I blushed as red as my dress and told myself that he couldn’t mean it. He must flatter his clients all the time. Besides, this wasn’t even my body. My current body was even heavier than my original one, which made me think confused thoughts about the heated gazes from these two.
“The terms of the deal were clear,” Ari growled, stepping in front of me.
“I do threesomes for extra,” Lao said hopefully.
I hadn’t realized it was possible to turn even redder. “M-maybe I should get a coat.”
Ari immediately whirled around. “You are forbidden to cover up that masterpiece of a dress.”
“But … it’s cold …”
“The duchess’s carriage has a heating relic.”
I looked at the floor. “I’m not sure I can do this.”
Ari’s gaze softened. He tilted up my chin and looked me in the eye. “Right now, you’re not Bora. You can be whoever you want.”
Ari was right.
Right now, I was the notorious Blood Duchess. I could do what I would never have dared if I’d been in my own body. Who cared if people looked down on me? The duchess would take the blame for everything I did. It gave me exuberance and a newfound freedom. “Thank you,” I whispered.
Ari smiled. “You’re not supposed to thank me, Your Grace,” he said, but his tone was teasing.
“Are we doing this?” Lao asked.
I straightened my shoulders. “We’re doing this.”
Chapter Eight
Istrode into the chapel with Ari on one arm and Lao hanging off my other.
The crowd parted before me, gasping and muttering as they realized that yes, the Blood Duchess appeared to have shown up at the coronation escorted by two prostitutes and dressed like one herself.
Shocked whispers followed us down the aisle. But who cared? If I’d understood one thing over the past day, it was that my reputation as duchess had already hit rock bottom. I had nothing left to lose. At the very least, I wanted to make Falael taste a fraction of my own pain from all those years ago when he ran off with my former best friend.
Since this was a royal church, each pew had cushions with armrests between them. A dozen pillars ran down the walls, supporting the domed golden ceiling. The seats toward the front became wider and were decorated with gemstones. The front row held a series of thrones, placed on a lower level so they didn’t block the view of those behind them.
The Head Cardinal already stood at a golden podium. The giant stained-glass window behind him showed Holy Maiden Ava ascending to heaven. The archway above the stage was decorated with detailed paintings of past saints’ deeds. Three golden chandeliers lit the room. A dizzying amount of gold gleamed from the statues and decorations around the church. The room smelled like smoke from the candles, and a large number of people in heavy clothing pressed close together. The princess and Donya were already on the stage, but I refused to look in that direction. Donya was going to be furious, but that wasa problem for future Bora. Princess Antonia waved at me before the Head Cardinal jerked her away and covered her eyes.
The front row had one seat still empty. Falael sat to the right of what must be my seat. He looked up with a smile. “You’re here! I brought you a present—” The smile faded as he saw the two men next to me.
“We’rehere.” With a malicious smile on my lips, I leaned my head against Lao’s shoulder and tugged Ari’s arm closer.
“I believe you’re sitting in my seat.” Ari fixed Falael with a glare so intense he leapt up without a thought. I wasn’t even the one being glared at, and I was sweating.
“Allow me, Your Grace,” Lao said, helping me step up to the throne in my wobbly high heels. He glanced at Falael with a bored expression. “Oh, you’re still here? Aren’t you too old for this line of work? I see a gray hair.”
Falael turned bright red. I was going to give Lao yet another raise.
“There are only two seats. I guess I’ll have to sit here.” With a wicked grin, Ari planted himself on my lap.
The crowd gasped audibly. Everyone was staring at me. I felt my cheeks heat. Ari was entirely too close, pine cologne drifting off his neck. I feared that I must be sweating so hard everyone could smell it. Thinking about it made it worse. From the podium, the Head Cardinal glared at me exactly like the priest from my village. That look had featured in my childhood nightmares. Maybe this was a step too far.
Ari gave my arm a small squeeze. It brought me back to myself. I couldn’t back down now, not in front of Falael.
“Why, thank you,” I cooed, putting my arms around Ari. Crap, was I touching his chest? I might be, but I’d gone too far to back down.
“Don’t leave me out!” Lao spoke in a coquettish voice unlike the one he’d used during our interview. He draped himself over the arm of my throne. “You look tense, Your Grace.” Nimbly, he massaged my shoulders. “It must be the stress of looking at that ugly thing.” He cast the shaking Falael a look of pure disdain. “I don’t know why you kept him around this long … pity? What’s his name again? Falafel, like thestreet food? Oh, now I remember him! His family has been a constant supply of clients for me.” He winked.
