020 THE STRANGE COURTESAN IN GREEN

020 THE STRANGE COURTESAN IN GREEN

"Shut up. She'll do the chores. I've got other girls to fuck," Leo replied, rolling his eyes.

With a swift wave of his hand, Kasshyek summoned several men who had been hiding in plain sight, dressed in civilian clothes but ready to spring into action.

"Take this girl back to the mansion," Kasshyek ordered.

"Aye, sir," they responded, escorting the girl away.

"You're thorough, I'll give you that," Leo said, nodding in approval as they resumed their walk.

Kasshyek just nodded, silently accepting the compliment.

Finally, they reached the end of the road.

"Here we are—Bagnio la Pleasure," Leo said with a grin.

----

"Welcome to the Bagnio la Pleasure! Oh, Master Lilleo, it's been a while since I've seen you here. Don't tell me you've found another place to visit?" a woman with heavy makeup and a voluptuous figure greeted Leo as he walked through the entrance.

"Nah, Madam Make-me-money, I've been in seclusion at a monastery. No women there, I promise you," Leo replied with a smirk.

Kasshyek leaned in, whispering, "Is that really her name—Make-me-money?"

Leo chuckled. "In this place, you can call them whatever you want."

The madam laughed, clearly enjoying the banter.

"Well, you've still got your sense of humor. Do you have a particular taste for the night, or should I suggest a courtesan?"

"I'm looking for someone named Dassa," Leo said, his tone turning more serious.

The madam raised an eyebrow. "Dassa? I don't know anyone by that name. Maybe she uses a different one. I'll have the girls do a parade for you—you'll find her if she's here, I assure you."

"Alright, let's see the parade," Leo agreed.

Madam Make-me-money led Leo to the grandest room in the establishment, the same room where he used to spend countless nights before his mysterious disappearance. As he stepped inside, a flood of memories hit him—images of Lilleo Gullee's past life, before everything changed.

Shortly after, a line of women and a few men entered the room, each presenting themselves to the special guest.

Leo scanned the faces, frowning. "Damn, she's not here," he muttered under his breath.

"Who exactly are you looking for?" Kasshyek asked, his eyes darting around the room.

"Someone I have unfinished business with," Leo replied, still searching the lineup.

"And what kind of business would that be?" Kasshyek probed.

"She left before she could even make me hard," Leo replied bluntly.

Kasshyek winced, clearly disgusted. "Note to self—never ask you anything again."

Leo ignored him and turned to the group. "Is anyone here named Dassa?"

The courtesans exchanged puzzled looks, but none of them seemed to recognize the name. It appeared that Dassa was either absent or going by a different name.

"Maybe she's not one of the courtesans. Do you have a bouncer, or any staff here named Dassa?" Leo asked the madam, hoping for a lead.

The madam paused, deep in thought, and consulted a few of her staff members, but none could recall anyone by that name. "I'm sorry, but all our bouncers are men, and we don't have a Dassa on staff," she replied, disappointment creeping into her voice.

Leo sighed, frustration evident. "Damn, what a wasted trip," he muttered under his breath.

Just as he was about to give up, someone stepped forward, her expression brightening with recognition. "I know who Dassa is!" she exclaimed, surprising Leo.

-----

"What are you doing?" Leo asked Kasshyek, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm here to protect you," Kasshyek replied earnestly.

"Are you serious? You're following me into a courtesan's room? You want to watch me—uh, you know, fuck?" Leo shot back, incredulously.

"Nope," Kasshyek admitted, looking guilty.

"Go home. I'm safe here. They have more guards here than our family mansion," Leo insisted, and after a moment of hesitation, Kasshyek begrudgingly stepped back as Leo entered the courtesan's room alone.

"Why are you looking for Dassa?" the courtesan asked, her gaze piercing.

This woman hadn't been part of the earlier parade.

She was a special courtesan reserved for VIPs. She heard Lilleo's name and his inquiry about Dassa through her servants and came out to meet him.

"I need to see her. Do you know where she is?" Leo asked, urgency in his voice.

"No, I don't know where she is," she replied simply.

"What?" Leo echoed, disappointment washing over him.

"But I do have a letter from her for you, Master Lilleo Gullee," she continued, a glimmer of intrigue in her eyes.

"Really? You have a letter from her?" Leo leaned forward, hope flickering within him.

"She left it with me in case you came looking for her and made a fuss like today," she explained.

"Fine, give me the letter."

"I'll hand it over, but I must warn you—you may not like what you read," she cautioned.

Leo quickly took the letter from her and unfolded it, his heart racing.

"Hey fool, don't come looking for me again. I will not be found. I'm leaving the Koresh empire, and there's no way you'll catch up to me. Goodbye. We will never see each other again. —Dassa."

"Dammit, what is this?" Leo exclaimed, frustration bubbling within him.

"She's gone. You won't find her. Nobody can," the courtesan said, her tone sympathetic.

"Damnit, why did she leave?" Leo asked, from his expressions disappointment was crashing over him like a wave.

The courtesan had no answer for him.

In his mind, Leo felt as if a heavy boulder had settled on his chest. He hadn't expected Dassa to walk away from him forever. Their time together had been incredible, and he had hoped for something deeper between them.

But that hope now felt shattered.

Just as Leo was about to leave, the courtesan spoke up, her tone steady and commanding. "Since you've paid for the night, would you care to stay a bit longer and share some stories?"

"If you're not busy with other customers, could you pour me a few drinks and tell me a little about Dassa?" Leo asked, taking her offer since he wasn't planning to go anywhere else.

She raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "My name is Emerald, and my favorite flower is the green rose."