Es’s eyes snapped open, her breath catching in her throat.
It was dayti. The morning light streaming through the opened window gradually brought her surroundings into focus, and her eyes adjusted to the light. She attempted to sit up, but a wave of pain washed over her, forcing her to collapse onto the bed with a pained gasp.
Her head sank into the pillow, and she stayed there, staring at the brown ceiling. The terror embedded in her blue eyes only escalated as she replayed the fragnted mories from the previous night in her mind.
It felt like a nightmare, but the lingering sense of unease told her it was far from that. Soone had been in her room, and she had no idea what had happened.
The events that followed were a hazy blur. The powerful dose had pushed her body to the brink of collapse, and she genuinely believed she was going to die from it. She wasn’t sure, but such doses were given to ogas during heat, to help them stabilize their sexual desires, as they sotis lose control of themselves during the season. Her own system was starting to develop a slow tolerance for poison, but the pill Dahr forced on her was too strong for her to handle, she would have died from it if the necessary pleasure wasn’t received to relieve her.
The burning incense Dahr left behind only heightened the sensation, pushing her body to its limit. Ultimately, it was too much, hence, she passed out.
"My head..." Es’s groan was barely audible as she raised a hand to feel her throbbing forehead, but the pain was overshadowed by a creeping sense of dread.
With a Herculean effort, she forced herself to sit up, her back against the headboard, and she grimaced at the ache that coursed through her body. As the warm blanket slid down, Es’s eyes widened in horror at the sight of her bare skin. Her nightgown was nowhere to be seen, and a wave of panic washed over her as she instinctively covered herself up.
Her face drained of color in an instant, a soft gasp leaving her lips, and when she tentatively peeked under the blanket to confirm her fears, her heart plumted. She was entirely naked, with no mory of how it had happened.
As Es’s awareness returned, she beca aware of the dull ache between her legs. Her gaze fell on the bed, and her heart stopped at the sight of a bloodstain. Her pupils dilated in horror, the implication sinking in. All of a sudden, a blood-curdling scream ripped from her throat.
"AHHHH!!!!!"
The loud, anguished cry sent the birds outside into a frantic flight, startled by the sheer terror in her voice. Es’s hands flew to her mouth, her eyes frozen in shock, as if trying to mute the screams that still echoed in her mind. She couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge the doubts swirling in her head, but the evidence was right there, slapping her in the face.
"This... this can’t be real! This has to be so sort of nightmare. No, no! It must be!" Es’s head whipped back and forth in ntal denial, refusing to accept the horrifying reality before her. Every inch of her body throbbed with pain, even her most intimate areas, and the signs all pointed to one sickening realization.
Did Dahr really do all of this? Just as he had threatened? Was he the one who had left her in such a ravaged state?
"Nooo!!" Es’s anguished wail echoed through the room as tears sprang in her eyes. She covered her ears to block out the echoes of her own terrified thoughts, but they seed to grow louder, more insistent.
Looking towards the table, the burning incense was nowhere to be seen, and Es couldn’t help but predict that the man who entered her room was Dahr. A wave of fury and helplessness swept over her as she grasped the extent of his cruelty. He hadn’t just stolen her innocence from her, but he had taken sothing that was rightfully hers, leaving her with nothing but sha and pain.
A foreign, yet pleasant scent clung to the air, a scent that didn’t belong to either her or Dahr. But Es’s mind was far from reasoning, her emotions raw and festering. She hastily wrapped the blanket around her body and hastened to the bathroom, driven by a desperate need to erase all of Dahr’s presence. She scrubbed her skin with a ferocity that left her fingers digging into her own flesh, as if trying to erase the mories of his touch.
Finally, exhausted and spent, she collapsed into the wooden tub and cried her eyes out, surrendering to a torrent of tears.
The thought of facing king Lennox sent a fresh wave of anxiety crashing over her. How could she explain her infidelity to the man she was supposed to marry? She has never felt such sha before, and the weight of it threatened to crush her into dust.
