Page 296 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“Anxious? Why would she be? You’ve told her not to worry, no? I’ve heard so much about her so far that I think I already know her. You have no idea how excited I am that she’s finally here.”

“Just… This once, all right? Next time she can meet Father too.”

A pause.

“I suppose. I should at least prepare something to eat?”

Immediately, I take a liking to her.

Yes, please! Make something yummy for me to eat because I’m starving!

“Maybe later. I should check on Minnie first?—”

“No!” I yelp out, jumping out of the bathtub. How dare he postpone my food?

“What was that, dear?” his mother asks.

“Nothing. I think some food would be nice.”

“Is Minnie partial to anything?”

“She loves sweet things. And she only eats beef.”

“I can make a steak and some rice to go along. Do you think she’d like that?”

And some dessert? Maybe, hopefully?

“I’m sure she would. I think we have some cherry jam. Do you mind making some donuts too?”

“Of course not.”

I sigh in relief. Food is coming. Oh my, but his mother is so nice. I already love her. Well,almost-love her. I’ll reserve judgment until I see how good her donuts are.

But until then I should make sure I’m presentable.

I lather myself in soap two more times so I’m particularly clean. The last thing I need is for his mother to have a similar obsession with cleanliness and judge me for being dirty.

Perhaps I do go a little overboard with scrubbing my skin until it’s red and tender, but that quickly heals and I’m as good as new.

Using some energy, I dry my hair and comb it perfectly in place. To my surprise, the bathroom has everything I might need, including some feminine products I’ve never heard of.

That perfect male. He thought of everything, didn’t he?

Smiling to myself, I grab my dress and proceed to try to wash it. Although I get out most of the smell, it still has some oil stains from the car that will simply not come out.

Sighing, I put it on and mentally prepare myself to go downstairs.

But just as I’m about to leave the bathroom, I notice there’s another door on the other end. Though pressed for time, curiosity gets the best of me and I open it.

This must be the second room Mine mentioned, I think to myself as I step inside. My eyes widen in shock as I take in the sheer size of it. It’s perhaps twice as big as the bedroom, and it’s filled with things—feminine things. Are these his mother’s by any chance? Yet the more I look around, the more I doubt that.

There are tens if not hundreds of gowns hung tidily in an open closet, with a couple of spectacular pieces worn bymannequins. On the other side, there are rows and rows of shoes, each pair more beautiful than the other. And then at the end of the room there is a wall covered in jewelry cases.

I’m…speechless.

Tentatively stepping inside, I stop in front of the first mannequin. It’s wearing a long burgundy dress. The bodice has a square neckline and a tight corset while the skirt flows out, aided by the countless layers of lace and material underneath.

Yet what strikes me immediately is the fact that it appears to be my size. And to confirm, I gauge my waist with my palm length and then do the same with the dress.

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