6

Lauren's POV

I only woke up a few hours later, because the cold breeze that entered my clothes made me shiver and I needed to get out of that desert night. A little disconcerted after just waking up. I didn't want dinner either, a knock on the door was all I got, a woman with shiny black skin, dark brown eyes looked straight at me, she seemed to be wearing some kind of all black suit, dress shoes closed, so serious and so intimidating , the scarf on her head was the only thing with color that stood out about her, dark red with gold accents.

— I'm Normani, I've come to prepare your bath at Ursel's command. – She spoke directly, her rigidity was unique. Arabs are like that, I had already read about how they could be less warm at times.

"Thanks, you can come in." I said absently, looking down at my own outfit, remembering that the shirt was open to the middle, showing my bra in a way that obviously put her off. Hell, like I'm just pulling out terrible here. It was easily acceptable for them to hate me, I am a perverted American in their eyes!

I buttoned the blouse quickly, watching her enter my room and move agilely to each corner, preparing the bathtub while I watched hopelessly interested and curious wanting to ask about her, Tawaba was the woman who helped me come here, she said that this Normani took care of the princess, why then did Ursel ask her to come and make sure to take care of me?

"Can you tell me where Ursel is right now?" – I asked quietly, she didn't look at me at all, her hands were too busy preparing my bathtub with those bath salts that were inside the golden pots.

"Dining with the princess." - Was all she limited to talk.

I pressed my lips together, sitting in the armchair by the door watching her move, I didn't want to disturb anyone else, her princess must have already told her about the recent events and I don't doubt that this woman here, so tall, slender and serious is more one of her subordinates to threaten me when she felt that I, with my history books and my prescription glasses, would pose a devastating danger to her existence.

Thinking about it made me want to laugh, in the face of danger, of course. I coughed, camouflaging myself at ease. She didn't take that long, putting only her fingertips to feel the temperature of the water, realigning herself. Her gaze came straight to me, and I assumed too much, she's a gorgeous woman.

Big eyes, pretty nose, full lips.

Thinking about it made me lower my gaze and refuse to move forward. I promised myself before getting on that plane that I would not do anything that would put me at risk of being expelled from this country, my ideologies, and my posture, or even my sexual orientation so admittedly restricted to my intimate, could not overlap with the my professional aspirations. I know the laws that govern this country, and I know how expensive being homosexual here can be, especially for a white gringa like me. If for eight years I just limited myself to having casual friendships, it wouldn't be a year here that would make me tend to think about the seriousness of a relationship.

I'm focused exclusively on my job so recent, even if imagining myself a year without appreciating, at least, lips touching mine would be an incessant martyrdom to observe here, such a beautiful woman in front of me.

And now, with that princess watching me for breath, I have serious doubts that if she gets suspicious about my intimate preferences, she doesn't plan to shove me in front of any policeman to deport me the next day for immorality.

I prefer not to risk it.

“Thank you, kind of you. – Thank you.

"Do you need something else?" Your luggage is in the closet. – She asked, intertwining her hands in front of her body, her posture serious, her eyes idealistic, it went beyond... far beyond.

- I am not well. Just tell Miss Ursel if you see her that I want to talk to her after my bath, could you name me the most appropriate place to do that since she can't come to my room? – I asked pretending not to understand, wanting to confirm that no one but her and that bitch who was her princess could walk through these corridors.

She thought through some bookshelves, moving toward the door.

— The Backyard is a personal and very intimate place for conversations, if you wish, I can wait to guide you both there. - She spoke low, her tone of respect made me feel good. Finally someone who doesn't look scared of me, and doesn't even look like he wants to kill me on my first step.

It even gave me some relief to see normalcy in someone.

"I'm so grateful, tell her I won't be long."

She nodded and politely closed the door behind her, leaving me feeling calmer than when I walked in here. I felt reassured in her behavior, of few words, but attentive enough not to make me uncomfortable.

I made sure to lock the door and undressed, looking into that well-prepared tub, if my arrival had been less disruptive I would have been feeling utterly flattered to have this kind of royal treatment, wouldn't I have felt like a cow being prepared for the day. slaughter.

I tied my hair and let myself lie back on the edge of the bathtub as I entered the warm water, closing my eyes for the good feeling, feeling that perfume so good in the water, perfuming my skin as I cleaned myself. I spent a few minutes relaxing in the bathtub and enjoying the calm.

It was long enough that I thought for Ursel to have dinner.

I went into the closet, looking at all my suitcases there, and I closed my eyes to imagine who had put everything there while I was sleeping, but I didn't decide to delve into paranoia, wearing linen pants that didn't squeeze my curves and a knitted blouse. high collar red. I arrived today and I am afraid that even what I wear will be adopted with a bad eye.

I captured a black espadrille and fixed my hair, combing it over my shoulders, putting on my prescription glasses. Leaving my room and walking into that public discomfort again. The security guard was still there, at the end of the corridor, when he saw me pass, he simply watched me and I ignored him, walking to the stairs.

