Toto walked towards the main hall. Her hips swung seductively, making the Sword Saint behind her hide his uncomfortable neutral smile.
"Kiki, right?" She called, her eyes focused on Kyoko.
Kiki is her fake name.
"Yes, Lady Toto?"
"You possess... remarkable allure that we could refine. Have you ever tried to please any man before?" Toto concealed her playful grin behind her soft fan.
"I have."
She answered straight to the point without changing her expression. Her honesty makes Reinhard's cheeks warm suddenly.
"Oh?" Toto was impressed, "So, you must be an experienced woman. If you get a personal order, would you accept it?"
Kyoko smirked slightly, "Depends on looks. I am actually a picky woman."
The Sword Saint gazed at his girl, a mix of disbelief and vulnerability in his expression. It was as if his face silently asked, 'You chose me because of my appearance?'
Kyoko, recognizing the weight of his feelings, couldn't help but let out a gentle chuckle, wishing to lighten the moment and reassure him.
"So much pride on you, little girl," Toto's violet eyes moved to Reinhard, "And you? What about you?"
"I—"
"Oh! She's still innocent." Kyoko touched the Sword Saint's shoulder as she answered the question for him, "She has many things to learn. So, I prefer her not to accept personal orders."
"Do you know how to serve a man?"
"I-I may look inexperienced, but I can pour drinks and make them laugh?" Reinhard answered nervously.
Toto gazing him for a long time as if she trying to judge something.
"Well, it's normal for beginners to do that. The prostitute isn't someone who just sells their body for money. They also serve the customers with various entertainment. Sometimes, they get a commission to be noble escorts."
She stopped in the middle of the walk and turned around, her hand on her hips.
"I'll give you both a test shift tonight—simple service. No touching, of course. Here in Flower Prison Garden, no man may touch a flower without paying."
Reinhard blinked, "A flower?"
Kyoko leaned in close to him, her lips brushing the edge of his ear as she whispered, "She means us, darling. We're the flowers."
"That's right, Kiki. This is the garden, and we're going attract so many, many bees, my precious new flower."
Reinhard flushed crimson, "O-Oh…"
As they entered the candlelit lounge, whispers, and wolf whistles erupted around them. Nobles and merchants lined plush couches, the scent of wine and incense thick in the air. The clients were ready.
"Now, blooms my dear flowers," Toto said, with a naughty smile as her eyes drove towards something more... Alluring, handsome clients.
After Toto left, Reinhard pulled Kyoko's arm and whispered in her ear, "Are you sure we need to do this?"
"I... Kind of enjoy it, actually. What? Do you hate it?"
"Of course I hate it. This...so flirty..."
"Ohh... So you're jealous before any men touch me. Damn, I don't know. You're a very jealous person."
"Kyoko, please, I beg you. We need to get out of here, go to Lady Toto's room, and search for your phone. That's all, and then we get out from here."
"Wouldn't that going be so much suspicious? That bitch Toto will realize if we aren't here. "
"Then, do you have any better ideas?"
Kyoko placing her finger under her chin, "Maybe you could use your power to search my phone while I'm here, distracting others. If Toto asks where you are, I'm going to answer that you are going to the toilet."
"And leave you here with an ugly nobleman who can't keep their pants? No way. I refused."
"Then, you want to take my place, and I go search my phone?"
"....."
His cheeks turned into scarlet, his head frowning. The Sword Saint was silent, stuck with no words to counter Kyoko's statements. He also doesn't want to stay here, and he doesn't want Kyoko to stay here too. This new feeling make his judgement was clouded.
"Well, let's do this?"
"Do what?"
"You go check Toto's room; I will distract them—Oh, you can save your anger and jealousy later. I know, I know, you don't like me surrounded by men but... Could you please do this for me?"
"....."
Kyoko grabbed a nearby wine bottle and walked towards the stage.
"Your answer?"
"Fine..."
Kyoko grinned, then downed the glass of wine she was supposed to serve. She strode toward the main stage and clapped her hands sharply, drawing the attention of the entire room.
"Gentlemen! And gentlewomen," She purred, her voice silk and honey, "Since it's our debut night, allow me to offer you a dance you won't soon forget!!"
The room erupted into eager cheers.
She stepped into the spotlight as the musicians caught off guard but professional, scrambled to begin a lively tune. Kyoko began to dance—not like a trained performer, but like a tempestuous spirit on fire. Her movements were fluid, wild, yet elegant, full of teasing spins and subtle hip rolls that left the audience breathless.
Reinhard stood frozen at the edge of the crowd, half in awe and half in horror, "She… said she didn't know how to dance…"
Kyoko bent backward in a flawless arc and left a trail of wine poured from a bottle she snatched, cascading like blood-red silk over her body. She spun, laughing, her soaked dress clinging to her curves.
Reinhard, already pink-cheeked and stiff from the attention, hesitated—until Kyoko smirked and gave him a wink. He ducked behind the curtain as the crowd roared for Kyoko to dance again.
