Chapter 121
How to Tame My Beastly Husband — Chapter 121. Gruti (6)
It was the luxury chocolates Annette had received from Railin. Only aristocrats could afford the treat in Deltium, as all of it had to be imported, which required careful storage to prevent it from being melted or damaged in transit.
A Gruti-4 prostitute was unlikely to ever taste chocolate in her life. As she chewed the candy Annette had stuffed in her mouth, her eyes widened at the bittersweet taste. It was frustrating to feel the taste melting away on her tongue, and she covered her mouth, looking up at Annette in surprise.
“It’s a new drug? What’s it called?”
“Nibs.”
Annette didn’t specify cocoa nibs. Fortunately, the woman had never heard of it, and had no reason to know it wasn’t a drug. There was nothing else in the world like the bittersweet taste of chocolate. She sucked her own tongue, relishing the aftertaste, and looked disappointed.
“It seems a little weak. Maybe because it’s new? I don’t feel any effect. One isn’t enough.”
She was practically begging for another. It wasn’t a drug anyway. Annette dropped three more candies in her hand, as disdainful as if she were actually a dealer. For a moment, she thought about just giving the woman the whole packet, but that would probably have aroused suspicion.
“It acts slowly, so don’t be too impatient,” she said. “Maybe in half an hour, you’ll feel the effect. If you like it, you can buy it from me again.”
“Contrary to appearances, you know how to do business. Good! Thanks.”
Unlike her arrogant attitude, the woman turned carefully with the chocolate in her hands. Annette watched the woman’s retreating back for a while, and turned away with a sigh of relief, then startled as she found a man in front of her.
“I came looking for a missing young woman,” Railin said, staring. “But I ended up witnessing something surprising.”
His red lips drew up in a beautiful curve. He said he had come looking for her, but he had certainly been watching her the whole time.
She didn’t bother to ask him obvious questions like, why did you leave me alone. He was a man that enjoyed discomfiting her, and she wasn’t going to indulge him.
“So, did you find the casino?” She asked. “We don’t have much time.”
“Of course. Shall we go?”
Annette took the arm he held out to her, as if he were her escort. The time had come at last to catch Ben March.
* * *
Annette frowned at the thick smoke. It was a terrible situation for her, to be in a place like this filled with smoke and poor ventilation. But no one else in the bustling interior seemed to care. Their bloodshot eyes were fixated on their cards and their heads were spinning with the dice, as if everything else had been drained out of them.
Looking around, she couldn’t find Ben March. There was too much smoke and too many people, and in every direction there were gambling tables blocking her view. She sighed, looking up at Railin.
“What should we do now?”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll find him.”
Fortunately, it seemed like he too wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. He was not wearing his usual nonchalant expression, and was frowning, and trying to avoid touching anyone.
His magic served to distract people, but in a place this crowded, it didn’t have the same effect. Those who didn’t notice him almost tripped over him, or stepped on him.
Displeased, Railin immediately pulled a golden compass from his pocket.
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