Queen of lords, p.11
Queen of Lords, page 11
“It was probably a mistake. The princes are always learning,” Ruella spoke.
I shook my head. “But—”
“ENOUGH!” Ruella snapped at me. I was so baffled by her tone that I couldn’t bring myself to say any more.
Lila only nodded slowly, looking as if she had come to the same realization that the prince might’ve tricked her. She sighed, “Well, come, we have nice spring water near your inn. Why don’t you go and freshen up, and we can bring some food to you!”
CHAPTER 13
We bathed. We ate.
As we made our way back to the mainland on the ferry, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of fullness and drowsiness. Leaning over the edge of the boat, I was mesmerized by the way the water gracefully glided against the side. We didn’t talk to each other much as we spread out, the quietness of the surroundings filling the air. The king was mistaken; no matter how much time we spent with those noble girls, we wouldn’t grow fond of them. And why did it always seem like I was the one who ended up doing the craziest things?
What I would give for a break!
The sight of the mainland growing closer filled us all with a mix of relief and anticipation, Ruella’s audible sigh mirroring our emotions. “Are you ready to present yourself to Ray? Then again,” she sighed, “even if you try to take credit for this mission, that doesn’t mean he’ll want you anymore… so do me a favor and stay in a concubine’s place.”
I’d had enough.
I turned around to look at her, and in a split second, wound up my fist and delivered a powerful blow to her nose, the impact echoing through the air. The others screamed out in shock as Triaya came over and grabbed Ruella, who held her bloody nose. Just as Rhona was about to land a resounding slap in response, I swiftly retaliated by punching her in the nose as well. The force of it sent her falling, and she landed heavily on her back. Ruella rushed over and pulled my hair, causing me to yelp, but I retaliated by grabbing hers and attempting to jab her again.
The ferry came to a sudden halt as the ferryman summoned our guards, who swiftly intervened in our altercation.
The noble girls and the commoners were split into separate carriages as the guards swiftly transported us back to the palace. Upon arrival, Rhona and Ruella were guided to go see Brontu, while the rest of us were led to the room we would be sharing.
Lying in my bed, I remained quiet, sighing softly. While freshening up, I could hear Mia’s enthusiastic cheers echoing through the room, eventually descending into laughter.
“Sentia punched her so hard it looked like she blacked out!” Yaui joined in.
Mia scoffed happily. “Serves her right. She always pushes me away from Claud to cling on him. It sucks too, because we don’t get as much time with the princes as their betrothed. It’s just so unfair.”
Tenia sighed. “I don’t know what the king was thinking.”
“He was hoping you’d be the bigger person,” Headmaster spoke as she entered with haste. Beside her stood Prince Claud, which made us all rise to our feet. Mia’s aggressive demeanor softened, and she clasped her hands together, gaze fixed on the ground.
Headmaster continued with a sigh, “Ruella and Rhona are fine. This has been reported to the king.”
“Who did that to Rhona?” Claud inquired.
With a gradual motion, I raised my hand.
“Who started the fight?” Headmaster spoke. When she noticed my hand remained suspended in the air, a sigh escaped her lips. “Why is it always you, Sentia?”
Claud gestured for me to approach. “Come with me.” His face was serious. With my head low, I followed him closely, my mind racing to decipher his intentions. We walked down the palace hallway in complete silence, not a single sound breaking the stillness. As we entered a room, we were greeted by comfortable couches and soft lighting, creating a relaxing atmosphere. He stopped and turned to me. “You know…”
“Listen your highness, I—”
My head turned abruptly as a large hand collided with my face, causing me to lose my balance. As I held my freshly-slapped cheek, the sharp sting lingered, and my eyes widened in surprise.
“Don’t speak when I am speaking,” he said. As I observed, he smoothly retrieved his belt from its loops, his hands moving with practiced precision, a smirk on his face as he folded it. “You know I have to punish you, right? You’ll love this,” he said, freezing me in place. I couldn’t help but notice his eyes turning yellow, something I had never seen before. It made me wonder if he was about to use his powers.
