17. The Silence!

Author's POV 

Emerald looked at him when he pulled her onto his lap. he wasn't supposed to do this. Her body engulfed in his warmth, his traumatic yet alluring scent rushed adrenaline through her. This intimate moment is more intimidating. 

He was pissed but his face slowly changed when she didn't react to him pulling her closer. He gently touched her cheek and pushed back the strand of hair. His eyes softened. 

But Emerald will not fall for his trap, he is showing softness because he wants her to eat. After this, he will go back to his reality. He knows that his softness is her weakness and he will play with her feelings. He always does. 

Egon wrapped a hand around her waist and pulled the plate close to him. 

"How are we going to play this game if you give up so soon?"

He placed the spoon of food on her lips.

"We haven't even started yet."

She didn't open her mouth and he didn't pull it back. Both were stubborn. 

"You think this pain is unbearable?"

He questioned, he was not mocking her, it was a sincere question.

"Then imagine the pain you have given me."

She opened her mouth when he said that. 

Egon fed her one more spoon.

"Do you think we are on equal level? No, my love... We are far from equal."

He noticed her eyes looking down in guilt. 

He kept feeding her.

"We both are ruined, destroyed beyond repair... And we are still looking for the opportunity to worsen it... You played, now it's my time. You know you deserve it, so why this guilt?"

Emerald didn't say anything. What would she say when she knows and accepts that she deserves every single second of his torture? She doesn't have any answer or explanation for his questions. 

She was right in her place, and he was right in his. Now time will show who survives. 

She got away from his lap and crawled back to her mat, Egon watched her as she covered herself with the bedsheet and turned her back to him. There was no hint that she was going to talk to him. But he will make her talk, he is not someone who gives up. 

The next morning, he ordered Layla to make Emerald sit in the garden under the sunshine. She was sitting in the garden on the swing as golden sunlight fell on her skin. She was still numb, thinking about how she was going to survive her remaining life. Meeting Egon was the worst thing which has happened to her. 

She didn't react when he sat beside her, he was done with his training and was drenched in sweat. His muscles were looking pumped up. 

"Good morning, Emerald!"

He leaned back, making the swing move and wrapped a hand around her waist so she wouldn't fall.

"I have some news for you."

His calm but deep voice pricked her skin. No matter how angry or mischievous he was, his voice always held the calmness yet that dangerous aura which would make anyone shiver. 

She didn't react, but her fists curled around the swing seat, knowing that he was going to give her new pain.

"I found your gold chambers"

He looked at her unfazed face. 

"And your brother!"

She gulped when he said that, but still she was too numb to react. What's the use of it when she knows what's going to happen? 

"Don't worry, I won't make you kill him... He will spend a few days in my basement. I need some secret information from him."

He whispered in her ears, inhaling her alluring smell.

"Do you want to see him?"

He teased. 

She was still silent, as if she were not listening to him. 

"Come!"

Egon wanted to draw a reaction from her, whether it's anger, madness or a cry. It doesn't matter. He wants to see emotions on her face; she can't look like a dead body; he is not going to allow that. He has no idea why this silence is not sitting well with him. Why does he want her to talk?

He held her hand and led her towards the basement. He checked if she reacted to the deja vu feeling, but she didn't. She was just following him. 

They stopped her in front of the man who was sitting on the chair, bruised and battered. He looked up at his sister.

"Queen?"

He mumbled in pain. 

Emerald just stared at him, like she didn't recognise him. His pain and cries fell on deaf ears. 

"Please help me... Please kill me before he does..."

He begged. 

She turned around and walked out, without giving any reaction. 

"Queen, please... Please, come back. Don't punish me like this.... Please!"

She heard his screaming and begging, but for some reason, it didn't bother her. 

Egon sighed and rubbed his face in frustration. All he wanted her to do was react. 

He let her go for now, but time passed, and she was slipping into her silence even more. 

Egon was feeding her three times a day, because she wasn't eating by herself. He tried many things to make her react but she wasn't responding. 

Whenever he finds her, she is staring blankly into nothing. Emerald was sitting in the hallway, staring out and admiring the birds in their nest. The couple and their children were so happy and free. As a queen that life was never for her. The only thing she got is power and nothing more or less than that.

She felt Egon standing behind her. He placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Admiring birds, my love?"

He sat beside her, she was facing outside, he was facing her. 

"Thinking of caging them, like you always do."

He saw how she didn't react, but her eyes moved down. Sometimes, he doesn't understand if she is really guilty or acting like it. This woman can't be trusted at all. She knows how to play with emotions. 

"I have some news for you."

He cupped her cheek.

"Your property is getting auctioned."

He kissed her forehead mockingly.

"Everything you ever owned, from pencil to palace... People will buy it tonight."

He looked for a reaction but didn't get any. 

"You are attending the auction with me."

She felt the tug in her chest but refused to give any reaction to him. She knows that he wants to humiliate her in front of everyone. People will see the caged and vulnerable side of her. They will make fun of her. He always wanted to do that. 

But is it inevitable? Can she stop it? No! Then what's the use of fighting for it or going against it? There is no use in reaction, and she followed that. 

Egon saw the glimpse of restlessness in her eyes and smirked. She is going to burst out tonight with emotions and he is making sure of that. 

"I have a gift for you."

She clutched his shoulder when he scooped her in his arms and carried her to his room. She knows it's not anything good. 

He placed her on the bed, and she looked at him confused. His room was dark. Sunlight was not allowed to enter. 

She sat on his bed calmly as he opened his drawer and tossed the box on the bed beside her. She looked at the black box confused. 

He wasn't supposed to bring her into his room, especially onto his bed.

Her heart picked up the race when he sat beside her and lifted her chin up, making her look at him. She stared into his eyes as he slowly unzipped her sweater from neck to down. Cold air brought goosebumps on her body as he took off her jacket, leaving her in a tank top. 

He opened the box, and her heart broke. This is the most humiliating thing he can do to a queen. 

But she can't deny that she didn't expect him to do this, after all, he is a man. 

His knuckles gently travelled from her cheek to her neck and then the valley of her breasts. 

"You will look mine in this"

He smirked evilly.