The Sand Bride - Chapter 50

It tormented Esther that she had to bow her head in gratitude to Karzhen for saving her father when he was the one who had made him suffer in the first place. It was a feeling akin to hatred, but that black hatred usually remained buried deep beneath layers of fear, never surfacing. It couldn’t help but stay hidden.

She knew those large hands now caressing her with what might seem like affection could kill a person in an instant. The female prisoner who had convulsed to death, the man torn apart on the torture rack, the dead eyes of those hanged corpses…….

Esther was terrified of it all. Having only witnessed shocks within certain boundaries all her life, she couldn’t possibly grow accustomed to the cruelty of Gharyam, Karzhen included.

Karzhen, who could behead people and tear them apart without batting an eye, frightened her. The crowds who cheered at executions frightened her.

How could they be like this? In Esther’s homeland, public executions existed too, but they were always conducted in solemn, mournful atmospheres.

Even terrible criminals’ deaths were painful to witness. Yet these people treated executions like entertainment even when the condemned were innocent. They seemed like monsters, impossible to regard as fellow human beings.

* * *

But lately, Esther sometimes found herself trembling with confusing emotions whenever Karzhen showed glimpses of seeming like an ordinary person.

She felt disoriented – was the arrogant man who took her letter, or the one who abused her, his true self? Could this man giving such tender kisses really be the same cruel, vicious man in her mind who killed people? Whenever Karzhen acted differently toward her – treating her like a man who’d truly done her a favor and his woman – he seemed almost normal, and this illusion tormented her.

She feared the black hatred she’d carefully hidden might surface at any moment. If it did, she would die immediately, face utter ruin…….

Noticing her furtive glances, Karzhen lifted Esther’s chin, slowly stroking it as he asked.

“Nothing else you want besides that?”

“…….”

Esther quietly shook her head.

It was true. All she wanted was for her father to recover safely, and someday for both of them to be freed and return home. That was truly everything she desired. Beyond that, she had no interest in anything from him, wanted nothing else.

Karzhen was cruel, but he was also the man who could save her father – and indeed had, moving him from that harsh labor camp to the palace for proper treatment.

Paradoxically, he had destroyed all Esther’s hopes and family, yet he alone could restore them. But rather than hatefully resist, Esther could submit. After all, she could neither defeat nor kill Karzhen – he would always do as he pleased. Better to reduce suffering in the process and save her father.

Living with Karzhen, Esther had learned to adapt this way. Karzhen had made her this way.

Perhaps sensing Esther’s complete lack of expectation, Karzhen’s face filled with displeasure again – this time directed at her, not himself.

Like a six-year-old going on about “Daddy” all the time. Esther’s indifference, as if she wanted nothing, was painfully clear to Karzhen. It made him feel disgustingly used.

His face hardened momentarily before twisting into a spiteful smile as he grabbed Esther’s b******s. He felt her startled body jerk in response. With an angry laugh, he said:

“What should we do? I want so many things.”

“…….”

“But your lower hole’s still unusable. Shall we try the upper one again after so long?”

You haven’t forgotten how, have you? Karzhen lightly kicked Esther’s ankles as he spoke – an order to kneel.

Listlessly, Esther knelt on the floor as instructed. Karzhen remained standing without removing his lower garments. With slow but calm hands, Esther undid them.

Even not fully e***t, his large p***s was revealed. She’d performed oral countless times, but disgust still sometimes rose in her throat. Yet Esther knew she mustn’t vomit or refuse here.

Otherwise she might not get her father’s reply. Worst case, Karzhen might stop sending medicine and doctors.

Perhaps because it had been a while, when Esther hesitated briefly, Karzhen placed a large hand on her head. Under its weight, she hurriedly took his c**k into her mouth. With a moist sound, it pushed past her small lips, slowly entering.