The Romantic Trials Of A Transmigrated Empress-Chapter 37: A visit to a brothel.

As Sigrid’s carriage blasted through the streets away the royal castle, she thought back on her conversation with the queen, it had been rather enlightening.

She sneered as her memory was drawn back to the last words the queen had said to her.

"She wants all the reward and none of the blame." Sigrid chuckled.

Lanai and Lama were inside the carriage with Sigrid, they had no idea why she was laughing. They looked at her with worry in their eyes and sighed at the same time, coincidentally which led to an exchange of glances and a series of shrugs.

They were both silently asking each other why the crown princess was chuckling to herself.

"Crown princess, you have not eaten all day, when you were in court, I sent a footman to the castle and told the cooks to prepare seasoned shrimp and steamed rice with green peas and a rice pudding. You have not a drunk a single lemonade today, should I have one prepared as a beverage companion for your meal?" Lanai asked.

She figured her lady was hungry given that she had been busy dealing with business during the day, followed by court. All she had eaten since morning was a sponge cake, some bread and two cups of coffee.

Lanai narrowed her eyes and wrinkled her nose when she recalled the taste of the black bitter coffee.

"That sounds so good." Sigrid moaned.

She longed for that warm delicious mean which would fill her stomach and bring so much delight to her tongue but now was not the time, the work of ruining her enemies had to come first.

"We are not on our way home yet Lanai, we are going to visit a brothel." Sigrid answered.

The expressions on their faces were to be expected, wide eyes, open mouths, pale faces, Lama even covered her mouth instinctively in astonishment.

"My lady, crown princess, you must not." Lanai begged. "You are not just a titled lady but the crown princess. What will people say if you are seen in such...such...." she broke off as if she was about to faint and the word brothel was just too frightening to say.

It was an exaggeration, brothels were not illegal on Eldoria, prostitution was even encouraged in some circles as it was considered a win-win situation. The men had an outlet for their sexual desires and the women had an opportunity to earn a wage.

It was also used as a punishment, women that came from families that were found to be treasonous were often punished to become prostitutes in brothels that catered to soldiers.

Prostitutes on Eldoria had classes, the cheapest and lowest one being those that skulked the streets in the night while hiding their identities.

Middle class ones that worked in a brothel under protection of a madam and high class ones that were beautiful and slightly educated. They were housed by a single client, normally a titled man that paid all their expenses, they were basically mistresses.

In some cases, they went on to marry these men as secondary wives, just like Rina had done.

Despite all these facts, it was still frowned upon for a noble lady to be seen in such facilities, even going near them would have one marked as loose, a stain that could damage their lives forever.

"Don’t worry, we...no, I am not going in as me, I have to disguise myself." She told them.

Lanai leaped from her side to Sigrid’s and grasped her arm.

"Crown princess, you cannot go to such a place without me or Lama, at least one of us should go with you to testify for your virtue if this ever comes to light. A scandal like this could ruin you, crown princess, please."

When Sigrid tilted the girl’s face up, she noticed tears in her eyes. Barely had she grasped what was happening when Lama fell to her knees and made the same plea, she too started sobbing.

"Oh for heavens sake!" Sigrid said, exasperatedly.

The two maids were beyond loyal to her, they were just too timid sometimes, so afraid to venture beyond the laws set for women in their world.

"Fine, you can come with me but don’t ruin my business, don’t call me crown princess and no matter what you see or hear, act deaf and blind otherwise you might have to forfeit your lives in future." Sigrid warned them.

This business concerned the interests of the queen and affairs of the king. If the king had killed almost everyone that knew about Rina’s affairs, it was possible for the queen to eliminate the weak individuals that were in the know about this new woman they wanted to recruit.

The carriage came to a stop outside of a restaurant, they stepped out with cloaks covering their bodies, hoods and masks.

The rest of the six minute journey was covered on horse back and soon they found themselves inside the premises of the enchanting parlor.

It was truly the most successful and famous brothel in Eldoria, it occupied a five storied building that the madam owned.

First time visitor Sigrid expected to see couples engaging in all sorts of coitus out in the open but that was not the case. In the open hall, guests were enjoying drinks and food while being entertained by a singer up front.

Women in light dresses that were just slightly revealing were walking through the guests, plying them with alcohol in the hopes of getting them intoxicated as they feigned interest in the men.

When she turned her eyes to the left, Sigrid saw two dancers dressed like Arabian belly dancers moving their waists tantalizingly.

To the right, there were two other dancers dressed and dancing similarly. The men that were watching them were lost in their beauty, drooling as they drew fantasies of bedding the women.

"This way." One of Sigrid’s knights tugged on her arm and led to the the stairs which took them to the top floor of the brothel, a place only the wealthiest could access.

The sound of music faded as they moved up further but then they came upon another stage, on the fifth floor, one with a veiled young woman that was aerial silk dancing.

She paused and tilted her head in wonder, "Huh! I did not think they had this here." she muttered.

"This way," the knight, Sir Brolin tugged on Sigrid’s hand again and he finally led her to a private room on that floor.

Sigrid had planned to visit the brothel today with or without the consent of the queen to her plan. Brolin had already made an appointed for her with madame Elene, the woman that owned and run the brothel.

As soon as she entered, Sigrid smelled the incense whose purpose was to make one lose control of their mind and susceptible to questioning and pliant to suggestions.

It was coming from a brass incense burner on the table, the aromatic sweet smell would have fooled anyone else but unfortunately for madame Elene, today’s guest was a crown princess that happened to have awakened her magic.

"Throw the incense out." she ordered.

Brolin unleashed his sword and it came down on the table swiftly, spitting the incense burner into two.