Warning: Contains scenes of violence and harassment ahead!

The carriage had been moving for hours. I sat in silence, the weight of the unknown pressing down on me. My eyes wandered to the two knights seated across from me, their expressions cold and unreadable. My hands fidgeted nervously in my lap, my fingers twisting together as if trying to ground me in this tense moment. Where are they taking me? My mind raced with a thousand questions, none of which had answers. I didn’t know what awaited me at our destination, but the fear of the unknown gnawed at me.

Moments passed in agonizing silence before the carriage finally came to a halt. My heart leaped into my throat, a sudden rush of panic filling my chest. The door creaked open, and one of the knights stepped out first, offering me no choice but to follow. The other knight grabbed me by the arm, his grip rough, forcing me down from the carriage. My knees buckled slightly, but I managed to steady myself, my jaw clenching as my eyes scanned the surroundings.

So, this is where they’ve brought me. The estate of Count Rodolfo.

I caught sight of him almost immediately, standing tall and smug with a wicked smile playing on his lips. “Bring her to the dungeon,” his voice cut through the air like a blade. I met his gaze, my eyes sharp and defiant, but he only smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

Without a word, the knights began dragging me towards the manor's dungeon. I fought to keep my footing, but their grip was relentless. When we reached the dark, damp cell, they shoved me forward with such force that I stumbled, crashing to the cold stone floor. Pain shot through my body, and I gritted my teeth, suppressing a curse. These bastards... they would regret this.

I pushed my tangled hair away from my face, my hands shaking from a mix of anger and hunger. My stomach growled loudly, a painful reminder that I hadn’t eaten since the morning. I cursed under my breath. Damn it. I can’t even remember the last time I ate.

Dragging myself to my feet, I walked over to the iron bars, peering through them. Two knights stood guard at the entrance, indifferent to my suffering. I pressed my lips into a thin line, refusing to show any sign of weakness. I would not ask them for food. My pride would not allow it. I gripped the bars tightly, my knuckles turning white. This situation was unbearable, and the cold of the cell was seeping into my bones. How long do they plan to keep me here?

I tilted my head back, blinking rapidly to hold back tears. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. How absurd. How did I end up here, trapped like some criminal?

With a heavy sigh, I slumped against the wall, sinking to the floor. I closed my eyes, willing myself to believe that this was all just a nightmare, a twisted illusion. Maybe, if I slept, I would wake up and this would all be over. But no such relief came.

I must have fallen asleep at some point because I awoke to the sound of metal scraping against metal—the dungeon door opening. My heart raced as I scrambled to my feet, my eyes narrowing at the figure entering. He carried a tray of food, his face calm and composed. My brows furrowed in confusion. It was Ezekiel, Count Rodolfo’s son. What is he doing here?

He knelt down, offering me the tray. “Eat. You’ll need your strength,” he said, his voice gentle, almost too gentle for someone related to Rodolfo. His concern caught me off guard.

I stared at him, suspicion flickering in my eyes. “Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice laced with distrust.

He placed the tray on the ground when I didn’t take it. Standing up straight, he answered, “I just don’t like seeing you suffer. It doesn’t suit you," his words were indifferent, but there was something unsettling about his calmness.

My brow furrowed even more. “So, if I weren’t beautiful, you’d leave me to suffer?” I muttered under my breath. Unbelievable.

“I’m not hungry—” my stomach betrayed me, growling loudly before I could finish. Embarrassment flushed my cheeks, and I pressed my lips together, mortified.

He chuckled softly. “Right, you’re definitely not hungry,” he said with a smirk. He reached down to take the tray back, and for a moment, I bit my lip. Damn it, I need that food.

“W-wait!” I called out before he could leave. My fists clenched at my sides as frustration and hunger warred inside me.

He turned to face me, amusement dancing in his eyes. “What is it, Your Majesty?” his tone was teasing, and I rolled my eyes in exasperation.

“Just... give it to me,” I muttered, my pride already bruised.

He chuckled again, placing the tray on the floor before me. “Eat well, Your Majesty. I don’t know what they plan to do with you, but you should be ready,” he said, his voice carrying a subtle warning.

I took a deep breath, my stomach twisting with anxiety. If this is my last meal, I might as well make the most of it.

