A soft, melodic sigh drifted down the warm sun lit hallway, breaking the silence that had settled over the stone corridors like dust.
"Sighhh… the Princess really was a disappointment, wasn't she?"
A woman's voice bubbled with light disappointment, her words trying its best to speak in cute manner. She clung to her husband's arm, fingers curled possessively around the sleeve of his embroidered doublet, gazing up at him with bright, expectant eyes that desperately sought his approval.
"She didn't have any real plan at all. Now my father's going to be pressured into joining Grankell faction after all."
The Husband gave a little frustrated laugh and smirked at her words
"Everyone knows what Grankell's done, right, dear?? He is a ruthless, hungry lustful man, joining under his banner would be for sure bad for us, right? The husband still didn't look at his wife. She leaned closer her breath warm against his sleeve. "But honestly, the meeting itself was so dreadfully boring, don't you think?"
The man stopped walking.
The sudden halt made her stumble slightly, but she still clings to his arm. He turned his head slowly, taking his time of the world. The sunlight caught the hard line of his jaw first, then illuminated the flat contempt that had already settled deep in his eyes long before she finished speaking. That look had been building since the moment she opened her mouth, growing with each foolish word that spilled from her lips.
"What are you saying?"
His voice came out grumbling low edged like a freshly sharpened blade waiting to draw blood. Each word was coming out his mouth with clear goal to degrade her spoken words.
"Are you actually this stupid?"
The wife blinked, her smile slowly vanishing away like morning mist burned off by harsh sunlight. Her eyes widened as realization crept across her features, that familiar sinking feeling in her stomach telling her she has done it again. Said the wrong thing. Disappointed him. Failed to understand what should have been obvious.
He didn't wait for her to recover. He never did.
"IT WAS A PERFECT MEETING!!!" he snapped, his voice rising with each word. "The Princess just handed Grankell the crown on a silver platter. The road is clear now, wide open for anyone smart enough to see it. He will be the next King."
With a sharp jerk he tore his arm free from her grasp, the sudden motion violent enough to make her stumble half a step backward. Her hands grasped at empty air where his arm had been just moments before.
"Your father is just as brainless as you are," he continued, voice rising with cold satisfaction that sent chills down her spine. "Clinging to honor, stalling his stance, pretending he still has a choice when everyone with eyes can see the truth. TSK! Pathetic man!!!" He took a step toward her, forcing her to crane her neck back to maintain eye contact. "Learn something for once!!! If we Join him now and show him our support then everything would suffice! I am already planning to join him! That's what smart people do. And that's what wins!! HEHEH we are going to have an amazing life under him HAHAHAHH"
He stepped even closer, invading her space until she had to tilt her head back completely to meet his gaze. His laughing shadow fell across her face, blotting out the warm sunlight.
"What survives in the end is people like me! And people like you should just behave properly and stick close to the one who can save your little house ass!"
For a heartbeat the hallway was silent except for the faint crackle of wind rustling through the windows and the shallow, rapid sound of her breathing. Her chest rose and fell quickly, betraying the panic she tried desperately to hide behind a practiced smile.
Her fingers flexed at her sides, uncertain now, the earlier brightness in her eyes dimmed but not entirely extinguished. She swallowed hard, her throat working visibly, lips parting as though to protest, to laugh it off again, to pretend the sting of his words hadn't landed deep in her chest.
But nothing came out. No words. No laughter. Nothing...
He studied her a moment longer, assessing her like a merchant would do to a damaged goods, almost curious to see if she would break completely this time or just bend as she always did. Then he turned on his heel and walked away without another word, boots ringing sharply against the stone floor with each decisive step.
She remained where he left her, alone in the flickering light that seemed to grow colder by the second. Her arms wrapped around herself feeling suddenly cold despite the warmth of the hallway, hugging her own body because no one else would.
He glared at her with disgust, his lip curling as he looked back over his shoulder.
"Your family is useless anyway. Tsk!" The sound of his tongue clicking against his teeth echoed in the silence. "I don't know why my father married me to you….. You are a stupid woman who can't even see the basic things in politics." He shook his head, disappointment radiating from every line of his body. "Spend some time learning instead of just chatting with your friends. Humph!"
The woman's face fell, all the brightness draining from her expression for only a moment because she forced a smile back onto her face almost immediately, the muscles in her cheeks trembling with the effort. Years of practice made the transition quick, she was used to this, getting looked down upon by him, her practiced smile was the only thing holding her steady in this relationship, even as her heart crumbled inside her chest she have to cling to him because her house future depends on it!!
