Chapter 4: Chapter 4 – The Wish

We walked into the Wish to discover the prince standing on one end of the tavern, preparing to defend from any oncoming attack and wielding a plate. The plate was pointed at another man on the other side of the dining space. I felt like it was still really early in the morning, and the tavern seemed to agree with me as it was only roughly a quarter filled. Had it been fuller before the commotion, any other customers had fled. Those still present were taking cover under tables or behind chairs to watch the squabble. 

The other man appeared similar in age to the prince, only their looks could not have been more different. Where the prince’s hair was a dirty blonde and looked wavy but controlled, the other man’s was long and dark brown. It was clean and shoulder length, with some of it in a small ponytail on the back of his head. Like Chad, he was also clean shaven and had handsomely sculpted cheekbones and chin. His mouth was peeled back in a snarl, exposing clenched teeth. 

His skin was tanned, befitting someone who spent most of their time outdoors. Sprouting out of his broad chest were very defined arms, implicating he actually spent most of his time working instead of having others do it for him. It wasn’t like Chad had the appearance of a dandy, servants waiting on him hand and foot, but this other handsome man was easily more accustomed to getting his own hands dirty. His eyes were an emerald green and currently looked like they wanted to shoot knives across the room into the prince. 

Despite these differences, they were still about the same height and build. It was obvious they knew each other, but the other man wasn’t dressed in anything that would have pegged him for royalty. Like Chad, he was wearing a traveler’s getup, but it looked worn as if it was the only one he owned and wore it daily. It was a plain brown with some dark green trim here and there, further giving off an outdoorsy vibe. He was also standing in a stance ready for an attack, but he was brandishing a chair. 

If I had to pick a winner for their upcoming skirmish, I knew I already had an immediate favorite. 

“You can’t just claim her like that! That’s not how it works! Besides, you only beat me to her because I had to walk!” the other man shouted at Chad. Bonus points for him. He was at least allowing me choices.

“You’re only saying that, Dorian, because I did beat you to her. Had I not been riding the fastest steed my father owns to beat you here, you would have snatched her up and stolen her from right under my nose!” 

And his points were back to zero. Too bad too, as he was just as handsome as Chad, only in a bit more of a rugged way. I started to fantasize about how he might smell like a woodland fire simmering or some sort of pine tree. How those rough and large hands could wrap themselves around my— 

Dorian acted on Chad’s latest retort and flung his chair directly at the prince, and I had to snap myself out of my fantasy. I hadn’t noticed that Chad already had his sword drawn and ready and had just been holding it at his side in a way that concealed it. He immediately brought the sword up effortlessly in a slicing gesture, the chair splitting cleanly in two, with the halves flying past him harmlessly.

“BOYS!” a voice thundered out and filled the space.

It took me a minute to realize that it came from Noelle. 

My mouth dropped open as Noelle walked over to Dorian, grabbed him by the ear and started dragging him towards one of the few vacant tables to sit him down in a chair.

“Ow, ow, ow, OW!” He winced and complained, bending over awkwardly before he was unceremoniously forced to plop into the chair. 

“That-” she pointed in the direction of Chad and the remains of the thrown chair, “is going on your tab. And if you are extra fortunate, I’ll not log it down as one of our nicer chairs and charge you more for it!” 

Dorian hung his head a bit and refused to make eye contact with her.

“Sorry Noelle,” he muttered. 

Why Noelle was still unwed was becoming frighteningly obvious. It was also clear now why she was the head tavern maiden: she had her mother’s commanding tone. And apparently her wrath too. 

Catherine must be one terrifying force of nature if ever she was on a warpath. 

Noelle obviously wasn’t going to be pushed around by any man and definitely not the drunks. Looking at her in this element, she carried herself like a den mother, keeping the customers in check. From how the men were described to like their women in this world, one with backbone was not it. 

“And you,” she whirled, acknowledging the prince, “put that sword away unless you need it to pick your teeth!”

