Author's Note:
R21. Mature. NSFW. Please don't read this if you're underage.
Please avoid if this isn't your genre.
Read at your own risk.
I have warned you enough.
And now, if you dare, you may start reading.
***
Once upon a time, far, far away from where you are, there was a kingdom where sex was the religion.
The Kingdom's name was Velarion, and pleasure of the flesh was considered sacred, artistic, and a form of self-expression.
Sex in public was normal and widely accepted.
There were art halls where artists performed physical absolution in various themes, annual ceremonies with orgies as part of the final worship, and temples to pray for endless passion and virility.
People wore different badges with colors.
Green means you invite people to touch you.
Yellow means you are open to the possibility of an intercourse, after you and the person wanting get to know each other a little.
Red means you have a regular partner, but still open for adventures.
And black means you are in a committed relationship, where you made a lifelong oath to never touch another.
If you wore a black badge, it meant you were married to your partner.
In this unusual kingdom of unbridled passion, ran the power of magic in ancient clans.
Only seven clans got magic in their blood, including the royal family.
The most sought after clan was called The Divina clan.
All the women from The Divina Clan were blessed by the gods. Their essence could heal, make someone stronger, bring good luck, and for those from the magical blood, multiply their magic.
There were not many of them. The Divinas rarely could get pregnant, and when they did, the child was usually conceived with a man from a magical blood.
That was why, The Divinas lived in a temple, and the ladies were revered as Priestess of Divine Pleasure.
During important ceremonies like the harvest day or New Year's Eve, competitions were held. And the winner gets one night with a divina priestess.
Men who got one night with a divina priestess would excel in life the next year.
That was why, The Divina Priestesses were seen in Velarion as Goddesses. They were idolized. Paintings were made of them, statues were made, and rumors about their partners spread in the kingdom like wildfire, always.
And the priestesses receive worship in the form of offerings. Usually of silk, jewels, gold coins or other valuable things, in exchange for a night with them. However, they were free to choose whoever they wanted, and cut ties whenever they pleased, because the blessings the clients had from them were too valuable for constant ties.
***
Five years before the start of this story, there were 24 divinas living together in a temple, up high on a hill. They were safely guarded and were served with loyal servants.
However, like many stories of a gifted clan, this one also ended in tragedy.
A group of noblewomen grew jealous of the divinas. Why? Because their husbands, who swore black badge to them, sought the divinas too, once they were rich enough.
And the divinas were believed not guilty for taking a black badge man to their beds.
It was accepted. Why wouldn't you be grateful, if your husbands grow richer, more successful and stronger after a night with the divina?
But these noblewomen were jealous, and hatred could be a very strong army. One eventful night, The Divina Temple was attacked, and the divinas were burnt inside it.
Nobody survived.
Or so they believed.
Light could be extinguished, but sometimes, a spark survived.
The youngest divina escaped.
She was coincidentally in the prayer hall during the fated time, just with two other divinas.
She was the youngest between them, just reaching seventeen years old. She was the little sister, the baby of the family.
The two older divinas made her hide at the hidden library, one that could be reached only from a trapdoor in the High Priestess's study.
"Never make a sound. We won't reveal your hiding place. Stay here until you hear no more sounds."
She was already crying her heart out.
"Sister, please! Hide with me!"
"No. They must have known some divinas are here. But they don't know how many. Live. Continue our bloodline."
"I can't! I don't want to be alone! Sisters, please! We escape together!"
"We can't. We are known. We had clients. We offer during ceremonies. They would find us. But they don't know you. You have never served. Please, for all the love we've ever shared, save yourself! At least we'll know, there will be one last divina in this land!"
With this, the priestesses put the trapdoor close. It was very inconspicuous, under a table that was forgotten.
The youngest divina hid there, terrified, sobbing silently.
She couldn't hear anything.
Exhaustion and terror made her exhausted, and she fell asleep.
When she woke up, she was crying again, and waited. She waited until she couldn't hold her hunger anymore.
Finally, she left the hidden trapdoor. When she went out, she saw the horror that she would never forget her entire life. The burnt bodies of all her 23 sisters were laid there at the prayer hall, as if to tell what the cruel people were able to do.
They managed to kill 23 divinas.
But they knew that one was missing.
They had searched everywhere, but couldn't find the last one.
As luck would help the last divina, a storm raged. There was a cloak left by a servant there. It was gray and shabby. She wore it and covered her hair and face, before she slowly made her way to the kitchen.
She was careful, but no one was there.
On her way, bodies of their guards and servants filled the place.
She pressed her hand down on her own mouth, trying not to cry too loudly. The kitchen was mercifully empty.
She packed as much food as she could find.
