A day later, Alina left the castle with Lady Talbot with the excuse of fabric procurement for the second shipment.

They passed through the busy market streets, first. Then Lady Talbot turned and they entered into into the back streets, the part of town with narrow lanes, and old buildings.

Lady Talbot took her to a small tavern and nodded at the woman behind the counter. The woman nodded back and took Alina downstairs into a cellar.

The cellar was dim, with cracked walls and a low ceiling. A table for four stood in the middle. Three women were already seated on it. They stood up when Alina entered. One of them was Eleanor while others had their backs to her.

"Alina," Eleanor said warmly. "This is Lydia."

Lydia looked like in her thirties. Her hands kept twisting the fabric of her sleeve in nervousness.

"Lydia was a contract wife who was married at sixteen to a lord three times her age through a trade arrangement between her father and her husband," Eleanor said.

"And this is Rosilyn," Eleanor said, gesturing towards the second woman.

Alina froze on hearing the name. Slowly, Rosilyn turned. She was the same Rosilyn Alina knew, Austin’s previous bed warmer. She had never expected to see her again, especially not here...like this.

"Rosilyn..." Alina whispered. "How are you...."

"I’m part of this pact as well," she replied calmly.

Eleanor gestured Alina to join them. They all sat down. For a moment, no one spoke. Then Lydia began.

"My husband doesn’t hit me. But he controls everything including what am I to eat and wear. I’m dying daily in his manor."

Alina felt her chest tighten. Before she could say anything, Rosilyn began.

"After my contract ended, the duke got me married to a minor lord. The man was decent...even kind. But I didn’t want marriage. I wanted freedom." she paused.

"So...I finally divorced him last month. I have been trying to find work since then but no one wants to hire me for anything respectable. Once they know who I was...," she smiled bitterly. "They close the door for me."

Alina understood that feeling. She wanted her freedom as well, and even asked Austin for the same. But now? She wasn’t sure. Feeling awkward, she looked around the cellar.

"How do you all work?" she asked.

"We have three safe houses in the market for the woman who want to run away from their arrangements," Eleanor answered. "Those women can stay there for a while. We also have a legal advisor who reviews contracts to find loopholes and a midwife network for unwanted pregnancies."

Alina listened to her carefully and realized the scope of their network. The victims of this cruel system was helping others to fight the system. It was both brave and dangerous.

"And we want you because you’re inside the system," Rosilyn said. "We want someone who can speak from inside the castle about what the system does. You’re the Duke of Ravenmoor’s bed warmer. You even built a military workshop there. When you speak, people actually listen."

Alina looked at each of them and saw fear, anger, desperation and a quiet hope in their eyes. She even thought of herself. What would have happened to her if Austin had been like other men who took advantage of the system?

She made her decision then.

"I won’t be just a voice," she said. "I’ll be a door for all of you."

All of them looked at Alina in surprise.

"A door?" Eleanor repeated.

"A voice only speaks...but a door opens," Alina explained. "I don’t want to just talk about the system. I want to create paths for the women who want to get out."

The cellar went quiet. Then Eleanor smiled.

"Welcome to the Blood Ink Pact.

Alina returned to the castle with Lady Talbot just before evening. Her steps were steady but her mind was not. She kept thinking about the cellar, and the hundreds of women whose lives were ruined by this system.

I won’t be just a voice. I’ll be a door for all of you.

The words echoed inside her head as they passed through the castle gates.

"You’ve been very quiet since we left the tavern," Lady Talbot said, glancing at her.

"I’m thinking."

"About what you just agreed to?"

Alina nodded.

"It feels... right. But also dangerous."

"Because it’s both," Lady Talbot smiled.

Alina took a deep breath to calm her racing thoughts.

"I don’t know if I should tell His Grace yet."

Lady Talbot didn’t answer immediately. They walked a few more steps in silence before she spoke.

"That depends," she said. "Do you want his protection or his partnership?"

Alina frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"If you want his protection, then he will try to shield you...even if it means restraining you from doing what you want to do," she explained. "But if you want his partnership... he will stand beside you always...no matter what."

Alina thought for a moment.

"I don’t know which one he’ll choose," she admitted.

"Then maybe, you should wait until you do."

The moment they reached the main entrance, they saw Austin standing near the gates. It looked like he had been waiting for a long time. His body was calm, but when he saw her, Alina could see reiief in his eyes.

"I’ll leave you here," Lady Talbot said, already stepping away. "I have... other matters to attend to."

"You’re late," Austin said, as he walked towards her.

"Time just flies in the market," she replied with a smile.

"I was waiting," he said.

"For me?"

"For the cat," he answered immediately.

She blinked.

"The cat?"

"Harwick," he said, as if that explained everything. "You were supposed to feed him with me."

A small smile tugged at her lips.

"Alright," she said. "Let’s not keep him waiting then."

They walked together then. Harwick appeared the moment they reached the usual spot, weaving around Alina’s feet like he had been waiting for her.

"There you are," she murmured, crouching down.

Austin handed her the small box of food. She took it, their fingers brushing briefly. She opened the box and poured some food onto the ground. Harwick immediately began eating. Then Austin also crouched beside her.

"You look tired," he said.

"I am."

"From the market?"

"From thinking."

He glanced at her., surprised.

"About?"

Alina felt bad. They had promised to not keep secrets from each other but she wasn’t ready to tell him yet.

"Everything," she replied instead.

He looked at her for a moment, as if he knew there was more she wasn’t saying but didn’t push.

"Then don’t think anymore," he said. "Just stay...with me."

And she did.