Chapter 40 The Princess Knight, Part 1
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In a room at Babellion Prison (Dite), Charles received news that this was the final stage of corrupting Lucia. He came to ‘Prison (Dite)’ with the excitement of going to see a new movie.
Since the day Alfred met with Lucia, Charles had heard that Lucia would be subjected to even stronger torture. She would have starved to the point of not dying, crawling on her face for meals like an animal, and excreting waste as it is. This was a form of torture to thoroughly trample on Lucia’s dignity and push her proud spirit to its limits.
In the midst of such circumstances, Charles received the news from Azuriela yesterday.
Charles arrived at ‘Prison (Dite)’ with a sense of excitement, only to be guided to a neat little room.
Perhaps it was a room specially made for Charles by Azuriela. In front of a chair that looked like it belonged to a nouveau riche, with bright red fabric and a golden frame, there was a huge screen that seemed out of place in the setting of a fighting arena.
And now, the scene in Lucia’s cell is being displayed as if watching a movie.
’…Elaine.’
The moment Lucia called out the name, silence enveloped the cell where the two were. What will Lucia say, consumed by regret for betraying her knight and arranging a meeting with her precious brother? Will it be an apology or an excuse?
’Are we… um… still friends?’
’Friends, huh?’
Elaine’s expression was so terrifying that it could have come out of a horror movie, and encountering her at midnight might have caused someone to lose their composure and wet themselves.
”Hahaha… I was wondering what she would say first… But friends, huh?”
Charles laughed at the unexpected words. Satsuki, his companion, remained silent, but Azuriela also laughed along.
’I willingly offered myself.’
’What… do you mean?’
’…You were indeed my friend, my sister, and my respected lord. That’s why I made a deal on the day I was captured. I offered myself in exchange for not laying a hand on Your Highness…’
The moment Lucia heard those words, her expression changed completely.
Was she mentally exhausted from the five days of torment, or was she staring into the void, not knowing if it was the floor or the air? Lucia’s eyes widened, and her already crazed expression seemed to go beyond blue or white, appearing green.
”Did she make such a deal with you?”
”Oh, did I? I can’t quite remember. Did I say something like that when she was r*ped?”
Charles asked Azuriela a question, and she tilted her head while placing her index finger on her chin. She doesn’t tell lies because it would lead to more problems later when the truth is revealed. Azuriela certainly said those words.
But based on Azuriela’s reaction, it was just a part of her verbal attack. “Do you know what will happen if you resist?” It’s a common threat to make someone obedient.
However, Elaine has no choice but to believe it. If she’s kidnapped and threatened with “I’ll kill you,” even if the kidnapping is for ransom and the kidnapper has no intention of actually killing the hostage, the person who was kidnapped will tremble in fear of death. It’s natural when someone has complete control over life and death.
’But Your Highness abandoned me.’
Yes, Lucia abandoned Elaine. Moreover, she did it in the worst way possible, prioritizing her own desire for a meeting with her brother instead of letting Elaine overcome the trial that was meant for her in the first place.
From Elaine’s perspective, it’s a story of playing with fire. Even though she has been enduring being r*ped by the prison guards as Lucia’s substitute, that hope she had, thinking she would finally be rewarded and saved, was extinguished by Lucia.
Considering that, Charles find those shitty words like “Are we still friends?” even more enjoyable. It’s so amusing that he can’t help but burst into laughter at it.
’That’s why I made the deal again. In exchange for giving up my humanity and pledging loyalty to Babellion, I want them to swear again not to lay a hand on Your Highness…’
But Elaine made another deal. In the midst of despair and hatred, being shown the sight of her forsaken lord reuniting with her beloved younger brother, Elaine still tried to save Lucia.
It’s the deep loyalty of a loyal knight, her final duty.
Elaine is much more noble and humane than Lucia.
Still, it is common sense to say so. Even if she is from a family of knights, it would be impossible for a mere noblewoman to go to the battlefield with her lord. The proof is that even though she was g*ng-r*ped by the Maleblanque for three days and three nights, she remained sane.
’I’m not human anymore. But I’m not a demon either… I’ve become something in between. Now, I can only live in this Babellion.’
Elaine pledged allegiance to Babellion. As proof of this, she gave up being human and became a half-demon.
’So, Your Highness, I have something to ask… No, there’s something I must tell you.’
At that moment, Lucia’s attitude completely changed.
’…Wait, Elaine.’
Her heart, which until now had been looking down on her from a height, came running down the stairs chasing after Elaine, who was about to leave her.
But it’s too late now. If she had started on the same footing and sincerely apologized from the beginning, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out like this. But Elaine has already abandoned Lucia.
’Lucia-dono… I, Elaine Crayscott, am here to end our servant-master oath. Thank you for everything you’ve done.’
With those words, Lucia descended to the ground, just like Elaine.
’Wait, wait!’
As the knight’s armor, known as the Princess Knight, crumbled and made a loud crashing sound like breaking limestone, Lucia called out Elaine’s name without hesitation.
