The War God’s Favorite novel Chapter 53

The Red District
Though she had never been there personally, Cassandra had lived long enough in the Capital to know where the Red District was. She naturally headed there, with Shareen and Dahlia, and the black-scaled Dragon right behind It was a truly strange procession the bystanders witnessed that day. A concubine in a pink dr Imperial Princess, only one servant with them and… an Imperial Dragon that struggled to feet inside the streets. Many displays fell victim to his wing or tail in his wake, despite the merchants’ desperate attempts to push it out of the way. No one wanted to hinder their path, and the trio progressed easily among the streets.
The reputation of the Imperial Family preceded them. Any glance, gesture or sound could trigger a brutal and violent death, and no one wanted to leave any chance for that to happen. Shareen’s purple outfit was like a ghost making everyone run away. Though she found it sad, Cassandra understood the people’s fears and didn’t comment on that. There were too many wilful princesses back at the Palace, she had witnessed it herself. People were bound to fear them.
As they progressed in the streets, Cassandra surprised to realize Shareen knew the way perfectly.
“Have you been to the Red District before, your Highness?”
“I already told you to just call me Shareen, didn’t I? You’re my brother’s woman, you need to grow a backbone… And yes, I often go there.”
Cassandra didn’t mind her rude way of speaking. After living a bit with Shareen at her mother’s palace, she had grown used to it. Shareen was extremely blunt and literally had no filter on any subject or to anyone, except maybe for her mother.
“Really?” Said Cassandra. “I mean… I didn’t think members of the Imperial family would… venture in such a place…”
“Oh, some do. I like to go, for shopping.”
“For…”
Cassandra understood her sentence and desperately blushed. A question popped in her head, but she chased it away, as she could never gather the courage to ask. After all, she had witnessed herself how playful Shareen was…
Behind them, Dahlia was walking silently, glancing at the two women. Though she had volunteered to accompany Cassandra, she was about as shy as the concubine about going there. She silently kept glancing at the Imperial Princess, intimidated, but she also watched out for the Dragon following them. Like common people, Dahlia was naturally scared of it, and if she hadn’t seen it being so peaceful to Cassandra before, she probably would have been terrified about coming along…
“So, where do you want to start?” Asked the Princess as they reached the said District.
During the day, that area was relatively calm. Most people here worked at night, so the brothels were barely just opening their doors to let the caretakers, servants, and slaves do their chores. Cassandra glanced left and right, but she had no real clue.
“I guess we’ll just have to ask around…”
“Right. We better do it now before they start screaming and running away seeing your pet…”
“Oh.”
Cassandra had almost forgotten about the Dragon. Indeed, it would be a bit inconvenient to walk him around. She smiled and walked up to him, immediately getting all of its attention. Krai had been following, curious to where they were going, so when the young concubine turned to him, he barely contained his excitement, crushing two stalls with his tail.
Cassandra put her hands on its snout, scratching him.
“Can you wait for us here? Krai?”
She was never sure how much he’d understand of her words, but since the Mountain episode, she knew about how to make him lay down and wait. She kept patting his snout with both hands until he laid his whole body down, closing his eyes, ready for a little nap.
“Good boy,” she said with a smile. “Don’t eat people!”
Whether he had understood that last part or not, Krai slightly opened his red eyes, watching her walk away with the two other women.
Dahlia was in shock. The young Concubine had the blood of a Goddess, to order around a Dragon like that and have him obey like he was her pet! The Dragon’s owner didn’t even need to be around! She had previously thought the Dragon was indulging her because the Prince was always around, but she had it all wrong! Now, by her will, the most dangerous beast on this Empire was taking a nice little nap in the middle of the street!
“Let’s start with this one…” Said Shareen, heading to the closest building. “You know what to ask?”
Cassandra nodded, stepping ahead.
Needless to say, anyone who opened their door was completely struck by the sight of the two women. When wearing the Imperial Purple, the other a high-ranked concubine! A couple of them even wondered internally if this wasn’t some sort of scam since the strange duo was only accompanied by one servant…
“I’m looking for my younger sister,” Cassandra repeated for the eighth time that day. “She should be sixteen years old now, she was captured nine years ago. She probably resembles me…”
Back when they were children, Missandra and Cassandra indeed looked a lot alike. They had the same brown hair, the same thin nose, and even the exact same emerald eyes. Even if her sister had matured, Cassandra hoped that their whiter skin would help people identify her.
“Sorry, your Highness,” said the woman. “I don’t remember anyone that could match your description. You might want to ask next door, though, they usually purchase the girls when they’re young, they’re known for their training.”
Cassandra thanked her, but she was starting to feel a bit depressed. Someone should have been able to remember Missandra. Even if many girls came in and out of those establishments, not many should have been from a different origin. Compared to the goldish or brown tanned skins around, Missandra should have stood out.
“So boring…” said Shareen. “We can’t even see their girls at that hour.”
