Kitanna
Chapter 170: NOT WELCOME

Chapter 170: NOT WELCOME

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: SUNFLOWER~ REX ORANGE COUNTY]

By the time Axilla’s carriage arrived at the inn where merchants were resting, it was already mid-afternoon. The traders were having lunch at a round table, with loud laughter echoing outside. Panic surged through Axilla’s veins as she realized she was about to be introduced to people she knew nothing about. Yes, the young master might be there or not, it didn’t matter because it felt as if she knew nothing about him lately.

"Um, Lady Axilla, after you are settled, I’ll introduce you to everyone," William smiled, attempting to impress the woman he was wooing.

"Just Axilla would be fine," bright flower said, adjusting her gown as she got down from the carriage.

"Hm?" William moved closer, as if he hadn’t heard her the first time.

"No need for formalities; Axilla is okay," she repeated, shielding her forehead from the sun with her palm.

William ran his fingers through his hair, letting out a dry chuckle. "Oh, okay. Axilla then, let me show you where you would be staying." He helped Axilla move her bag to the room she would be staying in.

Getting to the room, Axilla stood at the door checking out where she would be spending her night for the time being. As she tried to move her bag to the closet, she felt a male’s hand covering hers, and she instinctively hit it away. The hit was a rough one.

"What are you doing?" Axilla asked the man, her guards up with the sudden closeness. It made her remember stories she heard about merchants. Even the ones she witnessed first hand while working with the young master, men behaving inappropriately with women.

William chuckled, "Don’t be scared. I don’t bite; I was just helping you unload your bag to make it faster." The young man explained, darting his eyes left and right.

Axilla, still wary, turned to face him properly. "Don’t worry about me; I’ll unpack myself. Thank you for being thoughtful, by the way." Axilla said in a low voice, audible enough for William to hear. She noticed a change in his expression as he took a step forward, closing the distance between them, and was about to say something when someone opened the door.

"There you are, William, Chief heard you are back, he is asking of you." The person at the door said, craning his neck to check out the young woman who was also in the room, and for some reason she looked familiar.

"I’ll be right there, could be please bring our new worker to the table when she’s done." William took a step back, a lingering smile still on his crooked lips.

"We should get to know each other better, I look forward to that." He whispered before stepping out of the room.

The moment the William left, Axilla released the air she had been holding, her hand gripping the table tightly. Her chest moved up and down like she was having a panic attack. Maybe it was a bad idea, she should have left with Lady Larel. No, not that, she should have never left the palace in the first place. The young girl bit her lips.

"I’ll be waiting for you outside here," the person who had intervened earlier said. Axilla nodded, trying to think of a way out. The idea of starting a new life now appeared to be a bad idea, on the first day.

After what felt like an eternity, Axilla stepped out of the room, she changed into lighter-colored attire, her hair packed up in a pony tail, it was something she had never tried before but she did it anyway. Because she assumed that when a woman leaves her hair flowing it attracts more attention, she wanted to avoid such scenario. Walking into the dining room led by the merchant who stayed behind to wait for her. Sudden silence enveloped the room as everyone’s attention fell on the young girl.

"Everyone, this is our new clerk. She’ll be working with us from now on. Please treat her well," William stood up to introduce Axilla.

"Nice, but why does she look familiar?" one merchant muttered, sipping something from a cup.

"Hemakah, I’ve told you to stop drinking in the afternoon. Now who does she look like, your last fair lover who took your wealth and disappeared?" Another merchant scolded, and laughter erupted.

The one named Hamakah looked closer at Axilla, squinting his eyes. "No! You can’t compare that one to my angel,...I miss her, She-" the man started mumbling, remembering his old love while he downed another full glass of alcohol.

Axilla stood at the door, with her hands clenched at the side. She knew the man named Hemakah very well, infact she knew most of them, and it was during her stay with Cortez. She was relieved they didn’t recognize her, she didn’t know how to explain the whole situation to them. So she stood there at there unsure whether to move or not.

"Chief Cortez" at the mention of the name, Axilla felt her heart skip more than a beat. Other merchants stood, bowing to their Chief who had just entered the room.

"Chief Cortez, look, William employed a new clerk. They keep saying she looks like my angel, but I told them it’s a lie!" Hamakah who didn’t enjoy her ’angel’ being associated with the new worker mumbled trying to keep his balance steady, but failed each time.

Axilla watched from where she was standing, young master. He was right there, with his merchant grey shirt, his gaze steady and his hands dipped inside his trouser pocket before he could settle his eyes on her. Axilla averted her gaze, staring at her shoes like they had something special on them.

"William, what happened to our old clerk?" Cortez asked after a moment, whilst still staring at Axilla.

"Oh, this young woman needed help, and your sister recommended her. So I—" William began, only to be cut short.

"I believe that didn’t answer my question," Cortez said, scratching his brows.

William trying not to lose face in front of the girl he had eyes on, started, "She’s not the general clerk. I was thinking, since I’m starting my own business soon, maybe I should employ my own clerk. She’s mine, Chief Cortez." He bowed slightly.

The idea of being owned by the man didn’t sit well with Axilla. She wanted to say something but decided to wait and hear what the young master had to say. If not for anything, he would defend her. Right? Axilla asked in her mind.

Cortez retrieved a cigar from his pocket, picking out a lighter, he said. "So she’s under your custody, yes? That’s fine then," he placed the cigar between his teeth, lighting it up he walked away from the room. Behind him was a young woman in bright sun orange dress, which was revealing her shoulder and lap.

Axilla gulped gently; this said it all. She was not welcomed here at all. She released her folded palm, her shoulders dropping with disappointment.