He needs to go to Toto's chamber before anyone can touch his woman!!
But just as he passed the velvet curtain—a hand caught his wrist.
"Wait." A deep, youthful voice laced with refined confidence halted him.
Reinhard turned.
A tall, striking young nobleman with raven-black hair, violet eyes, and an aristocratic bearing stared into "Reina's" (Reinhard's fake name) face with fierce adoration. He looked no older than twenty, his coat adorned with an unfamiliar noble crest—a golden serpent wrapped around a rose.
"I apologize for my boldness," the man said, his voice carrying across the lounge with elegant composure, "But the moment I saw you, I knew I had to speak to you."
Reinhard blinked, "Pardon me?"
The young man knelt suddenly before him, ignoring the murmurs around them. "I am Lord Silvan Clemora, heir to the Clemora Duchy. Please... may I have your name, fair flower?"
Reinhard stiffened, mouth parting, "I—I—uh—"
BOOOOOOMMMM—!!!!!
"KYAAAAAHHHH!!!"
An explosion ripped through the western wing of the Flower Prison Garden, shattering stained-glass windows and tossing patrons off their feet. Flames licked through silken curtains as debris flew.
Screams erupted. Smoke coiled. And from the crimson fog stepped masked assailants, cloaked in ash-gray uniforms with scales embroidered along their shoulders.
The Balance had arrived.
"GET DOWN!" Reinhard shoved the stunned nobleman aside and reached for his sword—only to remember that he had none. Reina couldn't carry Dragon Sword Reid into a brothel.
"Dammit!"
He dodged one of the attacker's attacks. They all wear black—a basic outfit—to increase their mysterious image.
"Fair Flower!!" Silvan called, trying to reach Reinhard.
He is already busy with these attackers, and he doesn't have time to play Flower Bee with this young man.
"KIKI!" Reinhard shouted over the chaos.
Across the lounge, Kyoko had already grabbed a shattered wine bottle and smashed it into a jagged dagger. Her dress was torn, her body sparkling with spilled wine and ash, but her grin was feral.
"This motherfucker bastards!" she spat, "I was just about to pour a bottle over my tits! Do you know how expensive that wine was!? Do you know how precious this opportunity to tease my man!!?"
With a swift motion, the broken wine bottle hurtled through the air, aimed directly at the enemy's head with deadly precision.
She grabbed another rolling bottle on the floor and dove behind a flipped table, dragging a crying noblewoman to safety before launching the bottle straight into a masked thug's face. It shattered with a glorious crack.
More enemies stormed the brothel, firing mana-imbued bolts that cracked the floors and burst tables into splinters. Prostitutes and patrons ran screaming, but Kyoko—Kiki—stood tall.
"Fair Flower, we need to get out of here!!" Silvan shouted, his fingers wrapped around Reinhard's wrist.
"What?" Reinhard sighed, clenched his fist, and said, " I'm sorry. Just sleep for a while."
THUMP!!!
His fist landed square in Silvan's gut.
The noble gasped, eyes wide, before collapsing with a dignified thud. Reinhard stepped over him without a second thought and sprinted into the chaos, blue cloak fluttering like a streak of justice in the firelight.
In the main hall, Kyoko stood amidst the chaos, her eyes blazing. She faced a group of masked assailants, her stance poised and ready.
Toto, the proprietress, approached, her elegant demeanor unshaken despite the turmoil, "Kiki, what is the meaning of this? Who dares attack my establishment?"
Before Kyoko could respond, a figure stepped forward. Short in stature with dark green hair and piercing red eyes, Ezzo Cadner exuded a calm authority.
"Lady Toto," Ezzo said, his voice steady, "I've identified the attackers as operatives of The Balance. They seek to destabilize our influence in Flanders."
"Those foolish bastards!! How dare they!!! We all already agree not to distribute to anyone!! What actually they want!!?"
Reinhard finally joined the group, "Lady Toto, perhaps you have something they want?"
"Something? What? I don't steal anything from that imbeciles creatures!!"
CRAACKKK!!
Kyoko throw another glass bottle on her enemies before turned around, "Or maybeee... You have something that shouldn't be yours?"
"Mmm...." Toto take her time to remember something while Kyoko, Reinhard and Ezzo dealing with enemies in this turned hall.
Her eye twitched, "That toy?"
"THAT TOY IS A REVOLUTION!!" Kyoko shouted.
Then, the roof above them burst open. A figure in dark robes hovered midair, wielding a black staff with an orb of balance scales embedded in it.
"Are you fucking kidding me!?"
Reinhard shouted, "Everyone!! Go to exit!! Now!!"
The group run towards the exit, escaping from the Balance's members.
Crack—DRUUUHHH!!!
Unfortunately, the breaking ceilings already block the only exit.
"Shit, what should we do now!?" Ezzo freaking out.
*
*
*