Chapter 40
Ⅲ. Palace
The coronation had ended. Amidst the countless deaths, Esther had ultimately survived.
The bodies of the dead were promptly cleared away, and the silk cords and gallows were removed. Their place was filled by other splendid spectacles—musicians and dancers. Yet despite the beautiful music and dazzling performances, Esther was too shocked to remember much of what followed.
The surviving offerings sat to one side until the coronation concluded, then moved as instructed by the head attendant.
Bianca lingered with a worried expression, reluctant to leave Esther, but at the insistence of a man who appeared to be Greta’s subordinate, she finally parted ways with a promise that they would meet again.
Left alone, Esther followed a woman who arrived last to guide her. The woman, who carried herself like a sleek predator, led Esther deeper and deeper into the palace before stopping at a secluded room and opening its door.
The heavy marble door, adorned with golden handles, was exquisitely carved—but it took too long for one person to open. Worse, from the inside, there were no handles at all, and Esther felt, as always, the premonition that she would not be free.
She didn’t slump in despair. She had already been without freedom for too long.
And just as expected, though the room Esther was taken to was luxurious, it carried an air of isolation, as if cut off from the outside world, making her feel trapped.
The walls were covered in lavish but dark-toned wallpaper, and the sparse furniture was made of wood so deep in color it was nearly black.
The room contained only a plush, wide bed, a simple table, and two chairs—so bare that it seemed designed to prevent even the attempt to hide or conceal anything.
On the bed lay large and small silk cushions, and occasionally, a man’s sash would be left behind. Left there by Karzhen, sometimes Esther would lie naked on that bed and sleep.
The stone floor was covered with a carpet, and atop it, a thick, shaggy pelt of some black beast, making the surface soft.
Esther often curled up on that fur, listlessly sprawled out. She looked utterly despondent. Her vacant eyes would occasionally trace the carpet’s intricate patterns before giving up, repeating the motion.
The sound of the door opening reached her. Esther saw Karzhen’s feet. He strode forward, stopping right in front of her. Not long after, she was lifted abruptly by the neck. Limp, she let herself be dragged along in his grip.
“You’re not a damn dog, so why are you flopped on the floor?”
Karzhen frowned in displeasure as he spoke, and Esther flinched slightly before going slack again. Karzhen sat her on the edge of the bed, then settled beside her, idly stroking the top of her head before sliding his hand downward.
When his large hand reached her waist and embraced her, Esther twitched briefly before awkwardly squirming. But as Karzhen kneaded her chest, she hesitated before relaxing again.
Karzhen slipped his hand beneath Esther’s backless dress, tracing the curves of her small b*****s, slender waist, and flat stomach. Then, without delay, he laid her on the bed and climbed atop her. His duties had ended early today, so he intended to enjoy himself all day long.
“Ah…….”
As he undressed her, his lips bit and sucked at her nape, and Esther let out slow, stifled moans before exhaling a deep sigh. She went limp, surrendering her body powerlessly beneath Karzhen’s hands.
The only time Esther was ever active was when she gazed out the window.
During Karzhen’s absences, she spent her time staring blankly at the world beyond the glass. Though the view was poor, past the palace walls, she could see a fair amount of the outside scenery.
The distance was so great that people appeared as mere blobs or dots, their faces indistinct, yet Esther watched them tirelessly. And when she spotted the flags of merchants or envoys from her homeland, she would rise on tiptoe, unable to look away until they vanished completely.
Naturally, Karzhen did not like this. No—it irritated him. He couldn’t quite define why, but whenever he saw Esther’s back as she stood on tiptoe, peering outside like a dog straining at its leash, his mood soured.
No matter how many times he told her to stop, Esther would only hesitate momentarily before returning to the window, making it a constant nuisance.
Maybe I should move her to a room without windows. Karzhen sometimes brooded with a scowl. The room Esther was kept in was deep within Karzhen’s palace.
With no dedicated attendants, Esther had virtually no contact with anyone other than Karzhen, except during meals or baths.
It wasn’t so much a concern about escape—rather, Esther found the idea of intimacy, or even making noise, in front of others utterly horrifying, so it had naturally come to this.
Though Karzhen, raised not to see slaves as equals, couldn’t understand it, he had once tried touching Esther in front of slaves who had come to clean, only for her to panic. So in this regard, he had no complaints.
However……
“Eder.”
Karzhen tapped Esther’s slack thigh lightly.
Called by the name he knew her by, Esther failed to react immediately before hesitantly gauging his expression. Karzhen shifted off her, his face playfully mischievous.
“We’ve got plenty of time today. How about trying something different?”
“Something… different?”
Her sluggish reply was predictably reluctant. But Karzhen nodded and jerked his chin, signaling her.
“Get up.”
Esther hesitated but obeyed, rising from the bed.
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