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Join the Server“Welcome to Pink Dreamland,” the proprietress called out from behind the counter, her voice carrying over the tinkling of wind chimes as the door swung open.
Alice carried Jeanne Decker to the counter.
The proprietress, clad in a sheer, long dress with a neckline plunging to her chest, rested her arm on the counter, propping her chin in her hand.
She eyed Alice with keen interest.
Alice couldn’t help but grow nervous.
She worried that, like the previous inns, this one would refuse her entry because of her masked face.
Instead, the proprietress chuckled softly.
With a smile in her eyes, she addressed Alice. “There’s no need for the mask, young lady. Our establishment has been open for many years, and our discretion is, of course, unparalleled. We’ve seen plenty of female guests like yourselves, so there’s no need to worry… Or perhaps,” she paused, a knowing glint in her eyes, “is this some special kind of role-play?”
‘What on earth is this woman talking about?’
Alice was utterly bewildered.
However, since the woman’s conjecture had conveniently provided an excuse for her mask, Alice decided to play along. “Yes, that’s right.”
“Oh, a seasoned player, I see. And the one on your back, did you get her drunk?” the proprietress pressed on.
“Yes, she… drank quite a bit,” Alice could only explain, going with the flow.
“Well… we don’t meddle in other people’s affairs, but please, try not to go too far…” the proprietress trailed off, her meaning clear. ‘This establishment certainly doesn’t want to get involved in any disputes.’
She tapped her finger against her cheek. “But it’s fine. Since you’re both girls, it shouldn’t escalate to the public security office, at least.”
“Understood, understood,” Alice nodded, though she still didn’t quite grasp the full implication.
Her only thought was to secure a room quickly and relieve herself of the weight on her shoulders.
“What theme of room would you like?” the proprietress asked, pointing to a signboard nearby.
A surge of relief washed over Alice.
It seemed this establishment, at least, wouldn’t turn her away.
But as her gaze swept over the signboard, she saw:
Courtly Phantom… Garden Rendezvous… Prison Passion? Wait, prison?
‘What are all these things?’
Alice felt a myriad of question marks swirling in her mind.
Yet, after this strange conversation, she sensed she shouldn’t appear too unfamiliar or timid with such an establishment, lest she arouse suspicion.
Indeed, she had to project the image of someone well-acquainted with inns in a bustling city like this.
Having come this far, she couldn’t afford the blow of being refused entry again.
“Anything is fine. I quite like all of these,” Alice replied, striving for a relaxed, nonchalant tone.
“Alright, it seems you’re the type who enjoys a thrill. How about the prison theme, then? It’s our specialty, five silver coins a night,” the proprietress inquired.
“That works,” Alice immediately shifted Jeanne Decker higher on her shoulder.
She reached out a hand, fumbling for her money—thankfully, she had a habit of keeping cash on her person.
For her now, merely securing a room was paramount; other details were utterly insignificant.
“Excellent. Room six, second floor,” the proprietress said, handing over a key.
“The themed props are provided in the room, of course. Do you have any other requests?”
“Well…” Alice pondered for a moment before asking, “Do you have any liniment or wound medicine? I’d like to borrow some.”
She recalled seeing Jeanne Decker take a heavy blow to her arm.
Though Jeanne Decker had stopped the bleeding from the open wound with her Holy Light, Alice knew that Jeanne Decker’s power couldn’t heal a severe bruise.
The proprietress blinked, taken aback. “You… plan to play *that* intensely?”
“Just tell me if you have it,” Alice said, not understanding the proprietress’s implication, wanting only the medicine.
“We do keep basic remedies,” the proprietress sighed, retrieving a first-aid box from beneath the counter.
She pulled out a bottle and offered it to Alice. “This is medicated wine. Just put it back in the room when you’re done, but please, know your limits.”
Many customers asked for external wound medicine *after* getting carried away, but this was the first time she’d seen someone ask for it *beforehand*.
“Oh,” Alice simply acknowledged.
“Very well, then. I’ll show you to your room,” seeing Alice encumbered, the proprietress took the key and medicine bottle, leading her upstairs.
As the room door opened, Alice followed the proprietress inside.
When the proprietress placed an oil lamp on the table, Alice froze, staring at the room’s decor.
‘What… is all this?’
She saw a peculiar prison cell. Execution racks and whips lined the walls, and a bed, complete with chains and shackles, stood within a circular iron cage.
On an iron table nearby, a pile of strange and curious torture instruments lay arranged.
Alice finally understood. She had seen real prison cells before, but this ‘cell’… seemed to emanate a strange aura from every corner.
Vaguely, she realized she had stumbled into a rather unsettling place.
“Well then, please enjoy yourselves. If you need anything, just call me downstairs. Farewell,” the proprietress said, having placed everything, before exiting the room.
“…”
Alice stood in silence for a long time before finally walking to the bed and carefully laying Jeanne Decker down.
‘Exhausting!’
‘Though I have no idea what’s going on with this room, at least this bed looks sleepable. I truly couldn’t carry her any longer.’
She helped Jeanne Decker lie comfortably, then rolled up Jeanne Decker’s sleeve.
Sure enough, she found a large bruise on her left arm, and carefully applied the medicated wine.
After covering Jeanne Decker with a blanket, Alice finally sank onto the edge of the bed.
She let out a long breath.
‘Finally done. I’m truly exhausted.’
She turned to look at her friend’s sleeping face, a helpless smile gracing her lips.
‘This, I suppose, repays the kindness you showed me in the past.’
‘Our promise to reunite at the academy has also been fulfilled…’
‘But why do I still feel such regret?’
‘I truly wish that one day we could laugh about the past, but alas, in my current state, I probably no longer have that right.’
A hint of melancholy flickered across Alice’s face at the thought.
‘Never mind. As long as you are safe and sound.’
Alice reined in her thoughts and glanced again at the pile of props on the table.
‘Speaking of which, what are all these things for? I can’t understand them at all.’
‘Truly worthy of the most prosperous city in the empire, an inn with so many things I don’t understand.’
‘City folk truly know how to have fun!’
She sat and rested for a while longer, feeling mostly recovered, before finally getting up.
Suddenly, she remembered something.
She searched the room, found paper and a pen, and with her left hand, scrawled a crooked note.
She left the note by the bed, reminding Jeanne Decker to remember her mask when leaving the inn.
Then she walked to the door, turned back, and softly whispered, “Goodnight, Jeanne Decker.”
With that, she stepped out, locked the door with the key, and then pushed the key back through the gap beneath the door.
When she descended to the counter, the proprietress looked up and scanned her. “My, finished so quickly?”
“Ah, yes,” Alice mumbled in response.
She quickly exited the establishment, vanishing into the night.
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