The King's Love

The warm sun touched her skin. She couldn’t remember when last she’d felt it. Her entire body felt sore, as if they had beaten her up. She snuggled into the soft pillows inhaling the fresh scent, suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her hands as she stretched to pull the blankets over her. She fell back asleep. Keanna opened her eyes and was greeted by the warmth of the sun. Her room was in the deserted place of the harem, no sunlight could reach her. She felt a sharp pain in her palms again, she looked down to see they bandaged her hands. The only thing she remembered was vomiting on the Prince’s shoulder. She dreaded what would become of her for that. There wasn’t any way to know what was happening as the harem was quiet when it’s usually bubbling with energy. A bird landed on the window, chirping. Keanna hearing it, once again realized this room didn’t belong to her and with that, she rose from the bed. As soon as her feet touched the soft carpet, pain shot through her right foot.

Keanna shivered in Neil’s arms as she saw a smile rise on his lips. He wasted no time in devouring her lips. “Mmph!” Neil tightened his hold on Keanna, keeping her still. Since her hands had nowhere to go except his shoulders, she wrapped her arms around his neck. It’s hot. She felt the heat move from her fingers to her lips, from his lips touching hers. It traveled throughout all parts of her body, burning like never before. He plunged his tongue into her mouth with no hesitation. He began kissing her more aggressively when she tried to break free. With his arm still wrapped around her waist, Keanna felt relieved. She felt she could rest now that she’s being protected by him. Keanna opened her eyes and looked at the harem over his shoulder. Three years had passed by quickly. There was no place between those nobles for her, she’s the only thing worthless one there. A little girl of no value who was only a pebble in one’s path. She had no one to protect her except for a young se

“Didn’t I tell you, Keanna?”She flinched at his tone and went stiff.“Yes, your royal highness.”“You are my only love, my only wife.”“I am not worthy of such title, My King.”“Why do you think that? My love?”Keanna felt her heart pinch at the endearment and the sad tone in his voice.“I am not of noble birth. My family is from a small nomadic tribe. When my father refused to give my mother to the late King, he threatened them and my father, he…he offered me.”She choked out a light sob as the words came out. She was close to tears, thinking of the day her father handed her over.“And they sent you away?”“…I am just not suited for this place.”Neil dropped his hand from her face and felt his sadness deepen at her words. Finding it to be ironic, he laughed. Keanna raised her head, looking a

A month passes in a flash.Neil’s greed for Keanna was constant. If she was about to fall asleep, he would wake her and force her to eat. With the help of her new diet, Keanna gained weight, becoming moderately plump. Silvia was overjoyed as she always had to force Keanna to eat, but with Neil, he made sure she ate.“Keanna, I’ll be leaving for a week.”“What?”That day, after finishing another one of their lovemaking sessions, Keanna was about to pass out but he caught her and held her in his arms. Neil fed her nothing but nutritious foods, like shredded lamb soup and sliced fruits, and like a baby bird, she swallowed whatever he gave her.“The whereabouts of the King-ah, I mean my father has been found.”He comforted her at how she visibly flinched at the mention of the former King.“Don’t be afraid. This is me putting an end to it all.”“An end?”

Five years ago.A small library detached from the palace. A place where even the caretaker rarely visits. This place was her secret place. At the west end of the library, she’d been looking for a book on the bottom of the bookshelf, and when she removed a few books, she found a small space where she could crawl inside.Ever since she found that space, she often came there to hide when the other concubines beat her for stealing food. In order to not be found, she put the books back in place from the inside and silently cried.It was the same that day.The sound of heavy breathing echoed throughout the quiet library and she wondered if they had found her, but dismissed the thought as she’s the only one who knows of the secret place.The breathing got closer, and she heard a thud. Her hands flew to her mouth to stop her shriek, she looked in the space above the books and caught a glimpse of a figure but couldn’