His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 64

“That’s a good turnout!” Kara said from the table in the corner where the two of them were sitting. It was strange to see her out of her maid clothes and wearing a long-sleeved dress, but Raena had to admit that it suited her more than the uniform. The drink in front of her was still half-ful, but she had stubbornly refused to let Raena help her drink. “You said that after the break-in, people were afraid to come here.”

“Perception changes easily.” Raena smiled, looking around. All the tables were full already, and earlier when they had come, they had noticed that there were people lining up for the stands she had put up in front of the building. She had advised the other owners to make big flashy signs and special discounts for the occasion, and by the looks of it, it was working since the crowd hadn’t thinned even after so many hours.

“Are you sure you want to sell it? You made it what it is,” Kara asked, lowering her voice. “And you did promise me a lifelong profession.”

“Well, things turned out a little different from what I expected, so we’ll just have to be content with money. Besides, if l am not going to be here, why keep it?”

Kara stared at her as if she wanted to say something, then looked aside, her eyes studying the restaurant as if trying to memorize everything in it.

“As for the profession,” Raena continued, catching her attention again, “pick anything you want. Seamstress? Designer? Or maybe a musician?”

“Are you purposely listing professions that rely heavily on the use of hands?” Kara scowled, her tone turning sharp.

“Yes,” Raena replied without hesitation. Because lam sure your hands will heal just fine and you’ll be able to use them like before.” Kara looked away without saying anything, and Raena held back a sigh. It wasn’t that she blamed Kara for not being all cheerful after everything that happened, but if things went according to the plan, those were going to be the last memories they had in this place, so she wanted her to have a little fun. “Do you want to go look around? The best part is going to start soon.”

Kara hesitated, glancing toward the window by their side. The sound of laughter and excited conversations outside almost muffled the chatter inside the restaurant.

“It’s going to be fine. As you said, it’s your hands that are hurt, not your legs.” Raena smiled.

“You deserve some distraction. We just have to be careful not to bump into someone and hurt you. Stay close to me.”

They got up and headed to the front door, ignoring the glances they got from the tables they passed by. Kara shifted uncomfortably while Raena kept her gaze forward, ignoring the whispers as well. People might have turned up as she expected, but they brought their biting words and suspicious looks with them.

Raena was just about to step out when they almost bumped into Marden at the threshold. He stepped back, moving a stair down and grinning.

“If this isn’t fate! I was just about to come to replace you!” he said, his gaze traveling to Kara by her side. “Oh, hello there! Who might you be?”

“Marden, this is Kara. Kara, Marden.” Raena quickly introduced them, her hand moving between the two as she mentioned their names. Marden narrowed his eyes at Kara, who shifted uncomfortably.

“Wait, I know you! You’re the maid from before!” he exclaimed suddenly, pointing at her. “I wondered where you disappeared off to. Got tired of serving this bossy woman, huh?”

“She didn’t serve me. She is my friend. And her name is Kara, not the maid,” Raena corrected him, arching an eyebrow. Marden raised his hands in apology, then extended one of them toward Kara. Kara frowned a little, looking down at hers she had insisted on wearing gloves despite the warm weather, still uncomfortable about the bandages and the bruised skin, but that made them stand out even more.

When Marden saw her hesitation, he frowned.

“What happened to your hands?”

“People who don’t know their place crossed the line and will soon pay for it,” Raena replied in her instead. Marden laughed awkwardly.

“I can’t see, most of your face, but I am ready to bet my head that your expression is scary!” he said, climbing down from the rest of the stairs and giving them a sign to follow. “Mind if I steal your friend for a minute, Kara?”

“Go ahead,” she replied and Raena threw her a glance before following Marden to the empty space next to the brothel’s building. She looked at him, waiting impatiently for him to speak. Even though she had spent the last three days at the restaurant, they hadn’t seen each other with him running around to replace more workers for the festival and searching for an extra painter.

“Where is your guard?” he asked, his expression turning cautious.

“Running an errand. Why?” Raena frowned.

“Did you get the report he was supposed to bring?”

“Why do you ask? Come on, Marden, speak clearly if you have something to say.” she tensed, her eyes narrowing with even more suspicion.

“First, I want to point out that this has nothing to do with jealousy!” he said defensively. Looking at his serious face, she nodded. “I don’t trust him, Lydia. I don’t know what kind of relationship you two have, but I don’t think you should trust him, either. The way he hovers over you, the way he comes and goes without anyone hearing or sensing him, even the creepy, calculating way he looks around screams suspicious. The other night when he came to get the report, I sent one of my men to follow him. That guy never returned, but a few days later the city guards found in an alley – a body so beat up, it was hard to look at. If it wasn’t for the tattoo on his wrist, even his mother wouldn’t have recognized him.”

“Are you saying Zen did it?”

“I mean… I don’t know. But it’s one hell of a coincidence, don’t you think? How long have you known the guy? Do you think he could kill someone in such a manner?”

“I..” Raena hesitated, licking her lips. “I don’t know, Marden. It was late at night and your guy might have run into someone while trying to follow Zen.” Marden pursed his lips as if to disagree, so she hurriedly added. “I’d appreciate it if you don’t send people spying on me or my people.”

“I didn’t…” he said awkwardly, with a grimace that would have made her laugh had she not felt so cold suddenly. She looked around, but everywhere she noticed people smiling or laughing or pointing excitedly at stands or performers. “l was just worried.”

“It’s fine this time. But please trust me.” She forced herself to say, touching his arm. “In turn, I’ll be more careful and less trusting. Deal?” She offered him her hand, and he looked at it before sighing.

