Chapter 5: A Lady In Chains

“Harriette sit at the table!” Aldous bellowed in one of the smaller dining rooms.

“No!” Harriette screeched back as she sat cross legged on the floor.

“If you want decent food, you are to sit at the table. Dang it woman! I have met dogs with better manners then you!” Aldous slammed his fist on the table, making Narcissus jump.

“Then why don’t you get a dog to sit next you instead!” She snapped in retaliation.

“Do not make me manhandle you!” Aldous stood up swiftly, knocking over his chair.

Harriette stuck out her tongue. Aldous then picked her up, Harriette squirmed and kicked like there was no tomorrow, she was even screaming, she was worse than the toddlers. This was clearly bothering Camillus who covered his ears. “I want to go back to my room.” He murmured.

Aldous rebutted while still struggling with Harriette. “With people trying to kill you, ugh, you need to be supervised. Besides, it won’t kill you to socialize a bit.” He then got Harriette in the chair. “Ha! I win!”

“Hpm.” Harriette turned her head away. “I guess you have.”

Aldous smiled like a little kid. “I’ve never been defeated.” Harriette smiled as well, right before letting herself fall sideways back onto the floor. Aldous couldn’t stop smiling. “You!” Both had begun to laugh at this point.

While Aldous and Harriette kept up their little game, I laid out the plates if food in front of each person. When I presented Ignatius with his food, we exchanged a look. If Harriette and Aldous are already starting to get along, then trying to convince them to tie the knot should be a piece of cake.

"Fine! I'll sit! I'll sit!" Harriette yielded.

"You’re really stubborn." Aldous huffed with a smile as he picked up his chair to sit in.

"Oh, and thanks for your help, Amice!" Harriette suddenly yelled at me.

"What was I supposed to do!? Hmm?" I snapped at her. I then noticed that there was an extra plate on my tray. “Huh? My apologies, I must have grabbed a sixth plate by mistake.”

“No, you didn’t.” Aldous corrected me. “You are to eat with us as well.”

“What?!” Harriette and I screeched.

“Me?” I pointed to myself.

“Her?” Harriette questioned as I spoke. “Not that I don’t like her, it’s just… unheard of.”

“I agree, I am just some maid, I can’t sit at the same table as counts, let alone you, my liege.” I made sure to keep my words respectful, even though I was arguing.

“I see.” Aldous tilted his head down and smiled darkly. “Sit your butt down or you’ll have to choose which finger you want chopped off.” I sat down next to Harriette stiffly. “Yes, you are just some maid, you don’t have the privilege of denying me that comes with rank like Harriette does.” Uh-huh, rank is what protects Harriette.

Harriette broke the silence. “So, are you going to let my hands free so I can eat?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh ho,” Aldous grinned, “no.” He leaned closer to her. “I’m going to feed you.”

Harriette pulled back slightly. “What? You can’t be serious.”

“I assure you; I am most serious.” Aldous continued to smile as he broke off a piece of bread. “Now don’t bite me.”

Harriette snapped her head towards me. “Amice, kill me!” Aldous turned her face back towards him with his free hand. Harriette tried to pull back, but Aldous was able to get the bread in her mouth. Harriette just sat the with her mouth gapping open.

“Eat it.” Aldous commanded with a cheery voice. Reluctantly Harriette did, but she forced her lips to stay closed after when Aldous tried to give her more.

Ignatius and Narcissus began to eat, so I felt like it was safe for me to do so as well. I slowly picked up the bread, bracing for someone to yell at me, but no one did. Why they wanted me here, I don’t know, I was still grateful. I should stop thinking so hostilely about these guys, if I think about it, their motivations are noble.

My thoughts were interrupted by Aldous’ voice. “She bit me!” I looked over to see Harriette latched onto Aldous’ finger via her teeth. “Let go lady!” He shook his hand to break free.

“Can you keep it down?” Camillus annoyedly muttered.

“Uh, no.” Aldous replied, narrowing his eyes as he did so.

Narcissus then suddenly stiffened up. Somehow, his face went paler. “Something just touched my leg.” He squeaked.

I checked underneath the table. There sat Esmee and Biff, munching on food of their own in a classic toddler fashion. I sat back up, "It's just the twins."

"Oh, I guess that’s better then some of the alternatives." Narcissus whimpered.

"Aww, are you scared of some little babies?" Ignatius teased.

Narcissus blushed, something I didn't know he could do. His eyes kept snapping between Camillus and Ignatius. "Wh-What!? No..." He stammered.

Harriette giggled. "See, you are being a bad influence on you kids." Aldous scolded her.

"Excuse me!?" Harriette shrieked.

"You are excused." Aldous shoved some food in his mouth. "Biff, Esmee, come sit up at the table, you're not savages."

"Okay!" Both of them called out in unison. Biff sat on my left, and Esmee sat at the foot of the table. She gazed over at Camillus' book, who pulled it away from her.

"You smell terrible, Harriette. " Aldous stated, I could tell the gears in his head were turning. A smirk appeared on his face. "After lunch, you will be permitted to go take a bath, I'll have some clean clothes sent to you."

"That is awfully, generous. There is something more to this, isn't there." Harriette commented accusingly.

"Oh no, my dear," Harriette took a sharp breath in when Aldous called her 'my dear.' "It would be for everyone's benefit if you stopped smelling so badly, it would be pointless to have you clean up if you were just to put on the same clothing." The way Aldous spoke gave off the impression he was planning something, but we didn't know what.