That expression sent shivers down my spine, reminding me of that day when he set the barn on fire, and the memories of him torturing that man came flooding back. That look, with its combination of darkness and playfulness, sent a shiver down my spine. I think… I think he enjoys inflicting pain on others…
Claud’s face contorted with confusion as he repeated his question, voice tinged with uncertainty, “You will enjoy it, right?” With a puzzled expression, I frowned, unable to decipher his desired response. Clearly, he had something wrong with him if he thought I would enjoy a punishment. However, it was at that moment that I had a sudden realization…
If he attempted to use a magic spell on me and it failed, I would be instantly exposed. Perhaps maybe he had overheard Ray and me discussing something that he perceived as a threat, which could explain why he was so adamant on hurting me. It is possible that this was his way of giving a warning.
“Y-yes?” I answered with uncertainty. As I contemplated getting closer to Claud, my determination surged, driving me to do whatever it took.
Either way… I had to play my part…
With a relieved smirk, he confidently moved one step closer. As I cautiously took a nervous step, the world seemed to slow down around me, the thumping of my heart filling my ears. Just as I was about to break into a sprint, my foot caught on an unseen obstacle, and in that split second, the ground rushed up to meet me, sending a shockwave of pain coursing through my body. I crashed down, my face hitting the ground with a thud, leaving me gasping for breath as the world spun around me. I let out a gasp, but quickly followed it with a yelp as he mercilessly rained down blows upon me with his belt. I twisted and squirmed, screaming, trying to block the stinging pain that rained upon my flesh. I curled into a ball, hoping it would help me protect myself more. I could sense him pausing, swiftly twisting the belt buckle, causing it to strike my skin. I felt it cut my thigh as I twisted and cried out. I lifted my hands to shield myself, and the buckle snapped against my knuckle, causing me to recoil and flip onto my back. Claud’s forceful kick then caused me to turn onto my stomach, subjected to his relentless torment.
I could only grit my teeth.
All the while, that sinister smile remained.
“What do you think you’re doing!?” a voice boomed.
Claud and I exchanged glances before directing our gaze towards Ray. The moment he laid eyes on his brother, a burst of flame instinctively appeared in his hands, preparing for a confrontation. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
“W-well, punishing her for hurting my soon-to-be wife. If you don’t punish your concubines, they will walk all over you.”
Ray grabbed the belt from him and raised it, ready to hit Claud when he heard me yelp. While they were engrossed in conversation, I couldn’t help but examine my open wounds, wincing as I felt the flesh gradually bruise. As soon as I called out, Ray hurriedly came to my side. He lifted me bridal style and carried me from the room with haste.
Without a single word, he carried me all the way to Brontu. Upon seeing my welts, his smile turned sour, his surprise at our entrance quickly fading. Ray released his grip on me, and I stood there, feeling out of place, quietly observing the two of them.
“I’m okay… really…” I started in a low voice, but Brontu and Ray ignored me.
“I don’t think she has any broken bones, but please check,” Ray started. Brontu nodded somberly and approached, grabbing my arm and gently touching my newly formed welts and cuts. Ray was peeling back my dress, trying to find anything more while Brontu rubbed some kind of healing potion over my newly forming bruises. I silently let them.
After they were done, Brontu sighed and turned to Ray. “She looks to be quite bruised on her open skin, but it’s not as bad under her clothing. I rubbed some ointment on her so the bruises should disappear in a couple of hours. This is crazy. Lady Rhona and Lady Ruella just came in with broken noses. May I ask what happened?”
Ray didn’t answer him but silently put me back together. I decided to answer instead. “It’s my fault. I lashed out at Prince Claud’s betrothed. He was puni—”
“He has no right to put his hands on you.” Ray’s growl echoed through the air as he tightly clenched his fist, his gaze fixed on the ground. As he started breathing deeper, his eyes transformed into swirling shades of gray.
Brontu placed worried hands on Ray. “Hey, calm down, your highness.”
