Chapter 12: Paying the price

"Berth, why would you sign away Father's farm to these strangers? Micah was more than angry; she was frustrated by her sister's naivety.

Berth's face was distorted; it was now that she had suddenly realized what she had done. How could she have been so foolish as to sign a paper without reading it?

"Mi…Micah, it's not my fault." She still wanted to deny it was her fault; she felt that her sister was embarrassing her in the presence of the royal men in front of her.

Berth pushed Micah aside…

"You are well aware I can't read and write; I didn't know the content on that paper…" Berth interceded.

"You should have thought of that before signing it, Berth." Micah ran her hands through her thick dark hair.

"They are princes; you are embarrassing me by yelling at me in front of them." Berth sounded cross.

Micah shook her head from side to side.

"They are not princes, Berth; they are royal guards, and you will know that if you accompany me to the farm often! Micah screamed, and then with her hands she shredded the paper and then turned to look at the guards.

"I do not agree to this; I will not sell my father's farm for your petty money." She said and turned to leave.

Having seen the extent of damage the guards were doing to her farm, she became annoyed. She turned around and said...

"Who is going to pay for the damages? She was trying to be calm, but her emotions were failing her.

"Miss, do you know who you are talking to?" The leader of the guards said, taking a step forward.

He was, however, amazed by Micah's boldness but still sought to teach her a lesson for the disrespect.

"This deal will stand, and this farm will be bought down." The guard said, giving Micah a death glare.

Suddenly the guards destroying the farm amplified their pace; with their axes they were cutting down the trees.

"No, stop, stop them." Micah screamed when she saw they were cutting the apple trees; tears stung her eyes, and with her dignity hanging in the air, she went down on her knees and clasped her hands together.

Berth felt extremely ashamed of her sister for doing such a thing.

"Please tell them to stop." Her sonorous voice pierced the air; she didn't mind begging just to save her father's farm. It was their only source of income; what would happen to them if the farm were destroyed?

"Please, I will talk to the king; just tell them to stop." Micah begged with tears streaming down her cheeks. Just then the leader of the guards raised his hands, and the other men stopped what they were doing.

"Really?" You will talk to the king...

He couldn't hold his laughter, and it erupted.

"How will a commoner like you find her way into the king's palace, let alone see the king?"

Her words were hilarious, but he wanted to make things interesting.

"Fine then, I will give you three days to see the king and try to convince him to stop the construction of the new road, or else you two will be thrown in the dungeon."

The leader of the guards threatened and pushed past Micah, who was still on her knees, and she fell on the ground, her face kissing the dust and her lips bruised; she tasted something salty and knew it was blood.

Just like that, they left just the way they had come. Micah raised her gaze and stared at her father's farm, which was halfway destroyed.

She felt an excruciating pain on her chest and cried uncontrollably. The ruthless king was more wicked than his father. Whoever he was, she had to find a way to see him, and she only had three days.

............….

Tamina was wearing a sexy nightgown as she glided across the halls of the palace. Her red hair swayed as she walked; she glanced at the royal guards in front of the Ragaleon chamber; they were in a deep slumber.

Celin had actually fooled them by giving them a cup of wine that had been spiked.

Tamina walked past them and made her way into Ragaleon's chambers. The candles in the room were few; most of them had been blown out.

Tamina's gaze fell on Ragaleon's empty bed. Where was he? Her puzzled gaze wandered.

Just then she felt a hand grab her from behind and quickly spun her around.

Ragaleon had a look of hatred…

"You!..." he said, grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her towards the bed.

"What did you put inside my tea?! His voice was high-pitched, and his alluring brown eyes were suddenly bloodshot.

He took off his clothes. He couldn't bear it; the medicine was too potent.

"I… I don't know what it is; I only know it will give you cravings." Tamina looked terrified.

"You fool! He cursed.

"This is what you have always wanted, right? You will regret ever going through this route." He then started climbing the bed, making his way to Tamina, who was quaking with fear.

Tamina tried to escape, but he reached out to her wrist and gripped it, then dragged her to himself. Pinning her to the bed, with a single grip he tore her nightwear.

She was now bare in front of him; for some reason, her nudity didn't arouse him.

He forcefully turned her around and dove into her core.

Tamina screamed in pain, tears tugging at the corners of her eyes. This was her first time having any intimate contact with a man; she didn't find it pleasurable.