The rest of the meal was uneventful. Harriette was accompanied by three female dark dimension soldiers. When she was done, I was ordered to take her knew clothes to her. I laid the clothing down on a table and turned my back as Harriette dried herself. I decided to give her a warning. “Harriette, you are going to hate this, and this was not my idea so don’t go blaming me.”

“Hm? What are you going on about, Amice? Grmh.” With that sound, I knew she had seen it. “I am not wearing that! That corset is way too small, and dresses aren’t my style.” Harriette huffed.

“I think you might be able to fit into that corset, but it’s for fashion, not for practical use like the ones we usually wear.” I rubbed the back of my head, “It’ll be very painful.”

“Looking pretty isn’t worth rearranging my insides.” Harriette put on some of the undergarments. I could hear the guards murmur in agreement. “Ugh,” Harriette sighed, “I’ll entertain him for now.”

“Want my help?” I offered.

“Yes please, this isn’t a one-woman job.” I turned to see Harriette trying to pull the corset over her head.

As I aided her with tying the corset, we spoke. “I’m sorry about this, but it could be worse.”

“Well, at least the dress isn’t something skippy or ugly. It’s nice. It feels wrong to wear it.” Harriette said as she ran her fingers along the neckline of the dress.

"At least someone is wearing it. It would be an awful shame if it just went to waste." I did my best to encourage her, she had always wondered what it would be like to wear such expensive dresses, but those daydreams were never worth pursuing in her mind.

Harriette put the dress on, and I helped her get it in place, she turned around and took a step back. "Well, how do I look?"

"Beautiful." I replied with a smile.

"Pfft," she scoffed, "why did I bother asking you? You would say that no matter what." She then turned to one of guards and extended her closed hands. "Alright, guess you need to chain me up again."

"Actually," She began as she presented a single chain with two thick cuffs on either end. “We were only ordered to put this one on your legs, to prevent you from running.”

Another guard then piped up. “That chain has been imbued with so much counter magic, I’m pretty sure if you even stand near it your MP will be nullified.”

“Hmm,” Harriette brought her hands back, she gently touched her lip with her index finger. “I do suppose that visible chains would ruin the whole look.” She then snapped her fingers, with made the guards jump. Harriette turned towards me. “Amice, can you re-braid my hair?”

“Of course, got to keep your iconic hair style.” I grabbed a tie as Harriette raised the dress so she could get on her knees. I braided her hair like I had done a million times before.

Harriette elegantly arose. Despite being all dolled up, she still embodied an aura of power. It suits her. She raised the hem to allow the guards to put the chain on her. “Well,” Harriette sighed, “let’s get going.” The guards led us out. As we made our way though the halls, Harriette whispered to me. “This corset is killing me.”

“The day is half over already, I doubt he would make you wear it overnight.” I whispered back. “He does have five sisters.”

We made it to the room Aldous was in. Harriette walked in first, she stood tall, her expression serious, her posture prefect. She stopped just before Aldous, everyone in the room stared, she did a spin, her arms out wide. “How do I look?”

“Gorgeous.” Aldous uttered as he blushed.

Harriette put her hands on her hips. “Well, I better, this was your idea!” Harriette calmed herself down quickly, as if possessed by a dark realization. “I shouldn’t be wearing this. This belongs to a noble woman, one that is now dead. This is wrong, I’m just a-“She paused, inspecting Aldous face. “You’re not listening to me, what are you looking at?!”

Aldous pointed as he spoke almost like a child. “Those big, flowy sleeves make your baby hands look even smaller.”

“How dare you! Am I a joke to you?” Harriette squawked as she threw her arms around in anger.

“You’re so much less intimidating in a dress, you look like an angry bird.” Aldous laughed.

“A bird!?” She yelled. I could see where Aldous was coming from. Harriette took a few deep breaths. “Where did you even get this idea?”

“I made you do this for your children; they would grow to resent me if you remained in chains. I can see their potential, I want their loyalty, for them to think of me fondly, as a father figure, perhaps.” Aldous snarled. He sure is good at making up excuses, he just wanted to see her in a pretty dress. “Showing mercy to their mother, even though by all reason, I should have killed her the moment we met.” He got in her face. “Now that I have shipped off most of your troops, you are no longer a threat. I doubt those that escaped last night will be returning. Given that their families also vanished into the night. Oh, on an unrelated note, no one will be permitted to the castle town without a letter from myself.” Aldous then stood up straight. “Now, are you going to play nice, because I can very well have my scouts kill your escaped men. They may have been able to get out of the dungeon without me knowing, but they couldn’t get out of town. They think they are free, while in reality, they are still at my mercy.”

“Fine.” Harriette huffed. “On one condition, this cursed corset goes.”

“You have to wear it every waking hour for one week.” Aldous added a condition as well.

“Deal.” Harriette outstretched her hand.

Aldous shook it. “Congratulations, you now have a new job, stand around and look pretty. See, you’re already doing a great.”

“How boring.” Harriette remarked.

“Now you have all the time in the world to raise your children. Don’t start thinking you can teach them that I am evil, you will always be guarded, always watched, a lady should never be unattended.” His words dripped with malice.

A thought crossed my mind, every time Aldous and Harriette seem to get friendly with each other, they start doubling down on the hostility. Is that their way of flirting or something? Anti-flirting? It’s clear that Aldous likes Harriette, but the feeling isn’t mutual yet. It’s time I start doing something, not only for Harriette’s sake, but for the former guards that escaped. Perhaps this love that could form between them, could end the ceaseless cycle of violence that has plagued Bugalas for centuries.