Inspiration struck. She took the cinder from the fireplace, smothered her face, hands and feet with it, then prepared to leave.
She didn't dare to take her coins from her own bedroom, but she found a handful of bronze coins in one of the drawers. The cook used them to buy ingredients. The cook was then stabbed near the fireplace.
Having nothing else to take, she finally left the temple where she was born, her heart shattering to pieces.
It was early in the evening.
When the rain stopped, she began her escape, not sure where she'd go, or even if she'd survive the night.
She pulled at her cloak, and tried to walk down the hill as casually as she could.
But the cinder on her face and hands helped her. Everyone thought she was just someone poor, trying to go home after the storm.
When she arrived at the village, it was buzzing with shock and rumor, about the fact that The Divina Temple was burnt, and all the divinas were killed.
"I heard one escaped, though," a man holding a glass of ale said.
"How do you know??? Maybe it was just a rumour!" A barmaid replied.
"Very cruel, whoever did that to them," the bar owner said.
True. It was very, very cruel.
She was there because she asked for a glass of water, and a kind barmaid gave one to her.
"I need a place to stay. Do you know anywhere that is looking for a servant and would give a bed?"
"Well, that place is always looking for more servants," the barmaid said, pointing at a dancing hall nearby.
After thanking her, she went there.
The place was a performance hall and a prostitute's house.
In Velarion, the place was as respectable as a diner in other kingdoms.
People who need some entertainment could go there for a few coins.
She steeled herself.
She needed a place to stay. She couldn't live on her own.
At the entrance, she was stopped by the guards.
"Please. I—I need a job. And a place to stay. I w—want—to be a servant here. I can clean and—and I learnt a little healing. Maybe—maybe this place needs a healer for injuries?"
The guard looked at her. At her dirty face and hands, and considered her unworthy to be considered as a potential dancer.
But the dancers there were injured quite often. Maybe a healer could be useful.
"Go through the back door, and say you're looking for a job."
She was right. That place needed a healer.
The owner of the place told her to make a dancer feel better. She had a swollen ankle.
She made a salve from leaves she found in the garden.
"I don't know if it heals or not, but at least my ankle felt a little better. Her salve has a cooling effect."
The owner nodded.
"Alright. Can you clean?"
"Yes. But I—I am a terrible cook."
"We already have excellent cooks. But no healer. You'll help clean this place except when my dancer is sick. Then you'll heal them. Food and bed is provided, laziness is not tolerated. One silver coin per week. Take it or leave it."
"I'll take it, Ma'am. Thank you."
"Clean yourself, then sit in the dancer's room. You must be ready when someone needs you."
She was scared to show her face, but did it anyway.
When she reappeared, the owner saw her face. She was pretty, but her face was pale, and laden with so much grief.
"You don't look bad. Would you train as a dancer?"
"No. Please. I—I am scared of too many people."
The owner, a lady in her 50s, chuckled.
"Can't be a dancer then. Go ahead, sit in the dancer's room."
The performances finished at 3 AM.
From midnight to sunrise, some of the dancers turned to prostitutes in the bedrooms on the second floor.
In the morning, she helped clean the first floor, where the stage was. She was allowed to finally go to her bed, a room for servants, with bunk beds for six people.
It was 8 AM.
She was given a bed on the top, and finally could lie down.
She covered herself with a blanket, then the memory of her 23 dead sisters flooded her mind.
"I will never forget you. But please, let me rest for a few hours, Sisters. I am Liora Divina, the youngest of the Divina clan, and I ask for sleep. When I awake, I will continue living."
She whispered to the dark, praying.
Then, sleep claimed her.
***
Time could protect someone, especially for someone who needed to ease the heavy pain caging her heart.
In Solana's Dance Hall, Liora lived for five years.
She cleaned the house and healed the dancers from mild ailments, then listened to news about who did the burning of the Divina Temple.
So far, she has got nothing concrete.
The murderers, whoever they were, managed to cover their deeds so well.
Liora matured and became a young woman of 22 years old. She was beautiful, indeed, but there was a certain aura of grief that always followed her. She never enjoyed her food, never drank alcohol, and never laughed too long.
She also got invitations to beds of men, and some were really good looking, but she refused them all.
"Are you a black badge?" Solana, the hall owner asked her one day.
"No. I'm only....I just don't want it."
"It could free you, you know."
Liora turned to the older woman.
"It could clear your head. And perhaps your heart too, a little."
Liora felt tears pooling on her eyes.
"Who are you mourning, Child?"
"My family," she answered truthfully.
"Why???"
"The gray fever," she whispered.
The same year the Divina Temple was burnt, there was a fever that spread across the kingdom called the gray fever. It attacked the poorest people, because it was related to sanitation and cleanliness.
"Ah. Peace for your departed family."
