Sold For My Body

Chapter 7.0: New Friends

Just when I was able to get some decent sleep, I felt something cold and metallic hitting my skin. It is very painful and I was almost sure that it would leave a bruise on my face. I squinted my eyes and groaned as I got hit on the face. It quickly woke up my senses and I hurriedly forced myself to sit to observe my surroundings. 

“Get up!” An annoyingly high-pitched voice rang into my ears. I looked up and saw the face of the person I wanted to see today. It was my Aunt Petunia, with her wrinkled face looking annoyed as ever. What does she want now?

I can see her holding her stick as she tries to wake me up. I immediately got up and realized that I fell asleep while crying in fear last night. My eyes were throbbing from my excessive crying and I didn’t have time to fix my hair or clothes. My face is probably a mess right now.

“Get up, you lazy girl.” Aunt Petunia hissed at me and I saw some servants circling around me, probably waiting for her orders. There haven’t been this many people around me since ages, making me anxious and confused. And I felt even more disturbed because they were all looking at me with a sad face. What is going on?

“Dress her up and bring her to me.” Aunt left immediately after ordering her servants. I can see five maids slowly walking towards me. They are trying to avoid my eyes as they try to get me to properly walk away from bed.

“What is happening? Why are you all here?” I asked, trying to sound not too shaken up.

“Please just cooperate, my lady.” One of them said while preparing her tools for my hair.

“We are only following the orders of the madam.” Another said.

“We will be undressing you now.” 

Deep inside, I was doing my best to compose myself. The confusion and fear was almost too much for me to handle, but I had to pretend like I’m not affected by what they’re trying to do. I’m worried they will treat me like my previous maids did just because they knew I was vulnerable and weak.

As they dragged me towards the mirror, I was able to see just how much weight I lost from hunger and malnutrition. I almost look like a doll made of twigs. It reminded me of the days when I’m crying non stop because I was so hungry. My aunt never feeds me when dad goes away for business trips and expeditions. And when he gets home, I’m forced to say that I lost weight because I wanted to, because she would always find a way to hurt me afterwards. My whole body was also covered in bruises from the previous abuse that I received from my aunt when she saw me escaping my room the other day. I felt extreme pain as I tried to raise my arms as they undressed me, but hopefully my wincing wasn’t that obvious. 

I know that if I try to say no or complain, I will get beaten again. If I make it hard for the servants by making a mistake, all of us will get beaten. It will only make it way harder for all of us if I try to go against my Aunt’s orders. I’m speaking from experience here. One time, I tried to escape from my room and asked my father’s most loyal vassals for help. For at least a way to get out of here or a place to stay. But even they turned a blind eye towards me. It was probably because they were too scared of facing my aunt’s wrath, or they just hated my existence from the very beginning. But well, I don’t have the energy to find out the truth anymore. I just feel helpless at this point.

“Why are you suddenly dressing me up?” I asked desperately. “Can someone at least tell me that?” I asked again and one of them finally spoke.

“Someone came to visit the manor and said they wanted to see you, my lady.” She said hesitantly and I felt like I was being punched at the stomach. Hundreds of questions ran through my mind as they proceeded to get my hair and clothes ready.

Is this related to what I heard from the servants yesterday? Am I getting sold off? I wonder why they needed to dress me up like this. What is this? There are way too many factors that I’m thinking of right now. Maybe it has something to do with marriage. The easiest way to get rid of me is to sell me off to be someone’s wife, after all. Will that monster lady sell me off for marriage? Am I marrying an old man or someone with connections that can benefit this family? 

But if I am getting married off, then that means I get to have a new life right? I will have to live away from this house and move in with my husband after the ceremony. However, not all marriages will give you a better life, especially arranged marriages or marriage between nobles. Some of them will abuse you and use you to earn more money, while some of them become unfaithful to their wives and cause scandals. What is my Aunt thinking right now?