’Stop, I was wrong…don’t go, Elaine. You’re my precious and only friend…’
Shaking the chains, calling out the name until her throat felt like it would tear, Lucia clung to Elaine’s back. But Elaine, who had completed her final duty, had no lingering attachment or emotions towards Lucia.
’I’m sorry.’
And the armor called the Princess Knight crumbled to pieces. What remained after the armor disappeared without a trace was the fragile and delicate heart of a girl named Lucia.
’Thank you for everything until now, Your Highness.’
She no longer had the armor that held back her emotions. Lucia cried, shedding large tears and screaming──
Everything was over.
”How was it, Saint-sama?”
With Lucia’s endless wailing as the background music, Charles proudly raised his head.
”I was actually thinking of using her younger brother as well, but I think if I pushed her further, she would break. That was a slight miscalculation on my part.”
Azuriela glanced at the screen where Lucia was, with a slight frown on her forehead.
”I was thinking the same thing.”
If Lucia’s mental state were to be compared to something, it would be a stack of building blocks. It resembled a shape that was inverted, like the hollows called desks, tunnels, and houses. The two pillars supporting the blocks on the ceiling were Alfred and Elaine.
Now, that single pillar was knocked down like a game of “Daruma Otoshi,” and the illusion of the princess knight Lucia standing on the ceiling is about to collapse with one leg wobbling.
Lucia relied on Alfred and Elaine more than Charles and Azuriela had imagined. If they were to take Alfred away now, Lucia wouldn’t just feel sad or hopeless, she would become completely broken.
It’s not just a matter of taking off the armor of the princess knight and turning her into a meek little girl. Lucia’s mind would shatter and she wouldn’t be able to come back.
”Um, Saint-sama, what kind of dish would you like?”
It wouldn’t be bad to just go ahead and r*pe her. While licking that expression of utter despair, torment and torment her. Or perhaps, deliberately enter that gaping hole with sweet words and gentle intercourse to brainwash her.
”Azuriela, what would you do in this situation?”
”Well, if it were me, I’d probably just make her all high on aphrodisiacs and have my way with her… Even the toughest warriors who can endure any pain can easily surrender when their butts are penetrated. If pushing doesn’t work, you know what they say, you gotta make yourself irresistible.”
Azuriela looked at Satsuki with a meaningful gaze. And in a literal demon-like expression, Satsuki glared back and deliberately shrugged her shoulders.
”Anyway… I think Princess-chan is the same. Not just getting g*ngbang*d, but getting high on aphrodisiacs and getting blown away by pleasure. If we can tear apart the thick armor of the princess knight with the fear of being tormented by men and the mind-blowing pleasure, we’ll have ourselves a pleasure-crazed s*x sl*ve before she breaks.”
Once again, Azuriela looked at Satsuki, causing Satsuki’s hair to stand on end in anger, but Charles deliberately ignored it and continued speaking.
”However, it would be uninteresting to simply succumb to pleasure after coming this far. It would have been better to do so from the beginning… Although in that case, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the expressions of despair and humiliation up until now.”
Lucia’s mind may have a breaking point that is different from what one would imagine, it might collapse in a twisted way. In that case, it would be destroyed before it falls.
”At the very least, I want to avoid destroying her. So, show her the light and keep her mind connected.”
It’s not interesting to embrace a woman whose mind has collapsed and whose head has gone crazy, and he doesn’t want to embrace such a woman. It’s only enjoyable when there is some kind of reaction, whether it’s being thrown into pleasure, expressing love, crying and screaming in resistance, or being showered with abusive words.
”Does ‘the light’ mean the emperor is coming?”
”Yes, that’s right. It doesn’t mean I want her to return to the past. Just enough so that she doesn’t become a disabled person──”
If Lucia can see even a glimpse of hope, she will cling to it like a thread hanging in hell. Especially considering that there is still a pillar named Alfred in her heart. Charles intended to express that she should somehow protect that pillar and not destroy it.
However, Charles was abruptly interrupted by a sudden words.
’I won’t forgive you.’
The background music of wailing had disappeared without notice.
’I won’t forgive you, I won’t forgive you, I won’t forgive youuuuu!’
On the other side of the screen, Lucia, who was supposed to be crying and screaming, was now shouting with anger.
”Huh?”
Lucia’s angry shouts slapped Azuriela’s stunned cheek as she stared at the screen.
’You’re watching, prison guards!! Azurielaaaaaa!!’
It was a direct accusation.
’I… Lucia Ravendora Harenamerehta will never yield to you!! Because of forcing an unwilling choice upon Elaine, I will absolutely not forgive youuuuu!’
Charles chuckled at Lucia’s scream.
Unwilling choice or whatever, it was her own action to force such a choice. But for Lucia, it didn’t matter if it made sense. It didn’t matter if she forgot about the reality she didn’t want to see.
Lucia did it to protect herself. When she felt like she was going to break without Elaine, she built a new pillar of emotions like anger and hatred to support herself.
’Come out. I’d rather be killed than submit to you!’
