Chapter 1

At the moment she wore a deep blue top which just covered her ample bosom, with silver details and a light blue veil-like cloth reaching down to her hips. A long skirt in the same veil like cloth hugged her hips and flared out to her ankles. Over it she wore a shorter, equally flaring, blue and silver skirt, reaching just below what was acceptable in the front, while reaching almost to her ankles in the back. Her shoes were soft and flexible, just covering her feet. Her ankles bore beautiful silver anklets, clinking together as she moved, her wrists decorated in similar bracelets. Her face was beautifully covered in makeup, and silver accessories decorated her hair and forehead. Her pale complexion, combined with her pale hair and icy eyes, made her seem ethereal, like a fae or spirit, come to play. The fact that such fair colouring was the less common appearance in Ciervalle made it all the more appealing. She moved her hips to the music, loving the response of the crowd watching her. The music eventually stopped and she quickly curtsied and threw a pale blue rose out to the crowds before leaving the stage.

Servants immediately began helping her get out of the dancers outfit and into an everyday dress. Of course, her everyday dresses were no less beautiful, and equally as detailed. Her hair was put up, styled in a bun with most of the wavy locks falling down her back. As her makeup was removed and redone in a more everyday fashion she shooed the servants away.
“Gabrielle Angelica, my dear child. You were wonderful today” a man smiled at her.
“Thank you, father” she said to him. Her father was about 46 years old, but he had aged with dignity. His hair was white as snow, and his eyes as dark as the night skies. He was tall and had a very noble appearance. Her mother had entered with him, but said nothing yet. Her hair was a dark brown, sprinkled with grey, while her eyes were the same icy blue as her daughter’s. She wore a dark burgundy gown and had her hair up in a bun with only a few loose strands hanging elegantly down in her face. Her eyes looked somewhat glassy, like she was on the verge of tears.
“We have good news for you, my child” her father said while her mother pulled out a handkerchief.
“Oh? Do tell, father” Gabrielle said. Maybe the royal court had sent for her, wanting her to dance for them. She could just imagine it. The beauty of dancing for the King and Queen. The highest honour. Not that she wasn’t honoured already of course. She was a dancer after all, and dancers were among the highest respected citizens of Corsaltare. She could have any of the boys in the whole city, the girls too, if she wanted to, though such a thing was unheard of.
“A man named Rodrigues approached us on behalf of his Lord, Javier. He wishes to take you in… as his own personal dancer” her father said with a proud smile. Gabrielle’s mind came to a startling halt.
“What?!” she said. She was no one’s property! How dare he?
“It’s one of the Nobles, my dear. You cannot defy his orders” her mother stated. Gabrielle was furious. He might be a Noble, but she was no servant! Her family were as close to Nobles as one could get without being a descendant of Antonio the Great!
“It’s a great honour to be chosen by the Nobles to serve them. You will bring great honour to the family name” her father explained. She nodded; fury still present in her eyes. She would come along, but she would be anything but pliant with that man. She’d be back on stage in no time. She was certain of it.
“Very well, father, mother. When do I leave?” she asked with as much calm as she could manage.
“Tomorrow morning. A carriage has been arranged for you, to take you away” her father beamed with pride as he said this, while her mother wiped at the tears escaping her eyes.
“And what of my marriage to Diego?” Gabrielle asked with a raised brow. The boy had been courting her for two years now, and her parents had arranged for them to be wed. She didn’t really care for him, but he was of a good family, and not too bad looking either.
“It will have to be called off. You know that. You’re hardly the first to be chosen. And if Javier chooses to take you as a mistress you might be lucky enough to spawn a Noble child” her father brushed her off quickly.
“Preposterous!” she gasped. “He must be at least twice my age. I am not letting that man into my bed, father” she scowled at him in defiance.
“You have no say in the matter, Gabrielle. He is a Noble! Respect his wishes or you will not only dishonour our entire family, but you will surely be executed as well” he seethed, before straightening up and pulling some loose strands of hair back.
“You will go with him, obey and make us proud”
“We’ll just see about that” she stuck her nose in the air.
“Gabrielle Angelica Arroyo Callas! You will not dishonour our family! Do you hear me, child?” he shook his daughter. Her gaze dropped, still furious.
“I understand, father. I’ll obey” she gritted out. Her father smiled at her and gave her a hug.
“Good, my child. I do not wish you dead, so do try to be on your best behaviour. You know your mother and I love you dearly” he said.
“I know, father” she replied.
“Well, our servants have prepared us a nice dinner. It will make a nice last meal before you have to leave” her father explained, seemingly forgetting about his anger. Her mother hugged her around the shoulders, her face looking as tired as ever.
“It will be fine, Gabrielle. I’m certain he will treat you well. With your beauty and skill, I don’t see how he could avoid it. Maybe he’ll even take you for his wife” she comforted her daughter. Gabrielle supposed she was correct. And being the wife of a Noble wouldn’t be too bad either. She’d be a Noble by marriage then. He might be older than her, but she could live with that. So long as she provided him with a son she was allowed to take a lover anyway, so it didn’t really matter. Though, this was only if he chose to take her as his wife. No, he had to marry her. She could seduce the Noble…Who else could possibly match her pure beauty? Her perfectly slim hourglass figure, her beautiful pale complexion, not flawed by any form of impurities… Not to mention that she regularly used beeswax to remove the hair from her body. The process of sugaring pulled out all the hair from her legs, armpits and made her body perfectly smooth. She would have to do it again this evening though, as she wanted to look her best for her potential husband. Her lashes were long and dark, in stark contrast with her otherwise pale features, her equally dark eyebrows plucked and shaped to a delicate arc, and her lips full, pink and almost pouting. No man could possibly resist her charm. No, it would have to work out. She’d be the wife of a Noble! It would be perfect.