I grabbed the food with my hands, devouring it quickly. My hunger overpowered any sense of decorum. Tears stung my eyes as I ate, but I forced myself to keep going, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. Damn it. This is harder than I thought.

I took a deep breath, wiping my eyes and drinking the water that had been left for me. I shook my head, trying to compose myself. I can’t break down. I need to stay strong.

When I finished eating, I leaned back against the wall, feeling a strange sense of emptiness. I even let out a small, bitter laugh. How pathetic. That might be my last meal.

Morning came, and I was startled awake by the sound of approaching footsteps. A group of knights entered the cell, and I grimaced as they roughly hauled me to my feet. Cold metal cuffs snapped around my wrists, and I glared at them, but they only ignored my silent rage. How dare they treat me like this!

“Damn it,” I cursed under my breath, my frustration boiling over as they dragged me outside. I squinted against the harsh sunlight, my eyes slowly adjusting to the brightness. As my vision cleared, I saw Count Rodolfo waiting for me, a sickening grin spread across his face.

He gave a nod to the knights, signaling them to shove me into another carriage. I resisted, but they forced me inside, my teeth gritting as I struggled to contain my anger.

Suddenly, they covered my head with a thick, heavy cloth. I blinked rapidly in the darkness, panic rising in my chest. “Where are you taking me?” I demanded, my voice sharp. My heart pounded against my ribcage, a cold sweat forming on my skin. I felt fear like I hadn’t felt in a long time—a fear that clawed at my insides, relentless and suffocating.

The carriage began to move, and I felt disoriented. With my vision taken away, every jolt and bump in the road made me nauseous. I gritted my teeth, frustration mounting. Why did they need to blindfold me? Damn them! They will pay for this! I swear it!

Time stretched on endlessly as the carriage rumbled forward. Hunger and thirst gnawed at me, my throat dry and parched. I tried to swallow, but my mouth felt like sandpaper. My head swam with dizziness, and I could barely keep my thoughts coherent.

Eventually, exhaustion overtook me, and I slipped into unconsciousness, my body weak from hunger and fear.

When I awoke, the carriage was still moving, and my desperation deepened. Where are they taking me? I could feel cold sweat trickling down my neck, and my body trembled from the hunger. My limbs felt heavy, and my vision blurred under the blindfold. How long have we been traveling?

The carriage rolled on for what felt like an eternity. My strength was fading, and with it, the last threads of my hope. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to block out the overwhelming helplessness. Was this how it would end?

Suddenly, the carriage jerked to a stop. My heart leaped in my chest as I heard footsteps approaching. Rough hands grabbed me again, yanking me from the carriage with little care. I stumbled as they pulled me along, my legs weak beneath me. My mind raced, searching for any escape, any hope, but there was none.

They dragged me further, and I fell onto the cold, unforgiving stone floor. My hands scrambled in the darkness, feeling the rough surface beneath me. Something small and sharp scurried across my skin, and I recoiled in disgust, quickly standing to my feet.

Nagulat ako nang may biglang humablot sa nakatakip sa aking ulo. Agad kong dinilat ang mga mata at bumungad naman sa akin ang matandang lalaki. I furrowed my brow, studying his appearance. He was old, yet his body seemed strong and unyielding. His face was full of pride and arrogance, as if he thought the world belonged to him.

He took a drag from his tobacco, exhaling the smoke directly into my face, causing me to squint and turn away. Damn, who is this old man? He’s unfamiliar to me.

"Empress Celestia," he rasped, his voice grating and rough. A chill ran down my spine at the sound of his voice. He sounded like a predator—creepy, to say the least. Goodness!

"You are truly beautiful... How unfortunate that you ended up with the Emperor. If you had been mine, your life would have been much more pleasurable. You wouldn’t be suffering now." He sneered, his eyes raking over my body from head to toe, a twisted grin spreading across his face. I swallowed hard, disgust twisting in my stomach. Does this man feel no shame in his words?

"Disgusting old man," I shot back, my voice laced with disdain. I glared at him, my skin crawling with revulsion.

My words seemed to anger him. His face twisted into a scowl, and before I could react, he grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head toward him. I gasped in pain, my hands instinctively going to my head, but the chains binding my wrists made it impossible to defend myself. I gritted my teeth, trying to suppress the cry of pain building in my throat.

"Don’t act tough, little girl. I have you now, and there’s no escape," he growled, his voice filled with venom.