Her tears fell.
"Thank you."
Solana patted Liora's shoulder.
"There, there. It's alright. You don't want to dance, you don't want to lie with men or women. And you carry sadness in your eyes. I am not going to force you. You did your fair share in this hall, so you have a place here. Now go, check the girl's dresses or something. Sitting with you for too long made me want to cry too."
Liora chuckled, before going to check on the costumes for that night.
***
In her years there, Liora had learned more things. Not only making potions and herbs for sick people, but she was also knowledgable on how to massage, arrange a dancer's hair, putting on makeup, and even sewing as well.
She did it all to be useful. To survive.
She was altering Rienda's dress when the star dancer told her, "Have you heard, the king is visiting tonight!"
In the past few years, Solana's Dancing Hall had gained more popularity, due to the dancers' skills on stage and in the bedroom, but also because it was one of the less toxic public places in the capital city.
Business was booming, so it wasn't actually a surprise if the king visited.
"Who knows, the king might choose me to warm his bed tonight!" Rienda said dreamily.
"You wish," Vivien replied. "He hadn't touched anyone in five years, still grieving for his late queen."
"Tonight could be the night he leaves his mourning, if I dance well enough," Rienda replied obstinately.
"Is it true, Miss Rienda, the late queen died in childbirth?" Liora asked.
"Yes, that is true. And the king hadn't recovered since then. He loved her very much."
"Here. I have made the dress tighter. Go get the king!"
The whole dance room erupted in laughter.
"If you get him, probably I can have beef more often," Liora joked.
"Thank you for your blessing," Rienda said, patting her hand.
***
Rowan Alaric Valerian, the King of Valerion, agreed to follow his best friend to Solana's Dancing Hall because he was tired of the said friend's constant lectures.
Stefan, from The House Aequoris, was from the clan that could control water. Unlike his elegant history, he was jovial, loud and far too honest for his own good.
He had been saying for a while that although Rowan's abstinence was noble, it had been far too long.
"A happy king means a prosperous kingdom. The people felt sad to see you in mourning for so long. They wanted to hear their king moving on, embracing life again. What better way to come back to life than choosing a pleasure partner? Even for one night, Rowan. You've denied yourself long enough."
Stefan had said this too many times, it started to hurt his ears.
And it had been the anniversary of Isolde's death the previous month.
Winter was finally over, and maybe, maybe his winter could be over too.
He had no illusion that anybody would ever replace Isolde. Especially not when Irene, their daughter, looked exactly like her mother.
But he had been feeling numb for some time. Perhaps it would be alright to watch some dance performances to feel something again.
As a good friend, Stefan brought him to the best dance hall in the kingdom, with women so skillful in bed that people were addicted to them, and visited again and again.
Rowan had been burying himself in work the past five years.
When he's not out of town to protect the border from attackers, he's working late at night, doing the administrative duties a king had to, like reading reports from ministers and mayors.
And Stefan had tried sending him women over the years, but he always ended up telling them to leave. He just.....lost the desire for women already.
That night was a test. If he could at least enjoy watching some dancers' performing on stage, perhaps one day he could find the joy of the sheets again. If not, it was alright. He'd just have to live that way.
Rowan saw the dance hall as someone disinterested would.
Expensive and elegant decorations adorned the whole house, telling the visitors that they were at a pleasure house with class.
He and Stefan sat at the most expensive table, with the front row view of the stage. There were two divans, and they each took one.
The owner was cheerful, and the wine tasted good.
As the performances began, Rowan noticed that the dancers were pretty. It was just a fact, but perhaps it was an improvement. He had been seeing women as vapors for these past few years.
Was there something in the wine? He felt lighter, as if he left his burdens at the front door of that dance house.
There were five performances, and it was increasingly more seductive.
By the third dance, Rowan saw people around him started kissing and fondling each other.
By the fourth dance, moans were getting louder.
And the fifth dance was Rienda's dance. It was a striptease. Very mouth-watering, very bold. The music was tempting, and the dancer was confident.
She ended the dance standing naked on stage, her body glowing because of fragrant olive oil, and she got a standing ovation.
"Damn, I want her," Stefan declared. "Has anyone been asking for her yet, Madam Solana?"
Madam Solana had sat there to accompany the two noble guests.
"She is for the highest bidder tonight, if she consents."
"How much did her latest customer pay?"
"50 gold coins."
"I'll pay 100," Stefan offered smoothly.
"I'll inform her."
Ten minutes later, Rienda appeared in her dancing costume.
"Lord Stefan Aequoris?" She called.
"That's me."
"Did you offer 100 gold coins?"
"Yes."
"I accept."
"Thank you," Stefan smiled in relief, reaching out his hand, and Rienda accepted it.
