Queen Melina sat on her throne, two nobles bickering before her. She had lost focus on what they were saying. It was some petty dispute about the borders of their lands. She would be asked to make a ruling soon, so she knew she needed to try to pay attention to what they had to say but she was too focused on her own issues.
News had not been made public, but her daughter's carriage had been attacked and she was missing. Since no ransom demands had been made, she feared the worst. The bandits that attacked must not have known it was a royal convoy or they would not have been so brazen. The queen feared that once they found out princess Anastasia was inside they would have killed her and disposed of her body trying to hide the evidence. With no witness or demands made it would be hard for anyone to pursue them.
“My queen, that is the end of my side of the events. I appreciate your time and I look forward to your just ruling.”
“…Yes my decision…The facts of your case are most fascinating and have given me a lot to think about.”
Melina looked up toward the chandelier hanging in the middle of the throne room. She then darted her eyes to Nydia who was standing to one side of the room. She leaned her head to her left side.
“I find in favor of Baron Ernist… Baron Gwain will pay 150% of the cost of any damages caused.”
Baron Ernist had been the man standing to the queen’s left. The queen could always count on Nydia to cover for her.
The throne room began to vacate as that was the last request for the day. The room was almost clear when a young man stepped forward. His long blonde hair hung around his face and lightly draped on his shoulders. His face was well proportioned. His deep blue eyes shone like sapphires. He would be called attractive by most anyone.
“My queen, if I may have but the briefest of words with you in private.”
“That is fine Sir Armon. Please join me in the tearoom.”
This was Victor Armon, second Son of Duke Armon. It was widely known that he was courting the second Princess Tashanna, so it was not uncommon for him to meet with the queen and princess. Victor waited for an attendant to approach him and lead him to the tearoom. He of course knew where it was, having been there many times, but he must follow the proper protocol when dealing with the queen.
Victor entered the room and waited next to the seating area. It was protocol to be invited to sit so he stood waiting for that invite.
“Please Victor have a seat. Everyone but Nydia may leave. I am sure you have duties to attend to.”
The four other attendants in the room bowed in silence and exited the room. Victor straightened his clothes and lowered himself onto the couch ensuring that the lines of his finely tailored jacket lay exactly as he wanted.
Victor said nothing as he watched the last attendance leave the room and shut the door. He smiled and sighed heavily.
“By the gods that hearing was dreadfully dull.” Victor said relaxing his posture. He looked over to Nydia running his eyes over the queen’s head attendant. “Nydia, are you doing something different with your hair, or perhaps a new uniform…or maybe some fine jewelry.” Victors’ eyes settled on a small black choker around Nydia's neck.
“Enough Victor. I am busy and do not have time for your games. What do you want?” The queen barked, drawing Victor’s attention back to her.
“Dear me my queen, you seem so agitated… Is something the matter? Please share with me your burdens. We are practically family. I would be happy to help in any way possible.”
Victor smiled but there was no warmth or concern behind the smile. Anyone could plainly see it was a smug one, purely for his own amusement.
“I am fine Victor. I just did not sleep well. I will be fine after I relax a bit. Please do not trouble yourself about me. What was it that you needed?” The queen wanted to move this along.
Victor rose from his seat and moved toward the queen. Nydia clenched as he did, no one was allowed to approach the queen without permission, but Nydia did not move to stop victor as she would if it was anyone else.
Slowly Victor circled around behind the queen and wrapped his fingers over the queen’s shoulders and gently began to massage them. The queen shuddered and shut her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to slap this man who so brazenly touched her.
“Oh my, I can feel how tense you are. Let me help.” Victor continued the massage but now did it more forcefully. The queen now visibly shaking in anger.
“Now you seem cold. Allow me to warm you up.” Victor leaned over, moving his hand over the queen’s chest wrapping his arm around the queen. His last two fingers ever so slightly brushed over the top of the queen’s breasts as he did.
Stolen novel; please report.
“ENOUGH! Take your hands off her.” Nydia lashed out at Victor. Before she could reach him, black lightning sparked around the choker in Nydia's neck. “AAAAHHHH!”
A small flat stone etched with runes was in Victor’s hand. It was engulfed in a black aura. He held his hand to Nydia as she screamed in pain.
“I am so disappointed. I made my rules very clear. The queen has been able to follow them. Why do you insist on being so defiant?”
“Victor Stop this!” the queen commanded.
“That is not how one asks for a favor, my queen.” Victor’s mouth curled into a sinister smile.
“AAAAAHHHH!!” Nydia was now laying on the floor grabbing at her neck.