As Es erged from the bathroom, dressed up in a simple flower-patterned gown, her bare feet touched a fabric on the floor. When she looked down, it was her nightgown lying there, and the sa unfamiliar scent wafted up, taunting her. She flung the garnt aside, as if it was tainted, and collapsed onto the bed. Her entire body shook with pent-up emotions, her dignity in tatters.
"Why am I so pathetic?" Es’s cry was laced with despair, and her fingers clawed at the bedsheet, as if trying to cling to her last shred of self-respect. "I couldn’t even defend myself.... What’s left of now?" The more she thought about it, the more despairing she felt. That accursed pill had done sothing to her, leaving her feeling helpless and impotent.
A knock on her door sent a jolt through her frozen body, and the king’s gentle voice ca through. "Es, are you awake?" the familiar tone, always so kind and considerate, now filled her with guilt.
She knew she had to confess everything to him: he deserved the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
Es slowly got out of bed and opened the door to find the king standing before her, but he wasn’t dressed in his royal finery. Instead, he was equipped with weapons, looking every inch the warrior. Beside him stood Dahr, whose pupils flared at the sight of her disheveled state, his gaze like a cold draft on winter’s night.
"Es?" A look of worry imdiately painted Lennox’s face at the sight of her. "Are you feeling sick? You don’t look well. This is my fault, I knew I shouldn’t have brought you here." There was a hint of regret in his tone, further adding to the sha Es felt at the present mont.
Her eyes flicked to Dahr, and the look she gave him was unlike anything he had ever seen. If hate could be expressed so clearly with rely the eyes, then it was terrifying to wonder the kind of actions she might take against him.
"Es, is everything alright?" Lennox wasn’t blind to the glares she darted at Dahr’s way. He looked back at Dahr, his eyes seeking answers, but the Alpha simply shook his head, indicating he had no idea why she was glaring at him.
Leonardo, who was only starting to make his way towards them, halted mid-step, his gaze trained on Es whose eyes were fixed on Dahr, as though she intended to murder him at the spot with her own two hands. He raised an eyebrow, a hint of boredom flickering across his face before scanning the area.
"Not exactly the ti for a fight, is it?" He remarked dryly and strolled towards them. His calm deanor was a stark contrast to the tension between Es and Dahr. Before she could utter a word, Leonardo stepped in, his voice smooth.
"We need to start moving, Your Majesty." he said, inserting himself between the two siblings so they don’t have to look at one another. "The fortress requires a thorough inspection, and I’ve made all the necessary arrangents. It appears Lady Es is indisposed today." His eyes slid towards Es, his words ambiguous, and it left her wondering what the true aning behind that phrase ant.
Es sensed sothing was off judging from their outfit, but it didn’t deter her from her own mission. "I am more than capable of coming along." She uttered with balled fist, "I won’t burden anyone, but I want to see the fortress. That’s the only reason I ca."
"Hm." Leonardo shifted his gaze to Lennox who seed skeptical about bringing her along with them. His eyes narrowed slightly as he bowed his head. "I’ll wait for Lady Es to prepare herself. The warriors outside are waiting for your command, Your Majesty. Lady Es and I will follow close behind." His tone was crisp and efficient, his words carrying a hint of professional courtesy.
Once they were alone, Leonardo turned to Es and asked. "Are you alright?"
"Why did you intervene?"
"Because I’m selfish." His response to her question was candid and unexpected. "I know you want to expose your brother to the king, but it would have derailed today’s mission. What happens after today doesn’t concern . You can make your report later, not now. But I still ask, are you feeling okay?"
His gaze took in her appearance, and he sighed. "I sensed sothing was off last night, so I kept the Alpha occupied till daybreak to keep him away from you. I don’t know if that helped, judging from your state, but you should think carefully about your next step before taking the necessary actions. One misstep could turn the tables on you. Rember that."
Es’s eyes widened, "you said you kept Dahr occupied till daybreak?"
"Yes... is sothing wrong?" His eyes narrowed when she didn’t seem relieved by what he did.
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