Ragaleon dived into Tamina with full force; without mercy, he made love to her from behind, and all Tamina could do was scream in pain.

"Please make it stop, please!! Tears trickled down her cheek. But Ragaleon didn't pay attention to her whining. He needed his sanity back; whatever Tamina added to his tea was making him lose his mind. If making love to her was the only way to get rid of his cravings, then he would do it.

Tamina could only clench the bedsheets as she gritted her teeth. Suddenly she remembered what her mother said…

"I want a grandchild in you before the next time I come to visit." Her mother's voice echoed in her head.

"You wanted this, right! Ragaleon groaned, banging her from behind.

Tamina's lips were quivering as her nails dug deeper into the bedsheet.

After what seemed like hours, he pulled out of her; he was satisfied; his cravings had suddenly disappeared.

He climbed down from the bed and started wearing his clothes.

"Get out! He ordered Tamina, who was crying on the bed. She got what she wanted, but in the most disdainful way she had never imagined.

Tamina managed to climb down from the bed, but she felt weak and fell on her knees. She managed to drag the upper layer of the bedsheet and wrapped herself with it when she saw her torn nightwear on the floor.

With rejection, she walked out of the room, staggering, her body wrapped up with the bedsheet.

Immediately after she stepped into her chamber, Celin, her maid who had been waiting for her, quickly ran up to where Tamina stood at the entrance of her chamber.

Celin's face became pale when she saw her mistress's body. It was filled with faint red marks; Ragaleon's fingerprint was imprinted on Tamina's skin.

Tamina broke down in tears as the bedsheet faltered from her hands. Celin led her into the room; when they were halfway into the room, Tamina pushed Celin away and then fell on the floor, screaming her lungs out.

"My lady! Celin her personal maid rushed towards her, she didn't know how to console her. It took a while but eventually Tamina stopped crying.

Celin had already prepared a bubble bath for her, so she steadily led Tamina to the bathing arena in the room.

There was a hot bathtub, which had steam rising from it, with perfumed incense. The bathtub was filled with milk and a melange with rose petals. There was a row of white candles, burning in flame in the dark night; the candles were at both sides of the bathtub.

Tamina poked one of her spotless legs into the milky bathtub; slowly she entered the bathtub and reclined on it, feeling relaxed. The steam emitting from the bathtub soothed her nerves. But her eyes were distant, drained of life.

"The king is ruthless to have treated you this way." Celin said as she gazed at the marks on her mistress' skin.

Tamina was quiet, her breath etched as the memories of what transpired just a few minutes ago flooded into her head.

Tears stung her eyes as she dove deeper into the water.

"Nobody must come to know about what happened tonight, Celin, do you understand? Tamina said almost in a whisper, but she didn't get an answer from Celin.

"I said, do you understand! She screamed, and Celin quickly nodded, then got back to washing her mistress' red silky hair.

By the time Celin was done, she led Tamina out of the bathtub.

"I want to be alone." Tamina said after Celin had wrapped her up in a blue nightgown. Celin understood her mistress's pain; she blew out some of the candles and slowly took her leave.

Tamina crawled up on her bed and lay on her back, facing the ceiling.

Her eyes became teary as she trembled, her chest rising and falling as she tried to steady her breath.

Immediately after she closed her eyes, she could see him, his hands crawling up her skin.

"I miss you." He would say, his hands crawling up her thighs.

"Please… please stop." She would beg, but he wouldn't stop.

"Did you tell your father? Hhm? The man would ask, pulling down her dress. She would be in tears, her lips quivering.

"No, I didn't tell him anything."

"You are lying to me! He would scream, clenching her wrist.

"I swear it, I didn't tell him. I would never…," she started crying, choking in her tears.

"Good girl, sweet girl! Don't worry, I will be slow this time. You haven't seen your blood, have you? He asked, talking about her monthly cycle.

"No…no, not yet." She said, and he slowly turned her around.

"Tell me, why did you do it? Why did you push the little boy? He asked, yanking her hair, her undeveloped body gleaming under the candles.

"I…I didn't push him." She cried as she tried to explain; he dived into her.

"But I saw you; we both know you did it, and this is how you will pay."

"Please don't punish me." She would beg, but he won't stop.

"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

Tamina shot her grey-colored eyes open; tears rolled down her cheeks. Her heart was thumping against her chest.

"Sir Elwood, Sir Elwood…" She said his name, the man who defiled her.

"Sir Elwood… I am coming for you!