“We didn’t come here for shopping, remember?”
“Speak for yourself…”
“Do you buy your servants here? Instead of the usual market?” Asked Cassandra.
She had noticed how Shareen liked to be surrounded by beautiful things, and beautiful people. Most of her servants were gorgeous women and handsome young men. She didn’t seem to care much for their personalities though…
Once again, Cassandra repeated the same words to the old woman who directed the next Brothel. However, this one had an odd expression the whole time.
“Oh, that’s why you seemed familiar, my Lady! You’re Mie’s older sister? You look just like her!”
“Mie?”
“Yes, yes, Mie! How could I forget her? That child was a little spitfire! Always running around, yelling and stealing
food, a little demon that one!”
Shareen sent a glance at Cassandra, doubtful.
“You sure that sounds like your sis?”
“She was always more energetic than me…” Whispered Cassandra before turning to the woman. “Is she here? Can I see her?”
“Oh, no, no, your Highness, she left years ago. We sold her to another brothel, one of our top ones couldn’t stand her… I think she went to… yes, yes, let me check my notebook, it should be written down somewhere…”
The old lady disappeared for a while, leaving those two. Cassandra’s heart was thumping loudly in her chest. Could this really be Missandra? Did she finally find a lead, after all these years?
She returned, giving them an address, another brothel a few streets away. As soon as they got there, though, Cassandra’s heart broke. The place was closed.
“Crap… Do you think they will open soon? Maybe we can just wait a bit?” She sighed.
Next to her, Shareen rolled her eyes and took out her sword.
“Seriously, act like your rank, pretty face. You’re an Imperial Concubine. You don’t fucking wait!”
With those last words, Shareen brutally destroyed the entrance door, sending the panels of wood flying away. She had really gone full strength on those, making it even larger than it was supposed to be… Cassandra felt sorry for whoever would have to pay for the damages but still followed her inside.
A man came running, and while he was obviously about to yell, his mouth closed as soon as he spotted the two women, forming an odd grin.
“You… Your Highnesses, can this humble man ask what… what has caused your anger?” He asked awkwardly, glancing at the large opening.
“You,” said Shareen, visibly out of patience, pointing her sword at the man’s chin. “Tell us if you bought a girl that looked like this concubine, years ago. She went by the name Mie.”
The man only took a quick glance at Cassandra, very eager to answer.
“Y… yes, your Highness! I remember her, but she isn’t here! We… We sold that girl three months later, we couldn’t keep her! She had bit the customers and hit the owner…”
“Really?” Said Shareen, turning to Cassandra with an amazing look. “Damn, Cassie, it sounds like your sis took all the fiery side and didn’t leave you any, did she?”
“Where did she go next?” Asked Cassandra, ignoring her.
“I… I think the Master sold her to another brothel, a few streets down… But I know that place ended up selling her too, five weeks later, the same thing happened.”
Cassandra sighed. Missandra really didn’t make things easy for them… Though she was a bit happy that her younger sister had resisted her fate, she hoped she hadn’t run in more trouble by doing so.
For the next hour, the same schema repeated over and over again. Every time they asked a new brothel, it appeared Missandra had only stayed a few weeks to a few months, injured a customer or worker, and got sold again. Even Shareen was impressed. (2)
“I hope she didn’t get too badly treated and punished for all of these…” said Cassandra as they were on their way to the next brothel.
“Oh, she probably was,” replied the Princess.“ However, the brothel owners are careful not to scar or permanently injure their merchandise. She probably got cold showers, or was starved, things like that. I’m starting to get very
curious, though, she must be a real beauty if people kept buying her despite her reputation…”
Cassandra had the same feeling. Every brothel that Missandra had been to, no matter how short, clearly remembered her as soon as they saw Cassandra. How much more until they actually find her? As they were about to enter another one, next to her Shareen brutally stopped her eyes elsewhere.
“Shareen?”
“Wait, it’s…”
The Imperial Princess was staring in another direction, towards two women who were chatting. Cassandra didn’t know either of them, but one of them was obviously a prostitute, judging by her clothes, while the other was obviously much younger, fourteen or fifteen years old. The most intriguing thing was the green dress the second one was wearing…
To her surprise, Shareen suddenly rushed to those women who hadn’t seen her coming, grabbing the young girl’s wrist. She screamed in surprise. When Cassandra arrived at the scene, the prostitute woman had fleed the scene, but the girl caught by Shareen looked terrified. The Princess looked like a feline who had just caught her prey.
“I wonder what you’re doing here, Valeria…”
Cassandra wondered if she was an Imperial servant for Shareen, but it didn’t seem to be it. The girl was shivering from head to toe, holding on to a little packet in her hand. She was avoiding Shareen’s eyes, completely terrified.
“Who is this…?” Asked Cassandra, lost.
“This? This is one of my younger siblings, Valeria, fifteenth Imperial Princess… Care to explain what the hell you’re doing in this place, in this outfit, little sister?”