Chapter 12….Close, too close that all I could perceive is his scent, too close I forget to even focus on the door. Strangely, I was supposed to be irritated by him but every time I try to think about it I find out that I truly don't have a deep resentment for him. Perhaps because I know deep down I don't deserve to be resentful. I simply have no right rather my hatred comes from a pretentious act.No matter what and how I try to paint it, I didn't suffer enough in him and his men's hands, not like the other slaves who clearly have a strong resentment. They have every right to be. They were taken from their land where they could have a say in their lives, their properties probably destroyed and brought to ruins and the rest of the people who were not brought back now under new leadership tied to the Empire of LYTHRIA. Even if they escape one day there is no home to return to. You can see it in their eyes. The strong resentment and willingness to continue living. And I on the other ha

Chapter 14…“Your Highness?” I questioned as I slowly turned around, my eyes grew wide upon seeing him barely clothed, his chest bared, trails of either water or sweat tracing down his bare chest to his narrowed waist area where his pants started. His long hair all over the place sticking to his face because of the sweat perhaps. His arms are toned, of course, he is a warrior. A general I learned recently. Scars ran through his arms and across his chest perhaps from the battlefield. How can he look the way he does and still have a perfect body to accompany it…“My face is up here Freyja,” he said, his voice filled with irritation, embarrassed I looked away, how could I shamelessly stare at a man like that while unmarried?“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice still filled with annoyance, his mood must be sour. Of course, that is his thing, his mood never stays consistent, I remember leaving him in a good mood hours ago.“Uhm I was…oh yeah…I was this close to finding out ... w

Chapter 16….“Keep going!” I could hear from ahead me Edna’s agile voice as I dragged my weary body forward, each step felt like lifting a mountain. The weight tied to my legs pulled me down with every stride, draining what little energy I had left. My lungs burned with each gasp for air, my chest heaving in protest. But amidst the exhaustion, there was a flicker of determination, a stubborn resolve pushing me onward. My vision blurred, my eyelids heavy as if weighted themselves, threatening to shut out the world. Yet, I pressed on, knowing that on the other side lay something worth every ounce of effort, Victory. Every drop of sweat and tears. So, I trudged forward, one agonizing step at a time, refusing to let fatigue or despair claim victory over my will to reach the other side.“You did it! Yes!” Slowly I opened my eyes to see an excited one looking back at me. It was Edna’s as energetic as ever. I didn't even realize that my legs had given up on me, on the floor with my face faci

Chapter 18…A moment passed between us, awkward it was. My confidence slowly slipped away as it suddenly felt like I was caught in a severe situation. “Well I will excuse myself now,” I said to her as she nodded visibly forcing a smile as I watched her swallow back her words as she smiled brightly.“Let's continue our conversation later,” she said as I nodded while walking away. Before going I made sure to cast a glance at Anakim, his face bore the typical neutral but slightly angry expression…As I walked toward his chamber I raised my head high, tensing up my shoulders and putting up my most serious face, everybody had spoken highly so far about my change in demeanor. But his judgment is the most important. Lowering my head to smell my armpit to make sure I wasn't going to meet him with a stench smell thankfully there was none.‘Knock knock’ I waited for a response, it took several knocks for him to finally usher me in. At the sight of him, I immediately turned around. Shirtless wi