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.”
.Sally had just returned from the mines and entered the slave quarters, but hadn’t gotten to their bedroom when she started hearing rumors.
First, today was the Mask Festival, and not only that but this year’s festival also would be celebrated in the royal court of Salem.
Why choose Salem out of the twelve kingdoms?
As she walked, Sally heard more rumors. Maids formed little circles to gossip. Sally didn’t mind at all, but when she heard ‘slave princess,’ she stopped suddenly and faced the group of three maids.
“What’s happening? What happened to the slave princess?” she asked, already scared that something might have happened.
One maid turned to her and leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Nothing for sure, but we heard that the Mask Festival is also an introduction for the slave princess.”
Sally’s heart raced right out of her chest. “In-introduction? Another one?”
“Yes. Apparently, the kingdoms Danika’s father hurt one way or another also want a piece of her. They want to hurt her badly.” The maid giggled.
Sally felt anger and disgust at the maid’s happiness, but the maid was the least of her problems. She ran to their bedroom, and when the princess wasn’t, she knew everything they were saying was true!
“Oh, Creator! Oh, Creator!” she exclaimed as she ran as much as she could to the dressing room.
Two maids were there cleaning. “Please, wh-where’s the slave princess?” she asked breathlessly.
“She’s been dressed. I think she’ll be in court with the king now,” one of them replied.
But Sally was barely listening. Her eyes were on the priceless bangle of her princess sitting on the nightstand. Tears filled Sally’s eyes. She blinked them back, still staring at the glistening diamond.
The Mask Festival.
Sally had witnessed how the introduction and that festival worked. She knew the methods, starting from the unmasking.
Those kings wanted to kill her princess. They wanted to destroy her princess.
She turned to one of the maids. “Which costume w-was she putting on?”
The maid cocked her head to the side in thought. “It’s elegant and unique. There’s only two here in the kingdom.”
Sally hurried to the young girl, looking into the freckled face. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Uyah,” she answered.
“Do you know me? From the time in Mombana?”