"Sorry, dear. I'll work hard. Don't get angry."
Her voice was overly sweet, desperate to please, each word carefully chosen to soothe and appease. She took a small step toward him, reaching out tentatively.
"Let's go wait for Father and discuss with him. You're the son-in-law of this house after all. I got married to such a talented husband because Father-in-law wants this house to prosper." Her words rushed out faster now, trying to repair the damage before it became permanent. "Let's work hard together today, and..."
She leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a whisper, forcing herself to sound seductive even as shame burned in her throat.
"In the night, I will serve you... with all my body and heart!"
Her eyes held a flicker of reluctance even as she spoke, a tiny spark of resistance that she quickly smothered beneath layers of forced enthusiasm. She knew this is the only thing she can do for him to not get angry.
The man just humped at her dismissively, the sound contemptuous.
"You have neither a great body nor any skill."
The words hit the woman like physical blows, each one landing with precision in the places she was already wounded. Her body actually shook from the impact, trembling as though he had struck her with his fists instead of his voice. But still she kept smiling, that horrible, desperate smile stretching across her face.
"Sorry. I'll try my best. Don't worry, dear…..I will become a woman that you desire!"
The man didn't even look at her. His eyes had already moved on, searching for something more interesting, more valuable beside his stupid wife.
"Whatever."
He turned his face forward and suddenly noticed a lonely figure sitting alone on the sofa. That's where Subordinate woman is sitting waiting for her father, her head bowed down low enough that her hair strands that got out of her tightly tied hair created a curtain hiding her features. His entire demeanor changed in an instant, interest sparking where there had been only boredom moments before.
"Oh, you're not good, but she... heheh."
The sound that came from his throat was ugly, his predatory locked onto her body. Without another word to his wife, he released her hold completely and pushed her aside with casual cruelty. She stumbled, catching herself against the wall. With large, purposeful steps, he walked over to the subordinate woman and sat down beside her, far too close, close enough that his thigh nearly touched hers.
"Hey there, long time no see."
His voice dripped with false concern, syrupy sweet in a way that made skin crawl. He leaned toward her, invading her space without a care of the lady.
"Sorry about what happened before between us. Are you doing well in the tunnels? If you ask me for help, I could bring you out, you know."
He leaned even closer, about to put his hand on her shoulder, fingers already reaching out.
Subordinate woman shot up in fear and backed away quickly, her body trembling violently. Her movement was pure instinct, the terror driving her away from his touch.
"I... I... I am fine, sir!"
She spoke a little louder to replace her fear to courage, making sure he heard and understood clearly what she meant. She wanted a huge distance from this man!!
"Grrr!"
The wife clenched her hands so tightly her knuckles turned white, bone pressing against skin. She glared at the subordinate woman with hatred burning in her eyes, a fire fueled by years of jealousy and humiliation. She walked closer, her steps sharp against the polished floor and her voice rising with each word.
"Why are you here???? Don't you know you're not allowed in the main building?!" The accusation rang through the hallway. "WHY DID YOU LEAVE YOUR FILTHY PLACE AND COME HERE???!!!!"
"Big sister, I... I came to talk to Father. I... I…."
"SHUT UP!"
Big sister glared at her, but her eyes kept darting back to her husband. She couldn't help it. She watched as he stared at Subordinate woman hungrily, his gaze crawling over her younger sister's body. He licked his lips slowly, eyeing her seductive body with barely restrained hunger. She clenched her dress tightly in her fists, bunching the expensive fabric until it wrinkled, her body shaking with rage and helplessness.
"You brought shame to him when he was my fiancé!!!! Now you came back again to bring my husband's name to shame?!" Her voice cracked, breaking on the last words. Tears of fury gathered in her eyes. "I'm telling you, bitch!!!! DON'T YOU DARE TRY TO DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!"
Her voice carried a mixture of anger and desperation, both emotions warring for dominance in her chest. She knew how this story went. She had lived it before. A cute girl making her husband mad in love then he….TSK!.... after that she was the one who have to deal with every bad saying! Telling everyone that it was lie, that her husband didn't do anything, that her husband house has nothing to do with silencing the victim…. She knew everything yet still…. With his little sister it was different, even though her husband wants her the same way he wanted other girls but she…. He really does like my little sister!!! WHYY?? WHYYY?? I AM TRYING MY BEST HERE THEN WHY HE KEEP LOOKING AT HER!!! Big sister bites her lips while thinking and opened her mouth to shout again.
"YOU LITTLE WHO..