But Ray wasn’t listening. He suddenly stormed out of the room. Before Brontu could say anything, a brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the room in his wake, followed by a deafening clap of thunder. My heart sank, and I sprinted out of the room, determined to catch up with him. As I ran down the hall, I managed to catch up to him just in time, my arms instinctively shooting up to block his path. I was aware that Claud intentionally used his belt to inflict pain on me, deriving pleasure from my screams, yet I dreaded Ray’s reaction. I couldn’t tell if his anger stemmed from Claud damaging his property or if he was truly concerned for my well-being. Regardless of the circumstances, it appeared that every time he grew angry, the weather would undergo a sudden transformation. When Ray’s eyes landed on me, there was no trace of amusement in his expression, his gaze lingering with an air of detachment.
“Move,” he said sternly.
I shook my head like a child. “Calm down first… please… your highness. Remember we can’t blow our cover!” When he didn’t say anything I continued, “let me distract you… please.”
He averted his gaze, as if mustering his thoughts, yet his captivating gray eyes remained unchanged, adding to his irresistible charm. His appearance was so captivating that I found myself almost entranced by it. When he tried to push me away, I stood on my tippy toes and delivered a swift kiss. After I pulled away, I shifted my gaze and put my arms down. As he looked back at me, his eyes filled with urgency, grabbing my hand and swiftly pulling me in the opposite direction. I let him drag me to his room.
Upon entering his room, he wasted no time in shutting the door and kissing me passionately. In a state of shock, my hands flailed towards his shoulders as he aggressively pressed his tongue between my parted lips. In the blink of an eye, I found myself pressed against the wall, unable to move. As his lips released mine, he gazed into my eyes, our frantic breaths synchronized. Desperation emanated from his eyes, a silent plea for help that was impossible to ignore. His desire for me was evident in the way he hungrily stared, and it was intriguing to witness his desperate longing for my touch, a side of him I had never witnessed before. But I loved it. I wanted more of it. I wanted him to be infatuated with me, and despite the unhealthy nature of that desire, I remained indifferent. Liones had described obsession as a means of control, and yet I yearned to become the untamed dragon that only heeded its partner’s commands. I willingly became his, surrendering myself completely. By choice, I listened to him. But... I just hoped he didn’t see the turmoil in my eyes, as my vision became clouded by a myriad of dark thoughts.
I am fully aware of who I am and how I think, but I also don’t understand myself.
“If you want me to calm down… then do your best to distract me,” he whispered, snagging a quick kiss and biting my lip. I obliged and closed my eyes, allowing myself to fully experience the delightful sensation of his tongue dancing with mine, relishing his flavor. His lips deviated from their path, tracing a trail of kisses from my jaw down to my neck. I could feel his hands firmly grasping my bottom before they aggressively reached under my dress, swiftly tearing off my underwear. Just as we were about to reach the bed, I was swiftly brought down to the floor, sprawled on my back. With one swift motion, Ray lowered the straps of my dress, revealing my breast and causing a rush of excitement to course through me. Squeezing it tightly, he greedily sucked on the mountainous portion. I watched him suckling, his breathing shallow and barely audible. He raised himself upwards and proceeded to remove his clothing, one article at a time. As his shirt came off, I ran my fingers over the defined contours of his abs while he unfastened his belt, revealing his impressive erection. He firmly grasped my wandering hand and guided it towards his sturdy shaft, squeezing my hand around his erection. The sight of it, throbbing and curved, made my heart race as I marveled at its thickness. As he leaned forward on top of me, I could feel his breath, warm and heavy against my skin. After finding his position, he wasted no time sliding into me, his movements quick and deliberate, intensifying the sensations in my exposed opening. I tightly gripped his shoulder, my nails digging into his back, feeling a sharp twinge of pain. As I became increasingly soaked, the pain gradually faded away, my moans of relief echoing through the room. Ray braced himself, his hand firmly gripping the floor as he thrust into me. Each powerful thrust from his rough bucking hips caused both pleasure and aching sensations, making me squeak in desperate response. I attempted to stifle my own sounds, but he refused to allow me.
