Sold For My Body

Chapter 2.0: The Deal

Chapter 2

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?