The afternoon sun had settled over the palace grounds, baking the stones until the air shimmered just above the open courtyard below. Zack stood at the window, one arm braced against the frame, his eyes drifting lazily over the growing crowd of guests finding their seats and filling plates with food prepared by Queen's people.
"Boss, are you feeling, okay?" Rugged Woman came up beside him, her voice carrying concern. "You look drained after treating all those people. And your wound... how is it holding up?"
Zack turned his head slightly and looked at her with a small smile. "Hmm. I should be asking you that. You've been fighting back-to-back all day." He studied her face, seeing the tiredness she was trying to hide behind that composed expression. "I know you're exhausted. You can rest, you know."
Rugged Woman moved a little closer until her shoulder touched his in a gentle nudge. The thin blanket around his shoulders shifted slightly with the movement. "How can I rest when my boss is still standing with a hole in his body?" she said, her voice dropping lower as guilt crept beneath her words. "And it's all because of me."
"It's not because of you." Zack turned to look at her directly, his smirk easy on his face. "I took the hit because I knew your weak little body couldn't survive a simple stab." He let the tease hang in the air between them for a moment as his eyes was teasing her in rapid attacks.
"Gah!" Rugged Woman's guilt evaporated instantly. "Who are you calling weak, Boss?!" But the smile broke through anyway, wide across her face. She turned toward him and started fixing the thin blanket around him, making sure it covered him properly, then reached up without thinking and smoothed his hair back where the afternoon breeze had messed it. "I'd say I'm pretty strong... strong enough that I got through your defenses without even trying. Hehehe."
Her laugh rang out clear, and Zack watched her face catch the sunlight, the gold of the afternoon making her long earrings flicker.
"I could've let this happen on purpose, you know," Zack laughed back.
They both dissolved into laughter, standing shoulder to shoulder, looking out over the courtyard below as the noise and movement of the crowd drifted up to them on the warm breeze.
After a moment, the laughter settled into a comfortable quiet. Rugged Woman's eyes moved to his face, her expression softening. "Boss," she said, "aren't you really something? When I decided to choose you as my man, I never imagined you'd be this kind of person. Someone who could think of ideas that might actually change this whole city for the better."
"You're over-praising me," Zack said simply, his smile small on his face. "And whether things go our way or not... that's still not certain."
"I'm not the smartest person," Rugged Woman admitted, her eyes still sparkling as she shifted closer and wrapped both hands around his arm, her chest pressing warmly to his side. "But I can see it in other people's faces. Things are starting to look hopeful. How did you even think of all this?"
Zack felt his ears go a little warm. He cleared his throat quietly. "Everyone helped. Don't just give all credit to me... other people's ideas and hard work matter just as much."
He paused, and his expression shifted. The easy warmth in his face faded slightly, and he looked out toward the horizon, toward the 2nd rock district, and something hollow settled behind his eyes. "And... I just wanted to find some way to help Nat. I've been thinking and working about it for a long time." His voice came out quieter now, the words carrying weight he didn't want to hold. "I hope this can actually help her."
Rugged Woman felt the shift in him immediately. She moved her hand to his back and patted him in slow rhythm without saying anything at first, just letting him know she was there.
"It's okay, Boss," she said softly. "I'm sure everything is going to be alright."
She looked out toward the same horizon, and a thought moved quietly through her mind. "Princess Boss is better than anyone out there in every way. I just hope you can see what's right in front of you, too and acknowledge him."
"Hmm…. Thank you," Zack said. Then, after a breath, his expression shifted again, this time turning into more mischievous type. He turned to look at her and reached over, taking her hand and lacing his fingers with hers. "So...... What happened over there? Big Sister Nat didn't tell me anything." His smile turned pointed as he watched her reaction. "I was hoping you could fill me in. You'll tell me, right, Miss Rugged?"
His grip tightened, his fingers intertwining with hers, giving her the surprise of a lifetime.
"GAH..." Rugged Woman tried to pull away but his hand-held firm. "Ha ha ha... Boss, I don't really know what happened! I was hurt, I was somewhere else entirely, ha ha ha..." She laughed awkwardly, tugging with completely futile effort. "Oh, Boss, the weather is so nice today, have you noticed? Really beautiful afternoon..."
Zack leaned his face closer to hers, eyes locked on hers with calm focus.
AGH!!!
"Boss I... I... I'm sorry." Her voice came out small. She stopped struggling and looked down, her shoulders dropping. "Big Sister told me not to say anything. I'm sorry."
Zack went quiet for a few seconds. Then he sighed, not feeling disappointed but just tired, a little resigned to the happenings. He patted the top of her head sweetly.
