With festivities in the air, merchants closed up early to get ready for the biggest festival in the village.
The Festival of Maidens.
Just as the name implies, all unmarried young women were dressed up to please the sight. Their faces covered with powders that would make them stand out, and a red dot on their foreheads which showed they were ripe for marriage.
The women were made to sit in the middle, showcasing their beauty and the men proving that they could have them as wives. Either the men danced, wrestled or even cooked just to show how fit they were to the women.
Once the men were ready, they went straight to the woman of their choice and gave her a hairpin. If she accepted it, then they could court leading to marriage.
What every man was afraid of was rejection. Once a man was rejected by one maiden, he was bound to be rejected by others. As no maiden wanted to be the second option. Which was why the men made sure they put in their best, then found the maiden that smiled at them the most. Weighing their expressions, they went ahead to offer a hairpin. Praying not to be rejected.
Meanwhile, the young women also needed to be prepared, put in all their best as well as the men. Else they'd be approached by the men they didn't want at all.
Arrival of dusk came with preparation from both men and women. Everyone washed their clothes, dried their shoes, went to meet friends to discuss and share ideas, the plans they had. Young men and women that were already courting met up to remind each other again on who to choose.
Among those secret couples was Beth, the Merchant Chief's daughter, who was standing beside a tree and a young man in front of her.
"Remember Beth, once I give the hairpin, you accept." The young man raised the hairpin he had saved up to get.
Beth mumbled a yes, with her hands folded on her chest. "That's fine, Roy."
"Good, we know how we've been waiting for this day...after tomorrow I can officially meet your parents and ask for you to live as my wife." Roy beamed, taking Beth's hand. He rubbed her thumb gently.
"I'll die the happiest man once you choose me to be your husband." Leaning closer, he tried to catch a kiss.
Beth's eyes lit up, and she moved to the side causing the young man's forehead to kiss the tree.
"Jenna!" Beth waved at the young woman, but her eyes were on the man behind her. The young man who always looked at nobody else but his master.
"Wait up, Jenna."
Jenna closed her eyes and sighed, she was trying to avoid the girl who was everything and trouble.
"Yes, Beth?" Jenna forced a smile through her teeth, turning her face to the side.
Beth exhaled deeply, "I see you're with your new servant," she grinned, giving Rhane a wink.
"He didn't come back to help me after that day,"
Jenna licked her lips and swallowed. "He was busy at home...helping me."
"I see..." Beth drawled, not buying the excuse. "Well if he isn't busy now, can he escort me back home? It's late already."
Jenna scoffed, "We are on our way to the tailor's, that's if you had noticed."
Beth clapped her hands excitedly, "Exactly! I have one of my dresses there that should be fixed. I can't go alone...it's dark and scary. If I could tag along, it wouldn't be bad, right?" Her eyes shining with mischief.
Jenna furrowed her brows, she looked behind the young lady. "You're already with someone, aren't you?"
Roy arrived at the same time, his palm massaging the bump on his forehead. "Ow..."
"Yes, Roy here is on his way home." Beth pushed the man forward. "He feels a little sick and would like to return home, right Roy?"
The young man couldn't deny the headache he felt from hitting his head on a tree but also he had to be a man for his woman.
"It's okay, Beth, I can take care of you."
Beth's smile fell, and she almost scowled. With a sweet voice and smile that dripped of honey, she began, "Roy, listen to yourself...you already sound tired. Don't you need a little rest to prepare for tomorrow?" Going for the kill, she grabbed his arm and squeezed.
"Ow...Beth," Roy blushed, his face turning red. "I should rest..."
Jenna raised her brows, the man was obviously helpless in love with the snake that he failed to see her fake sweetness.
"Now off you go," Beth patted his back, watching as the young man turned to leave. She returned her attention to Jenna, "Can we go now?"
Jenna rolled her eyes, there was no pushing the girl. She gave a faint nod, "If you want to."
Beth didn't wait for Jenna to complete her sentence, she ran to Rhane's side and held his arm.
"Anne...you have such strong arms. Were you a fighter before now?" Beth let her curiosity take over, she would squeeze Rhane's forearm and giggle loudly.
Jenna tried to keep her face ahead and not look back, but each giggle made her irritated. She watched Rhane from the corner of her eyes to know what he was doing.
Rhane looked at his master, then the young woman holding him. His expression remained blank.
Getting to the tailor's, Jenna entered first to make requirements while Rhane waited outside and of course, with Beth.
"Do you always follow Jenna around? Even when she's gone...your eyes still search for her." Beth complained after unsuccessfully trying to get the young man's attention to herself.
Rhane nodded, "I need to know where Master is at."
"Ugh," Beth groaned, "Just stop it already! Why is Jenna your master?"
Rhane moved his eyes away from the entrance, now gazing at the young woman. "Because she saved my life," he replied.
"It doesn't matter!" Beth sighed. "People save people every day...my father has saved a cat, women bring in stray dogs. I'm not saying you're a cat or a dog, but you don't have to be so loyal to her."
Beth hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Jenna used to be married, and her husband might come anytime soon to take her away."
For a moment, something flashed in Rhane's eyes that was replaced back to indifference.
"Do you think if her husband comes for her, he'd want her to have a man..." Beth moved her hand up on Rhane's chest. "Like you, capable of making a woman wild on bed...beside his wife?" She squeezed Rhane's chest.
When the door moved, Rhane raised his face thinking it was Jenna, but Beth raised her hand to his face.
"Look at me," she ordered, rubbing his chest. "You need to pick a side more advantageous now...Jenna already belongs to another man."
Rhane looked down at the woman, then his eyes paused at her hands.
Tipping her toes, Beth brought her face closer to him.
"Beth?" Jenna held the door open, her eyes narrowed at Rhane.
Beth smirked and moved back. "Think about it, big...boy," she whispered. When she turned, she smiled.
"I'll go get my dress now." She left the master and servant, walking straight inside the shop.
Jenna stood at the door, her hand curling on the knob until her knuckles turned white.
"Master," Rhane called.
Jenna bit her lips, she was getting furious and she didn't even know why. She let go of the door and walked toward Rhane, dragging him away from the shop to a small corner.
"Anne..." Jenna hesitated, she wasn't sure she was doing the right thing. "You said your body belongs to me, right?"
Rhane nodded, "Yes, Master."
"Can....Ehm," Jenna cleared her throat, turning her face to the side.
Rhane moved his hand forward and touched Jenna's face, moving her to face him again.
"W-How? Why did you do that?" Jenna raised her brows, moving her head back.
Rhane dropped his hand to his side, "That lady...she did it when I looked away."
"Lady...Beth?" Jenna gritted her teeth, her eyes darkened. The girl needed to be stopped.
Jenna nodded, she was doing the right thing.
"Don't let anyone else aside from me touch your body anymore. Your body now belongs to only me."
Both of them stared at each other for a moment, no words spoken...the calling of night crickets was a blanket that shielded a deafening silence.
Rhane blinked first, then bowed. His lips tugging at the end. "Your every wish is my command, My Lady."