23

Friendly holiday

Karina didn’t understand how to dress and what to wear. The slaves brought a mountain of clothes: underwear, a bunch of fluffy petticoats, corsets, dresses and embroidered capes. But she didn’t want to wear a cape at the ball, especially since this holiday was more for her own people. But at the same time, Karina understood that reds supporting the policy of Lis would still be present there, his father, Igmer, would be there, and she didn’t want to somehow compromise her husband, disgrace him with her inappropriate appearance. And the traditions of the reds towards women were too strict, and Karina was depressed. How should she dress so as not to embarrass herself? The cape, of course, was the simplest and most correct solution, but Karina couldn’t stand it, although now she clearly understood that in this city she would have to wear it, if only just so that they would not stare at her like a black sheep. She turned to the three slaves. Faceless, immovable sacks, they stood at the entrance, waiting for the order of the mistress.

“Can any of you speak?” Asked Karina. “Or have all your tongues cut off?”

“I can, lady,” said one of the slaves.

“And they?”

“They can’t. I am in charge here, they obey me.”

“Good. What is your name?”

“Uh-uh … a slave, lady.”

“Just a slave? Don't you have a name?”

“No.”

“But this is very inconvenient. Let's call you something. What name do you like?”

“Do you want me to choose a name for myself, lady?”

“Yes.”

The girl froze for a second:

“I don’t know…”

“Maybe let's call you Diamond?” Said Karina. “After all, you are from the Ore town, where diamonds are mined.”

The slave hesitated:

“And then maybe better Gold, if possible, lady?”

Karina laughed:

“Of course! So, you will be my slave, and your name will be Gold.”

“Thank you, lady.”

“You know the customers of the reds better, tell me what to wear for the holiday so as to look dignified. My husband’s father will be there, he is very strict.”

The slave immediately handed Karina a very beautiful cape embroidered with silk and precious stones.

“Oh, no, not that! Is it possible to wear something other than a cape?”

“Then the mask, lady.”

“Excellent,” Karina muttered, “one is not better than the other. Okay, what mask?”

“I'll bring it in now, lady.”

The girls quickly ran out and very soon returned with a whole box of all kinds of masks. Karina chose one of them, the mask was completely made of gold, but light and delicate, like thin lace, and it covered only the upper part of her face, leaving her lips and chin open.

“This?”

The slave nodded.

“Yes, lady.”

“Is it decent?”

“If your husband doesn’t mind, then it is possible to wear it for a festive evening. But not on the street.”

Karina looked at the slave:

“Take off the cape.”

She seemed taken aback:

“But I can't do that.

“I order, take it off. If the lady ordered it, then you can.”

The girl lifted the top of her cape over to reveal her face. She turned out to be red-haired and freckled and painfully reminded Karina of her former Lis. How cute he was! Nikto ennobled his appearance, but at the same time deprived Lis of his personality. But his bright fiery hair suited him so well! But Karina understood that if it was possible to return everything, Lis would never agree to this.

“Oh, you really are golden!”

The slave looked at Karina, and her face was cheerful, her amber eyes sparkled with fervor, it seemed that she didn’t suffer from her inferior position. Although Karina could imagine with horror what it would be like to be in her place. Being a slave to the Reds is even worse than being a slave to the unclean.