"It's fine. If you made her a promise, keep it." He released her hand and leaned back against the window frame, his weight settling against the beam. "Sorry. I was just feeling anxious. That's all."
He sighed again, a long slow exhale, and stared out at the sky.
Rugged Woman touched her own hand where his fingers had been, then quietly stepped closer and leaned her shoulder against his, she slowly put her index finger on his palm trying to get the same feeling again. "Don't worry, Boss. From the little I did see... she loves you a lot. I'm sure she'll sort herself out soon enough."
"Hmm." Zack nodded slowly, trying to let that settle somewhere in his chest. "I hope so." Zack gently grabbed her finger and rubbed it softly with his thumb, making Rugged Woman smile happily.
.
The courtyard below continued to fill and buzz with activity. Rugged Woman's eyes drifted across the arrangement and landed on Subordinate Woman, who was moving through the crowd with calm authority, pointing here, redirecting there, her posture straight in a way that was completely different from the trembling woman Rugged Woman had first seen in that cave. Her long, thick wavy reddish-orange hair lifted and rippled with every pass of the breeze, catching the light in a way that was making heads turn throughout the crowd.
Rugged Woman's hand moved without thinking to her own hair, the short, uneven crop that barely reached her nape, and it was rough around the edges. She thought of Princess's carefully beautiful braided hair and her graceful figure. She thought of Subordinate Woman's soft, warm presence and the way clothes seemed to drape perfectly on her. Then she glanced over and caught Zack's eyes, also watching Subordinate Woman below.
A small feeling moved through her chest.
"I guess Boss really does prefer women with better feminine qualities," she muttered, not quite able to stop herself.
Zack looked back at her. "You're talking nonsense again."
"I am not talking nonsense, it's the truth." She turned around so her lower back rested against the window frame, crossed her arms, and looked away with a short "HUMPH."
Zack studied her for a moment, then smiled. "Truthfully? You look really beautiful right now." He said it plainly, no fuss behind it. "I don't know what you mean by 'better feminine qualities.' But your body..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I had a hard time picking your clothes because I knew you'd look beautiful in everything. So, I just brought every style."
Rugged Woman's ears turned red immediately. She cut a quick sideways glance at him. "Not lying?"
"Not lying."
"Hehe... then it's fine! Huh..." She stopped. Her eyes dropped to her own outfit, then flicked to Subordinate Woman's clothing, and something clicked behind her expression. She turned back to Zack with sudden purpose, stepping forward and placing both hands flat against the wall on either side of him, her eyes wide with realization. "Boss. You said every style." Her voice was careful hoping to hear what she wanted to hear. "That means you also bought me those cute flowery dresses. The girly ones." She stared at him. "You actually think I'd look good in those?"
Zack blinked, processing the sudden shift in energy, then laughed softly. "Yes. I really do. I bought them for you." He tilted his head. "Did she not show you?"
Rugged Woman's eyes shot across the courtyard to Subordinate Woman. Her expression darkened.
GRRRR!!!!!
That shrewd little girl. Playing her own game before we've even cemented our relationship!!
She looked back at Zack and, despite herself pinning him down, she felt shyness creep over her face in a wave. Her arms lowered and came to rest lightly on his shoulders as she spoke, her voice slower now. "Thank you, Boss. Truthfully... I always wanted to try clothes like that. But I never had the money for buying decent ones, and I didn't think they'd suit me to be honest, so I told myself I didn't care." Her ears burned hotter. "But when I saw her in those outfits, I was a little jealous. I didn't want to admit it. But I'm really happy that you thought about me like that. Seriously Boss I really Love you!"
Zack laughed a little. "You girls really do think too much."
Rugged Woman pouted at him. "Fine, laugh all you want. I won't say anything more." But the pout was cute.
Zack smiled and reached over, touching one of her red ears gently between his fingers. She shivered immediately, her knees going slightly unsteady. "Why don't you show me later at home?" he asked, his voice easy. "How you look in them and then we can decide whether it suits you or not."
Rugged Woman nodded, barely managing to hold herself upright, her ear now burning under his fingers.
Zack smiled and let it go, turning back to look down at the courtyard. Then his eyes sharpened suddenly seeing something out there that turn his blood a little hot.
Rugged Woman followed his gaze and her own eyes went wide. Then a slow, satisfied grin crept across her face.
Kekeke. Karma!!!
"Boss," she said, all the shyness gone in an instant, her voice switching cleanly to its usual edge. "Don't help her. Let her deal with them herself."
"Hmm. I wasn't planning to." But his eyes didn't move from the scene below.
They watched for a stretch. Then Rugged Woman's expression tightened. "TSK." Her jaw tightening with anger. "How dare those men try to play with her. I'm the only one who gets to mess with her."
