Ch. 2 - Chains of Humiliation

The stone walls were cold and the air in the underground cell was damp. Elena curled up in the corner of the dimly lit room. She was completely still. Her hands were tied with chains and pulled up. The cold air was biting and she was covered only by a tattered piece of cloth.

The air playfully brushed against her bare underwear. Her legs were bound with chains on both sides.

Her breathing was labored. How many times had her body been bound? She wouldn't give up. She'd rather die.

What was left of her? She only had a little pride left.

Elena took a deep breath. She couldn't believe that she was in this situation.

Just a week ago, she had been the princess of a great and honorable kingdom. Every time she walked, everyone bowed in respect. Even the nobles looked at her with respect.

Now, what was honor? She couldn't even protect her own body. How many bodyguards had mistreated her? There was no room left, just a nasty, sweet, damp smell. Her hands and joints ached. She could even feel her pussy drying in the wind.

The torture she had endured this week had taken its toll. She couldn't think straight. She wondered if she would survive.

But her mother's words kept ringing in her head. "Don't give up, Elena. You have to live!"

But, Mom, why is everything so hard? She sobbed to herself.

Then she heard footsteps outside her cell. Her heart was beating fast. She felt a wave of trauma wash over her, making her body shake.

A guard opened the cell door and saw food in his hand. Elena swallowed hard. Her lips were really dry - it had been two days since they'd given her anything to eat.

"Hey, you have to eat something," the guard said.

Elena was too weak to answer. She just shook her head.

"You're going to die!"

Elena breathed heavily. She would rather die than submit to Lucian and be his sex slave. But the sight of the food made her hungry.

"Look at this food for Your Highness," the guard said, mocking her and revealing the brown rice. "Or are you too noble to eat rice cooked by slaves?"

Elena looked at the bowl in disgust. Her appetite immediately vanished. "How can you feed people like that?" she snapped angrily.

"Oh, King Lucian has made sure that we all know that you are no longer human. You're like His Majesty's pet rat," the guard teased.

Elena was humiliated, truly humiliated. A guard had humiliated her on purpose. She spat at the guard, her frustration obvious.

The guard was astonished. He grunted angrily and wiped the spit from his face. Then he cruelly poured the contents of the bowl on Elena's face. The stench of rice clung to her hair, cheeks, and neck, dripping slowly like a symbol of deepening humiliation.

"Even rats know when to surrender," the guard muttered before leaving the cell with a mocking laugh.

Elena said nothing. Her hands clenched into fists. Her chest burned with rage.

She heard footsteps coming down the corridor. Different footsteps - lighter, straighter. The room suddenly felt colder. Elena didn't like this feeling.

Lucian appeared in front of the cell and went inside.

He looked like he was laughing at something, but it was a kind of mocking laugh. Elena found his cold, handsome face disgusting. Grant, who was always at the king's side, was behind him.

Lucian strolled up to Elena and took in her disheveled appearance. The water from the rice made the thin fabric cling to her body, showing off her curves.

"You're much more attractive like this," Lucian teased. Then he grabbed Elena's chin with two fingers and lifted her face so that their eyes met.

"Look at you now," he said in a dismissive tone. "Do you still have your pride?"

Elena tried to look away, but Lucian's grip was too tight. She gritted her teeth.

"I will never be your sex slave!" Elena whispered.

Lucian let out a short, bitter laugh. "You still have courage, I'll give you that."

Then he took a step back and turned to Grant.

"Do you know what's better than victory on the battlefield?" he asked, his tone light but penetrating. "Having a haughty princess call you 'Master'. Isn't that ironic?"

Grant laughed in agreement. Elena stared at them, fuming.

Lucian looked back at Elena. "Say it," he said. "Call me Master."

Elena spat on the ground and refused.

Lucian's face hardened. In an instant, his left hand flew up and struck Elena hard across the cheek. Elena's head snapped to the side, her breathing became heavy and her cheek pulsed with pain.

"You still don't get it," he said flatly.

Elena slowly lifted her face, but her body shook. "You can torture me, humiliate me, but you'll never have my soul! I'll never submit!"

Lucian glared at her, his eyes narrowing. In an instant, all the anger, resentment, and hurt he had held onto for years seemed to pour out of his eyes.

"All right, let's do this. If you still refuse to be my sex slave, I will kill all the remaining Emerians. On the day of their execution, I will make you walk naked," Lucian said, interrupting her.

Elena was stunned. "No, no, no. You won't do that!"

"Challenge me," Lucian whispered, squeezing Elena's neck until the girl whimpered in pain.

"If you decide to surrender and save your remaining people, come to my chambers. I will teach you how to be a true slave. Not with whips or hot irons, but with humiliation that will seep into your own blood."

"Otherwise, wait here and see what happens tomorrow," Lucian added.

Elena froze. Her breath caught, not from fear, but from not knowing how far she could fall. She didn't want to make her people suffer any more. She didn't want to put up with any more of this.

But Lucian's cruelty made her realize that he could do anything.

Lucian left without looking back. Grant closed the cell door.

In the silence, Elena whispered, "What am I going to do

, Mom?" She cried.

She knew this was only the beginning of a nightmare and she had to be strong.