So, Lucia’s courage surpassed Azuriela’s skills.
”She’s an interesting woman. I’m even more intrigued now.”
Charles chuckled with an evil smile.
But Azuriela couldn’t laugh. If the dish she served to a hungry customer turned out to be not just undercooked but rotten, and that customer happened to be Charles, her feelings wouldn’t be calm.
”I-I’m sorry for inviting you with such confidence… I’ll take care of her myself next time.”
Azuriela apologized, not her usual carefree self, but pale-faced and bowing down while Charles reassured her with a casual “It’s okay.”
”You did well. It was a good preparation.”
No matter how covered in shame or trembling with humiliation or crying in despair, the spirit that never gives in is truly amazing. In addition, the dignified beauty shown in the arena. With everything kept perfectly intact, Charles wanted to break her with her own hands. It would be a waste to easily destroy it.
Charles looked at the screen with a genuinely pleased smirk and said,
”She is such a good female. It would be a waste to just devour what is on the plate. I will cook it myself.”
At first, he had planned to eat what was on the plate, but in that moment, Charles’ mind completely changed.
For him, it is only through cooking with his own hands that the ingredients have value. It is not about enjoying what has fallen or appreciating the act of making it fall, but rather finding pleasure in causing it to fall with his own hands.
Of course, everything that has happened up until now has not been in vain. Everything given so far has been just a taste. Enduring unbearable humiliation, enduring the pain of hunger, even losing a knight by her side. But even so, she didn’t fall, her spirit didn’t break. That’s the best spice, a woman who can endure so much… That’s what makes it even more delicious.
Even if Charles forces a woman without any emotional attachment, it’s just having s*x with a reluctant woman. It might taste good, but it’s a simple dish. However, the more spice there is, the more he can understand the reasons and value behind her rebellious attitude and tears of frustration, and the more the deliciousness doubles.
Once again, Lucia was left with only Alfred, and for Alfred, he was the only one left. It was important for them to feel this way in their environment.
That’s why Alfred’s presence in Lucia has become even stronger, and it will continue to grow stronger.
”I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but recently, a messenger finally arrived from the imperial capital. The emperor is coming to Babellion.”
”I hope nothing goes wrong.”
”That would be something, huh?”
Charles crossed his legs and started putting his cooking plans into words in his mind.
”Right now, she’s just a prisoner, but I plan to offer her as a hostage to the emperor during the meeting.”
It’s not just a hostage in the sense of being a prisoner, but a formal hostage who would have their wife and children live in the lord’s castle.
Lucia still think there’s hope right now. That’s why she can endure. But what would happen if she found out that there’s no way back to her country?
When she was abandoned by her country and left behind in Babellion with the Crown Prince, she wondered what choices she would make to protect him and how far she would go for him. How much could she sacrifice while still maintaining her strength?
Charles even thought about showing the Crown Prince, who had been turned into a toy by Azuriela, what he had become. However, it wasn’t Charles’ order that the Crown Prince had become a butter dog, but if it could be useful, he would consider using him to his advantage.
But looking at the whole situation and considering Azuriela’s judgment, the problem was that the Crown Prince held a higher place in Lucia’s heart than he had imagined. If he were to take him away from there, she would lose herself and either collapse mentally and become a vegetable, or regress to a childlike state, losing her identity as a strong and noble princess knight, which was the most important and enjoyable part of her.
This isn’t fun.
Being a hostage doesn’t mean being a servant forever. It’s also about working in Babellion, being educated as a servant, and eventually supporting the next emperor of Babellion.
At that time, Lucia couldn’t go back to her country, her friends turned away from her, and only Alfred was left. So, Lucia’s mind would lean even more towards needing to protect Alfred. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to keep herself together, even before worrying about Alfred.
It’s a kind of escaping, but honestly, Lucia doesn’t really have a way to protect Alfred. It’s been like that since she was captured by Babellion, but Lucia herself is trying not to realize it. But once she realizes it, it could also be a way out, but on the other hand, it could also be used against her.
So, he want to whisper there.
If you want to protect Alfred…
Then you have to do exactly what Elaine did to protect Lucia. What you offer, of course, is your own body. Your position as a princess, your skill with a sword, and even the loyalty of your country are all meaningless and worthless as long as you remain trapped within Babellion. The only thing you have left is your own body.
It’s not a lie when it comes to Alfred. Unless she makes a promise to guarantee Alfred’s life, But Babellion is in charge of giving or dying. Even if he kills him, she has no right to complain to the empire. It’s unfair, but it’s the privilege of the absolute strong.
And Lucia will probably accept it. It’s the only way to protect her beloved Alfred with her own hands. And especially after being confronted with the fact that Elaine, whom she abandoned, had been protecting her with her own body.
Maintaining the image of a princess knight, she sells herself to the root of all evil to protect her beloved younger brother. No matter how cornered she is, she never breaks and stubbornly refuses to allow killing. Reluctantly, she realizes that this is her only way out and opens herself up… Just imagining it makes Charles desires rise up──
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.