No Matter the Cost

Several steps away from the man, she found the madam.

Madam Geneviere sat on the damp ground, folding her knees close to her chest. She was shivering because the air was cold down here, and her dress was in tatter, exposing some of her skin.

The makeup on her face melted down, leaving eerie traces of black under her eyes and red around her lips. Her body was considerably thinner. Her collar bones protruded so much that Yohana winced at the sight of it.

The Madam Geneviere that Yohana knew usually paid attention to her hair. Even living under the guise of Lady Lamore, who was supposed to lead a normal, modest life, unlike the extravagant madam of a brothel that she was, Madam Geneviere still made sure that her hair was impeccable at all times. 

But in this prison cell, her hair was a mess. A large golden hair accessory lay on the ground. There were splatters of blood on the surface of the hair accessory, and Yohana didn't want to know how they got there.