The night was heavy with silence, broken only by the creak of wheels and the steady clop of the mule’s hooves. A cart rolled slowly down the lonely road, lanterns swaying, light flickering across the sleeping children. In the moving cart was a family of four.The father held the reins tight, his eyes darting to the dark line of trees on either side of the path. Then…the sound of quick footsteps could be heard.Faint at first, then multiplying, quickening. The father’s heart thudded. He snapped the reins. The mule strained forward, the cart jolting. The mother stirred awake, clutching her youngest. “What is it?” she whispered. The man squinted his eyes into the darkness beyond. “I can hear voices…” He didn't finish his sentence when shadows broke from the treeline—riders, cloaked, armed, fanning out in silence. The lantern’s glow caught the glint of steel. The father shouted... “Hold on!” He held on to the reins, but an arrow split and flew past his side, grazing his arm.
Hamstung Imperial Palace The early morning dew filled the air, making it look like a cloud of mist. The hush of dawn, the air cool. Joya stepped out, with a wooden bowl clutched against her hip, the scent of dry grains rising faintly from it. The soft rustle of her skirts brushing the dew-strewn ground as she shoved her hand into the basket of grains and scattered the feed with practiced flicks of her hand. The grains rained down on the soil, tapping against the stone and earth. Almost instantly, the hens stirred to life, ruffled feathers, soft clucks, and quick darting beaks pecking at the food. She continued to throw the feed on the ground until she had emptied the wooden bowl. She was wearing a plain white gown, the maid's uniform. The quiet was filled with the flutter of wings, the occasional crow of a rooster in the distance, and the rhythm of pecking on stone. She mindlessly continued to throw the grains on the ground, and the hen clustered around her, pecking endless
Helena walked into the guest room, with unhurried steps like the princess she was, dark wavy hair draped at both sides of her face, an emotionless countenance etched on her face.she saw a man and a lady on the bed, completely nude, in a sexual position."Mother, isn't this too much?" She asked, flattered by their nudity. Selena, however, gazed at them as though it was normal."You should feast your eyes on everything, Helena, learn the ways, and know how to make your husband stick to you like a magnet. If you are lucky, he won't take any concubines once he knows how good you are in bed." Selena commented, then clapped her hands twice. The maids in the guest room filed out.Selena signaled her daughter to probe forward until she stood beside the bedpost. "You may start." Selena said, and the expert on the bed began. Once they began, Helena's eyes were glued to the bed. Her pupils dilated with curiosity as she bit her lips and gasped at each action they did with their bodies. Sele
When Helena walked into the guest room, she saw a man and a lady on the bed, completely nude, in a sexual position.“Mother, isn't this too much?” She asked, flattered by their nudity. Selena, however, gazed at them as though it was normal.“You should feast your eyes on everything, Helena, learn the ways, and know how to make your husband stick to you like a magnet. If you are lucky, he won't take any concubines once he knows how good you are in bed.” Selena commented, then clapped her hands twice. The maids in the guest room filed out.Selena signaled her daughter to probe forward until she stood beside the bedpost. “You may start.” Selena said, and the expert on the bed began. Once they began, Helena's eyes were glued to the bed. Her pupils dilated with curiosity as she bit her lips and gasped at each action they did with their bodies. Selena's eyes widened; as she swallowed the saliva in her mouth, she began to fan herself, trying to reduce the heat prickling on her skin.
The soft echoes of Leah's footsteps against the gravel stones of the garden could be heard. The morning dew overwhelmed the air, creating a cloudy mist. The scent of roses and lavender lingered in the air, the flowers blossoming brightly under the faint rays of the early morning sun. Leah was clad in a green dress, the hems of her dress brushing the ground, her grazing the heads of the blooming flowers, their petals faltering under her touch. The birds in the sky flittered about, chirping in the unheard silence. Leah made her way through the garden in casual steps, hands entwined elegantly in front of her.She walked along a small wooden bridge, the breeze of the sea caressing her face; her hair, which was let down, swayed, exposing her jawline. Her gaze was lifeless as she now walked on the wet sand, her footprints carved on the sand as she urged forward. She squinted her gaze when she saw the faint shadow of a figure ahead, seated on the sand. She inched closer, trying to fi
The door to the great dining hall opened, and Ragaleon stepped in. The air around the room tensed up as the royal family seated at the table languidly rose to their feet, the chairs pushing backward like a rehearsed rhythm. Ragaleon's nonchalant and cold face came into view as the black cape draped behind him, moving with precise caution as he walked. He took his seat at the head chair at the table, and the rest of the family followed suit. Everyone was at the table except for Tamina, who chose to stay within the walls of her chamber.Everywhere remained silent as the sound of cutlery perching on food filled the air. Ragaleon took hold of a goblet of wine and slowly brought it to his lips when a hand caught it, and the liquid shook violently, spilling on Ragaleon's silky royal outfit. The countenance of his face went blank, and as he raised his gaze to glare upon who had dared to do such a despicable thing, his eyes fell on Jazell. At the moment everyone had stopped eating;