"HEY! SHUT YOUR MOUTH! IT'S HURTING MY EARS!"
The husband roared suddenly, the sounded like a huge explosion in the confined hallway. Big sister shivered in fear, her whole body going rigid. Her mouth snapped shut mid-breath, teeth clicking together.
"Dear, I... I... she's not a good woman. You mustn't get close to her!"
She spoke with whatever courage she could muster, her voice wavering but determined to stop her husband. She had to try. She had to protect what little she had left.
"SIGHH!"
The husband stood up in one fluid motion and moved behind his wife. He wrapped his arms around her in what looked to any casual observer like a tender embrace. But as he whispered in her ear, his breath hot against her skin, his voice was cold, each word carefully chosen to cut her soul.
"Your father sure played dirty, hiding such a beauty from my eyes and giving me a piece of shit instead." His grip tightened around her waist, fingers digging in hard enough to bruise. "You will shut your mouth and just stand here like a good wife. That's something you can do, right?"
He hugged her sweetly from behind, his arms wrapped around her body in a mockery of affection. But his eyes never left the subordinate woman's bowed figure. His arousal was obvious; his shameless hardened dick was pressing hard against his wife's ass through layers of clothing. She could feel exactly what looking at her younger sister did to him yet for her he never....TSK!!!
She looked at her younger sister with teary eyes, vision blurring as moisture gathered on her lashes. Her fists clenched at her sides in helpless anger, nails digging into her palms hard enough to leave crescents. She could only nod, throat too tight for words, accepting her role as she always did.
She felt his hands touching her sensually, fingers roaming over her body with practiced familiarity. But his gaze remained locked on the subordinate woman's bowed figure, drinking in every detail visible in the light. His hands touched one woman while his mind devoured another.
The silence remained for a few tense seconds…..
Then, suddenly, another voice came from behind them, a mature, polite, practiced in the art of courtly speech.
"You will not regret this, Sir. Thank you for deciding to choose us."
A well-dressed older woman appeared around the corner, speaking respectfully to a handsome, smart-looking young man in his late twenties who walked beside her with confident strides. His clothing marked him as wealthy and his personality gave off every good thing a man should have.
"Don't worry, Miss. It is an honor for both our houses to be joining hands in these not-so-peaceful times!"
The young man's voice was smooth and cultured, each syllable perfectly pronounced. He smiled warmly completing the picture of a gentleman.
They continued talking as they walked closer, their voices a pleasant murmur of political agreements and mutual benefit.
Big sister and her husband immediately straightened their postures and stood respectfully, his arms dropping from around her body. They arranged their faces into polite masks, hiding the ugliness of moments before. Subordinate woman remained at the side, her face still down, only her fingers rustling nervously against the fabric of her bag. Sweat drops kept falling from her bowed head to the ground beneath her, creating tiny dark spots on the stone.
"Oh my! Look, Sir, you are in luck!"
The older woman who is also the stepmother for her, moved swiftly across the space. She grabbed Subordinate woman's arm with strong grip and pulled her into the center of the hallway. Her grip was iron beneath the silk glove. She forcibly grabbed the Subordinate woman's head, fingers tangling in her hair, and made her look up.
Subordinate woman's surprised face suddenly met the eyes of everyone standing there. Her big sister's shocked wide eyes, filled with disbelief. Big sister's husband's glaring eyes, filled with barely concealed lust and jealousy. And a smiling, handsome man's eyes she didn't know, assessing her with obvious appreciation.
She had no idea what was happening. Her mind struggled to make sense of the scene.
"See? Isn't she a beauty? Look at her!"
The stepmother grabbed the bag from the subordinate woman's arms and threw it carelessly to the floor. The contents scattered slightly, precious belongings spilling across the stone.
"Ah! My Boss stuffs…"
"STAND STILL AND DON'T BRING TROUBLE TO YOUR FATHER!!!"
Stepmother hissed harshly directly in her ear. The words were meant for her alone, venom delivered in whispers.
Without waiting for a reply, she spun Subordinate woman around in a slow circle, displaying her from every angle as though she was merchandise at market. Her hands gripped Subordinate woman's shoulders, turning her this way and that.
"See? Isn't she perfect?"
Stepmother's smile was wide and calculating, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. She had been planning this moment, waiting for the right opportunity.
"Sigh, our daughter has had such a tough life, and she's so beautiful." Her voice dripped with false sympathy. "Many men have tried to coax her into marriage, but I didn't find anyone suitable." She paused dramatically, letting the words hang in the air. "But you, Mr…. you are the one for her!"