You could have heard a pin drop. 

I was shocked to hear her address the princeling in that way, and I wasn’t alone in my surprise. From the looks on everyone else’s faces, nobody knew what would happen next. Surprising all in attendance however, Chad didn’t talk back. He got a little flushed in his face but did as he was told. He sheathed his sword and then realized for the first time that I had accompanied Noelle. 

His demeanor did a one-eighty and he slipped back into control of his emotions. “My beautiful lady!” He cried, attempting to save face like he hadn’t just been admonished like a small child. He briskly walked over to me, and I half expected him to use me as a human shield if necessary.

I shrunk back from him as he approached. He noticed my apprehension and stopped, disappointment on his face. 

“Well, that won’t do.” he frowned. 

“You see? See what you’ve already done to her with your loud-mouthed presence?” Dorian shouted from his place over in timeout. 

The red color rose back up into the tips of Chad’s ears and he whirled back at him, “Like you would have had any better of an impression, you worthless country bumpkin!” He started to move, closing the distance between the two of them, only to have Noelle put her fists on her hips, and he immediately thought better of it. 

“Yeah! Better be careful Chadwick, or someone will slap you again. Wish I could have been there to see that!” he jeered at him. 

Chad’s face burned a crimson to match the color of the rest of his cheek from my earlier assault. 

He glanced over at me, as he had clearly not forgotten the incident. Dorian traced the prince’s gaze over to me and put two and two together.

“Wait, her?” he gaped. “She landed that shiner on you?” Threat of another admonishing from Noelle temporarily forgotten, Dorian started howling with laughter. “Oh, that’s rich! You were hit by a girl of all people! I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised that it came from the latest woman you mouthed off to.”

He stopped to finally take me in and realized what Chad’s new fascination actually looked like. I was not surprised when I got a wolf whistle as a response. I sighed to myself and looked at Ash still standing next to me, who looked back at me and gave me a forced, “I’m sorry?” grin and shrug. This was just something I had better get used to.

Dorian stood up slowly and looked to Noelle for approval that his timeout was over, before making his way over to me. Chad again looked as if he wanted to advance but decided not to press his luck with Noelle still playing the part of referee. 

Dorian offered me a hand, which I cautiously took, only to have him actually shake it gently. “A pleasure to meet you, my lady. Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Dorian.” He gave me a roguish grin. “I look forward to hearing you use it, as I am sure it sounds better rolling off your tongue than his.” He glanced sidelong at Chad.

It was one of the first times I could tell someone was flirting with me and I was genuinely still speechless. 

He took my silence as a sign to keep talking, but every time he opened his mouth, he continued to just dig a deeper hole.

“I understand if you are at a loss for words while being addressed by someone as dashing and devilishly handsome as myself. I’m aware I often create feelings in others that they themselves don’t understand.” He reached behind me to rest his hand on the wall and used it to support himself as he leaned in closer. 

He wasn’t that much taller than me, but I still felt small in his presence at that moment and shrunk back, wishing I could become one with the wall. 

I also wished he didn’t smell so divi—

Wait a second?

I had heard that line before. Where had I?? Chad!

I spun my head to look over at Chad, confused and still wishing I could disappear. 

Dorian followed my line of sight, clearly upset that something had distracted me from him, until it reached Chad. 

“Why are you looking over the—?” Realization dawned on him.

“Chadwick, you bastard! Are you using my lines again?!”

Chad merely shrugged, as if stealing from Dorian should have been considered a form of flattery. “I don’t know why I bother. Not a single one has ever worked. I really should know better by now.”

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Dorian rolled his eyes and turned back to me, only to find I was no longer there. 

With Dorian distracted, I had taken the opportunity to slip away, tugging Ash with me, and went to cower behind the still menacing looking Noelle, who was obviously as unamused with Dorian in the moment as I was. 