I gasped in shock when he suddenly ripped at my dress, though it only caused minor damage. My chest was now exposed, my cleavage revealed. My eyes widened in horror. Panic surged through me, and in an instant of desperation, I slammed my forehead into his face. The impact forced him to release me, and he stumbled backward, clutching his nose as blood dripped from it. His eyes widened in shock, clearly not expecting me to fight back.

I smirked, but my small victory was short-lived. His expression darkened, and with a snarl, he swung his hand at me, slapping me hard across the face. The force of the blow sent me crashing to the floor. My cheek stung, and I tasted blood in my mouth, but I refused to show weakness. I turned to glare at him, my eyes blazing with fury, silently vowing that he would pay for this.

Slowly, I pushed myself off the ground, my body screaming in pain, but I didn’t care. I twisted around, and with all the strength I could muster, I kicked him hard in the chest. He collapsed to the floor, knocked out cold. I stood there, panting, my body trembling from the adrenaline. A small, satisfied grin tugged at my lips. At least he was down.

But my moment of triumph was interrupted as several figures dressed in black cloaks rushed into the room. They surrounded me, their swords drawn and pointed at my chest. I took a step back, my heart racing as I realized I had made things worse. Damn it, I only gave them more reason to be cautious.

They quickly picked up the unconscious old man and dragged him away, leaving a few of their men to deal with me. Without a word, they chained my ankles, the cold metal biting into my skin. I clenched my jaw, feeling helpless once again. Damn, they weren’t going to take any more chances with me now.

They locked me inside the cold, dark cell once more. I collapsed onto the floor, my body weak and my spirit nearly broken. I bit my lip, trying to hold back the overwhelming tide of emotions that was crashing over me. Fear, pain, and despair flooded my senses. My body trembled uncontrollably, and I couldn’t stop the tears that started to fall. Why am I here? Who are these people?

Goodness, I don’t care if I die, but if I do, I want it to be quick. Not like this. I have a terrible feeling about these people. Something isn’t right.

I broke down completely, sobbing into the silence. Where are you? Where are you, Isaac? Please... please save me. Save me from these monsters.

Curling up on the cold stone floor, I hugged myself tightly. Quiet sobs scaped from my lips as I closed my eyes. Exhuastion washed over me, and despite the terror gnawing at my heart,  I drifted into restless sleep. Clutching onto the faint hope that someone-anyone-would come for me.

I woke up abruptly, a violent tug on my body dragging me back into consciousness. My muscles screamed in protest, sore and weakened from the abuse they had endured. My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light of the chamber. I tried to sit up, but rough hands seized me, yanking me from the cold, damp floor. My head throbbed as I was thrown into a chair.

I looked around, my vision hazy but enough to make out the figure standing before me. A woman—her silhouette sharp and rigid—stood in front of me, her presence dripping with malice. She approached slowly, as if savoring every moment of my torment. Her cold smile cut through the gloom, and I recognized her immediately.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," she greeted, her voice a poisonous mix of sweetness and scorn. She bowed mockingly, eyes gleaming with amusement.

I squinted at her, my mind racing through the pain. I wasn’t going to show weakness. Not to her. "It seems your jealousy finally consumed you," I rasped, my voice barely above a whisper. I let out a mocking chuckle, locking eyes with her. "You couldn’t wait any longer, could you? Isn't that right, Consort Lilieth?" I emphasized her title, my lips curling into a smirk despite the agony coursing through me.

Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second, and I saw the anger flicker behind her cold eyes. She laughed—a hollow, bitter sound—as if amused by my audacity. "How amusing," she replied, though I could hear the tension lacing her voice. "Even in your suffering, you cling to that false bravado."

I stared back, unblinking. "Thank you for the compliment," I responded, my voice dripping with sarcasm, my smile taunting her further.

Her expression darkened, and in an instant, her hand flew across my face, the sharp crack of the slap reverberating through the room. The force of the blow made me bite my lip, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. But I didn’t flinch. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

"Not bad," I muttered, licking the blood from the corner of my mouth, taunting her still.

Her eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched tightly. I could see the restraint slipping away, the fury she tried so hard to control boiling just beneath the surface. She moved quickly, grabbing a wooden rod from a nearby table. My eyes darted to the other items laid out—daggers, ropes, and strange tools I couldn’t even name. They were meant for torture, no doubt.