Hearing this declaration, everyone's expressions changed instantly.
"Tsk! Your mother is quite crafty, saving the best for last."
Big sister's husband spoke bitterly, his jaw clenching. Anger and envy warred in his voice.
"That man is in a better position than us. What a shame I got stuck with such a filthy woman while that beauty..."
He grabbed his wife's ass and groped it hard through her dress, wrinkling the expensive fabric from behind. His touch was deliberately rough wanted to hurt her.
"Aaaahh, I could look at her all day and never get bored, such a disappointment!!! I can't touch her anymore and have to satisfied with just your boring body."
"Husband, I... I'm sorry."
The wife smiled desperately, teeth gritted behind stretched lips. She tried to hide what her husband was doing to her in public, shifting her body to block the view. But inside she was breaking, shattering into smaller and smaller pieces.
She looked at her younger sister, tears gathering in her eyes faster now, threatening up to spill over to run down her cheeks.
"WHY? WHY? WHY?!"
The words exploded her insides, voice cracking completely filling her chaotic mind.
"Why does everyone keep looking at you?! Father always looks at you with those sad eyes. Mother also kept looking at you, thinking about you, getting angry at you. And even my husband... rather than me he keeps looking at you!" Her inside voice rose to a near shriek, control completely abandoned. "WHAT DID I DO WRONG???! WHY DOESN'T ANYONE LOOK AT MEEEE????!!!!!!!!"
Subordinate woman's mind went completely blank for a moment, all thoughts scattering away under the weight of what was happening.
"Yes, she is truly beautiful."
The young man stepped forward, his gentlemen voice made its best to coax Subordinate woman.
"Miss, your mother and father have decided to choose me as your husband. I know this is sudden, but can we get married tomorrow?"
He reached out and took her hand gently, his touch warm against her skin. His smile was kind and his eyes telling her that even though this marriage was happening in a hurry, he still committed to treat her respectfully.
"This is a crucial time for everyone, so delaying would be problematic. I will make sure you live a life of a queen!"
Subordinate woman shook violently; her entire body trembling as though caught in a winter storm. She swiftly retracted her hand from his grasp, jerking away from his touch. She pulled away from her stepmother's grip with desperate strength and grabbed her bag from the floor where it had fallen. She hugged it tightly to her chest; arms wrapped around it protectively.
She didn't say anything. Words had abandoned her completely. She just shook her head frantically, her tied hair flying left and right, her eyes filling with tears that blurred the faces staring at her. Her body shook with fear, trembling getting worse with each passing second as she kept backing away until her shoulders hit the cold stone wall. There was nowhere left to go.
Stepmother laughed awkwardly, the sound brittle.
"Haha, sorry! I shocked her a lot with this sudden news. Let me talk with her a bit in private."
The young man smiled politely and nodded, taking a gracious step back. He moved to the window, looking outside casually at the clear sky, giving them the illusion of privacy while remaining close enough to hear few words that may reach his ear.
The stepmother's expression changed instantly, transformation complete in a heartbeat. The polite mask fell away to reveal the viper beneath. She moved swiftly, bending down to the subordinate woman's eye level until they were face to face. She spoke in a low, threatening tone that cut through the air between them.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! ARE YOU TRYING TO BRING SHAME TO YOUR FATHER?!"
Her voice was a harsh whisper, venomous and sharp enough to draw blood. Spittle flew from her lips with each furious syllable.
"YOU NEVER DID ANYTHING RIGHT FROM THE DAY YOU WERE BORN!!!!! YOUR WHORE MOTHER LEFT YOU ALL ALONE, AND DESPITE THAT YOUR FATHER AND I RAISED YOU!"
She grabbed Subordinate woman's shoulder painfully, fingers digging in hard enough to leave marks. Her nails pressed through fabric into skin.
"CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TRYING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD HERE?! I'M TRYING TO SAVE THIS HOUSE FROM CRUMBLING DOWN! YOUR BIG SISTER ALREADY DID HER PART…. SO WHY NOT YOU?! ARE YOU SOME SPECIAL CHILD?!"
Her grip tightened even further, making the Subordinate woman wince. Pain shot through her shoulder where those fingers dug in relentlessly.
"YOU'RE JUST A USELESS WOMAN WITH A BEAUTIFUL BODY! AT LEAST YOUR SISTER CAN MINGLE IN HIGH SOCIETY AND HELP HER HUSBAND, BUT YOU USELESS WOMEN, YOU CAN'T EVEN SPEAK PROPERLY! JUST BE A GOOD GIRL FOR ONCE AND HELP YOUR FATHER!"