She addressed them both, “Either start straightening up after yourselves,” she pointed at the overturned furniture, then gestured at the remaining customers, “and buy some drinks for everyone,” she then jerked a thumb at the door, “or get out of my bar!” 

The prince was obviously done being ordered around by Noelle and stood obstinately with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Dorian, however, wisely realized he didn’t want to be in her cross hairs again and moved to start righting earlier wrongs.

She looked at Chad and started to say something when another booming voice, male this time, interrupted the scene. 

“Now, now, my sweet Noelle. You know you don’t have the authority to kick out my patrons without my approval first! Especially patrons of such high esteem!”

Everyone turned to the sound of the voice, and it was the first time since entering that I could feel a tinge of fear in Noelle. 

From the backroom entered a man that immediately screamed sleaze ball. He was on the wrong side of middle age, balding and was rounder than he was tall. He sported a pencil thin mustache that was struggling to even grow in on his face. Where he stood from behind the bar was still several feet from me and I still noticed the smell that entered the room with him. It was repugnant, like he bathed in grease and slop. It didn’t help that he had a greasy shimmer to all of his exposed skin that could also be easily detected.

His apron was dirty as if he had been working, but I had the sneaky suspicion he merely just went days without washing it. Combining his disgusting appearance with the cold fear emanating from Noelle now, I dreaded what kind of man this was that owned a tavern with women as his workers.

“Your Royal Highness!” He bowed as low as his fat protruding belly would allow and stayed looking at the floor as he continued, “Please forgive my maiden’s rudeness. She is constantly in need of reminders of proper manners to her betters. “He finally rose up and glanced over at Noelle, a gleeful smile on his lips. “Just say the word and I will flog her myself!”

Chadwick did not seem appalled at this suggestion, earning him no brownie points from me, but he said nothing and finally moved to right a nearby table and chair, only to sit in it and stew. 

“Ale please. And your finest breakfast dish,” Chad finally called out. Then, remembering Noelle’s statement from earlier, “And a round on the house for my fair citizens, due to my earlier actions disturbing their pleasant morning!”

Cheers of “Huzzah!” rang forth from those in attendance, all of the tension seemingly forgotten by the pleasant folk.

“Of course! Of course!” The tavern keep threw his hands up joyously, excited to have some Royal coin in his pocket. He hurriedly waddled over to the prince and slapped him on the back. For his part, Chad maintained his scowl and did not let his expression slip, despite the overwhelming smell now mere inches from him.

“My girls should all be in shortly and you will be served by the finest entertainment in town!” He winked and elbowed the prince good naturedly in his ribs. “There’s a reason we’re called Every Man’s Wish.”

I looked over at Noelle, whose expression had become more crestfallen. Gone was the fierce den mother from before, the fire in her spirit dwindling like a candle moments before it was snuffed out. What hold did this man have on her?

The doors to the tavern swung open, and a half dozen girls came into view, and all my questions were answered. The girls were dressed in maid outfits like Noelle, signifying them also as barmaids for the tavern. But unlike Noelle, these maid outfits were much more familiar to me due to my exposure with anime and manga. 

Each of the girls was no older than I was in my previous life, but they were still dressed in outfits that left little to the imagination. Cleavage and curves were exposed everywhere. Long mesh leggings or stockings, complete with garters rose up young, supple legs, to skirts that barely covered swaying hips. 

Chests were bursting above tightly strung corsets and also were barely covered by the maid tops the girls were required to wear. The tops were sleeveless, showing smooth bare arms. Their faces and nails were painted, with lips that shimmered red in the light. Their hairstyles were all long and straight, brushed carefully to flow and drape around them. Usually, a maid outfit portrayed like this in one of my novels was reserved for roleplay with a boy the girl liked, or a really skeezy bar or maid cafe. 

The idea of the Wish now put a sour expression on my face. I eyed the barkeep with disdain and made a wish that my gaze would be enough for him to burst into flames. 

The girls moved in a practiced formation, as if their entry was a daily morning ritual. Forced smiles on all of them, they batted their eyelashes at everyone in attendance and greeted everyone in unison. 

