Danika’s mouth dropped in awe. The painting was that of a man older than King
Lucien, but the resemblance was striking.
She walked up and stood several feet behind him. He hadn’t acknowledged her
presence anyway, so she waited for him, saying nothing.
“He fought for a lot when he was still alive,” he spoke at last, surprising her.
“When the fight for the end of slavery proved difficult, he focused on abolishing some
of the animalistic laws in the kingdoms.”
Danika bit her lips and said nothing. This topic was uncomfortable, and she
suddenly wished she was anywhere else instead of this place. Her father killed this
king. Danika was very sure that the conversation wouldn’t end well for her.
“King Sebah sided with him in court and a few other kings. He was almost near to
achieving that mission, but then King Sebah died.”
Danika closed her eyes tight before opening them. King Sebah was her
grandfather. She never knew him because she was still a child when he died.
“And then King Cone took over. He hated the cause and always disputed it in
court. My father kept fighting for it, no matter how much Cone hated it. And then,”
He paused a bit. “Cone killed him and his family, took his throne, took his son and his
people into slavery.”
He finally turned and stared at her, his face expressionless.
Danika said nothing, just stared at the floor. She wanted desperately to apologize,
but somehow, she knew he wouldn’t appreciate that. A memory tugged in her mind
about that night.
She remembered saying she was sorry. She also remembered the king telling her
curtly that he didn’t need her pity.
“Today is The Mask Festival, but it is also an introduction day. You’re getting
introduced again, Danika,” he announced abruptly.
All the blood drained from Danika’s face, and she went as pale as a ghost. Tears of
anger and hurt and shame and dread pooled into her eyes. Did he arrange another
introduction for her? Did he hate her that much? Why would he want her to go
through something so painfully degrading and shameful?
Danika squeezed her hands tight in front of her and bit her lips hard. The floor was
blurry because of the tears that threatened to spill onto her cheeks. Danika always
prepared herself for the worst. Always.
But hearing this made her realize she wasn’t prepared for this.
“Y-yes, Master,” she whispered, at last, her voice hoarse.
The king watched her carefully. He read all her facial reactions to the news, but he
said nothing more to her, did nothing. It was okay for her to think of anything she
liked. Then his eyes zeroed in on the faint red bruise on her cheek. “Who stuck you
across the face?” he asked.
The unexpected question threw her off balance. She raised her hand and caressed
that stinging part of her cheek.
The question reminded her of that slave trainer, and her heart grew heavy. She’d
told herself not to think about him all afternoon. Did she kill him?
But the king was waiting for her to answer his question. Her throat worked tightly
as she swallowed. “K-Karandy, the slave trainer.”
“Why?”
Danika shifted uncomfortably at her feet. The king didn’t know that Baski had
ordered her to stop working. Or did he? She knew he wouldn’t do anything about it,
but she told him the truth anyway. She had nothing to lose. Karandy would still hurt
her badly if he’d survived what she did to him.
“He’s b-been making advances on me for some time. He wants to have sex with
me, and he threatens that the k-king doesn’t have to find out.” She stole a peek at him
before she lowered her head.
The king said nothing. Danika could have sworn that his eyes darkened.
“So, today, he cornered me at the back of the palace and wanted to f-force his
advances. He struck me on the cheek and tore my clothes, too, but I kicked him hard
in his unmentionables and escaped.”
Silence. The silence stretched.
Danika felt compelled to add, “I hit him really hard with a wooden plank before I
escaped.”
Lucien stared at her for so long that Danika wished she could read minds. She
needed to know what was going through the mind of this man.
“Kneel.”
That one word had Danika’s knees hitting the ground and her heart beating faster.
He took measured steps and stood in front of her. His hand palmed her jaw, forcing
her head up to stare into the bottomless pit of his cold eyes.
“Is it true? All of it?” he asked curly.
“Yes, Master.”
“Why should I believe whatever you say?”
“Y-you have no reason to, my king.”
“But you say it anyway.”
“Yes, Master.”
His callous hand caressed her collar, and panic seized her. “If I find out you lied to
me, I will punish you severely, Danika.”
Danika didn’t think there was another punishment worse than another introduction
amid mighty vipers that just wanted to devour her, but she kept her opinion to herself.
“Y-yes, Master.”
He released her and stepped back. “Guards!” he called, without taking his eyes
away from her.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” The door opened and two guards entered.
“Check on the slave trainer, Karandy, and get back to me about him when I come
back from court.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” They bowed their heads and ran out.
“Rise.”
Danika rose from the floor, her heart in her throat.
He walked closer to her. “Look at me.”
She forced her eyes away from the floor and stared at his eyes. Someone could
easily get lost in the blue, troubled cold sea that was his eyes.
He allowed the silence to stretch. They stared at each other, and for a moment, the
world fell away.
There was no turmoil. No introduction. No slave. There was no impending pain
and humiliation.
Just Danika and Lucien alone in the world, staring at each other in the eyes.
Suddenly, she remembered everything they talked about that night in his room. Those
questions he answered.
His scars ran so deep. His eyes were cold for so long, she was sure they would
never be warm again. She oversaw his torture session. Her father roasted his genitals.
The knowledge made her cringe inside and made her chest burn. That was something
Danika could never imagine.
While their eyes still held, Danika knew she wanted this world. She wanted this
connection more.
But the king broke it at last, and he looked away. When he spoke, his words were
curt. “No matter what happens inside that courtroom today, don’t forget who you are.
That will make you push for survival, even in the darkest hour of your life. Do not
forget who you are.”
“King Cone’s daughter?” she asked, her voice laced with bitterness.
A pause.
“A slave?” she added.
“Royalty,” he stated.
Then he walked past her towards the door. “Let’s go. It’s time.”