She suddenly softened her tone, the switch so abrupt it gave whiplash. She patted Subordinate woman's shoulder gently, the same shoulder she had been bruising moments before.
"I'm sure your father will be proud of you."
"Ah!"
Subordinate woman's eyes filled with even more tears, overflowing now to stream down her face. She didn't know what to do, mind scrambling for solutions that didn't exist. Her gaze flickered desperately to her big sister, who was glaring at her with pure hatred burning in her eyes, then to her sister's husband, who kept giving her lustful gazes from the side, undressing her with his eyes.
"I... I..."
"Oh, COME ON!"
Stepmother's voice cracked across the space, rising until it vibrated against the stone walls and echoed down the hallway. Birds roosting in the eaves outside scattered at the sound.
"Do you really want me to march straight to your father and tell him, word for word, that his own daughter refused his direct command?"
She paused, letting the threat hang heavy in the air between them.
"His heart will shatter, you know that. It will break completely when he hears how the child he raised, who has failed to meet a single one of his expectations her entire miserable life, has now decided to spit on the one gift he finally managed to secure for her."
Her lips curled upward, not quite a smile, more a baring of teeth.
"A life handed to you on a golden platter, wealth, status, a respected family name, and you would rather throw it back in his face? What a disappointment."
She leaned in closer, voice dropping to a venomous whisper that somehow carried even more weight than her shout. Each word was carefully chosen, designed to wound.
"You've always been the stain on his legacy. Don't make this the final proof."
The silence that followed was thick, suffocating, pressing down on everyone in the hallway. Stepmother straightened slowly, smoothing her sleeve with calm, measured movements, as though she had merely delivered a gentle reminder instead of a lash designed to flay skin from bone.
Then she turned around dramatically, skirts swirling, and spoke over her shoulder.
"I'll go tell your father right now!"
"Wait!"
Subordinate woman suddenly grabbed her stepmother's arm, fingers clutching desperately at the fabric. She clutched her bag even harder with her other hand, knuckles white from the pressure. She shook her head frantically, tears still streaming down her face in steady rivers.
She spoke with her broken voice, each word cracking with remorse. Tears kept streaming down her face to splash onto the floor below.
"Please... I will do it. I will be useful to Father!"
Big, heavy tears fell from her eyes in steady drops, each one carrying a piece of her breaking heart.
Stepmother smiled with satisfaction, triumph glittering in her eyes. She grabbed Subordinate woman firmly and brought her forward, presenting her in front of the young man with a flourish.
"She's ready, Sir."
Her voice was sweet again, honey over poison.
"She's a bit emotional, but a good child. Please take care of her in the future."
Stepmother bowed deeply, and at the same time, she pinched Subordinate woman's back sharply, nails digging in hard. The pain forced her to bow as well, body bending forward automatically.
"THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING ME!!!"
The young man said warmly, nodding with a satisfied smile. His eyes stayed locked on to Subordinate woman's tear-stained face, drinking in every detail.
"Go pack your bags….. Tomorrow, Sir will come and marry you and take you away."
Stepmother nudged Subordinate woman firmly toward the hallway.
"Go now. Clean yourself up, then wear some good clothes when I'll send them. After that come to your father's office when you're ready."
Subordinate woman walked away in a complete daze, her eyes blank and unseeing of anything around her surroundings, she was staring blankly at nothingness. She just kept walking mechanically, one foot in front of the other, holding her bag tightly against her chest. It was the only thing keeping her together, the only solid thing in a world that was holding her in reality.
Her mind was empty; thoughts scattered beyond recovery.
Her body moved on autopilot, muscle memory carrying her forward.
Everything felt distant, unreal, a terrible dream she couldn't wake up from no matter how hard she tried.
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END OF CHAPTER
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Author Blabbering
Not again!! This author is crying in the corner feeling his eyes and hands getting tired from writing, editing and re-checking an entire chapter for a looonngggg looonngggg tiiimmeee!!!!
I do complain but it is still fun to write stories! and I hope you are enjoying what you are reading! Make sure to like sub.... I mean share my story to your friends and families ( Ahmm for 18+ people only!! ) so that everyone in the whole world can know what a great story you are reading!!!
Hmm what ? what ? ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS IS NOT GREAT!!!
KEKEKEKE Be careful readers this author is super strong!! I have huge muscles like Baki !!!
Or I wish I had.....
Well I hope you guys are healthy and happy, so keep reading and have a great day!
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