“Good morning, everyone!”

They immediately started moving to each of the tables to give attention to all the customers who were waiting to be served. Two of them rushed over to Chad and their boss and immediately started clamoring for favor. 

I looked back over at Noelle, who looked back at me and softly shook her head. She could tell what I was thinking and, as terrible as it may be, was silently assuring me there was nothing to be done. Ash patted me on the shoulder softly in his own acknowledgement of my discomfort, then moved to join the girls in their duties. 

“I know, right?” Dorian had quietly gotten closer without me noticing and had slid himself into the seat beside mine. “Normally I’m all for this kind of show from some pretty ladies, but this is a bit much. Even for me.” He gestured at the tavern owner as he continued, “Roscoe over there is as bad as they come.” He gestured further around him, “This is what happens when you luck out on a treasure delving mission and everyone in the party but you ‘dies’.” He actually air quoted the last word. “You wind up with a ton of money and the ability to buy out the previous owners and turn it into your own disgusting playhouse.” 

I watched Roscoe continue to talk with the prince while the two girls also attempted to entertain them. They had brought food back out to them and Chad was mostly keeping to himself while eating and doing his best to ignore everyone’s advances. Roscoe was entertaining himself, his hand starting to slide up the skirt of one of the girls he had coerced to sit on his lap.

At this, Noelle got up and made her way over to their table.

Dorian nodded after her, “Thank the Goddess for Noelle. If it weren’t for her, this place would be a full-on brothel, with the girls serving us drinks in the flesh in between their provided entertainment.” 

Noelle had made it over to the table and had gotten the girls away from Roscoe, probably with a request that there were other people who still needed service.

I looked back over at Dorian. “How does she do it? Keep him in line I mean?” I still was able to recall the chilling fear I felt wash off of her in waves when Roscoe first announced himself this morning.

Dorian shrugged, “I don’t know the exact story, probably because it would destroy Roscoe if it got out.” He sipped a drink I hadn’t realized he had gotten. “But word is he tried to get handsy with Noelle a few years back when he first hired her. She didn’t go for it and beat him within an inch of his life. She then realized what kind of danger the other girls were in.”

He pointed over at Roscoe disdainfully. “He is sole owner of Wish and a very powerful man in this village because of it. There was nothing she could do about his treatment of the girls publicly. So, ever since, she has stayed on as his second and kept the bar running and the drinks flowing. In doing so, she also can protect the girls from him.”

He allowed himself a small smile and continued, “She’s actually quite popular around here. Everyone knows she’s a descendant of the Goddess. The customers love her, and she keeps the girls happy as best she can so they also provide great service when she’s around. Roscoe hates her, with every fiber of his being and is constantly looking for a way to undermine or get rid of her, but it would cost him too much if he did.”

He drained the rest of his drink and waved for another. “So, they have been doing this dance for years now and are in a stalemate.” He scratched at the side of his face absentmindedly. “Honestly, if anything happened to him, she’d probably be the popular choice for a new owner, but she’d also be the first suspect.”

Ash brought him another drink. Dorian reached for it, but Ash didn’t immediately let go and gave him a look of “watch it”. 

Dorian took the hint and quickly changed subjects.

“So! What’s a pretty girl like you doing in a bar like this?”

He gave me his best winning smile and I quickly looked anywhere but him.

He seemed not to notice my discomfort and continued. “You know, word is you are connected to the falling star seen last night. Care to fill me in on the details?”

Before I could respond, the tavern door flung open again and a man stumbled through them, covered in dirt and sweat.

Dorian shot up and over to him and the man grabbed him by the arms and stammered out, “Hide! Everyone, quickly! This isn’t a drill!” He then immediately lost consciousness. 

Dorian shook himself free of the man’s grip and stood to face the door. 

“What is it?” I called out to him.

Dorian responded with one word. 

“Monsters.”

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