At the end of them I was startled with Normani, waiting as she told me, I smiled relieved that it was her and I saw Ursel and Gold talking excitedly in the center of the patio, they were in their best moment, it was visible in their expressions.

- Ursel... - I called her, she turned and smiled, said something to Gold and walked towards me.

“I can guide them. – Norman said. I nodded, approaching Ursel in relief.

— You didn't have lunch, now you haven't had dinner, what's going on? – Ursel asked next to me, as we followed Normani through the wide corridors.

— I didn't feel well, not hungry.

She narrowed her eyes, giving me her hand to shake when all we could see was a beautiful garden, illuminated by the small lamps that ran along the ground on a beautiful stone path, full of flowers and a well-kept garden.

The woman waved an open palm at the far end beanbags on the long rug and walked away, standing by the door in the distance. I liked her, I really liked it.

Ursel was delighted with everything around us.

— This problem with the princess made me a little upset and afraid, she put a security guard in the hallway, allocated me in a room next to hers, I feel a little threatened. - I assumed, leaning back on the pillow I had on the wall behind me.

I looked fearfully at Ursel who seemed embarrassed by my situation.

— For her, you violated her when you touched her in the square, customs are so different, this touch thing, especially since she's a widow, I don't doubt that in months, or years, you were the first to touch her, it's very personal and intimate, she must be feeling violated.

I knew it, I thought it over in my sleep and even though my intentions had been the best, I found myself remarking that it was silly to have thoughtlessly touched her to only return a damn useless handkerchief.

"Do you think if I apologize again it might help?" – I'm confused, I didn't want to leave the bad environment. Ursel quickly shook his head.

— The best excuses come in actions, not in words, and look carefully... - She pointed around us in that garden, to that mansion so beautiful and decorated.

— It's our first day, it's a very direct first contact, she seems silent, mysterious, but very friendly and curious to learn, let her get used to all of us and see that you're not bad, nor an imposter wanting to kill her at any cost.

I nodded, it was right, maybe this whole misunderstanding will be erased and everything will be fine later.

I stayed in some silence, leaning back in my seat looking at the black horizon there in that open sky for us.

- Did you see her? I mean... the full face? – I asked curiously, I can't deny that seeing her face would give more optimistic perspectives, facial expressions sometimes convey some kind of affinity.

"No, she kept herself covered the entire time, maybe it's for us, when that confidence comes, she should reveal herself…" His words trailed off and I nodded, clasping my hands together in my lap.

"When do we start our expeditions?" – I asked wanting to get straight into my work to forget these banalities. Ursel smiled, too excited to stop herself from doing so.

— Tomorrow afternoon, we are going alone, but the princess has shown interest in going to one of them one day, she is very curious, intelligent... the way she speaks clear English shows that she has already been studied, philosophy, history, art , her ancient creation must have started in the standard way for a monarchy, even forgotten. There is little about her on the internet, or in books, but I think we can find out better if we look, she may have a powerful lineage and we don't know, that's good historical content. - She said poking me. I nodded, even though at the princess part I wanted to put myself as far away as I could.

Let that thirst to know about it stay with them.

I prefer to lose myself in pyramids and their discoveries.

We stayed there for some time, talking about our schedules and I let myself be relaxed by her optimism, she said that the princess was calm, that nothing would happen to me, that this hard shell was their custom and that we would soon be fine.

I really trusted.

When I went up to my room again at the end of the night, saying goodbye to her and Gold, I felt even more excited, amused, optimistic that we were going to have a good time here. But I've never been more fooled by my instincts, as I stopped frozen in the hallway, feeling the scream catch in my throat when I saw the most frightening scene I could see.

A male body was on the floor, and three of the princess's bodyguards took him by the clumsy arms. I felt her hand cover my mouth when I felt my scream coming out of my throat and I saw her turn down the hall, taking in the men's scene with indifference, as if she weren't looking at a supposedly dead man in the doorway of her room. Who covered my mouth, pushed me forward to go to my room.

And I tried to close the door at once, feeling my eyes stinging, but the hand was so firm in gripping it before I closed it, I could already feel despair overwhelm me when I noticed the red nails, the gold rings and the full bracelets. of jewels that were on the sleeve of her long dress. The eyes, that's all I saw when she looked at me holding my door.

- What you saw? – His question was authoritative, I could imagine his face under those scarves, but just looking at his eyes made me feel the threat.

I swallowed desperately in fear.

“The body…I saw it on the ground and…

She pushed the door harder, eyeing me with determination.

— What you saw? – He asked again, more slowly and menacingly. I was shaking so much...

— Nothing... I didn't see... nothing! – I spoke quickly. She nodded.

— Well... I think the best thing you can do for yourself is sleep. Her voice was so gruff, and so threatening, that all I did was nod, feeling scared. All the optimism of that moment was soon gone, and I closed the door, locking it in fear that I wouldn't be able to wake up the next morning because I might be dead. I ran quickly to lock the terrace doors, but they were pushed forward, and I went to scream in fright, but hands shoved over my mouth and I saw Normani, covering my mouth tightly, eyes wide so I wouldn't scream.