That Prince Is A Girl: The Vicious King’s Slave Mate Novel

Chapter 69: "It's nothing. Do not worry about it."

But Aekeira refused to let it go. She untucked his shirt from his pants and raised it, her eyes scanning his body intently.

"It's not nothing," Emeriel insisted, gently pulling his shirt over his head.

Aekeira proceeded to remove his other two shirts until the chest-binds were exposed. She gasped, taking a step back, horror blanketing her eyes. "You were wh-whipped?"

"It was not too severe. Besides, it is already healing. Madam Livia said it will be completely gone by next week."

A tear escaped Aekeira's eyes. "You w-were whipped?"

Emeriel closed the distance between them, his arm enveloping Aekeira, speaking in a soothing tone. "Do not let it trouble you, Aekeira. You have endured far worse-"

"Yes, men have forced themselves upon me. Some I had to cooperate with willingly to avoid incurring King Orestus's wrath. Most times, they only take their pleasure without inflicting violent harm upon me. I am either in pain or numb to it. But none of them ever whipped me, Em."

"You downplay it for my sake, sister. I was there too, remember? I know what it feels like. I would not argue with you on it, but I only want you to be strong for me as well. Just as I have always been strong for you," he pleaded, fighting back his own tears. "Especially on a night like this when I'm finding it so hard to keep being strong, Keira."

"I am deeply sorry, Em. I am here for you," Aekeira's voice trembled as she began to outrightly weep, her arms holding Emeriel tenderly. "I never wanted this fate for you. Perhaps you are right. Maybe we should escape."

"Aekeira-"

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"We will never know until we try! I hate this! I hate that we have to go through all of this, and we are so helpless to stop it! I despise it!" Aekeira cried out with fervor, sorrowfully.

"I live in fear every day, uncertain when I will be sent to please the beast again. It has been weeks, so it will happen soon enough." Her tears soaked Emeriel's shoulder. "Moreover, the ceremony for the presentation of new slaves is imminent. We will be passed around to so many males that we will lose count of those who violate our bodies. They will strip you, and your secret will be revealed. What will happen then? What will they do to you? I live in fear every day, Em." Silent tears streamed down Emeriel's face.

"We have no one here, Em. We cannot rely on miracles. What awaits us? Will we live like this forever? It t-tears me apart to contemplate such a fate." Aekeira wept, sobs choking her throat. "This is all my fault. I should have never prayed to leave Navia. This is not what I meant when I said those prayers, Em. At least in Navia, you were safe. We did not have to live in fear of… everything. This is a fate worse than Navia."

In the embrace of the night's silence, they cried together. Aekeira's tears flowed unchecked, her face swollen and eyes red. She took hold of Emeriel's hands, her grip firm. "Let us escape. One day. Let us try."

EMERIEL

Emeriel was assigned the task of cleaning the floors of the annex.

It was a monotonous job, but he was grateful, nonetheless. It was far preferable to spending his time at the tavern.

After completing the first and second floors, Emeriel found himself on the third floor.

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