“It looks like it hurts a lot. I wonder how long her old heart can last under that amount of pain.”
“Please Victor, stop…I beg of you.”
The black aura subsided from Victor’s hand and the choker around Nydia's neck stopped sparking.
“See that was not so hard, but you know there needs to be more of a punishment for disobedience. What noble daughter should I take as payment this time… I know you can choose for me. This will be fun.”
Victor plopped himself down beside the queen and rested his hand on her thigh squeezing it.
“This could even help you. Name one of your rival's daughters. I will train her, and in no time, she will be loyal to you…Well to me but we are allies so it’s the same thing.”
“Please Nydia’s outburst has been punished already. I ask for your mercy.”
“Oh, don’t rob me of my fun. I so enjoy the hunt.” Victor leaned in and lowered his voice whispering into the queen’s ear.
“You know I didn't put the collars on at first. They all come willingly to my bed. It could be my looks, it’s probably my status, they all are so intoxicated by it. I think some even enjoy the thrill of thinking they are stealing me from your daughter. It fans their wild side. Those girls are the best, they are the naughtiest.”
Victor sighs heavily and leans back into his own section of the couch. “But it never lasts. Once the collars are on, they all become so dull. They just become so bleh… boring.”
Victor looks down at Nydia who had been trying to recover from the pain she was put through.
“That is why I find dear old Nydia so fascinating. She maintained her free will even with the collar on. She is truly a remarkable woman. That is why I need to test it on others. To see if I can find a common link to what allows Nydia to fight the control.”
Victor turns to the queen glaring harshly “So choose or I will choose for you.”
The queen is only able to shake her head refusing to condemn anyone by her own word. She knows she is still sentencing some poor girl to this man’s cruelty with her silence as well.
“Fine I will pick. But I need you to start participating. We are allies after all. I will need to come up with a way to get you into the game more.” Victor rose from the couch and caressed the queen’s cheek wiping a tear from it.
“That is why I can control you. That weakness. You need to cast it aside. Once you do, we will be able to do such great things.” Victor winked at Nydia as he left the room.
“My Queen, please allow me to have him killed. We need to end this before he destroys any more lives.” Nydia pleaded with her queen as she has done many times in the past.
“He said that everyone with one of those collars on would die if he did. From what you have gathered, that is several dozen women. You know I am not willing to sacrifice lives to keep my position.” The queen said, her jaw clenching tightly.
“I do not believe him, there is no magic like that. And I am willing to take that risk to be rid of him.”
“Have you ever seen black magic before…” Nydia shook her head. “Neither have I, are you willing to risk all of those lives on it being a bluff.”
“I am” Nydia stood stoically with her head held high
“Well, I am not.”
“But the more we let that man dig his claws in. The worst the outcome is going to be. We need to end it now. Some may die but if we allow him to do what he wants we cannot tell how many will die later.” Nydia’s tone pleading her queen to action
“I know logically you are correct, but I just can't do it. I made a promise to myself that I do not trade in lives anymore. I will find a way to save them and you, or I will die trying.”
“My queen, I know why you hold on to that promise, but it is not one a ruler can make. In your attempt to save a handful of lives you could bring your whole kingdom to ruin.” Nydia was now on her knees before the queen gripped her hands.
“No, if my country must continue to trade lives at the whims of men like him, we do not deserve to exist, and our downfall will be justified.”
“Tell that to all the people that will suffer for your pride.” Nydia threw the queen's hand back into her lap and rose.
“Do you think it is pride that drives me to this? What pushed me to this is the furthest thing from pride. Every time we make a deal with a demon to keep the system in place, we weaken our souls just a little more. I am tired of being weak.” The queen was filled with anger and frustration.
“I understand my queen. What will you have me do now?” Nydia had mostly regained her composure.
“Continue to gather info on who he has subjected to the collars. We will need an accurate list once we find a way to deal with them.”
“I will see it done.” Nydia bowed and left the room.
Queen Melina was surprised at how forceful Nydia had been. It was rare for Nydia to so openly oppose her even in private like this. Melina knew that Nydia felt that she was giving in too easily to Victor. However, so far Victor had not made any major moves. He was positioning himself for something down the road, but that just meant Melina had time still to counter him.
The queen’s thoughts drifted to Anastasia. She had sent her shadows out once word had reached her of the possible attack. They should be arriving tonight with more info. The queen was unsure why the info had not gone public already, but once that happened the capital would be in an uproar. After that dealing with the petty whims of Victor would seem like child’s play compared to a country that just lost its heir.