“Ray…” I breathed.
The room was filled with the sounds of Ray’s gentle grunts, the wet and sopping collision of our bodies, and my escalating moans as I approached climax. As my legs tightened around him, I could feel the dampness between my inner thighs, a result of my own body’s arousal, as I experienced my first orgasm.
He glanced between our bodies, tugging at my dress to reveal more of our intertwined figures. With a steady pace, his shaft continued to glide in and out of me, caressing the sensitive right side of my walls, as if intent upon bringing me to the brink. He licked his lips as he rubbed his hands up and down my thighs. “You’re so wet.” In a hushed tone, he took a breath as his hand rested on top of my groin, sensing his own movements within me, inadvertently applying pressure on my bladder and eliciting a whimper. “You like that?” As his fingers rubbed my bud harshly, I quivered uncontrollably, my head tilting backward and my back arching. The overwhelming sensation of pulsating tingles electrified my entire body. His hand and pelvis both quickly became drenched from my arousal. As my legs tightened around him, he gently pushed them back down, splaying them open like delicate butterfly wings. “Open them. I want to see me inside of you.”
He turns me on.
My mind went blank, rendering me unable to speak, but I blushed and averted my gaze, closing my eyes. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he voraciously devoured the flesh on my neck while playfully nibbling on my earlobe. Amidst quick jerking thrusts, he lifted up and pushed my hips further down.
With a startled gasp, I reached out and placed a hand on his insistent pelvis. “Ah—Ray—!”
“Look at that face...” he reminisced, observing my mouth hanging open in astonishment from the intense pleasure. “You’re going to make me crazy… did you make these faces for that man, too?”
Of course, he still brought it up.
“N-no—Ray—Hngh—!” Tears welled up in my eyes, causing my vision to blur and my insides to tremble repeatedly. I let out a loud gasp, abruptly stopping my squirming.
“Of course you didn’t.” He ran his hands smoothly down my legs. “Because only I could make you cum this hard.”
I heard the sound of his breath catching as he abruptly moved his hips, delivering one final thrust. In that moment, I could feel his warm essence being released deep within me. Gasping for air, my chest heaving, I fought to steady my pounding heart. As I embraced him tightly, I could feel the warmth of his body against mine, and in the stillness, the world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the sound of our shaky breaths. I hesitated, slowly lifting my hands to feel the softness of Ray’s black hair between my fingers, feeling its smoothness slipping between my fingertips. When I opened my eyes, I saw his intense gaze fixed upon me.
My voice felt shaky as I asked, “Have you calmed down, your highness?”
He gently grasped my face, eyes blinking rapidly, before he released his grip and moved away. With careful precision, he extracted himself from my body and proceeded to adjust his pants. Pulling down my dress to reach my knees, I instinctively closed my legs, resuming a more modest posture. I sat up and watched him as he rose to his feet, his back now facing me, and my heart dropped seeing him not smile. It made me so nervous I couldn’t help but stop rambling.
“I-I know right now you’re upset at me, and I can probably never fully earn your trust… but… I promise you I won’t let you down again. I’ll,” he said as he extended his hand. However, before he could assist me in getting up, I rose to my feet and confronted him. “I’ll be your soldier and then I promise I will disappear from your life. And I will return to the gods as a soul to be punished.” I picked at my nails. “When I was in the forest back on that island... when I punched Rhona and Ruella in the face... I realized that I must grow up. I must take matters into my own hands. I need to forget everything and return to my former self, the one who wants only revenge. Who wants to bring those two down to their knees until they have nothing left.” Ray was turned away from me, and I continued, “Please… you don’t have to forgive me… but can you trust me? Just this once?”
The silence was killing me. I took a deep breath, certain that his response would be negative. I nodded in resignation and lifted my head up high before turning towards the door, but as soon as I pulled it slightly open, a hand came up behind me and slammed it shut.
“Don’t you dare disappear,” Ray whispered behind me. “You owe me your life… so live for me. You will not be allowed to disappear or be with anybody else. I won’t allow it.”
