CHAPTER 7

I close the door behind me and lean against it. Without a doubt, that is the most handsome man I have ever seen. Well not that I have seen many, except for the madmen of guards of the mansion. But without a doubt he must be.

Not only because of how he looks, but because of his gesture, no man who comes to visit ever behaves kindly. Everyone looks at me with mockery or desire without knowing who I really am.

Everything until I know that I am, a slave, I do not blame him for despising me after knowing it. I just thank him, because outside of my friends, I have never had anything like a conversation like I had with him, it was irritatingly good while it lasted, I have to admit.

I walk a few steps until I find the piece of mirror that I have on an old chair in the corner.

__ Ahhhhh! Earth swallow me __. How did I allow that man to see me like this?

The state of my hand is a child's play, around my face hang dry and sooty strands of hair, my face is pure dirt everywhere, my clothes could not be worse. Without a doubt, the day I've gotten the most dirty in a long time.

And it had to be just today!

We were ordered to leave the guest rooms and fireplaces clean and ready with a warm fire waiting. More than once chunks of soot fell on me leaving waves of black smoke around me filling me with ashes. Elina told me that she looked like Cinderella to me, which she found very funny. From what I understood, that is the protagonist of a very popular story in her homeland.

I shed all my stinky rags and step into the shower. The water is cold as ice, I ignore the tremors in my body and let it wash away as much dirt as possible. Soot can get into your pores. I take what's left of the scented soap Kiara gave me days ago claiming that saying it smelled bad is being nice to me.

I rub it all over very well to then make a rich lather for my hair. I have to stay clean, but without wasting, tomorrow you have to bathe too.

The water comes out black and filthy, I wait under the jet until it comes out as clean as possible. In the midst of trembling, I reach for the towel and wrap myself in it to warm myself. A sharp touch makes me jump to death.

Apparently today is the day to kill Suhaila with a heart attack. I rush out of the tiny room and lean against the door.

__ Who is it? __ I wait a few seconds, but no one answers. Surely I have heard wrong, just as I walk away they hit the wood again.

__ I have asked who he is, if he does not answer me I will not open this door __ I shout.

I get closer when I do not receive a response, a breath is heard and something like the clink of shoes on the ground.

__ Miss Suhaila, your brother has sent me to help you prepare. Would you be so kind as to open the door at once __ the latter sounds like she's irritated.

That's the only thing I'm missing, having to put up with someone else yelling at me. Well, if this woman wants to do it, she will have to take a line, because the line is usually long.

I carefully open the door making sure not to do it too much just in case. The woman gives me a frustrated look through narrowed eyes. I slide to the side to allow him entry.

A tall woman with a molded body walks through the threshold. It must be someone important because of the confidence with which it moves. A royal blue dress molds to her body perfectly, a pair of soaring black heels make the perfect combination, along with her jewels that seem of great quality.

She moves through my little bedroom with grace and grandeur looking at everything around her. Its sweet perfume fills my nostrils making me want to put it in a bottle and carry it with me always to breathe in that sweet smell. She is pure refinement and elegance, so much so that I am terrified that she will set her eyes on me. I think about hiding under the bed, but it is impossible to do so without having a good look at my anatomy.

When he turns his hands are resting on his belly, and he looks at me, he looks at me in the sweetest and most affectionate way I ever dreamed of. For a split second I see her lips tremble, but she gathers herself with lightning speed.

A couple of women rush in, they look good, but not as good as she does.

__ It seems we will have more work than I imagined __. He looks me up and down, my cheeks burning with shame.

The truth is that my appearance is not the best. Who am I kidding, I'm a walking rag. But you do what you can with what you have. In my case, it is nothing.

He's out the door so fast I can swear he'll end up breaking an ankle in those shoes. I am left without knowing what to do, so I continue standing there, the other two girls who accompany him look at me while one of them lets out a snort.

But his was delicate and graceful, not like mine, which sounds like a wild mare with an itch, so rough.

