CRUEL KING

A Suitable Dowry

A Suitable Dowry

Dalia's questions grew more urgent. Judging by her pale and worried face, she had understood that something bad had happened. In truth, it wasn't hard to guess. Anisha had no mirror, but she could feel the hand-shaped marks burning on her face.

Despite the obvious truth, the young girl refused to recount what had happened to her, afraid her sister would never feel safe again. Worse, that she would worry about her every time she went out.

As for their safety, Dalia would have been right to be concerned. Despite the courage she had tried to muster, Anisha had cried all the way home, cursing their new condition. Without the title of "orphans," their lives would be so much simpler, and above all, more peaceful.

"Will you finally answer me?!" Dali's impatience grew, holding her by the arms to force her to face her.

"It's nothing, just..."

"Just what? You literally have handprints on your face. And your lip? Look at your lip."

"Let's just say I had a small disagreement in town."

Dali stifled a growl of anger.

"It was just a silly altercation, so don't worry about it."

"The state of your face and your dress can't be from a simple altercation, Ani!"

Her younger sister's eyes immediately welled up with tears, and if she hadn't clenched her jaw as she did, she surely would have burst into sobs. It was obvious she didn't believe a word of her story, for the simple reason that Anisha had never been one to get into a conflict, and this fact was known by everyone. Her diplomacy and aversion to disorder often led her to capitulate and take the blame herself. It was, in a way, her method of making herself small and not causing trouble for the generous parents who had taken her under their protection.

"I promise you, if something serious had happened, I would tell you, you can believe me," she assured in a light tone. Ani hoped that with this nonchalant attitude, she would convince her sister that the recent events were not so serious.

Dali's hands trembled as much as her chin as she looked up at her older sister's bruised face.

"Does it hurt?"

"Not at all," she lied. "It will all be gone in a few hours, don't you worry." She managed a smile meant to be reassuring and placed a hand on her younger sister's auburn hair.

"Now, go get some rest, or your condition might get worse..."

Ani drew boiling water from the cauldron into a large bucket. With the remaining strength from her hectic morning, she carried it outside to the small outhouse that also served as a washroom. Into the large zinc tub, she poured the water, adding a colder bucketful. She undid her belt and let her chiton slip to her feet. Afterward, she sat on a small wooden stool and vigorously soaped her body and hair. It was necessary to get rid of the filth the hands of those brutes had left on her.

Once she was rinsed, she sank into the tub. After a few minutes in the hot, soothing bath, the images of her morning returned. Despite the traumatic events that still clouded her mind, her attention was primarily captivated by that man and his intervention to save her from the clutches of those scoundrels. His deep voice still echoed in her head, making her body vibrate in a way she had never felt before.

"Who could he be?" Ani wondered dreamily.

Surely another bandit, a cautious voice in her head told her. It was true that with their dark outfits and concealed weapons, this man and his faction couldn't have been choirboys. But no matter who they were in this moment. They were still her saviors, and she owed them her life, and much more, her dignity.

Anisha, lacking a face, already found herself dreaming of the man's large, gloved hands, his broad, protective shoulders, and his impressive stature. Of course, she knew she would never see him again. But at that moment, she needed to hold onto him, and especially the powerful image he had left in her mind. With a little luck, Rio would find her someone with some of those same qualities.

If only her dowry was worth something, she thought lucidly. And understanding that the day she would gather a reasonable sum was not close, she had an idea.

Less than ten minutes later, Anisha was sitting in front of the coffer her father had left them. With a hesitant hand, she took out the small purple velvet pouch that held the jewel he had told her about. She untied the cord and took out the necklace, from which a circle-shaped pendant of a beauty she had never seen before dangled. Set on top of it was a magnificent, yellow-green stone, sparkling with a thousand lights. Indeed, her father was right; this jewel was not the kind you could wear to show off outside.

"You're not actually going to sell it, are you?" her sister asked, standing on the threshold of the parents' room.

"Actually... I would like to..."

"Sell it for your dowry," she finished, placing her hands on her hips.

Ani smiled at Dalia's perception. Her father must have told her about the necklace too.

"Indeed," the young girl said, putting the jewel back in its soft case. "I want to be able to aim for a suitable match, and for that, my contribution must be worthy of my expectations."

"Ani!"

"My decision is made, and nothing you say can change it."

A few days passed, and just as Anisha thought she would never see Lori again, he appeared to her as she was returning from the beach. Her resentment toward him was still strong, but a part of her was so upset with herself for the way she had behaved with him before that she refrained from being so sharp.

Of course, Lori had lied to her and played with her in a way, but he had still been her friend for several years. And in the name of that, she had to give him a chance to explain himself.

"Ani, I'd like to talk to you," he said with a serious expression.

Without a word, she nodded to signal that she was willing to listen to him...