• Royal chains and cages •

| • 4 • The Meeting • |

Lahash's POV
•

I sent Nicklas to the dungeon this morning, to take the woman that is now a property in training, and prepare her to visit my chambers. Many women before her have been provided with this capture, these training methods - and none of them have passed.

I doubt strongly that it'll be any different this time. Gunther is yet to be found, and my anger rises anytime I think of how majorly he was mistaken. This is not a Princess. This is merely a woman. Barely any skin to her bone, barely any life in her eyes.

How could that failure think any different..? What was he doing?

Pacing around in my enlarged, luxurious bathroom, all these thoughts and more race actively through my head. I can find no answer. 

Why the hell can I not find an answer..? I should..-

My thoughts are abrubtly disturbed by a shy, simple knock to the strong wooden door that seperates the bathroom from the rest of my chambers. I lift my head with irritation.

'Come in.' I speak harshly, audibly disturbed by the knock, and I notice the hesitation that the person behind the door obviously now feels. It must be Elizabeth, then.

My guess is confirmed as the door now opens and reveals her big doe eyes looking up at me in ever so slight fear. Her expression shifts clearly however, when she picks up on the fact that I am covered with no more than a towel, loosely draped around my hips.

She takes a firm step back and raises her eyes to meet mine, refusing to comment on the matter. The situation causes a sly smile to slide across my face. I wait for her to speak now, studying her mixed feelings with amusement. She begins with a slight stutter.

"M-my Lord, I-" Elizabeth takes a deep breath. "Nicklas has given me notice of the Lady's current state. Do you wish to be informed?" I silently applaud her ability to get herself together.

Then I take in her message, and let go of a deep sigh that I've held since the meeting of yesterday. 'Well, surely, Elizabeth. Is she ready yet?'

She nods carefully. "I believe so, Lord. Nicklas has told me, however, that she hasn't stopped crying ever since she was given the ability to wash herself and drink-"

I scoff and raise my hand immediately to stop her from speaking any further. 'As expected. Make sure she is prepared for her dinner with me, then take her to my main chambers. I wish to see her here in half an hour.'

Elizabeth dips her head in obedience and offers me a slight bow, before she turns on her heels and leaves my bathroom, closing the wooden door behind her. Left to my thoughts once again, I pluck the towel off my hips and begin to dry myself off.

There is no such thing as a future for this fragile found creature. Especially not here.

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Prepared and clothed, I have taken my seat at the large table in the meeting room. The rectangle shaped wood is set for dinner between two people- one at each end. Food is being brought in by my servants while I study them, and allow myself to think.

Thinking is one of my favourite things to do. When I am left to my own thoughts, and especially during moments of true peace - there are so many things my mind can do, so many plans and conclusions my sharp brain will be able to pick up on. 

A constant puzzle that I like to pick apart and redo time after time, simply to confirm for myself that all pieces are where they must be and will remain. This puzzle, however, is slightly more complicated than the regular ones I am used to.

With a sigh, I lift the glass with red wine in front of me to my lips, and proceed to sip it twice. Then I meet the eyes of Ariathin, who has been stood by the door and waited patiently for my signal. I grant it to him now that the other servants have left the room.

He steps to the side and opens one of the big wooden doors. A slim, shaky figure is revealed in the door frame - faint traces of tears on her pale cheeks, her eyes spread wide open in her horrified state of mind, her arms wrapped tightly around herself - a merely fearful and untrained object in my eyes.

She is wearing the bloodred gown I'd laid out for her though. Good.

A push in her back causes her to squeal, and hastefully take two steps forward into the room. I watch her eyes dart back and forth from the interior to me. She is obviously both too stunned and too terrified to speak or take any further actions.

So I nod towards Ariathin. He grips her by the shoulders and pushes her forward with force, not allowing her to hesitate or slow down until she's reached the table, where I can see her clearer now and notice she is about to break down once more. 

How pathetic.

I gesture Ariathin to leave the room and he bows to me before doing so. And she's just stood there. She trembles all over her body now, refusing to look me in the eye- instead, her gaze is fixed on the table, her breaths short and unsteady.

'So.' I speak, and witness her flinch at the sound of my voice. 'Take a seat.'

Still not looking up from the plate on her side of the table, she does do as I say, in utter despair and helplessness of her situation. I see it on her face.

'Let me begin with a simple question. What is your name?'

Her fingertips reach for eachother as she clutches her own hands together. Apparently in a weak attempt to stop herself from shaking. But she fails. And nothing leaves her mouth but a sob that seems to come from her very soul, nestled deep within herself.

'Speak to me, woman. We are not sat here for you to ignore my orders.' I feel irritation rise to the surface level of my emotions, tapping my fingertips restlessly on the side of my leg.

But finally, she very carefully lifts her head an inch or so- gaze fixed upon what seems to be the collar of my shirt. With this motion she reveals to me her eyes.. Green, glancing in the light from her tears, deep red on the sides from all the crying she'd already done. It caused me to sigh.

Against all my expectations however, that is when she spoke up: "Madilyn.. My name- is Madilyn.." Her voice was soft and raspy from her emotions.

'Well, Madilyn..' I taste the sweet word on my tongue- her name sounds more like the Princess she is supposed to become than she will ever be. 'I hope you've been shown your place accordingly today, as I have instructed my servants. Although I am aware of the fact that you have yet to be informed of what awaits you from now on. That is why we are here now.'

I keep my eyes fixed on her face like a hawk, observing her every movement and the way she reacts to every word that leaves my mouth- noticing her obvious and understandable despair. 

Well. Let the fun begin.