Lianisa Virenia stood in the middle of the square, the cold wind biting her face, but she felt no chill. She felt nothing. Only emptiness. Only eyes. Hundreds of eyes watching her—her people, her servants, her soldiers… now slaves.
Valdegar Lokris stood on the raised platform, his arms wide as if welcoming everyone to his theater of cruelty. His face radiated a vile self-satisfaction, his eyes gleaming with madness. He savored the moment.
—"Queen,"—his voice was sweet like poison. —"Look at your people. They are all here for you. For us. After all, we—we—are the new rulers of your once-kingdom. And they want to see how you accept your new status."
Lianisa did not respond. She stood motionless, her breath slow, though inside her a storm raged. Lokris raised his head and sighed theatrically.
—"Still stubborn…"—he stepped closer. —"But we both know you have no choice."
He paused, then suddenly grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. His fingers were cold, strong, filthy.
—"Undress,"—he whispered, and this silence swept through the crowd like a deadly blow. The people held their breath.
Lianisa gritted her teeth, her heart skipping a beat. She couldn't. She couldn't let this happen. But she knew: refusal would mean a death sentence for her people.
Valdegar, receiving no answer, sighed theatrically and turned back to the crowd.
—"People! Do you see how your queen still tries to fight? Isn't it wonderful? But she must understand…"—his smile widened. —"That refusal has its price."
He waved his hand, and one of his orcs immediately lunged forward, seizing one of her maidservants. The girl screamed, but her voice was drowned out by the thunder of heavy steps.
With one swift move, the orc's rough paw ripped her clothing, leaving her vulnerable before the entire city.
The maidservant gasped, her eyes wide with terror. She covered herself with trembling hands, her body wracked with chills. Women in the crowd turned away, some began to cry. But Lokris' soldiers only laughed.
—"I don't repeat myself,"—Valdegar turned back to Lianisa, his eyes blazing with madness. —"If you don't want this to happen to you… you know what to do."
Lianisa felt her hands go cold again, the knot of dread tightening in her throat. Her pride, her honor, her life—everything was crushed in that moment. But before her stood a choice that wasn't really a choice at all.
Her body trembled, her fists clenched painfully as she tried to hold on, but she already knew she had lost.
She raised her hands to the collar of her gown, and inside her, something shattered. Like a shard of glass that had remained whole through the blows of fate, now finally splintered.
The crowd was silent.
Valdegar Lokris smiled like a predator that had finally cornered its prey.
—"That's better,"—he said, swallowing each moment of her humiliation like the sweetest wine.
Valdegar took a few slow steps around her, stopping in front of Lianisa. He made no attempt to hide his pleasure. His gaze pierced deep into her soul, tearing away the last remnants of hope.
—"You certainly look stunning, but I'm afraid the former queen can no longer be my wife,"—he said, feigning contemplation. —"No, you're something else now… You're my toy. My slave. And you'll admit that, if you want your people to stay alive."
Lianisa lifted her head. Her eyes, though filled with terror, still held onto the remnants of dignity. She would not allow herself to break.
Valdegar leaned closer and whispered:
—"Kneel."
She didn't move. The wind ruffled her hair, and her heart beat so loudly she could barely hear the crowd.
Valdegar straightened, calmly and without emotion, waving his hand.
From behind him stepped a soldier. He swiftly drew his sword and, without hesitation, plunged it into the throat of the first person standing near the stage. The man didn't even have time to scream—he simply fell to the dust.
The screams shattered the air. The people scattered, but the soldiers quickly formed ranks, surrounding the crowd. Everyone knew: there was no escape.
Lianisa swayed. Her body felt numb, and her heart clenched with pain. Valdegar watched her reaction.
—"Every minute you stand will cost another life,"—he said. —"You can stop this, simply by doing what you've been ordered. Kneel. Beg me for mercy. Ask me to take you here and now as a sign of your submission."
Lianisa flinched. She felt her world crumble. This was no longer humiliation—it was a catastrophe.
The crowd was silent, as if understanding that now their fate lay in the hands of the woman they had called their queen only yesterday.
Lianisa closed her eyes. She could fight no longer. Her legs weakened, her breath came in short gasps. Slowly, as if trapped in a terrible dream, she sank downward.
Her knees touched the cold stone.
Valdegar smiled. He had won.
Queen Lianisa Virenia stood in the middle of the square like a marble statue, her gaze fixed into emptiness, her body betraying only a tremor she couldn't conceal. Valdegar Lokris, reveling in his newfound power, circled her slowly, savoring every step, as if admiring a masterpiece that now belonged solely to him.
He extended his hand, lightly touching her shoulder, his fingers trailing downward along the curve of her back. His touch was cold, possessive, relishing the dominance he had taken without battle. His fingers moved along her waist, lightly, almost tenderly, sliding upward again and pausing briefly on her chest, lingering just long enough to feel the warmth of her skin.
Lianisa shut her eyes, but there was no escape from this moment. She stood, forced to accept every touch, every agonizing second he stretched into eternity. Her fingers clenched into fists, nails biting into her palms, yet she made no sound.
Valdegar sensed her disgust. And it only heightened his triumph.
—"Tell me, slave,"—he whispered, leaning closer to her ear. —"Do you desire something now? I'm a generous ruler. I'll grant you one wish… if it entertains me."
He stepped back, theatrically spreading his arms, indicating her people—the people who had trusted her, who had awaited rescue, now huddled in fear, reduced to faceless shadows.
—"For instance, you could save them. Is that what you wish, slave?"—his voice was soft, almost gentle, but a hidden trap lurked beneath.
Lianisa understood. The request must sound exactly as he desired—sweetly submissive. She had to convince him entirely of her surrender.
She slowly sank again to her knees, her movements fluid, as if by her own choice. The crowd froze. Valdegar smiled.
—"My Lord…"—her voice was quiet, like the rustle of autumn leaves. —"Spare these people, show them mercy. I beg you."
She lowered her head and, surrendering to his twisted game, crawled closer, touching her forehead to the dust near his boots.
—"I am your loyal servant now,"—she continued, allowing these words to shatter the final fragments of her dignity. —"My Lord, I want you to take me, here and now, as a sign of my submission. I am completely yours, ready to fulfill your every desire."
Valdegar paused momentarily. His filthy smile broadened. He drank in her words, her humiliation—his greatest pleasure.
—"Of course, I'll take you, but it will be brutal. This spectacle is for everyone, not just me. Soldiers, ensure everyone watches their queen receive her 'pleasure.' Anyone who dares look away—kill them immediately."
And thus began his abuse, stretching on for several minutes. The queen remained silent, as if numb. No begging, no cries—only a spectacle that forever shattered her. No one dared turn away.
When it finally ended…
—"Now, that's what I'm talking about,"—he declared, observing her with delight from the height of his triumph. —"Bring clothes for my slave."
The soldiers brought forth a luxurious silk gown. It was vulgar, overly revealing, intentionally designed to erase the last remnants of her humanity. Servants quietly helped her into this new garment, and she stood passive, devoid of strength to resist any longer.
Valdegar tilted his head, gazing at her appreciatively.
—"This is how my slaves should look,"—he announced loudly to everyone. —"Remember this."
He turned, raising his hand to signal an order.
—"Everyone disperse. And don't touch anything, you filthy vermin. We march onward."
Lianisa realized in horror that her kingdom would not be the last. That he would lead his army further. That this nightmare had only just begun.
Her world collapsed. And she simply trembled… following him forward, toward her torment.