My heartbeat quickened, but I kept my expression neutral. She wouldn’t break me. Not like this.

Without warning, she swung the rod with all her strength, hitting me squarely in the hip. The searing pain was instant, like fire spreading across my body. I let out a sharp cry, my body crumpling to the ground in agony. She laughed—a twisted, malicious sound that echoed through the cold, stone room. "You’ll die here, Celestia!" she shrieked, her laughter growing more manic.

"Fuck!" I cursed, gritting my teeth as another blow landed on my thigh, the pain so intense it left me numb. I squeezed my eyes shut, biting down on my lip until I tasted blood again, anything to keep from screaming out.

"Strip her!" Lilieth ordered, her voice sharp and commanding. Panic surged through me. I tried to struggle, but my limbs were weak, unresponsive. One of her lackeys came forward and violently ripped the fabric of my dress away from my back, exposing my skin to the cold air. They stepped back as quickly as they had come, leaving me vulnerable.

I twisted my neck to look at her, my breath coming in shallow gasps. She was holding a whip made from the tail of a stingray, its sharp barbs glistening in the dim light. I tensed, knowing what was coming but powerless to stop it.

The first lash hit my back, and I arched in agony, my scream echoing through the chamber. The pain was unbearable, like a thousand knives slicing through my flesh. The second blow came, and then a third, each one ripping at my skin, each one more brutal than the last. I couldn’t hold back my cries any longer. My body convulsed, and tears streamed down my face. My vision blurred as the world around me faded into darkness. I fought to stay conscious, but my body couldn’t take any more. The last thing I heard before everything went black was her laughter, ringing in my ears like a twisted lullaby.

NANG NAGISING AKO, the pain was still there, a dull, throbbing ache that permeated every inch of my body. I was lying on the floor, too weak to move. My limbs felt heavy, my muscles screaming in protest as I shifted slightly. The familiar cold of the stone floor beneath me sent a shiver through my body. Slowly, I lifted my head and blinked against the dim light. My surroundings were different. I was no longer in the torture chamber but in a small room.

Several figures stood around me, their faces cloaked in shadow. Among them, I recognized Baron Malir, Consort Lilieth, and Count Rodolfo. They were the traitors. So this was their doing. My heart sank as I realized the gravity of the situation. I was in the den of snakes, surrounded by enemies. But where was Anastasia? Was she just a puppet in their grand scheme?

The men surrounding me were old, but their eyes were filled with a kind of cold, calculating strength. Their postures were still firm, unyielding.

I looked down at myself, noticing that I was now wearing a simple white dress. My wrists were still bound to the chair, and every movement sent jolts of pain through my battered body.

"My dear, my Empress," a familiar voice interrupted my thoughts, and I turned to see him—the same vile old man from before. Fear gripped my chest, but I kept my face emotionless. I couldn’t afford to show him any weakness.

I struggled against my restraints, trying to free myself. I couldn’t stay here. I had to escape.

The old man moved closer, his steps slow and deliberate. "Do you know who I am?" he asked with a twisted grin, his breath foul as it hit my face. I said nothing, my eyes fixed on him in defiance.

He suddenly grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back painfully. I gasped, but refused to scream. "I am the Prime Minister—the one your arrogant husband discarded like trash," he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. He shoved my head forward, forcing me to look at the others in the room. "These are my comrades, and together, we will make your Emperor pay for what he’s done to us."

His voice was filled with hatred, each word laced with years of bitterness and resentment.

I couldn’t help but laugh, despite the pain it caused. "How pathetic," I rasped, my voice hoarse but defiant.

The Prime Minister’s face contorted in rage. He shoved me hard, knocking both me and the chair over. I hit the ground with a loud crash, the impact sending waves of pain through my already battered body.

But I laughed again, louder this time. "You fools think you can bring down the Emperor?" I mocked, my voice filled with disdain. "You don’t even know what you're up against."

Suddenly, a loud noise erupted from outside the room, ang mga na nandito sa loob ay kaagad naalarma. Their faces twisted in fair as they scrambled for answers.

"How did they find our territory?!" one of them shouted, turning to the Prime Minister, who looked just as alarmed.

Nagsimulang nagkagulo ang paligid, I smiled through the pain, relief washing over me. I knew it. You've come for me, Isaac.