Heavy, sultry perfume instantly ripped through Catheris's nostrils. Catheris swallowed down a gag—the strong floral notes caught in his throat. He caught himself from stumbling forward in a daze.
"New addition, huh?" The old woman's voice was rugged and arrogant. She laid on a chaise lounge and waved around her smoking pipe. The hazy gray circled her like a ribbon.
Dozens of women filled the room, lounging in their silky, flowy attire. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice him. Glossy lips bit into plump fruits.
This — this was clearly some sort of harem deal—
She flicked her wrist, her eyes half-lidded as she stared at him.
"You — come here."
He bit back a headache. Looking around absentmindedly, he found a place across from her on a couch arm; it was already filled with ladies.
…
"What, too shy?" She scoffed, taking in another puff.
"...Why am I here?" Trafficked, maybe.
"You — came from the flower den. You're a widow, darling."
???
Seeing the confusion plastered all over his blank face, she bemoaningly huffed.
"You'll be one soon enough. I don't know why they chose a man, but I do see what they saw in you. I'm sure the girls will accept you as you are."
She shooed Catheris off to play on his own.
A girl with particularly large breasts practically bounced over at the opportunity to greet him.
"Hi~! Do you need anything?"
She looked like the definition of spring. She had shoulder-length swirly blonde hair, and her dress was light green, full of flower embellishments and layered tulle. Her pupils were like daisies. Huh, Catheris didn't think they'd take the garden theme so seriously.
"Water…"
"Oh dear… you must be the newcomer. Oh, saintess you've got to be thirsty — let me just fetch an attendant."
She tapped his shoulder and quickly shimmed away.
The smoker scoffed. "That's Maisie—she's a little weasley whore."
"How long have I been here for?"
"About 23 hours."
Catheris nodded. He didn't even have the energy or saliva to react.
Maisie came back with a cute cup of water. She handed it over as she held his other hand.
"You're probably hungry too. Let's go to the dining hall!"
Catheris obliged, then she stole him away from that smoker. Oh, saintesses, all those perfumes mingling with the tobacco — it really didn't smell good.
The lady weaved through the convoluted path of the harem-like situation. She stepped delicately across sitting women, fruit bowls, and whatnot as she made their way to the dining hall.
It was a large hall with a bejeweled candle chandelier. There was a long rectangular table to fit all the widows. The place was decorated with mermaid paintings, statues… a mermaid water pitcher…?
"Just sit down wherever you want," She said with a laid-back hum. "Let me get you something from the kitchen."
Maisie came back with a filet of fried fish and a side of greens. She poured him some liquid IV after seeing how he kept finishing the water whenever she checked on him.
"How is it? Is it good?"
"Yea. It's pretty good, I've made it at home sometimes."
"Thanks! I made it myself, actually. You're surprisingly chatty."
"How so?"
"Well—I didn't peg you for the type. Oh yeah—don't talk to that hag. Nobody even knows her name. She acts like a senior of this place… but we've all been here for the same amount of time?"
"Ah. Wait, what do you mean you guys came at the same time?"
"Yeah! Like, around relatively the same time. You're the only person we've gotten late!"
"So, why am I here…"
"Gosh—people these days—did you really not read the job description?"
Eh…
"No…"
Why was there a job description involved???
"Ah… saintess… pray for you. We're just biding our time here for now, that's all. The estate's still preparing the ceremony. You see, we're here because the host died."
She whispered that last part.
"Oh… why?"
"He was unmarried, so the estate hired ghost brides. I don't really understand why. I'm not familiar with how it works in his culture. But, yeah, you get the idea. He played too much in his prime years, so he got fat, ugly, and died old and alone."
"Should you be talking about your 'husband' like that–?"
"Maids' words, not mine."
"So, why'd you need the money?" Catheris moved on quickly.
"College! I'm on a scholarship, but this'll cover the rest of my tuition."
"By any chance, are you a foreign exchange student?"
!!! "How'd you know!?"
"I had a feeling, I guess," Catheris said.
He asked that as a shot in the dark. He was thinking of the foreign exchange student disappearances he always listened to. Catheris doubted that it was actually a job—Virosian winter was never as simple as that. Nothing was ever normal with these eccentric nouveau riche.
"Your–" Family…
Catheris suddenly bit his tongue.
"Huh, I didn't hear you–say it again?"
"...Your cooking, it's really good."
"Oh. Thank you!"
"So, how long have you guys been here for?"
"Around 3 months? I think the ceremony is soon. They said it'd be around spring to symbolize the season of life or something."
"So… you agreed to be here for 6 months…"
"It's just that much money." She shrugged her shoulders.
When Catheris finished his plate, she insisted on letting the servants do the dishes and told him to check out the lounge.
He was shooed away twice, aye…
When he went back to his spot, he found the smoker's chaise lounge empty. It didn't help that everyone had already sorted into their own cliques. Whenever he tried to smoothly sneak into a conversation, he was met with shallow small talk. They'd kept him at arm's length, and he was bounced around again.
'I think I'll just ask Maisie later…'
"Hello dear Widow, your outfit is ready." An old gaunt manservant appeared behind him.
"Please follow me to your room."
Catheris looked backwards and was met with those damn dead fish eyes. Catheris sluggishly nodded and followed the servant across a clear path.
This time, the corridor was lit up, revealing a polished and freakishly clean hall. A stark contrast compared to the earlier, cobweb-riddled hallway.
The servant opened the door for Catheris, revealing a tatami-style room. On the table was a neatly folded blue garb with silver hair ornaments on top of it.
"...Can I have some privacy?" Catheris turned his head behind, voice uneasy.
"This garment is particularly tricky. If my gaze concerns you, I can arrange something."
He sighed. "It's fine, I'm familiar with this."
Catheris turned around to meet the servant. An insignia caught his eye. Light reflected across the insignia's metal, capturing the design's ridges, some kind of octopus monster with half its skull showing. Was.. was that…. oh saintesses he should've known by all the mermaid decor. Catheris didn't have much time to take in the details of the necromancer insignia. But he remembered it being a deep sea-monster with half of its skull showing, its maw agape.
He kept his expression in check as he stared the servant down. Finally, after what felt like ages, the servant left. How oddly stubborn.
Just… how long had they been plotting this? Enough to get him something like this? The silk royal blue hanfu was more feminine in its design; the white undergarment showed off his clavicle. The craftsmanship was no joke; there were red-headed herons embroidered on the cuffs, and overall, great care put into the quality and construction of it.
So… it did turn out that Naeda did in fact, have a cult.
So…
…
While tying the ribbon, he cinched his waist and patted down the skirt, then put on the robe. It was… very well fitting. —Oh damn it.
So…
…
How to proceed with all this information?
He didn't have much time to think before a blood curdling-scream ripped across the hallway — from the harem's garden.