Maidens

His Royal Highness of Indecency

*Warning! This could disturb some people! Contains explicit content*

Watching the world from a cage gives a whole new outlook on life. Well, I didn't see it from a cage, but a dungeon. The small, high window that let light into the dungeon also gave me a perfect view of the girls lining up outside, ready to be selected by the boys for house-wives. They would then spend three months getting to know each other, move in together for two years, and get married in another six months. How pathetic. I rolled my eyes, picked up a stone, and threw it out the window. Unfortunately for me, it hit one of the horses that a boy with golden curls was mounted on. I snickered maniacally and fell back on the floor. That is, until I realized who I hit: The oafish Prince of Corona, Gristo.

Instinctively, I shrunk back and hit the bars of my cage. When would the guards come in? When would I be dragged away. The prince, nobly brushed himself off, took the rock in his hand, and tried to discern where the projectile came from. Somehow, his eyes fell upon my small window, so he pointed in that direction to one of his guards. They promptly disappeared from the scene, increasing my nervousness. Had I taken my rebelliousness too far? Were the other girls right? Maybe it was easier to just go along with everything. Then, I remembered the way one of Linuel's men touched me before shoving me in. That was why I'd thrown the rock: my anger and resentment for being treated indecently. But still, would it be easier to just conform?

My thoughts were interrupted as the steady marching of a soldier ran across the stone cells. I instantly rose and hurried to the bars.

To my shock and dismay, the soldier had a whip in hand and---the prince was following him. The boy's glittering coal eyes looked at me like a new toy. How wonderful!

The guard unlocked the door and roughly pulled me out. He bestowed ten lashes against my hand and shoved me to the prince. I refused to talk, or even acknowledge him, only staring defiantly into his eyes. Gristo lifted my chin up and stared hungrily into my face.

"My, my, seems we have a beauty here! Why don't we see you in more detail. Tell me, why were you placed in this wretched place?" he whispered huskily into my ear, roughly seizing my arms and stroking my hip. My lips scrunched up in irritation and I could feel the disgust rise in my throat. When I refused to speak, Gristo squeezed my hip roughly.

"Answer me," he hissed.

Still, I refused. Then, he proceeded to touch my chest, very much like the soldier. Heat crept up my neck and cheeks.

"Don't touch me," I said through gritted teeth.

"Really?" he asked amusedly, starting to slip his hand into my shirt, "Why, I quite like this. If you want me to stop, simply answer me, or I will continue."

He grabbed my bare breast, and with that I had enough. I elbowed him harshly in the chest, and swiftly slapped his cheek. I, surprised by my own actions, delivered another blow to the boy's head and ran straight out the dungeon, up the stairs, and through the dull hallways. I quickly wiped the blood on my hand from knocking the prince (my knuckles and weak wrists weren't used to punching so hard). With an elegance befitting of any "true lady," I rushed back to the line of waiting girls. Linuel, noticing my addition to his line, raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. The boys, most handsome and rugged, some weak-chinned and thin, a few pudgy and boyish, all surveyed us eagerly. Their eyes reminded me of eagles stalking their prey, hungry to find the juiciest, most beautiful mouse. Why had I come back to this hell? Why hadn't I taken my chance and ran away?

To make matters worse, the thickset Gristo walked out of the building, lip bloody, cheeks bruised, and eyes swollen from the nasty black-eye I'd given him. He marched over to me, his gait still bold, and stared me in the eyes.