Princess Lyn: Fleeting Dreams 115 The Woman Named Beth

'I want to be like this woman,' no matter what anybody else says. For Lyn, this is one thing she is sure about. Lyn leaned on the railing of the second floor and continued to watch Beth for a bit. It should be okay to tell her, right? What else could go wrong?
.....

"Princess Lyn, please don't be ridiculous. I'm the last person you want to get involved with."

So she resolved herself to tell the older woman this. She thought it would flatter the woman, who usually likes compliments. But instead, Beth seemed bothered, she placed her hand on her forehead, "Why did you follow me out? You will get in trouble."

"I'm just taking a walk, and I'm not alone."

Indeed, the others gave her permission to walk around as long as she was with somebody trustworthy.

Beth deeply sighed, "Honestly, I don't understand you at all. I mean, sure I get where you are coming from. But even if it isn't me, you'll eventually find somebody as a female role model. One day you'll meet somebody you aspire to be like."

"How about you? Do you have somebody like that?" her question must have caught Beth of guard, since the girl paused before nodding, "Rhys?" it was just a guess on her side. But when Lyn saw the girl turn red, she blinked.

"I know what you're thinking. Why do I want to be like that lowly man of all people? That man who discard women and treat them as a source of information rather than human."

Source of information? Now that Beth mentions it. Rhys always mentions how he gets 'information,' from the girl's he sleeps around with. Is that why he does it? To obtain information? But aren't there other ways to gather that?

Beth must have read her thoughts since she quickly explained. "Those girls deal with loads of different people daily. You don't have to worry about who is on whose side since people come to those places to relax."

"Ah, you mean.."

"Yes, those serving girls are on neither side. They are simply workers in the establishment, and people who come there are their customers. Those customers know that the workers are neutral, and that's why it's easy for them to let their guards down."

"But, is it that easy?" Lyn protested, "Surely, there are some officials who are more cautious?"

"That's true, but that's when they use special service girls."

"Special?"

"Yeah like---," Beth suddenly shook her head, "It would be better if I don't tell you."

Eh, eh? What?

"Prin-, no Lady Lyn. Do you understand what brothels, what the red light district is?"

Lyn looked down, "I know that much, it's a place where women provide men services, and the same goes vice versa."

"Indeed," Beth trailed off, "But, ahem, do you understand what those services are?"

"Um..."

"It's sexual ones."

Lyn, who was struggling to keep calm, turned red then. Didn't she know that already? Rhys is always sleeping around with other women and has different women's scents on him. She should know better than anyone since she's hung around Rhys for so long.

"I used to work in those places until Rhys bought me," Beth suddenly said.

Her eyes go wide, 'Huh, wait, eh?' Lyn stared at Beth puzzled.

"You see Lady Lyn; it's not uncommon to find such areas in the slums of any Kingdom. I was originally from the Stone Kingdom, and there are many places like that there. One day I was called on for services at a noble home, that was when I met Rhys. He saved me from getting harassed from the nobleman who invited me there. It seemed like the man had ulterior motives, of course, if he paid that much then fair enough I would have provided the service. But he didn't, so I refused. He got angry, and even used his blade on me," Beth trailed off, "Do you mind if I tell you this?"

Lyn shook her head, " I don't, go ahead," rather she's often heard of similar tales from the female servants in the castle. There truly are disgusting noblemen out there.

"Initially he was still calm and so was I. I still intended to provide the services he did pay for. But when I heard somebody knocking on the door saying, 'When is it out turn?' I realized I was set up. At that time, I was one of the most sought out female in the Sound Kingdom. It was natural for this kind of thing to happen, but I didn't think one of our best customers would have the nerve to pull that move."

"Corruption and greed exist in peoples hearts," Lyn nodded, "You can't avoid it," even somebody like her who has lived an isolated lifestyle understands that much. After all, in the few times that she can go out. Lyn saw it with her own two eyes.

Beth nodded, "That's true, but even then, as a young girl that came as a surprise to me."

"Ah, when did you two meet?"

"Let's see it was when I was fifteen, so... ten years ago now?"

Ah, so Beth is twenty-five. Rhys is, "Um, exactly how old is Rhys?"

"Twenty."

Twenty, he's only four years older than her. But he always acts so mature, so Lyn thought he was much older than her. Beth turned left, and Lyn followed after her as the two of them climbed up a long staircase.

"He was ten years old then, and yet he saved me. Honestly, he didn't look like a ten-year-old kid to me. He was much taller than those his age, and his grudge language - his appearance. One wouldn't think of him as a child. But I knew right away when I offered my services he turned red in embarrassment," Beth laughed, " It was cute."

"Rhys blushed?!" Lyn exclaimed. Wahhh, she wants to see that. An embarrassed Rhys, "How lucky..."

Beth smiled, "It's quite easy to make him embarrassed Lady Lyn, should I tell you?"

"Yes, please!" She can use this chance not only to learn from her role model but to find out Rhys weakness. The woman leaned forward and whispered a few things in her ear. Lyn's cheeks slowly turned a bright shade of red, "W—w—h—what? I can't do that."

She definitely can't, especially after what she just told him. Beth shrugged her shoulders. "Suit yourself Lady Lyn, but it will be the one chance you'll get to have something over Rhys. I would say go for it."

"I'm dating Kazuya," Lyn reminded her. Doing something that suggestive and intimate with another guy doesn't seem right to her.

"Oh, true," Beth said as though she just realized, "Then I'll do it, and you can hide away and watch. You'll see, he gets embarrassed easily."

"O—okay," she somehow agreed to that suggestion.

Beth continued, "So, where was I? Ah yes, after I heard that, I threatened to end my life, but then he hit me with a vase from behind. I fell unconscious, and when I woke up, I was in a dire situation. But before anything could happen to me, Rhys appeared from the window. Casually with a cup of alcohol, he said, 'I've always had a bad habit drinking in places that aren't mine,' and before anybody could register what was happening. Rhys had already won the fight."

So it was something like that.

Chapter end