Dinner was eaten in partial silence, and Gabrielle went up to her room, calling a servant to bring her the wax. The servant helped her apply it and stick the strip of cloth to it, proceeding to quickly rip it off. Once again Gabrielles legs and armpits were perfectly smooth. Satisfied, she ordered the servant to pack her baggage while she went to sleep.

The next morning it didn’t take long until Gabrielle was getting ready to leave. Wearing her finest silk dress and her finest silver jewelleries she looked herself over in the mirror. She looked positively stunning. Smirking she tilted her head downwards and gave the mirror her best doe-eyed look. Surely this would be enough to seduce him quickly. She had no intention of being his slave-dancer for any longer than necessary after all. She rang her bell, and a servant came to pick up her suitcase.

If she had looked outside she would have seen that crowds were gathering as a carriage came rolling in. The six horses pulling the carriage were elegant and pure white, decorated in fine silk bands and gold thread. The carriage itself was intricately made, with a sleazy, yet noble-looking man to hold the reigns. Everyone knew who was inside the carriage, they immediately recognized the crest marking it. This was the carriage of Noble Javier Carlos Montoya de Saltare, and he was coming to pick up his newest Dancer. Behind the carriage was another one. This one a little less decorated, with no ceiling to hide its inhabitants, and pulled by two horses. In the carriage sat three beautiful young women. All three wore colourful dancer’s outfits and veils covering their nose and mouth area. Showing only their eyes clearly. Stunningly beautiful makeup was laid on them, and their hair put up in intricate hairstyles with decorations. As they moved, jingling could be heard from the metal rings around their ankles and wrists. These had small bells hanging from them. Slave bells. Just like the ones Gabrielle would be wearing once she was his “private dancer” along with these girls. One of the girls stood out slightly among the others. While all three had dark hair and eyes, one of them had hair as black as night, straight and long, and stunningly dark green eyes as opposed to the dark brown of the others. In addition her skin was slightly tanner and her facial features a bit more rounded than the others’. She was just as pretty and graceful as them, but her eyes looked a little more tired and her body a little slimmer, bordering on the unhealthy. She looked around at the people in the streets, all clothed in beautiful dresses or suits. All of them were bowing to the moving carriages, knowing well that if they didn’t show proper respect he could very well kill them. A manor came into sight. This was where they would pick up the new girl…