Young Master Wang You Are Mine - Chapter 124 The Mantra

She led Changying to the bathroom to shower and change into a short toga-like dress. The girl offered help with her hair braiding it into an intricate style. She suggested she leave her face clean of make-up unless instructed otherwise. Changying then followed the girl down to the living area of the quaint little house where Joseph awaited her.

They ate a breakfast of bacon and egg frittata and crunchy slices of bread in virtual silence. Changying sipped at the water while Joseph drank strong black coffee. He tried to make small talk asking her how she slept and how she felt. There was little else to say, so Changying returned the questions politely and ate her breakfast regardless of the butterflies dancing her belly.

A tap on the door heralded their escort to the main house. Changying stood to smooth out the short toga dress and felt the weight of the collar around her neck more so than any time since Wang had placed it around her neck. The mantra in her head had shortened to “A future with Wang” and she said it over and over again as she walked quietly beside Joseph and their guide.

The big building that sat at the end of the townhouses seemed cold with its stark sandstone walls and white column that ran up to a portico roof two floors above them. She studied them as she mounted the stairs to distract herself. They were shown through the house which was neat but lacked the warmth of a home. Changying looked around for items of interest like those she had found in the homes of the Donati elders, but they seemed to be lacking. After waiting in a sparsely furnished anteroom for several minutes, they were shown into what appeared to be a library at a first glance.

“Hail Donati, Welcome to my Athenaeum,” a tall, muscular man stepped forward to greet them. He embraced Joseph in a manly hug and kissed both of his cheeks. “How have you been my brother?”

“Getting older by the day and feeling it,” Joseph laughed. “I see you are faring well,” he remarked.

“I have no choice, only the strong can lead,” he laughed humourlessly. “Men climb the ranks every day looking for a chink in the armour of an aging warrior. You are blessed not to have such political manoeuvring in your clan.”

“We all have our struggles,” Joseph said diplomatically. “As you well know.”

“Indeed,” the man nodded knowingly. “Baozhai has not taken well to her new surroundings, perhaps a visit from you will help her see the seriousness of her situation.”

“Perhaps but she is not my reason for being here at this time,” Joseph turned to Changying, who had been standing quietly listening to the men talk.

“Your request has made for interesting talks,” the man said ignoring Changying. “I believe we have determined a reasonable regime to prove the girl’s worth. It will be quite intensive and not an easy mission for her to undertake. Are you sure you wish to proceed?”

“I am,” Joseph said. “She comes from a good family and is intelligent. I believe she may surprise the cynics who distrust outsiders.”
for visiting.

“That will be determined in time,” the man said seriously. “at this point she is nothing to us, she will work with three of my men to determine her intelligence, integrity and passion. You may stay and observe, but you may not interfere at any time. She comes of her free will?”

“She does, she has signed the trial contract to me,” Joseph drew back his shoulders and stood taller. Changying sensed there was a battle of power occurring that she couldn’t quite get a handle on. “My son and my extended family believe her valuable and worthy of a place within the family. I will trust you with her well-being but should she be treated like a common street walker I will be most disappointed. She may mean little to you, but she deserves the respect of one favoured by the Donati Chair.” His voice had grown hard as he spoke.

“You come of your own free will?” The tall man looked at her then as if appraising her with a long hard look.

“Yes Sir,” Changying answered in a voice much stronger than she felt.

“This is your signature on the document Donati holds?” He asked in a short, clipped tone.

“Yes Sir,” Changying acknowledged after looking at the contract.

“I am the Commander of the Battaglia, and you will spend two weeks in my home under trial conditions. You will be given to the charge of three of my Marshalls, and you will obey them implicitly,” he said sternly, and three men stepped forward from their positions against the wall.

“Yes Commander,” Changying said unsure of herself and whether to use his title or not. He nodded and turned his attention back to Joseph, who had relaxed his stance once again.

“Marco, Nero and Francesco,” he introduced them. “You have heard my brother tell us that this girl has value to his table?”

“It is an unusual request,” Marco replied. “She is here, however, to prove her worth to the Twelve, not just one. The trial stands as it is but as a courtesy we have been mindful of the circumstance in our preparation.”

“That is all I can ask,” Joseph said stiffly. “I shall remain for the duration and observe on occasion,” He said making sure they understood he was not about to let them treat her as they would a commoner. “As for value to the twelve, I offer you this sample of her work to peruse for a few minutes.
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