LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 82 - Please Leave. Right Now.
Maria could only accept Conra’s proposal under those circumstances. As a slum-born urchin, failing to meet her required contribution quota imperiled severe repercussions. His offer to compensate her for providing a city tour represented a providential lifeline amidst her dire straits.
Throughout that afternoon, Conra explored Valencia’s streetscapes under Maria’s guidance.
Their initial location comprised the Reina Square situated before the church where Sophia’s group lodged. After circumnavigating that plaza, they promptly headed toward the enormous adjacent Central Market.
Valencia’s Central Market, constructed over a century earlier yet retaining its traditional vitality, represented a mercantile hub where diverse culinary delicacies and merchandise proliferated.
Beyond the expected fishmongers vending gambas carabineras (cardinal shrimp) alongside assorted seafood and seasonally fresh agricultural produce saturated with Thetian sunlight – delicatessens purveying savory hams, fragrant cheeses and signature paella ingredients like snails shared the bustling market stalls.
Supplementing those epicurean provisions were vendors spanning every conceivable commercial enterprise: timber yards, ironmongers, leatherworkers, haberdashers, apothecaries, art suppliers and even barbershops – an eclectic emporium overflowing with wares from every conceivable trade.
After procuring assorted snacks while roaming those stalls, they visited the Turia Riverbanks alongside ‘La Lonja de la Seda’ – Valencia’s renowned park doubling as a commercial trading exchange comparable to the mercantile guildhalls ubiquitous throughout Rotaringia. If the Central Market catered to local residential shopping needs, La Lonja represented the mercantile institutional heart governing wholesale transactions and commodity trading operations.
They subsequently toured the Playa de las Arenas beach resort alongside the Pescadors seafront before eventually returning as dusk approached.
“That was immensely enjoyable.”
Conra’s exuberant exhalation accompanied an authentically elated countenance, prompting a slight pang of envious yearning within Maria while observing his carefree exuberance.
‘A blemishlessly unsullied visage – truly someone cherished since birth and lovingly nurtured their entire life.’
Perhaps under similar familial circumstances, she too could spend each day savoring existence without perpetual trepidations consuming her every waking moment…? Suppressing those unvocalized lamentations, Maria inadvertently allowed a faint wistful smile to crease her lips unbidden despite her typical emotional restraint.
While ascending the ‘Miguelete’ bell tower to survey Valencia’s panorama, Conra abruptly inquired:
“Evening has arrived…Maria, would you care to join me for dinner as well?”
Even he remained uncertain regarding that spontaneous invitation’s underlying impulses. Yet Conra inexplicably sensed an instinctive premonition: if dismissing this young girl so abruptly, profound regret would inevitably follow – that unsolicited proposal representing an almost reflexive attempt prolonging their association despite lacking any conscious motivations.
However, Maria politely yet firmly demurred with a slight headshake:
“While I appreciate the offer, I really must depart. Just as you possess your own reality, so too do I retain certain unavoidable circumstances governing my situation.”
Deflecting that kindly overture by asserting her unalterable obligations, Conra persisted despite her reticence:
“I understand…but at least permit me to escort you home once evening descends? The night promises potential hazards best avoided unaccompanied.”
Momentarily hesitating at his earnest appeal, Maria ultimately acquiesced with a resigned sigh.
“Very well. Navigating nocturnally does present legitimate dangers. Shall I trouble you for that service, good sir?”
“Consider me at your behest, milady.”
Unexpectedly responding with exaggerated courtly flourishes prompted an impulsive giggle escaping Maria’s tightly sealed defenses before she instinctively stifled it with blushing mortification.
‘I…actually laughed?’
When had she last indulged in such carefree, uninhibited mirth rather than the sardonic sneers she typically feigned? Maria’s memories retained virtually no traces of utterly unrestrained laughter emanating from profound inner delight rather than cynical, self-preserving artifice.
Regardless, the duo commenced their journey toward Maria’s residential slum as she inwardly ruminated:
‘Once he witnesses my actual living conditions, any interest or concern will undoubtedly dissipate.’
The universally accepted maxim decried trusting anyone emerging from impoverished environments as inherently unviable. And Maria herself internalized that very same prejudiced perception regarding her caste of vagrants as irredeemably dishonest and deceitful miscreants by nature.
‘Mushrooms thriving amidst putrescence – cultivating desires under the pretense of survival while indulging each carnal depravity without restraint. We represent the very embodiment of such inherent depravity, myself no exception.’
Deriding her own ilk as objects warranting only revulsion and contempt, Maria nevertheless felt a twinge of resignation at the prospect of Conra’s imminent departure once glimpsing the unvarnished truth of her squalor.
‘Wait…why am I even dwelling upon this?! I only consented to his request for monetary compensation!’
Forcibly suppressing those intrusive sentiments by reiterating her purely mercenary motives, Maria argued inwardly:
‘Indulging in nostalgia or regret represents an unaffordable luxury.’
Amid that tortured internal dialectic, she ultimately allowed a sardonic smirk to crease her lips:
‘Well, what does it matter in the end? He’ll simply depart upon some fresh vessel within a few days while I inevitably revert to the same depravities for securing my next quota remittance.’
Resigning herself to that bleak yet pragmatic reality enabled Maria to regain some semblance of emotional equilibrium – although she remained unaware that stabbing disillusionment represented the core dynamic rather than any meditative ‘acceptance’.
