Olessia had woken up a few hours ago in a space that reeked of cow dung and damp hay. This was the prison he had ordered his men to throw her into. It wasn't just bad but it was vile.
Her wrists and ankles were bound with coarse rope that bit into her skin, and her long black hair clung to her face in messy strands, filled in grime and sweat. Every breath she took carried the sour tang of filth and rot, making her gag.
She shifted slightly, the dirt pressing against her bare arms, and she winced as pain shot through her legs. It still didn't feel real.
A few hours ago, she was home leaving a normal life with no worries, and now she was trapped in some medieval nightmare. Her heart thudded fast, and her mind racing to make sense of the madness.
"What is happening to me…" she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. Yes, she's been crying nonstop.
She tilted her head back against the rough wall and closed her eyes, whispering a shaky prayer to whoever might be listening. If this was a dream, she wanted to wake up. If it wasn't, then she needed a miracle. Either way, she couldn't stay here.
Just then, a tall, towering figure stood at the entrance of the cell. Olessia's head snapped up, her neck aching from the movement. There he was... the same man they had called His Royalty, Kaive. The one who'd ordered her thrown into this miserable pit like she was some kind of wild animal.
For a second, she just stared, rage flaring through the exhaustion in her veins. Her body might've been weak, but her eyes burned with defiance as she met his.
He noticed the way she glared at him like she could set him on fire if she only had the strength. The corner of his lips twitched into amusement and mockery.
"So," he drawled, his voice sounding dark, "the strange black-haired woman still has fight in her." he teased.
Olessia said nothing, her chest rising and falling fast.
He scoffed, clearly unimpressed by her silence. Turning slightly, he called over his shoulder in that same cold tone that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Dino."
"Yes, His Royalty," Dino replied, stepping forward from behind Kaive until he was fully visible to Olessia. He was tall and broad, his expression gave nothing away, but his eyes were cold, and it made Olessia's stomach twist.
Kaive's gaze lingered on her unreadable. He studied her the way a hawk studies prey, taking in her tangled hair, the bruises on her wrists, the dirt smeared on her skin. For a heartbeat, she thought he might speak but instead, he turned to Dino and leaned close, whispering something too low for her to hear.
Olessia strained to catch the words, but all she heard was the low hum of their voices, then silence. Kaive straightened, gave her one last look almost like a warning... and turned to leave. His cloak swept behind him as he disappeared down the corridor.
The cell door creaked. Dino reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, rusted key. Olessia's heartbeat quickened, and pounding loud enough she swore he could hear it. Her pulse roared in her ears as he slid the key into the lock. Was he about to kill her?
"No... no!" Olessia screamed, her voice cracking as fear clawed at her throat. The sound of her scream bounced off the cold stone walls, sounding desperate.
"Take her," Dino ordered flatly, not even sparing her a glance.
Two guards stepped forward without hesitation. Their grips were strong as they caught her by the arms. She fought... twisting, kicking, thrashing, but their strength was too much for her. Her legs scraped against the ground as they dragged her out of the foul-smelling cell and down a long corridor dimly lit by torches.
"Let me go!" she shouted, jerking her shoulder hard. One of the guards only grunted in response, tightening his grip until she winced.
They stopped at a wide door, and when it opened, the air changed to a warmer, and scented faintly with herbs and soap. The room was filled with young maidens who stood quiet, and eerily beautiful. Every single one of them had red hair.
They looked at her with wide, curious eyes, whispering among themselves.
Olessia's chest tightened. Now she understood what Kaive had meant by black-haired. The men were blond, the women red-haired… and she was neither. She was ifferent, and out of place, and she wondered if she was save. What kind of kingdom was this?
Dino stepped into the room, his boots sounding softly against the floor. The red-haired maidens instantly lowered their heads in silence. His gaze swept over them before settling on Olessia, who was still tied, tense, and glaring back at him like a wildcat cornered.
"I'll unbind you," he said coolly, his tone unreadable. "Behave yourself, and allow the maidens to bathe you."
Olessia blinked, then a loud, humorless laugh escaped her lips. "Bathe me? What am I... a toddler?" she shot back, defiance in her dark eyes as she met his icy stare.
For a moment, it felt like even the maidens had stopped breathing. Dino said nothing, but his expression hardened, indicating a silent warning that her mockery wasn't wise.
He turned on his heel, his cloak brushing against the stone floor as he walked out. The two guards followed without a word. As the door closed with a thud, Olessia exhaled sharply.
The maidens moved hesitantly at first, their soft hands trembling as they untied the coarse ropes around Olessia's wrists and ankles. The moment the last knot came loose, Olessia didn't wait for permission... she bolted.
"Wait, my miss" one of them called. Olessia darted into the bathroom quickly.
She slammed the door shut and drew in a deep breath, disgust curling her nose at the lingering stench on her skin. Without hesitation, she washed herself furiously, scrubbing every inch until the dirt and the stink of the prison were gone. The water turned murky, but she didn't stop until her skin tingled clean.
When she stepped out, damp and flushed, she froze. On the bed lay a soft silk dress in shades of cream and gold, unlike anything she'd ever seen in her village.
The maidens approached quietly, helping her slip into it. Their hands were gentle, reverent even. Olessia noticed the way their gazes lingered on her hair, and how they touched the black strands as if they were touching something expensive.
"Where… where is this place?" Olessia asked finally. She didn't even know if it was wise to ask the question, but the question slipped out before she could stop herself.
The maidens froze. For a heartbeat, the room went completely still. Then one of them, a petite girl with a freckled face turned to her with wide eyes, as if Olessia had just said something absurd.
"You don't know?" she whispered.
Olessia shook her head slowly. The freckled girl glanced at the others, then leaned closer. "This is the Kingdom of Aurethia," she said softly.
Olessia's breath hitched... Aurethia. The name slammed into her head. She'd heard it a thousand times growing up, in bedtime stories, in her grandfather's trembling voice, in the voices of elders who spoke of monsters that ruled.
But those were just tales… weren't they?
Her gaze drifted to the maidens. Their skin glowed like like milk, their red hair were beautifully adorn, their faces impossibly perfect. No horns, no tails, and no beasts like the tales elders has been feeding them.
Her mind spun, she can't believe this to be real. She took a step back, with her pulse racing.
"Aurethia," she murmured again in disbelief . "The
same kingdom they said was ruled by monsters…"
Yet here she stood among angels.