"We're ready to leave, General."
The voice of Octavianus, one of the kingdom's soldiers, echoed from behind the door, causing General Daemond Sand to pause his activity.
The general regulated his heavy breathing and straightened his back. Sweat flowed from his shoulders down his muscular back. Scars adorned his body, like marks on the sand on a wet beach. Some of the scars looked fresh, some faded, but they all blended together into the contours of his masculine muscles.
Daemond grunted, "Just tell them to wait until dinner time, Octavianus. I'm still busy right now."
"Understood, General," Octavianus replied. "I will let the men know."
As Octavianus's footsteps faded away, Daemond returned his attention to the woman lying beneath him. He grabbed the woman's hips and gripped tightly before continuing. The rigid object slid in and out of the woman's slit and causing her to clenched the sheets with her fingers and whimpered.
"Ah... it hurts... Please, slow down, master."
The softness of the silk sheets and the comfortable bed supporting her body couldn't alleviate the pain of the General's thrusts, which felt like they were about to tear her in two.
"I-I'm so full, my lord. I feel like I'm going to die."
The scarred man chuckled softly.
"Oh... I'm sure you can handle more than this, Briana," he replied without ceasing his deep and rough rhythm. "As my favorite concubine, this isn't the first time you've pleasured me. Besides, didn't you offer yourself? Come on, now. Don't give up so easily."
"Y-yes, Master... Ah... of course... b-but...it still hurts... you are to rough," the woman whimpered softly.
But Daemond paid no heed. His mind wasn't even focused on the voluptuous body in front of him anymore. What occupied his thoughts was what lay ahead. His main purpose for visiting Savo.
It wasn't a secret that the King entrusted many things to him. Besides his strength in battle, he was also known for not hesitating to dirty his hands to achieve his goals.
That's what made Daemond Sand the King's favorite, surpassing even the King's own offspring, Prince Filip.
While slamming his body in to his mistress, King Gustav's order echoed in Daemond's ears.
"I want you to crush the rebellion at the northern border before their strength grows. I want you to pull out the weeds by the roots. Find out which local leaders support the rebellion and plan to defect, kill them all. Establish a base in Savo. There's a palace there that you can use as a headquarters. I don't care how you do it or how many you have to kill, you have my approval. Do this, and I will grant you immortality in my kingdom."
Daemond growled as he thrust his body forcefully.
Of course. As ussual. Another dirty job assigned to him.
Daemond pulled his shaft out almost to the tip before thrusting it back to its base.
Fine. It didn't matter. Dirty work was his expertise, anyway. Suitable for a demon bastard like him.
Daemond snorted and thrust harder.
The woman beneath him screamed louder.
He lowered his body to reach one of the mounds hanging beneath the woman's body and squeezed it with his broad palms.
Dealing with rebels would be more interesting than dying of boredom in the palace surrounded by bureaucracy and sycophants.
Right?
***
***
Ruth gazed at Annica's face from the dressing table mirror.
The young girl knelt on the floor with her head bowed.
Ruth felt anger and jealousy creeping into her heart every time she looked at Annica. Even in disarray and injured, the girl still looked attractive.
How was that possible?
It was disgusting.
It was embarrassing.
Even when Ruth knew she had the wealth and the highest social status in Savo, she still had to compete for her husband's attention. With the daughter of a traitor even more.
"What do you want now, stupid girl?" Ruth asked sharply, grabbing a comb from her vanity table.
"I have a request, Madam," Annica replied.
Ruth glanced at Annica through the mirror. The girl remained in her original position. Her long, curly hair fell over one side of her face. Sunlight streaming in from the window above her head made her blonde hair shimmer like moonlight.
Ugh. Absolutely infuriating. Ruth wanted to pull that hair until it fell off the girl's head and left er bald. Wouldn't that be interesting?
"What is it?" Ruth asked brusquely.
"Well, Madam. I am truly grateful for the kindness you and Sir Diggory have shown me all this time, but I also understand that my presence in this house causes strain in your marriage, Madam. Honestly, that's not what I want."
Ruth snorted at Annica's response.
"Don't act like you are so important, Annica. Your position in this house is nothing more than a bed slave. Do you think I would feel threatened by the presence of a whore like you?"
Annica lowered her head even further, shaking it. "Of course not, Madam. I would never dare to compare myself to you. It would be foolish of me to think of myself as important."
The words Annica uttered felt like ashes as they came out of her lips, but she restrained her desire to be angry. Annica was determined; she would do anything to achieve her goal, even lick the woman's boots to get her help.
"However," Annica continued. "I also hope you can be merciful to me. I truly want to shed this identity I have as the daughter of a traitor. I want to repay all the kindness your family has shown me. I heard there will be royal officials coming to Savo. Allow me to serve the royal officials, Madam. I promise to make your family's name proud."
Ruth furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... even though I am very comfortable being in this house, getting the chance to serve you and Sir Diggory, but I want to dedicate myself to the royal guests who will come. You know, the royal general."
Ruth's hand, which was combing her hair, stopped suddenly. Slowly, she turned her body and now fully faced Annica.
"You want to serve General Daemond Sand?"
"Yes, Madam," Annica replied without lifting her head. "I heard General Daemond requested for a woman to be prepared while he's here? Why don't you send me instead?"
"He has five concubines, all of whom I'm sure are the most beautiful women in the kingdom. What makes you think he would be pleased to accept a foolish slave like you? What makes you think that you are pretty enough to serve a General?"
"Of course not, Madam," Annica shook her head without lifting her head. "I do not think I am pretty, but I am clever enough to satisfy a man... If you don't believe me, you should ask Sir Diggory."
Ruth immediately slammed the comb in her hand and walked towards Annica. Before Annica could lift her head, Ruth's hand slapped her head and sending her sprawling to the side.
"You insolent wretch!" Ruth growled. "Accursed whore."
Ruth grabbed Annica's hair and jerked her head back up.
"How dare you speak to me like that? Do you want to receive my punishment again? Was the morning's beating not enough? Don't think I'm afraid of you!"
Annica shook her head, "N-no, Madam. Of course not. I-I am sorry. It wasn't my intention to make you mad. I just wanted to say that I will do my best if I was given the chance to entertain the General while he's here. That's all."
Ruth fell silent. Honestly, she had considered sending Annica away. But knowing her husband would surely be angry if she did that, Ruth changed her mind.
But now, the girl offered herself? What a coincidence!
"Do you realize that General Daemond is respected as much as the King himself?"
"I am aware, Madam."
"So if you misbehave and resist, do you know that no one will come to your aid? Even I could suffer consequences for preparing a foolish girl for a royal guest."
Annica nodded, "I understand, Madam. I promise not to tarnish your family's reputation."
Ruth pulled Annica's hair farther back. Those blue eyes stared back at her, full of tears but also full of defiance.
Ugh, such a shameless whore.
Ruth wasn't sure if her husband would willingly let go of Annica. But knowing if she did nothing, if she let Annica stay in the house any longer, it wouldn't be long before her husband fell completely into Annica's grasp and she'd be doomed.
Besides, wasn't the general ordered her to prepare the best and most beautiful woman from the Savo region to serve? Ruth must admit, even though she hated Annica with all her gut, Annica was the right woman. She was the most beautiful woman in this region.
"Very well," Ruth finally replied after carefully considering her decision. "I will grant your wish. Keep this a secret from my husband and let me handle everything."
***
***