“Deal.” He shook her hand, then threw his arm over her shoulder, leading her back to where Kara was waiting. “Let’s not keep your friend waiting. Cheer up, your eyes look worried. She’ll see.”

They joined Kara by the restaurant’s entrance, and he tried to throw his free hand over her shoulder. Kara gave him a warning look, and he grinned, pulling away with an apologetic grin.

“By the way, almost all the books are already sold. I had to bring out the batch for our loyal customers. How do you come up with these things? I really want to know! Have you tried them all?”

“I really am not that flexible,” Raena scoffed, thinking how at least she successfully improved her stamina to a point where climbing the stairs to the third floor of the restaurant didn’t get her winded. Her little project from the days she was unable to leave her bed was recreating a book she had read in her world and which conveniently related to the type of work the brothel did.

“What book?” Kara frowned, looking between the two.

“Oh, you haven’t seen it?” Marden asked excitedly, searching into the inside pocket of his suit.

“You carry one with you?” Raena exclaimed.

“Don’t you dare show it to her!”

“What? Why? She is an adult woman, she should know these things!” Marden grinned, parrying Raena’s attempts to snatch the small book from his hand. As he brushed away her right hand, sending a jolt of pain through the still-healing bones, Raena gave up. She hadn’t told him about the injury and he hadn’t noticed, so she couldn’t really blame him for not being careful, but tell him now was only going to raise more questions.

By the time the pain dissipated, Marden had opened the book somewhere in the middle and was showing Kara the pictures inside. Her eyes had widened so much, they looked like they were ready to pop, and her face had turned so red, Raena was worried she might blow a fuse.

“What is this?” she hissed while Raena took advantage of Marden’s laughter and shut the book closed, taking it away from him. “Did you draw these?”

“Only the first draft!” Raena shrugged, scratching her temple awkwardly. For some reason, this whole situation felt like her mother just discovered that her daughter knew what adult films were. “He found a painter to make them pretty.”

“Don’t say it in such a proud tone!” Kara said, still blushing hard. “Why would you draw something like that?”

“It’s an educational adult picture book,” Raena said, giving the book back to Marden since he looked like he was planning to forcefully take it.

“What’s the educational part?” Kara frowned.

“It teaches you how to give and receive pleasure in all kinds of ways. And I am proud to say, I know most of them!” Marden smirked. The two women glanced at him for a moment while he smiled proudly, then looked at each other. Raena threw her hands in the air.

“I did it when I was.. indisposed, you remember? It’s always good to come up with new, interesting things to keep people excited. Visitors have increased since you started selling them, right?”

“Oh yes, although my workers hate you!” Marden laughed. “But I am giving them a raise for the hard work they are doing, so you should be safe. Come on, it’s about to start.”

Raena threw Kara another amused gaze while her friend looked like she wanted to hide in a hole, then Marden ushered them forward, making a way for them to get to the front of the stage that was set at the end of the street. Some of the street children had taken a seat directly on the ground, waiting impatiently for the play to start. Raena looked around with a smile, her gaze passing over the excited faces that had gathered in front of the platform. She could say with confidence that the festival was a success, but it still tasted bitter knowing that just when everything was going so well for the business, she’d have to leave it to someone else. She had already started making arrangements for the transfer of property. At first, she thought to transfer the restaurant under Ramor’s name and have him sign a contract where a percent of the profit would be sent to her but that was going to be too risky – both for her brother and for her since in order to receive that money she’d have to disclose her location.

So the only option was to sell the place. She already had two buyers bidding secretly, so she didn’t worry about the money, but she was going to miss it. She was going to miss Marden and their weird collaboration; she was even going to miss the North Palace. She’d even miss…

“Did you really have to make the princess wear a veil?” Kara’s mocking tone pulled her into the present and Raena looked up at the stage where the lead actress of the play stood in a long blue dress and a veil, finally receiving a heartfelt confession from the hero.

“That was actually my idea,” Marden said, raising his hand. “I thought that would make people more curious about Madam Lydia and bring them to the restaurant just to see her. Or just talk about her somewhere which would bring up the restaurant’s name and so on…”

“My, my. you’re finally learning!” Raena laughed.

“ls this why the hero looks so much like you?” Kara said dryly, looking at Marden.

“That’s pure coincidence.” He laughed a moment before his voice was drowned in cheers and clapping that followed the play’s finale. The actors bowed and gathered the flowers that people threw at them, then slowly exited the stage. Kara was just turning to say something when Raena pointed above them and her friend looked up with a frown. A few seconds later, the sky exploded with bright colors, sparks scattering in the air and descending toward the ground like falling stars.

The fireworks continued for a while, giving the people enough time to gawk and gasp, and just as the night grew dark and quiet again, music erupted from the stage where previously the actors played.

Too busy watching up, almost nobody had noticed the musicians that had settled there.

The crowd moved excitedly, trying to make space for dancing.

“We should get going,” Kara said in a tense voice, keeping her hands to her body. Marden moved in front of her just before a large man with curly hair staggered backward and almost trampled over her. Marden caught him before he reached Kara, but Raena wasn’t that lucky. As she tried to avoid the pushing people, she tripped on her skirts, her surprised scream drowning in the racket.

Just as she was bracing herself for the fall, two powerful arms wrapped around her and pulled her to safety. Raena tried to calm her racing heart as warm breath tickled her ear, then a familiar voice whispered.

“I’ve caught you just in time.”