbidden" with every sway. The lights are made less for lighting the hall, and more to reflect the curves and bodies of anyone present.
The young master enters through the gates, and immediately attracts the attention of most of the women present in the hall. He doesn't look at them, but even his silence seems to be a permission for the women to stare.
Out of all the women present, the one who comes out looks neither like some blushing young maiden, nor does she appear to be in need of acting like one.
With a thin black silk draped over her hips which hides just enough to stir a man's hunger and a violet set of fabric on her top, she stops just in front of the young master. She appears to be in her mid-forties, but the way her gaze roams over his face despite his age suggests that she cares less about it.
Her hip shifts to the side slightly, her hand rests on the curve of her waist as she looks at him. She reaches out with her hand slowly, her fingers close near his cheek before she stops herself and lets out a soft hum before finally resting her palm on his collar. Her voice comes out mature and inviting. "The air around you seems serious today, young master... Cassian."
Cassian moves his hand, and his fingers immediately close on her wrist before he speaks. "Don't misunderstand. I am not that serious." He glances around once, then back at her and takes a step forward, his chest brushing faintly against her violet fabric. "But... I do need your help today, both on your bed... and in the study."
"Hm..." The woman nods slowly and turns back. Her hand slides down from his grip and his collar, and she tucks it into his hand before she starts pulling him toward the stairs. "We shouldn't delay your study then... let's go."
Cassian doesn't resist. He simply starts following her, but there is no sign of lust, only a thoughtful gaze in his eyes.
The door clicks shut behind them as they enter her private quarters. The room is adorned with all kinds of decorations, but neither of them cares much to look at them right now.
She strolls ahead to her bed and turns abruptly before sitting on the edge. She shifts one leg over the other, her foot swaying lazily as she points her finger toward him and motions him to come closer. "So, what study do you plan to do today?"
His gaze lingers on her foot for a moment, then back at her face before he also moves ahead. As he takes a seat beside her on the edge too, she immediately leans herself against him, her head coming to rest against his shoulder, but he simply watches her. Finally, when they have settled, he speaks, "A man named Bram and then there is this friend of his..." As he continues, his fingers trace along her arm slowly and go higher over her forearm. "...that friend seems to work in a transport agency. I have got some information related to bribes he has received. And that person also comes here often..."
"So, you need me to spill out information from his mouth, hm?" She speaks against his ear, her free hand rising to press against his chest as she pushes him back slowly. Her fingers work on the buttons of his robe, opening them one by one as her palm finally presses against his bare chest. "I might need more details to interrogate that man then."
His back hits against the mattress, his eyes watch her with a dangerous intensity, but she seems to relish that intensity. His hand on her forearm finally reaches her shoulder, his thumb sliding beneath the strap of fabric there as he pulls her closer. "Hm, we can discuss it then. Right now."
"Ha..." She makes a sound as his thumb slides on her skin, then she chuckles before moving over his body slowly. "Okay..." she whispers against his ear, her cheek touching his before her other hand slides down his abdomen. "I will send that man to our interrogator girl. She will make him spill out every secret he has with some touches and whispers, and then..."
He slides the strap of fabric off her shoulder. "...Good"
And the discussion starts.