chapter 6 ; of gems and flowers

Compared to the squalor and indigence of the shanty towns, Malgoren seemed to hold endless marvels. As soon as she stepped in the sun bathed streets of this early afternoon, Sarya had her eyes full with countless details. The brightly painted houses and shops were the most stunning elements of this new decor, but the plump ex-thief quickly noticed more subtle signs of the capital’s wealth and prosperity. This place was nothing more than a traders’ street, yet the ground wasn’t wet with mud and the usual human wastes that were always flowing in the streets outside the city. The roads were actually paved and clean, with drainage ditch on the sides that were carrying the filth away down sewer holes. Even more importantly, the people strolling around were all so elegant, even the lowliest servant or shopkeeper looking properly posh when placed in contrast with the rugged refugees and the impoverished workers that accumulated outside the walls. Sarya’s green dress wasn’t so flashy anymore, and she could even try to blend in and follow the flow of citizen to explore the city.

If following the pace of the busy people of Malgoren was the intent, it was slightly unrealistic considering Sarya’s overstuffed belly and voluptuous curves. While everyone, even the elderly, moved at a steady pace in the crowded market street, the overfed fence was moving with a slow and measured stroll, careful not to upset her round stomach by moving too quickly. In fact, the young gourmet was so very full she was forced to support her large tummy with a carefully placed hand, cupping the lower curve of her belly to support its mass and avoid uncomfortable bouncing. She could do little to keep her large bosom in check, but holding her bulging belly was in her power, even if it made it look as if she was with child, an embarrassing state of affair. Obviously, the general softness of her body would make it clear that the ‘baby’ she was carrying below her thick waist had nothing to do with youthful fertility, and all to do with gluttony. Many people would simply rush past her, sidestepping significantly to move around this decadent young lady whose womanly hips took a noticeably wider section of the sidewalk than what was proper. Of course, Sarya having her eyes full with the city’s marvels didn’t notice their judgmental looks.

One of the details that caught Sarya’s attention, however, was how ripe for stealing people were in this part of town. Her street urchin reflexes were still pretty sharp despite her recent change in occupation, and she spotted half of a dozen easy marks that were almost painful to watch with all the wealth that was displayed in full view. The young brunette would glance at full and low hanging purses, loose golden bracelets, and fragile gemstone amulets and bite her lower lip, the temptation to steal almost unbearable. It was as if they didn’t have thieves inside the walls. If was certainly not the case, but these merchants and wealthy bureaucrats weren’t that worried about it, and made for excessively easy targets. They were almost begging for her to snatch something. The thing with a former street urchin like Sarya was that, no matter how smart, how patient, how experienced she was, opportunism was deeply engraved in her psyche. It was part of this survivor instinct that kept her alive and running in her teenage years. Fortune favours the bold, and in the world of street orphans, it was fortunate to make it to adulthood. That meant that, even without dire necessity, even if it might not have been the wisest thing to do, and even if she should have been made keenly aware she was in no state for a quick escape if things went sour, Sarya simply had to scratch this itch and steal something. The opportunity was simply too good. Like inside the inn, her mind couldn’t wrap itself around all the city had to offer.

Spotting a tall and slender aristocrat wearing an expensive looking blue dress and a gem displaying bracelet made of white gold, Sarya decided she could indulge in at least one pickpocket flourish, especially if the prize was worth more than a month worth of smuggling. The shorter and stockier girl hurried a little to catch up with the tall and aloof locking lady, feeling her huge bosom bounce endlessly as she fast walked. Once she was in reach, she tapped on the shoulder of the noble. When the lady turned to see who was bothering her, Sarya started her act, making it as if she was utterly lost in the city, a provincial young burgher that was supposed to meet with her cousin at the central plaza. She asked the tall noble for directions, her face a mask of confusion and poorly veiled despair. Clearly the slender aristocrat didn’t appreciate the interaction, but her manners were compelling her to act politely and assist this apparently dim witted plumper. Once Sarya got a semblance of direction from her target, she grabbed her hands in an exaggerated display of thankfulness, quickly snatching the bracelet in the same motion. As soon as the slender lady walked away, Sarya moved her joined hands to her chest in a gesture of reconnaissance and skilfully pushed the expensive bracelet in the depths of her cavernous cleavage. The whole interaction lasted at most thirty seconds, and the woman would probably have forgotten her face by the time she noticed the thievery, if she ever connected the dots that is.

Feeling quite proud of her success, Sarya walked with renewed energy. Before long, she had left the artisan district and entered one of the many urban gardens that were placed inside the capital for the enjoyment of the citizens. Majestic trees and splendid works of horticulture were placed along wide paved paths, with nobles and wealthy citizens sitting, reading, and walking in this heavenly decor. Feeling a little winded after walking so much in her constricting dress, Sarya paused to enjoy the view. She quickly spotted a gorgeous pink flower that was standing out in nearby patch. Curious by nature, the plump orphan slowly moved across the path to see it up close. The buxom young lady had to lean over ever so slightly to see its white doted petals over the large curve of her voluptuous breast. Wondering how it smelled like, she leaned a little bit more, feeling her soft stuffed belly fold ever so slightly over her waist as she did, an unusual feeling. With her heavy swaying breasts now hanging right in front of her, pulled by the hand of gravity, the pretty ex-urchin was catching a lot of looks, both from lust and disapprobation. Not quite catching the flagrance of the flower, Sarya lowered herself a little further by bending her knees. At this very moment, the awfully tight green dress busted at the seams, a large gap opening on the left side of Sarya’s plump midsection where the fabric lost its long battle against the bulging mass of the girl’s growing belly. A gasp went through the numerous witnesses of this wardrobe malfunction, while Sarya stood up like a spring, her cheeks burning red with embarrassment.

The overfed young fence immediately wrapped her arms around her thick waist to try to hide the pale flesh of her chubby love handle poking out, and ran away in the garden, her huge bust and copious bum bouncing and swaying at every clumsy step during her humiliated escape. Waves of self-consciousness momentarily washed away the coat of denial that Sarya kept around her weight gain, making her keenly aware of how heavy she felt, and how broad her hips were as she tried to slip past people in the gardens. She was getting desperate at this point, and needed an expedite answer to this clothing problem. It was her only proper set of clothing, and there was no way she could return to the inn in this state, it was half the city away. She had to find a seamstress and get this fixed immediately. It was obvious she didn’t had the stamina or speed to run much longer, not anymore, not with all this fat piled on her formerly thin body. Luckily for Sarya, she spotted a store right in front of her, with various fancy dress displayed on slender mannequins in the front. The styles were oddly similar to her own garment, but Sarya didn’t bothered thinking about this detail in such of state or urgency. She quickly slipped past the front door, closing it behind her.