__ Walk, Mrs. Agata doesn't have all day to wait for you __. He folds his arms, waiting for me to do more than breathe.

__ I have to get dressed __ I remind him and in case it is not obvious I point to the towel that surrounds me.

__ That will not be necessary, walk at once __ answers the same taking my shoulder making me stumble forward.

We arrived at a room in the east wing, thanks to everything divine that no one saw me in those conditions or that would have made me the focus of many guards. They make me come in in a hurry, slamming the door after I enter.

The room is one of the guest rooms that hours before I had to prepare, I have to admit that I did a good job. Everything is spotless and smells wonderful, the heat is nice and cozy on my icy skin.

Agata stands in front of me, she gives me a good look without letting a detail escape. He takes one of my hair in his hands and rubs it emitting a sound as if it were a rope. Check my ears as well as my nails and then say:

__ By the time I'm done with you, you will be declared a divine miracle.

Should I thank you or be offended?

I don't have time to ask, because right away they drag me into the bathroom where a tub covered with rose petals and an exquisite foam awaits. Upon contact, my tender nipples harden, making my breasts erect in circumference. I rushed into it to hide my nakedness, but now that I'm here, I don't want to go out.

The girl who shoved me out minutes before begins to rub my skin so hard that it burns me, to the point that I'm expecting it to bleed at any moment. They are removing from my skin the dirt accumulated by the long periods that I can only enjoy a bath with cold water and an old cloth to wash my body. With a tiny brush they scrub the nails of my hands and feet until they don't leave even a thousandth of dirt on them. My hair is washed in the same way until it is silky and shiny even without drying it. I get out of the tub and they automatically put a bathrobe on me, the fabric caressing my sensitive skin while warming my body a little more.

__ Go for the dresses and clothes __ Agata orders.

The two girls leave in a hurry leaving me alone with that lady who scrutinizes me strangely. Instinctively, I close the V of the robe closer just in case. That woman is advancing towards me with great strides. I back up as much as I can prey to restlessness until I no longer have anywhere to move, taking me by surprise, his arms wrap me in a strong hug.

A few sobs come from his well-made up lips as he pulls away and takes my shoulders with his hands and looks at me as if I were a great treasure. With one of his fingers he wipes a slippery drop and taking a breath of air he regains his composure.

__ I must seem crazy to you __ inquires with concern.

My head nods without permission and I quickly stop to start denying __. No, no ma'am ... not at all.

Crazy one? For nothing, that woman is to tie.

__ You have grown so much __. He keeps looking at me in that strange way.

__ I think ... it confuses me.

Let out a little laugh __. No dear, it may have been sixteen years, but I could recognize you anywhere. You are so much like your mother.

__ Did you know my mother? __ I hasten to ask, taking his hands in despair so that he does not escape from me without telling me.

__ Not just her dear __. He tilts a small smile revealing his impeccable teeth __. You were just a baby when I met you. I was in charge of fixing your mother for the parties, over time we became great friends. I watched you grow up for many years __. His eyes crystallize and already mine begin to sting with emotion.

__ Your mother loved you so much. When your brother called me to attend to Kiara, I heard that you would attend too. I hadn't heard from you in years, so I offered to prepare you __. He raises his hand to deposit it on my cheek with tenderness, he stares at me as if trying to record every part of my features in his mind __. But I never thought I would find you in such circumstances.

__ Believe me, there are already two of us __. I smile at him reluctantly feeling the weight of my own words as I confess aloud what I keep quiet out of habit day after day.

__ This is cruelty, you are Suhaila Korkmaz daughter of the Black Gold Tsar.

__ That was before, now I only have the name, I am Suhaila the slave.

She opens her red lips to say something else, but is interrupted by the door opening, she carefully wipes her eyes and regains her stately air. The two girls enter followed by four lackeys carrying two huge trunks. They hold two small wooden chests with gold metallic decorations.

Once they put everything in place, they leave, leaving the four of us alone again. They open the trunks taking out of them beautiful fabrics full of colors in different textures, fine and elegant dresses like I have never seen. Some in solid colors and others perfectly combined in various shades.

They begin to test me one after another, the fabrics parade through my body while Agata rejects them without regard. She seems to be losing patience, so much so that she asks them to get away from the trunks and begins to rummage by herself until she takes in her hands a golden cloth and another brown orange, both of them close to my skin.

__ Perfect __ declares without further ado.