[AFYC] Chapter 17

The innkeeper waited until she saw Seo Ah safely enter the mansion before she turned toward the coachman. The moment she faced him, the kind and gentle innkeeper vanished, replaced by the cold, sharp-eyed owner of a brothel.

“Where is she from?” she asked, lighting a cigarette with a practised flick. 

“I’m not sure where exactly, but she’s not from Norfolk,” the coachman replied quickly. 

“Are you sure?” 

The coachman nodded emphatically as he added more detail to his report. “If she’s from Norfolk, she must’ve been buried in some backwater all her life. She’s clueless about the ways of the world. Couldn’t relax for a second, fumbled when counting her money… Would you believe she paid me ten thousand Kertes for the carriage ride?” 

She remained silent, taking a drag from her cigarette, prompting the coachman to continue. 

“And look at her face. She doesn’t have the look of a local. And if she were from Norfolk, she would’ve known this was a brothel, not an inn. But she walked right in, convinced it was an inn.” 

The brother owner’s expression was unreadable. The coachman, feeling the need to defend his assessment, raised his voice. 

“She’s perfect, isn’t she? She’s even better than Annabelle from Arman Rose. You don’t even need to undress her to see it. Dress her up like a fairy; you’ll have men lining up, desperate for a turn with her. You could name your price. She might even give Kathryn a run for her money.” 

“Keep your voice down.” 

“Come on, we’re professionals here. I brought her in nice and easy, didn’t I?” 

“I said, lower your voice. What about companions?” 

“I first spotted her at Polsman International Port. She didn’t have anyone with her then and was dressed just like now. Lucky for us, she took the train to Felphe. I followed her, and she didn’t meet anyone.” 

“Then why is she dressed like that? She’s not insane, is she?” 

“We watched her closely at first, just in case. But it seems she genuinely doesn’t have anything else to wear.” 

“That’s all she owns. …Well, poverty makes things easier. But why do you think she came to Felphe? You’ve been following her.” 

The coachman hesitated momentarily, thinking about how to phrase his response. He had seen her go to Felphe Bank, where only the wealthy could afford to open accounts, let alone rent a vault. But he decided against mentioning the bank. If he brought it up, it might lower the value of his selling information. 

“To be honest, I lost track of her for a bit. When I found her again, it was getting late. Looked like she was job hunting.” 

The woman stayed silent, lost in thought as she smoked her cigarette. After a moment, she nodded and turned back toward the mansion. The coachman grinned, bowing deeply as she walked away. 

“Thank you!” 

Without acknowledging his gratitude, she strode purposefully toward the mansion. As a waiter approached with an ashtray, she stubbed out her cigarette and spat out her following command. 

“Five thousand.” 

“Yes, ma’am.” 

As she ascended the mansion’s steps, the brothel owner thought about the woman she had just bought for five thousand Kertes. A smile crept onto her lips. The coachman was right. Dressed up like a fairy, the girl would fetch a high price. The mysterious stranger had appeared out of nowhere, like a gift from the heavens. 

She thought of Kathryn, who had been bragging about a contact from a high-profile client. How satisfying it would be to show her the new acquisition. 

Behind her, she could hear the coachman’s self-satisfied chuckle. 

“At least I’ve got an eye for quality.” 

Their laughter and the scent of perfume seemed to seep into the mansion’s atmosphere before fading away. 

Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Seo Ah followed the attendant, sneaking glances at her surroundings. The interior was as beautiful as the exterior, with heavy curtains draped over every window, lights shaped like delicate flowers, and intricate decorations placed with care. The carpet underfoot was as plush as the one in Felphe Bank, and the few people she passed were dressed as elegantly as the innkeeper. 

She could hear faint laughter and distant music, adding to the surreal atmosphere. 

Was this place really only ten thousand Kertes a night? 

As she followed the attendant up the stairs and into a narrower corridor, the sounds of laughter faded, and the air grew noticeably cooler. The ornate decorations gradually disappeared, replaced by a simpler, more utilitarian space. When the attendant finally stopped and unlocked a door, Seo Ah hesitated before stepping inside.