Beatrice - Chapter 7 – Marking a Pleasure Slave (2)

Chapter 7 – Marking a Pleasure Slave (2)

After a long night, the sun finally rose, blanketing the earth with a reddish hue.

However, Chloe had not slept a wink. She sat still in a corner of the dungeon and looked on as the knights bustled around. As she sat frozen, just like a doll staring off into nothingness, a powerful shout rang in her ears, shattering the serene silence.

“We found her!”

The knights who were up until now, trying to fight off their drowsiness, suddenly snapped wide awake and jerked their heads in the direction of the voice, curious to see what the commotion was about. Some of the maids sleeping inside the dungeon stirred awake as well.

“I found the last princess, Boss!”

The knight who was yelling suddenly came into Chloe’s sight, dragging behind him, the struggling figure of the first princess, Alicia.

“…!”

Alicia had always looked down at Beatrice, even going as far as to compare her to a mere bug. But gone was the arrogant, disdain filled look, now replaced with the face of a woman frightened for her life.

Chloe shut her eyes as Alicia, who was normally known for her formidable temper, was dragged in roughly.

The other knights surrounded them, creating a ruckus. However, it wasn’t Evan who appeared to check on the situation.

“Where did you find her?”

Chloe instantly recognized him by his voice.

I-It’s him.

Instinctively, Chloe averted her eyes from the scene in order to avoid attracting the attention of the man. Merely his appearance was enough to frighten everyone out of their wits. All the other maids trapped in the dungeon trembled with fear. They all knew how this scene would play out. The heads of the royal family that were hung on the palace gates were enough of a proof.

“I found her hiding in the palace warehouse. They were cleverly hiding under the snow.”

Alexandro looked down at Princess Alicia with cold, unimpressed eyes. Just like the other daughters of El Pasa’s royal family, she was a beautiful lady, with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. Alexandro, convinced that she was the real princess, gave a brief order.

“Behead her and hang her head on the castle gates.”

Alicia couldn’t stand his nonchalance towards her. When he coldly turned his back to her, as if she meant nothing to him, she could no longer suppress her anger.

A few years ago, her father, the then King of El Pasa had proposed a marriage between Alicia and Alexandro. Duncan Graham had accepted it as well. However, for some reason, the marriage proposal ended in vain.

Unable to hold back any longer, Alicia started to shout.

“You bastard! How could you conspire with Gilbert and stab us in the back like that?!” But Alexandro wasn’t bothered by her words and continued walking away. The princess would turn into a corpse soon enough anyway. He didn’t have even an ounce of interest in her what she had to say.

But even after being ignored, Princess Alicia didn’t stop talking.

“Your father’s just a traitor who started an uprising and now acts like an emperor, right?!”

“Your methods are proof that blood does run thicker than water! You’re exactly like that insect of a father of yours!”

This time, Alexandro turned around and approached Princess Alicia. Chloe, who couldn’t help but watch the scene play out, covered her face with her hands. Even if he was bare-handed, his aura was much more oppressive compared to any armed knight.

“I don’t understand why you’re complaining.” As soon as Alexandro faced her, Alicia shut her mouth. Although she glared at him with sharp eyes, her knees still shook with fear. She thought of this whole thing as a last attempt to harm him before dying, but in fact, the difference between her life and death depended on a single word from this man.

“There used to be a marriage proposal between us!”

“Have you ever done anything for your kingdom other than beg for a marriage? Think of this as your last duty as a royal.”

He was unbelievably cold-hearted to a woman who could have become his wife. “Also, blame your helpless country for this mess if you want to blame anyone.”

At his last remark, Princess Alicia glared at the man with all her might. As she looked up at his cold, dark expression, devoid of any warmth, she spat on his face as a last act of courage.

Everyone was surprised at the interaction between Alicia and Alexandro. The ladies’ eyes widened with shock at the princess’ unexpected behavior. Even knights standing next to Alexandro were frozen in shock. No one dared to open their mouths and break the tense silence.

Alexandro fixed a fierce glare at Princess Alicia. Eventually, she averted her gaze and avoided meeting his eyes. No one could understand what he was feeling from his expressionless face.

As a thick silence fell over them, Alicia finally realized the consequences of her actions and immediately regretted it. However, it was too late. His cold voice resounded in her ears like loud thunder.

“I changed my mind.”

Startled, Princess Alicia looked up at him with desperate eyes. She could see his eyes stare right into hers, unwavering. Her expression stiffened as the truth dawned over her. “Let go of me!”

She frantically struggled against the tight grip of the knights holding her captive. She shuddered in fear as she thought of the punishment he would bestow upon her. She struggled in vain and her body collapsed on the floor, exhausted.

“Oh no…”

As Chloe watched the whole scene, she wrapped her arms around her trembling form, forcing it to stop. She didn’t want to watch the scene at all, but couldn’t help but take notice of it.

“Bring me my sword.”

Roughly wiping his face, he accepted the sword from one of the knights and pointed the edge of the blade right at her neck.

“Save me, please..”

Princess Alicia was trembling, terrified to the point of not being able to utter a word. His ruthless sword gently carved a wound, starting from her slender neck and ending right at the clavicle of her chest. A thin trail of blood flowed down her now white, nude torso.