“You are all done. Please follow us outside, my lady.” One of the servants said after applying the finishing touches. I turned to look at myself in the mirror. I have green eyes like my father and dark hair just like my mother. My looks are indeed okay, but compared to before I look much worse. I lost a few pounds, causing my expensive dress to look baggy instead of elegant. My eyes look bad from crying all night, and an almost permanent glum expression can be seen on my face. Looking at this person in the mirror, I lost my confidence.

I was led outside by the servants. We walked until we reached the main hall and I saw my Aunt Petunia talking to two people while smiling. They were facing the other way so it was hard to see who it was.

One of the servants announced that we had arrived and I bowed to greet the guests. And as I raised my head, I was surprised to see a man and a woman looking at me. They are grinning at me. Their eyes were filled with greed and arrogance, a look that I often saw on my aunt. The two of them look pleased and somehow it makes me feel uneasy. These two people are not to be trusted. There is something between them that I don’t like. I would’ve run away from them if that wasn’t considered rude and if I had the strength to do so. What do they want?

“Madam, this is my niece, Sheena.” My aunt happily pulled me to meet them and looked at them with a fake smile on her face.

“I see. She looks better than I expected.” The old noble lady with a red lipstick and piercing dark eyes said as she looked at me from head to toe. She was eyeing at me like I was an item. 

“Let’s get this quick, Petunia.” The man said with a frown and my aunt grinned devilishly. He was looking at me with great interest and his smile sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to avoid his gaze. What is up with these people? What do they need from me?

“What an impatient man you are, Bruce.” My aunt taunted the man and laughed viciously.

“Well then, let’s start with three hundred thousand birk.” The madam declared and I was curious about what they were talking about. I stood there watching them exchange glances at each other. They were challenging each other with their gazes, as if waiting for the other party to back down. 

Birk is currency used in this Kingdom, as far as I know. But why are they talking about money? What are they doing? I don’t want any of this. The pressure they were giving off makes me want to crawl back into my room. I feel sick.

“That’s pretty cheap, don’t you think? She’s a virgin and in good condition, with some noble blood flowing on her veins. She's in perfect health, see? She can be given away pretty quickly if I offer her to others. Can’t you give me higher demands given that she has those characteristics?” Aunt Petunia said with pride, like she was selling a plant she grew with great care. I slowly began to realize what they were talking about and I felt like I wanted to be swallowed by the ground.

They are betting on me? She is trying to sell me off!

This monster right here is trying to give me away just to get money! I knew she was evil, but I didn't expect her to stoop this low! I can’t believe she is doing this! And worse, to these suspicious people? What will they do to me?

“Eight hundred thousand birk is our last call.” The man named Bruce said with a firm tone. He looks like he is running out of patience.

“For a woman who received high education from very capable tutors, I think you can go higher than that. I am sure she is worth the money. This girl is very valuable, you know?” Aunt Petunia demanded as she pointed at me. I feel like I want to strangle her right now. How could she do this to her own niece!

I tried to stop by walking towards my Aunt but the servants held my hands firmly and shook their heads as they looked me in the eye. They looked like they pitied me, but were scared of losing their  lives at the same time. “What...” I trailed off. They are not letting me interrupt?

“Ohoo... she received high education, you say?” Bruce’s interest seems to have been piqued upon my aunt’s last statement and smirked at me.

“Yes from the academy.” Aunt replied with her head held high.

“Then, one million birk. Sell her to me and it’s all yours.” Bruce said with finality and I was shocked. I already hate the fact that I’m getting sold but... A million? For someone like me? Why would he waste that much money on an illegitimate child of a noble? What exactly are they trying to do with me?

“Deal.” My aunt laughed like an i***t as her eyes sparkled with greed and delight. Why did you let him buy me!?

“What did you say...” I muttered as I look at my aunt with disgust. I could barely speak from the lack of energy and shock. It’s like my mind refuses to accept that this is even happening. She refused to answer me and just grinned at me before puffing some smoke from a cigar in her mouth. She really has no soul. How could she do this?

“Are you sure about this, honey?” The woman beside him reluctantly asked the guy named Bruce. I wanted to ask him the same question. 1 million is definitely a lot of money. He looked at me again before he replied, “I assure you, she will be someone useful.”