Chapter 47
The day of the underworld gathering had arrived.
At the brothel, Josée opened a velvet-lined box and took out an extravagant choker glittering with jewel-toned stones. Anaïs, watching beside her, gasped in delight.
“Woooow, what a fun choker!”
“Anaïs, could you help me put it on?”
“Of course!”
The colorful choker clasped snugly around Josée’s neck, a vibrant contrast to the simplicity of her sleek black dress. As the metal jingled and the clasp clicked into place, something inside her shifted.
Today was a battle—one she had to win.
Noticing the tension in Josée’s shoulders, Anaïs gave her a sidelong glance.
“You bought that yourself?”
“No. It was a gift from Serge.”
“Hmmm…”
Anaïs smirked knowingly. “So you’re planning to get close to His Majesty, huh?”
“Well… yeah, I guess so.”
Anaïs’s tone turned serious, her smile fading slightly. “Just be careful, okay? High-ranking guys can be nastier than they look. Don’t stray from Serge’s side. I’ve been through it too—getting tested, then tossed aside like nothing. That kind of thing happens all the time. As women, we have to protect ourselves. If you’re not careful, the scars last forever.”
Coming from a seasoned courtesan, her words carried weight. Josée gave a small, distracted nod and tottered out to the main floor.
Anaïs watched her go, arms crossed. “Is she going to be okay…? I’m worried.”
Michelle entered the office, catching the tail end of Anaïs’s murmur.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve just got a bad feeling. Josée’s been out of it all day. I told her not to leave Serge’s side, but…”
Michelle sighed. “That girl has no idea how beautiful she is. When she first showed up here, the whole town was buzzing. Everyone thought Marlène had brought in a once-in-a-lifetime gem. We were swamped with curious clients. In the end, she didn’t even become a courtesan.”
No matter how much they fretted, there was nothing more they could do now.
“Let’s have faith in her. Besides, Serge used to be a soldier. As long as she stays within his sight, he’ll know how to handle things.”
Josée climbed into Serge’s carriage with a tense expression. He was dressed in a sharp tailcoat today, and the sight of him made her heart skip a beat—but that flutter was quickly swept away by a wave of nerves.
Serge glanced at her quietly.
“You’re awfully stiff. Nervous?”
“B-Because…”
“There’ll be people you know there. Even nobles attend the underworld gatherings.”
“Really?”
“Just be yourself. If His Majesty invited you, then he must have had a reason.”
Josée frowned, troubled.
Why had the king invited her, anyway?
As night fell, the carriage arrived at the palace.
When they stepped out, an extravagant world greeted them—one that neither of them had ever seen before.
High-class courtesans descended from their carriages one after another, wearing dresses more dazzling than even the nobility’s. Gold leaf fluttered down at their feet like snow. It took Josée a moment to realize the moonlight wasn’t just revealing glitter—it was catching on the shimmer of gold dust sprinkled in their hair and across their skin.
This place… it’s outrageous.
Compared to this, the world of nobles seemed almost quaint. Courtesans here poured money like water and dictated the trends. Wide, aristocratic dresses were out of fashion; the latest style for evening parties favored sleek, form-fitting gowns that emphasized the silhouette—especially the hips and legs. Only those with flawless figures could hope to pull them off.
(I have to catch the king’s eye… in a place like this…?)
Josée took Serge’s arm and stepped into the palace.
The social hierarchy at underworld gatherings was, in many ways, looser than in noble society. Married, unmarried, it didn’t matter—everyone mingled in a chaotic blur. Which made standing out all the more difficult.
Serge scanned the crowd.
“As expected, there’s no debutante line. I wonder what first-timers are supposed to do at these things.”
“W-What should I do?”
“Well, they invited you, so I’m sure His Majesty’s side has something in mind.”
He looked down at Josée, whose face had gone pale.
“If you’re really nervous, have a drink before the dancing starts.”
“Huh? I can do that?”
“Of course. Balls aren’t just about dancing. Like I said, they’re for socializing. Sometimes there are buffets in adjoining rooms, or performances—plays, music, that sort of thing.”
“Heeey…”
“…You really don’t know anything, do you? Since we’re here, ask me anything. I’ll explain.”
Josée had never found Serge so dependable.
After checking in, Serge immediately took her hand.
“If you’re going to drink, do it early. At balls in this region, it’s customary for unmarried guests to dance first.”
“Eh?” Josée let out a tiny, distressed squeak.
“Unmarried guests go first…?”
“Yeah. If they just stand around, they get in the way when the married crowd and high-class courtesans take over. Come on, chop-chop.”
“Why do the unmarried ones go first?”
“So unmarried men can approach unmarried women more easily. Plus, it keeps married folks from hitting on singles.”
“Haaah, I seeee…”
Seeing her wide-eyed reaction, Serge couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You’re usually the one who keeps me on my toes, Josée. It’s kind of refreshing being the one teaching you something for a change.”
In a side hall, light appetizers and wine had been set out.
“Let’s toast, Josée.”
They each accepted a glass of wine from a nearby server and turned to face each other.
Their glasses clinked softly.
As Josée took a sip, memories flooded her—being sold, losing her master, working tirelessly with the courtesans, meeting Serge, and finally, arriving at this moment—
She downed the rest of her red wine and looked into Serge’s eyes.
He smiled warmly, meeting her gaze. There was something palpably real in the way they looked at each other, and Josée’s heart began to race.
(If we dance now… that means I’ll be pressed up close to Serge, right?)
The thought alone sent a wave of embarrassment crashing over her.