Chapter 10: Preparing Ahead

The old mistress had spent the entire first day answering Lili’s never-ending questions. Despite knowing that she would soon become part of the auction as a product, the young lady remained as chatty as ever. All as if she had thrown her worries into the wind.

And as for the second today, the old mistress planned to tell Lili what she needed to do while preparing her for the auction. After all, Lili will have to meet the master of the entire city tomorrow. The true noble whom the old mistress once served. And part of that plan was to make her presentable and not by her own standards, but by the standards of the nobility.

Staring at the gorgeous dresses and gowns she wore one by one, Lili felt a bit suffocated. At first, she still felt passionate, but after the umpteenth dress, something broke in her. She remembered the stray chicken she caught a few weeks ago. After she pulled all the feathers, she stuffed the chicken with herbs and condiments before being dipped into boiling water. Right now, she felt sympathy for the chicken.

Her eyes narrowed and couldn't help but compare herself to that poor chicken. This was the first time Lili wore such luxurious and beautiful dresses. It took her breath away. It was clean and velvety. Not itchy and very comfortable to the skin, as if she had worn the white clouds drifting on the blue skies on her body.

The old mistress helped Lili to try various garments, make-ups, and costly perfumes. Since she wouldn't be able to take it out outside, aside from the tea leaves, she used it on the Lili instead.

And while doing so, the old mistress forced Lili to listen to a tiring personal sermon.

"Lili, you must understand that your value in the eyes of the buyer would first incline on your beauty,'' said the old mistress. "Then comes your wit… and it is in this part that I'm sure you wouldn't fail. You’ll need all of it to survive.”

The old mistress skittered around Lili, arranging the dress while inserting pieces of shiny accessories into the young lady's hair. A crimson butterfly clip. "Ignore the harsh words that you would hear. Close your eyes. Shut your ears. Keep your guards up from any plans of any jealous wife or consorts. Don't grab power too much. That brings bad blood, especially if you’re not even part of the blue bloods. Learn to retreat when needed, and push when needed. Be patient, but show your fangs from time to time. Save something on your sleeves. And don't trust anyone."

The old mistress took a deep breath and said. "Not even the one who'll take you away two days from now. May it be a noble. A merchant. Anyone. Don't trust them entirely."

Soon, the old mistress flipped the mirror from the wall, allowing the young lady to see how she now looked.

"Why do you know so much, old mistress?" Lili asked. The young lady stared at the mirror in front, her eyes turning into saucers. "Th-This is me?"

A tired smile drifting out on the old lady's lips. "I've been one. Sold to the master of this place."

"So that's it. Same fate." Lili chuckled dryly. Her eyes losing focus, wondering if she indeed the lady shown in the mirror. 

"Yes, like you, Lili. I had no choice back then. Death or follow. Truthfully, I didn't want you to experience this ugly fate." The old mistress stared straight into my eyes as she arranged a button on Lili's dress. "I've been successful with your older brothers and sisters before. But about you…"

"I'm okay with it. " Lili said, her tone firm.

The old lady grinned. "Time passes and the sands of time have changed you a lot. You're already an adult. Anyway, consider my warnings if you ever arrive in dangerous situations, though I hope you will not."

"You're done." The old lady smiled, but her eyes had nothing but melancholy. "This style suits you a lot. I'll ask the master to give this to you as my parting gift. Remember to keep your posture straight as I have taught you. It will increase your presence and will make it difficult for anyone to simply approach you."

The young lady gawked at the mirror and saw someone else. An elegant lady. A set of golden pupils stared right into her soul. Lili felt she was falling into a quagmire, sucked into another world. A voluptuous crimson lips, luscious and tempting to one's spirit. The crimson dress swung in the air, inviting the eyes. The dark threads with a few tints of gold cascaded freely up to her waist.

Lili raised her hands, pinching her cheeks.

"You're even more beautiful than I when I was young." The old mistress grinned, trying to lighten her burdened spirit. "You'll surely get a powerful noble after you. For an Antacastian noble, it's normal to have over one wife or mistress."

Then the room turned silent.

The old lady's smile vanished. Tears slowly trickled into the old lady's eyes. "If only I had asked the master earlier, it wouldn't have come to this. Remember, the orders coming from the seal are the same as the master's words. Knowing the old master, he wouldn't back out on his words even if I plead. The master keeps his words even to death."

Then the old mistress grabbed Lili's dress and whispered. Her voice trembling with every word. "I'm sorry, Lili. I'm so sorry. I-I feel so powerless. I couldn't do anything."

Lili's shoulder dropped. She turned and gazed straight at the old lady whom she had treated as her mother. The one who saved her from slums. Time had not been too kind to her as wrinkles crept on her once beautiful face. Yet, her gentleness remained the same. In Lili’s eyes, she hadn’t changed at all.

Lili wiped away the tears from the old lady's eyes. Then she grinned, chest puffed, waving an ornate fan to her face, acting like some villainess she read from some old dusty novel in the attic. "Don't worry about me. Worry about the one who'll buy me. If I'm this beautiful, I could make him do what I want. I'll play him on my palms."

Ow! The stunning lady staggered as she held her aching head. Surely, it'll become a swollen bump later. Still, a thin smile arched as she threw a glance at the old lady before her. 

The old lady slapped Lili's head again, chuckling and sniffing after seeing the silliness of Lili. "Don't do that, you brat! You're going to die much earlier than me at that rate."

"I won't let that happen." Lili kept her silly acts, puffing her cheeks to make the old lady laugh. She raised the small biceps to show her strength. "See this? I can protect myself."

"All members of the Antacastian aristocracy, may it be the daughters and sons, are all snakes in human skin. Don't take their generosity as a sign of weakness. Most of the aristocracy of Antacast are not good people. They're trained to be not good people. When you outlive your usefulness, they'll kill you." The old mistress chortled, ignoring the silly lass. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, old mistress!" Lili saluted. Despite acting like a fool, she kept the old lady's advice to heart, listening carefully to her every word.

The grandfather clock ticked-and-tocked, never stopping as Lili enjoyed the presence of the old mistress. Lili knew that the slave contract wouldn't allow her to see the old mistress or any of the kids again. Thus, instead of moping around, she decided to make the best memories out of the time she still had.

They continued to try a few more dresses while the old mistress briefed Lili of the dos and don'ts in the world of the nobles.

Lili felt time slipping from her hands. This was the first time she understood the importance of time. Like what the old people always said, 'You'll only understand someone or a thing's value once it's already slipping away from your hands.'

And just like that, the second day passed by quickly. She slept with the old mistress beside her, calming her worries and fears. 

On the third day, Lili would have to face the noble magus for the assessment. The magus would be the one to determine her price.

In the depths of the night, Lili stood from the comfort of her bed, striding towards the wide-open window. The cool night breeze drifted, caressing her face. Her unkempt cascading threads waltzed, drizzling as the three moons watched in delight.

Lili took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and whispered one taboo among the Antacastian nobility. She turned toward the bed, gazing at the sleeping old lady, and said. "Dragons, please protect the old mistress while I'm gone."