"Hello ladies!!!" Blue's voice rang out above the hum of excitement.
"Yes Blue!" They all chorused, their voices bouncing off the glittering water as they threw their hands up with cheer. Laughter bubbled among them, bare feet splashing lightly as they hovered near the edge of the pool.
"Our party is starting officially tonight!" Blue announced with a dazzling grin. Her eyes sparkled under the string lights suspended above the grand pool. "This is one of the biggest events in the courtesan house. The courtesans get to have fun without having to preserve themselves. You can be yourself and have fun, so tonight—for the pool party!!"
"Yeah!!!!" a wave of cheers followed. Courtesans in elegant swimwear clinked glasses, some already twirling with excitement while others dipped their toes in the water.
"Y'all got the champagne?"
"Yes, Blue!" someone answered, raising a glittering bottle.
"Well drown yourself with the alcohol and chill in the water!!" She shouted with joy, lifting her hands in the air. Just then, Quincy appeared, smiling in amusement, and gently lifted her down from the elevated edge she stood on.
"You will finish this bottle?" he teased, holding up the champagne bottle.
"Definitely! I'm here to get wasted!" she replied with a mischievous wink, tilting her head back in laughter.
"Everywhere is good?" he asked, scanning the lit-up courtyard and the groups mingling at various corners.
"Definitely, baby! Get into the water!"
On the other side, Harper hesitated, her fingers curled tightly around her glass.
"Everyone is getting into the pool too babe. I can't," she whined softly, glancing nervously at the crowded pool.
Quincy leaned in, his voice tender. "There are other pools. Let's go in there." He gently took her hand, leading her away from the main scene.
They slipped into a quieter section—a smaller, ambient-lit pool with no one else around. The glow of soft lights shimmered across the surface of the still water.
Quincy swam through the pool effortlessly, his muscular frame cutting through the water like silk. When he emerged, water glistened on his skin, and he ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back. Harper's eyes locked onto him, her gaze darkening with quiet heat as she tilted the champagne bottle and gulped directly.
"Why are you staring at me that way?" he asked with a teasing smirk, stepping toward her, droplets trailing down his toned chest.
"You look insanely hot."
His brow rose, amused. "It's the first time you will compliment my body."
"You never did too." Her voice was playful, soft.
"Really? I never did or you were not listening while I was saying that?"
"Did I miss that?"
"Maybe you did!" he said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
She grinned and tilted the champagne bottle toward his lips, pouring it directly into his mouth. He took it all with a deep gulp and then chuckled.
"Today seems fun."
"Yes, it is," Harper said, her expression softening. "I feel like I just started having fun in the courtesan house. It has always felt so suffocating. There's always a problem to sort. Now everything seems peaceful and calm."
Quincy nodded, watching her with admiration. "You brought peace into the house and I like that. The courtesan house has always been chaotic—there's always a fight every now and then—but now everything seems cool. The courtesans get along well enough that there is barely a fight. You did the regulations."
She blinked, surprised. "Madam Fransisca said I'm the queen of the courtesan house."
"She said it well though. Everyone's following your legacy. You wield so much power in here and I love that."
Harper looked down for a moment, vulnerable. "I can't believe it though."
"What?" he asked, lifting her chin gently.
"That I will ever become a courtesan. That I will ever be here." Her voice was low and honest. "While at the field all I wanted was just to become a guard. Then from there, gain power and gain control of my life. I wanted to stop the human trafficking from happening. But later, I realized that it's almost impossible to do that while just being a guard. When you told them to make me a courtesan, I was devastated. I felt so helpless. I felt like this is not what I wanted for my life. I just wanna fight. But then I realized that my biggest weapon to fight is to become a courtesan. And becoming your courtesan is my biggest life accomplishment—because I will get to achieve everything I wanted."
She took a shaky breath and continued, voice steady. "Being a permanent noble courtesan gave me so much power over the other courtesans and every other thing out there. I lost so many things. But the courtesan house gave me the opportunity to make right. It was also a game of give and take. The courtesan house took a lot from me as it was giving it."
Quincy's gaze was filled with guilt and love. "It was because of me. The house did everything to protect you, but the problems came in because you loved me."
"It's fine," she said with a small smile. "When I chose to be with you, I already knew it would come with a huge sacrifice and I was ready to make it. It was just not the way I expected it to come."
"Do you hate me for that?" His voice was low.
"I do not. The pain is shared. We were both hurt. It's not something I can blame you for."
He placed his hand over her heart. "I promise you babe, I'm gonna stick with you no matter what. We will have more kids—a lot of them, as much as you want. I will work harder to give you more babies."
"Stop!" She smacked his chest, bursting into laughter, her head falling back. "You will do what?"
"Work harder," he said with a wink.
"You're crazy! You don't need to!" she laughed again, cheeks flushed. "We will have more kids, sure. We can have two—I'm okay with that."
"You don't need like five?" he teased, leaning in closer.
"What the hell? Stop teasing me!" she grinned, playful.
"I'm not."
"Do you want a lot of kids?"
"I only want what you want, babe. I will take as many kids as you want too."
She beamed at him, heart swelling. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him close, locking her legs around his waist beneath the water. Their bodies pressed together as she rested her forehead against his.
She kissed him softly, briefly, then looked into his eyes.
He didn't hesitate—he grabbed her waist tightly and crashed his lips against hers in a long, intense kiss that left them both breathless.
"I love you, Harper."
"I love you, Quincy."
"I promise to stay with you all my life and treat you like the queen that you are."
"Thank you, my love. I appreciate you a lot."
"Me too! I'm so grateful for you."
They stayed there, entangled in each other's arms, while the sounds of laughter, splashes, and music echoed in the background. For once, in a world filled with danger and power games, there was only peace between them.