She turned on her heel and started moving, and to her mild surprise, Zack was already moving with her.
"Oh my, Boss!" She grinned over her shoulder. "It seems you also can't stand watching your Subordinate Woman get harassed by handsome men, hehe."
Zack coughed and fixed his expression. "She's, my responsibility. I'll help her this once. That's all."
"Of course, of course." Rugged Woman matched his pace, which was slower than usual since the wound was still pulling at him. "Boss, at this speed she'll have handled it herself before we even get there. Want me to carry you on my shoulders?"
"No thank you. I'd rather not get another hole in my abdomen."
"Oh, don't be dramatic. Your strong body can definitely handle this frail, weak woman's little bones and muscles." She grinned wickedly.
"I have serious doubts about that."
"Hehe..."
They walked together, laughing and bickering all the way down.
.
A few minutes earlier at the palace entrance.
The front of the palace was alive with the movement of arriving guests, the long tables set up near the entrance already filling with people eating, talking, and laughing loudly. Queen's staff moved carefully between them, keeping plates full and cups topped.
At one of the tables, a group of older men had taken their seats with the easy comfort as if they owned this place. Their laughter was too loud. Their elbows spread wide. They wore their seniority around them.
"Kekeke... the Queen got really desperate trying to fix the mess the Princess made," one of them said, leaning forward with a smug grin. "How long do you think before enough top people get together to finally push her out?"
"Who knows? And really, what does it matter to us?" The older man chuckled, casting a sidelong glance. "Our positions are secure regardless. We're too valuable... whoever takes power will still need people like us to keep the profits flowing. Kekeke. Isn't that right, Miss?"
The young woman beside him kept her gaze lowered. Her fingers toyed with the spoon, turning it over and over in a slow, mechanical rhythm. She had no appetite for the food before her, yet she dared not reveal her dissatisfaction to her superior. "Ah... yes, sir," she murmured softly.
The old man smiled. Without hesitation, his hand moved beneath the table.
Her body went rigid in shock as his fingers pressed against her thigh, clawing at the fabric of her tights. The air left her lungs in one sharp, silent gasp. His palm pressed down, sliding inward with pressure that made her skin crawl.
Revulsion surged through her. Every muscle locked tightly. She wanted to stand, to shove the table aside, to scream, but the words caught behind her teeth, her legs refused to move. Her mind raced through the same terrible calculation it always did: If I make a scene, he'll be angry. If he's angry, I'll lose everything. My job, my reputation... he only has to whisper to his so-called friends, and no one will hire me. I've worked too hard to get here. I can't lose it all.
"Hehe... why aren't you eating?" the old man said warmly, his tone sounding kind while being disgusting at the same time. "Not feeling well? Let your senior take care of you."
Around the table, other men and women were doing the same things to other women and men. Laughing. Touching. Acting as if it was all perfectly normal, treating the discomfort on those people's faces as just part of the scenery.
Slowly, their hands grew bolder. Some of the women at the table exchanged glances, the disgust in their eyes unmistakable. One of them gave a subtle nod. A moment later, a woman "accidentally" knocked a plate, sending food tumbling onto a man and herself, stirring chaos on purpose.
Seizing the distraction, the women began to slip away. One by one, they found excuses to head toward the bathroom, each departure a small act of defiance, a breath of freedom. Their fists clenched as they peeled themselves from the table, disappearing into the palace corridors.
Behind them, the remaining old men and women barely paused in their laughter, continuing their harassment with no care for the world around them.
.
Inside, the bathroom they could breathe a little. Several women crowded around the sinks, and the sound of running water couldn't quite drown out the feeling that had followed them all inside.
"TSK." One woman pressed both palms flat against the edge of a sink, water dripping from her face. "Those disgusting old bastards. I feel so sick. I can't keep doing this. I can't work this way!!"
"And what's the alternative?" another said, her voice carrying exhaustion that had been building for years. "You know how well connected they are. One word from them and no one in our field will touch us. We worked too hard for this. We can't just blow it up."
The first woman, the one from the table, the one whose thigh still felt the ghost of his fingers, lowered herself slowly to a squat against the wall. She pressed her back into the cool tile and stared down at her own knees, jaw clenched so tight it ached. Her hands balled in her lap.
The others stood in silence. No one had an answer. They'd all run the same calculations a hundred times before.
"Should we... try to find this new man, the one they call Master Zack, Queen's representative?" one of them finally whispered, her voice careful. "Perhaps... speak with him?"
Someone else made a flat sound. "You think he'll listen to us? Princess herself doesn't let anyone near her. I tried to get through to her once... the guards turned me away before I got close. Those kinds of people don't live in the same world we do."
