5. Raising Chips
Unedited
"Take the carriage to the west of the city."
Ginni who sits beside Siya is puzzled. "Young Lady, why do you want to go there? You know that all the noble ladies avoid going there. That place not for us."
Siya does not reply. She looks out of the window of the carriage and the prosperous side of the city slowly comes to an end. The west side is avoided by the people of wealthy people because the slaves and lower caste workers reside here. Contrary to the flourishing side of the other places, this part of the city is very . . . ugly with no one to take care of them.
However, the person she wants to meet lives here. If she can pull him to her side, it will start her second plan.
The carriage stops outside the slum and despite her resistance, Ginni helps Siya to descend the carriage. They turn their eyes towards the large and densely populated area. The whole place is occupied with closely packed and dilapidated houses, many of the houses are either destroyed or on the verge of breaking down. There is no proper plan for the disposable of sewage and garbage, causing the air foul in odor, as well as no source of the freshwater.
"Young Lady, you will get sick. Let us go back," Ginni covers her nose and pleads Siya. She does not understand the mind of her Young Lady. From all the beautiful places, she decides to visit this place. Looking around, she fears that even if they take a step ahead, the roof of the houses will fall over their head.
"Xian." Siya looks at the man standing behind her.
"Young Miss, the slave is here," Xian instantly responds, walks forward in her line of sight and cups his hands while bowing a little.
"Whom your loyalty belongs to?"
Xian instantly looks at Siya. His brows frown before returning to normal and he gets down on his right knee. "This slave takes Young Lady as his master. Whatever you say, the slave will not hesitate to fulfill it."
"Takes me as a master?" Siya smiles a little smile but her eyes remain cold and domineering. Perhaps while living in the palace for so many years in the past life, the attitude of royalty has crept into her bones. "If one day I tell you to kill my Elder brother will you do?"
Ginni's and Xian's eyes snap at Siya in shock. They share a look with each other but both are equally confused. How can their Young Lady say something like that? If anyone here this, Siya will be cursed for not being filial to her family and instantly it will ruin her reputation? She should know how hard is to survive for a girl without a good reputation in society.
Xian pauses for a moment before looking down at the ground and grits his teeth, "Young Miss is the master of this slave. Whatever Young Miss will order, this slave will not blink an eye to complete it."
"Good," Siya nods as a glow of satisfaction fills her eyes. She stands straight with her hands locked behind her, the sunlight falls on her pretty face, making her look more mesmerizing. "Remember not to let others know about anything about my visit here."
Xian moves his head in affirmation.
Siya raises her skirt and moves forward in the slum. "Let's go and finish the work here then we have to leave for the Green Hills." She stops in front of a house, faces the owner and she knew, she is determined to.
Billy is a well-built man with strong and rough muscles and a domineering aura around him. He has a long scar around his left eye and it instantly destroys all the handsomeness of his elegant features. People love to see things that are beautiful and the same goes with their choice with humans. Billy initially used to be the commander of the city army but half a year ago, his face was ruined and he suffered a severe injury. Since then he has been despised and condemned by everyone due to his hideous look. Firstly, Billy does not care about it much but with time the distasteful stares increases and his heart turned sore. He left everything and shifted to a remote place on the west side of the city.
In the previous life, Siya has heard many things about his destroyed face and people started to refer him as a monster so she never had any desire to meet him. However, after facing death, Siya has finally opened her eyes. Beauty and look cannot protect you in the hour of need but your skill can. She was the top beauty in the previous life, had learned the four arts—calligraphy, painting, chess, and music to impress Ryder (the third prince) but still gained nothing in the end. Now she believed, beauties have unfortunate life.
Billy has long been forgotten by the people and when suddenly out of nowhere he finds a fairly like girl standing outside his house. Billy raises his eyebrows as if watching an amusing thing. "A beautiful maiden comes to find a person like me, are you not fear what others talk about you. If anyone saw the lady here coming alone, to meet a lowly person, you will lose your reputation."
"Impudence!" Ginni instantly shouts at Billy while Xian puts his hand over the hilt of his sword. "You dare to talk to our Young Lady like that!"
Siya does not put his words in her heart. She knows what he says is true. "The commander of the city army lives in a broken house in the west of the city is really not a pleasant sight. It seems the people whom you served in the past really not satisfied with your service." Though the words she says are what the real situation of Billy is, it cannot hide the mockery.
Billy narrows his eyes and sharpens his gaze at Siya as he assesses this girl in front of him. Although she appears like the other young ladies of her age but there is something different, something that makes him bow to her. The momentum she has is exactly as the royal ladies in the palace. He is really curious about the identity of this girl. "Young mouth often slips while talking but the words said in a moment of carelessness can lead one to trouble." This small little girl dares to mock the royalty in the bright daylight. One word can lead her entire family of nine generations to their grave. She is surely like a bird in the nest that has not seen the world yet.
"It is up to one's thinking," Siya shrugs her shoulder. "Many a time the young mouth is a deviation of the future. With time the old mouth withers and disappears in the pages of history. Isn't it?" She tilts her head sideways, "Making the right use of opportunities knocking on the door and suitable chips in one's hands is the only thing that determines the king."
If Billy took Siya as a little girl who has not seen the world yet, he was not sure what to think about her now. Her words are simple but have a deep meaning. He has a gut feeling that someday this girl will rise to the sky and no one will ever be able to reach her.
"What do you want?"
"Work for me."
Billy stares at Siya before throwing his head back, laughing. "Young Lady, you might be new to the city that's why you came here to propose this." Who does not know that he has suffered a serious injury in his right leg and he cannot even walk freely?
However, the more he laughs, the more Ginni feels irritated. If her lady was not adamant to meet this man, she would never let her lady see his face. "What are you laughing at? Everyone has already chunked you here because you are useless. Young Lady wants you to work for her, it's your blessing."
Siya does not say anything. She knows about his injury. It is said that no physician is able to cure it till now. However, she has a method in her mind but she does not want to mention it. She is not the old compassionate person as she was in the past.
Billy does not reply instantly but when controls himself he tilts his head to Siya. "What I get in return?"
"I can help you to out to get out of this place and give you a much better life," Siya speaks lightly, a constant smile sticking to her face from start to end and her voice still maintaining the pleasant atmosphere as if it is a regular chat between friends. "However, if you agree, I will by your master and your life belong to me. You have to accept each and every order even if you are dissatisfied with it. Can you do that?" Billy does not know what to say but Siya too does not wait for his answer as she continuous, "I know you have many questions and doubts in your mind and I do not have any answer to it. But one thing I can promise you, you will never regret this decision. I am providing you a chance to change your destiny and follow me to the highest position from where no one can ever be able to look down upon you. Think about it and if you agree then find me at merchant Alder's household."
Siya finishes her words and turns to walk away. She has this belief that Billy will come to find her soon. She returns to her carriage with Ginni and stares at the sky. "It's getting late. Let's hurry up for the Green Hills."
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