Stefan immediately brought Rienda to his lap.
On stage, a group of musicians were playing a seductive yet relaxing song.
Rowan took the eclair from the table, allowing himself the sweet indulgence.
Meanwhile, Stefan and Rienda were making out heavily beside him. They seemed to have good chemistry.
"Here or in a room, My Lord?" Rienda asked, breathless, her dress was already undone and pooling on her hips.
"Here, if you don't mind."
"Oh, I prefer it. It's faster. I want you, but I need my potion first."
Rienda waved her hand, and Liora answered it, carrying anti - pregnancy potion as if it was party liquor on a tray.
Rienda reached for one, and downed it in one go.
Liora saw another girl waving for her, and she was going to answer that, when a deep voice stopped her.
"Wait. Who are you?"
Liora looked to her back, but no one else was there.
"You. The girl with the tray. Who are you?"
"Me? I'm Liora, the house healer."
Rowan was silent, staring at her as if he had never seen a young woman before.
Beside him, Stefan had finally entered Rienda, and they were moving together, Rienda was still on his lap.
"If you'll excuse me, the girls need me."
She was going to run to the right side of the room, where the girls were calling her loudly as it was getting urgent, but the king asked, "Are you available for offering too?"
"No. Excuse me, I really must run."
And she did, somehow not spilling any of the glasses when she hurried to the callings of her name.
Rowan sat stunned for a few seconds.
It was the first time a woman denied him.
Yes, it was her right if she's not offering, but she's so....interesting.
He saw her for only a brief time, but he saw her clear skin and pretty face, and her blonde hair tied into a nonsensical bun. The dress she wore was dark gray, but she had a graceful aura.....as if she deserved to be in a castle, not a dance hall like this.
Madam Solana returned after mediating transactions.
Stefan was lying above Rienda by then, as Rienda lifted her legs high.
"That healer," Rowan said, right after Madam Solana sat down, "what's her price?"
She followed the direction he was pointing.
"Did you mean Liora, our healer?'
"Yes. I want her."
Even Stefan who was in the middle of lust was shocked hearing that. Rowan? Rowan who had denied pleasure for five years, suddenly saying he wanted someone?
Stefan paused, still buried within Rienda, wanting to look at that certain healer.
"She's not offering," Solana answered dryly.
"I am willing to pay high."
"Thank you, but she's not offering, Your Highness."
"But—"
"She is grieving for her family. I won't force her, not even for you. I apologize."
In Velorian, a woman couldn't be forced. If a man offered and he was rejected, he had to accept and move on.
"Just ask her to accompany me. Just sit with me."
Solana stared at him skeptically.
"500 gold coins," Rowan said, making both Stefan and Rienda turn to him in surprise. "Just ask her to sit and talk to me. Offer it to her."
Solana folded her arms. "Can you promise to not touch her? Although she's not my dancer or courtesan, she's been good to this house. And I, I don't force my girls, not even for kings!"
"I promise I won't touch her."
"I'll tell her," Solana stood up,
She walked to Liora and relayed the message.
"The king offered for you. 500 gold coins. Just to sit and talk with him."
Liora was shocked. She turned to his direction and their gazes locked.
"You are allowed to refuse," Solana reminded.
"250 coins is a lot....." she said, as it was the rule of that house, that anyone who got payment there, must divide half of it with Solana.
"Indeed, You will get the highest bid tonight."
"And your commission will be very high, too."
"It's nice, but I don't need it."
"Just sitting and talking? With my clothes on?"
"Yes."
"Really? He wouldn't touch me?"
"That's what he said."
Solana stared at Liora for a while.
"Look. If you're interested, you can say yes. He's the king. It wouldn't hurt. Also, I will sit with you, and I will ask the guards to standby."
250 gold coins could allow her to buy a small cottage. Maybe she was meant for it. It was her luck, so why refuse it?
"I agree."
"Are you sure?"
"Can I live outside this hall but still come here to work as a healer?"
"Yes. You can."
"I agree with the offer."
"Alright."
Solana held her hand, and led her to the king.
The king was waiting, looking at her like she's a feast.
"Liora accepts your request, Your Highness.'
"500 coins will be paid for you before I leave this hall tonight."
Solana nodded.
Liora stood silently for a while, before Rowan waved a hand to his divan.
"Thank you for accepting my offer. Please sit with me."
She listened, and sat down beside him.
Rowan poured her wine into a clean glass.
"Have some," he said.
"I don't drink."
He was surprised.
"No offering, and no alcohol? You're so unusual. Why not?"
"Why....do I have to?"
They exchanged a look.
Even the air seemed to become tense because of her daring reply to the powerful king.
Slowly, Rowan smiled, and sipped more of his own wine.
***