"It's true," another sighed. "Even with everything Queen has done for the city as a whole, our situation hasn't actually changed. At least not for us, not personally." Her voice dropped lower. "I'm so tired of dressing as if I'm hiding. I stopped wearing anything that showed my skin just to give them less to grab onto."
No one responded. What was there to say?
The first woman didn't speak. She just sat on the floor with her hand pressed over her forehead and felt the weight of everything at once. The day, the years, the thoughts she kept running, the exhaustion of it all. Small wet tears burned at the corners of her eyes. Her voice, when it finally came, was barely there at all.
"I can't keep going this way. I am GIVING UP"
The words landed heavy in the quiet room.
CREEEAK...
Another sound broke through, echoing in the bathroom. One of the stall doors swung open.
A woman stepped out calmly, moving to the sink to wash her hands. The office women instinctively straightened, murmuring apologies for the disturbance. She shook her head gently. "It's fine. No need."
One of the office women squinted at her. "Aren't you the one who asked Princess to review your food research?"
"That's me." The research woman smiled, reaching for the tap.
"I figured you'd be crying in a corner somewhere after being embarrassed in front of everyone the way you were." The office woman laughed a little, easing the heaviness in the room. "You're tougher than you look."
"Well actually I was indeed crying in a corner for a while" the research woman said while drying her hands. Then she turned and looked at the first woman, still crouched on the floor, eyes wet, arms wrapped around herself as if trying to hold something in.
The research woman walked over and held out her hand.
The first woman looked up, confused.
"Come on," the research woman said, her smile warm on her face. "Let's go somewhere. I think I can help you."
"Help us?" The office women exchanged uneasy glances. "What do you mean?"
"I'll take you to Master Zack." Her tone was casual, but the words made the others shudder with nervousness. "I'm sure he'll listen... and help you."
The first woman fixed her with a wary stare. "You... know him?"
"Not personally," the research woman admitted, quiet pride lifting her voice as she straightened her posture. "But I do know his sister."
The office women fell into silence, whispering among themselves. After several tense minutes, they finally nodded.
"But we still have to go back to those men," the first woman said, her voice sharp with immediate dread.
"We'll handle them," another replied quickly, her eyes narrowing with sudden resolve. Energy surged back into all of them, fists tightening as they nodded in unison.
"You go. Both of you," she urged, her voice firm now. "Just make sure you explain everything... I mean everything to Master Zack!!!"
"Me? Alone?"
The first woman felt her stomach tighten with a fresh knot of nerves.
"JUST GO!!" Her colleague stepped forward and took her by the shoulders. "This is a gift. Don't let it pass." The others crowded in quickly, straightening her collar, smoothing her hair, touching up whatever they could manage in the dim bathroom light, fixing her up as if she was about to walk into the most important meeting of her life. Because maybe she was.
The first woman looked down one more time at her thighs. At where his hand had been. Her jaw tightened with disgust that burned inside her.
She looked up, grabbed the research woman's hand, and stood straight, making her mind up.
"FINE. I'LL GO!!"
A quiet wave of relief passed through the group, a breath finally released after being held too long. The women who remained behind straightened their shoulders, trying to steady themselves. Their smiles were tight, controlled, but their eyes carried seriousness that could not be hidden. Nervous fingers intertwined as they clasped their hands together, watching the two women disappear slowly down the long corridor.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Then their thoughts began to spill out in whispers.
Please...
Please let this work.
Please, Master Zack... listen to her.
Help us... please.
The words were barely louder than breathing, yet the hope inside them was fierce. Each woman stared at the doorway long after their friend had vanished from their sight.
They lingered in the bathroom for several minutes, standing in a loose circle. No one moved at first. They simply looked at one another, searching each other's faces for reassurance, for courage. Slowly, the tension that had gripped their lungs began to loosen. A few of them let out deep, shaky breaths, then finally, one of them nodded, and the silent agreement passed through the group.
It was time to go back.
They stepped out of the bathroom and into the corridor, the sound of laughter from the tables drifting toward them. The same voices. The same cruel amusement. The same place where their daily lives had become a quiet kind of hell.
But this time, something was different.
As they walked back toward the noise, something burned behind their eyes, something that had not been there before.
HOPE!!!!
And beneath it, a slow-growing fire.
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END OF CHAPTER
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Author Blabbering
Generating image in other website is a pain, I have to choose words that don't flag their system, I can't generate steamy images that's for sure!! It annoying but still we have quite far off in terms of AI and such, the impact of it will be for sure mix of both but people will definitely focus on bad stuff since we are Homo Sapiens!!
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