Winding their path through progressively more decrepit and labyrinthine back-alleys, they eventually arrived at the squalid ramshackle hovel Maria called home.
‘Considering the hour, I may need to hurry for submitting my dues once bidding this acquaintance farewell.’
Gauging the moon’s position overhead prompted that preliminary thought before their destination’s grim reality brutally reasserted itself.
“Well now, look who’s late.”
Two unsavory looking types loitered before the dilapidated shanty – clearly awaiting Maria’s return to exact her compulsory ‘earnings’, prompting her to silently bite her lower lip in trepidation.
“You’ve kept the Boss waiting with those delinquent dues, little bitch. Did you forget the consequences of tardiness?”
Advancing menacingly, they reached toward Maria before Conra instinctively interposed himself – deftly wrenching one assailant’s outstretched arm into an agonizing joint-lock.
“Aauurrgghh!”
“The hell? Who’s this pissant?”
As one brute collapsed howling while the other belatedly registered Conra’s interposition with a contemptuous sneer, the youth silently appraised them both with an unnervingly placid gaze. Until Maria spoke up while clutching his sleeve:
“Please, cease this madness.”
“Huh…?”
“This represents my personal affairs. I implore you to refrain from any further involvement and depart immediately.”
Rendered temporarily mute by that uncompromising dismissal, Conra opened his mouth to protest before reluctantly acquiescing – grudgingly retreating a few paces while conceding to her adamant insistence.
“Fucking little runt! Get over here so I can rip your worthless arms off!”
The brutish thug, newly liberated from Conra’s restraining hold, bellowed profane threats while his companion eyed the duo speculatively before allowing a lecherous leer:
“Well now, little Maria – no wonder your dues are late if you’ve been too preoccupied entertaining some new well-groomed loverboy. Not that we object – your pretty features are definitely earning their keep.”
“Hah, she’ll need to start ‘entertaining’ full time before too long anyway, Boss already reserved first dibs as soon as those tits start budding.”
“Oh really now? Excellent, I certainly look forward to sampling her services once that inevitability arises. You always were a dainty little wench, Maria – destined for a prosperous career in whoring, that’s for damn certain.”
Their grotesque lascivious banter escalated into increasingly vulgar depths while Maria stoically disregarded their despicable taunts – responding with infuriatingly composed understatement:
“I’ve secured the requisite payment quota, so please accept it and promptly depart.”
“Hah?! You think your mere delinquency warrants dismissing us so rudely after inconveniencing our travels? Shouldn’t we receive some additional ‘compensation’ for personal services rendered?”
“And what ‘services’ do you desire?”
“Don’t play coy, wench – you’re well aware what we demand. Or should we remind that uppity body of yours concerning a young lady’s obligations once reaching those delectable ages…?”
Subjected to profoundly dehumanizing objectification transcending the vilest rhetorical depravities, even Maria’s stony impassiveness faltered speechlessly.
Yet her unruffled composure contrasted sharply with Conra’s progressively unraveling restraint as their escalating provocations ignited his seething fury.
Wham!
A resonant earth-shaking stomp pulverized the paving stones beneath their feet before his outraged hands violently wrenched the two brutes into demeaning postures – one suspended by his collar while another found their cranium crushed downward alongside an excruciating knee-drop.
Exuding animalistic menace through gritted teeth, Conra growled:
“My apologies. You instructed me to refrain from interference – yet their conduct has become utterly intolerable.”
“Nnghh…”
Utterly speechless, Maria could only stare transfixed at the unfamiliar feral intensity contorting Conra’s typically placid features as he continued addressing their brutalized captives:
“These degenerates appear unaware of proper etiquette demanding correction. Perhaps I should provide them with a salutary remedial lesson?”
Punctuating those ominous implications, Conra focused his withering killing-aura upon the two wretches – now convulsing with cowardly terror more befitting pathetic prey-beasts than their formerly contemptuous bravado. The sudden reek of excremental evacuation indicated at least one had already humiliatingly soiled themselves.
Yet despite that overwhelmingly intimidating spectacle, Conra retained enough lucidity to surreptitiously monitor Maria’s reactions from his peripheral vision – intending to base his subsequent decisions upon her response.
Truthfully, Conra had already determined extricating Maria from this squalid environment represented the only viable recourse. Their brief afternoon’s association had somehow fostered an inexplicable compulsion toward safeguarding this young girl’s welfare despite his belated realization that she differed from his own age by only a relatively minuscule margin.
Regardless, Conra had unconsciously reframed their relationship into an older brother protectively doting upon a cherished younger sister figure requiring his solicitous oversight.
However, such unilateral presumptions remained invalid without Maria’s own implicit acceptance…
Allowing his murderous aura full vent upon the cowering ruffians, Conra nevertheless focused his intent scrutiny upon ascertaining Maria’s innermost wishes from her guarded gaze. Yet that effort ultimately proved superfluous once she slowly parted her lips – enunciating a resolution shattering Conra’s heart into infinite pieces:
“Please depart, Brother Conra. Immediately.”
With a pallid deathly pallor yet maddeningly serene tonality, Maria calmly articulated her unequivocal dismissal of any further association – that softly murmured entreaty severing their tenuous bonds more devastatingly than any profane rejection.