Chapter 94 An Ordinary Day, Even in the Light Capital
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Misia’s voice carried a sharp edge as she demanded, “So? What’s the deal?”
”Hm?” Kanata turned to meet her gaze, his expression calm despite her irritation.
They were deep beneath Rubia Royal Palace, in a hidden chamber near the backyard—a secret extension of the Dungeon he’d painstakingly expanded. Connected covertly to an inn’s room, it was a setup that required utmost secrecy to avoid detection. The effort had paid off, though. This underground haven had shielded him through the torturous interrogations in the palace’s depths. A shiver ran through him at the thought of what might’ve happened if the expansion hadn’t been completed in time.
”How much of it was planned?” Misia pressed, her eyes narrowing.
”Yeah, come on,” Alusia chimed in, leaning forward with a teasing grin. “You probably devoured that princess already, didn’t you?”
Kanata sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “That’s a bit harsh. The princesses? I’ve only… dipped my toes in, so to speak.”
Misia scoffed. “Sure, but you’ve got them under your thumb, right? You’re not even trying to hide it. It’s painfully obvious.”
”Well, I only needed to keep things under wraps until today,” Kanata replied with a shrug. “Honestly, if push came to shove, I was ready to take both princesses as hostages and turn this place into a vassal state.”
Misia seemed convinced that everything—from start to finish—was part of some grand scheme Kanata had orchestrated. He wanted to shout that she was wrong, but he held his tongue. The truth was far messier.
Coming to Rubia had been a simple reconnaissance mission, nothing more. He’d had no intention of entangling himself with the royal family or their politics. But a whim, paired with a stroke of bad luck, had spiraled into accusations of kidnapping a duchess. If they’d let him go after the initial misunderstanding, he would’ve walked away without a second thought. But torture? Confinement? That changed things. Kanata wasn’t the type to let slights slide.
Through the Dungeon’s secret channels, he’d contacted Alusia and Leticia, urging them to head to Rubia. Leticia, predictably, had holed herself up as usual, but Alusia came through. Kanata had maneuvered to secure his position, ensuring his safety in that precarious moment.
Raina, the princess, accusing him publicly? That was part of the calculation—or at least, he’d left room for the possibility. Even if she’d stayed silent, he had enough leverage to corner the Grand Duke. Her outburst only made it easier, sealing her fate and leaving her no room to wriggle free.
Calling a foreign king a liar and slapping him across the face, without evidence? That alone was grounds for charges of insult and disrespect. At that moment, Raina’s fate was sealed—hostage at best, slave at worst. Kanata had her in his grasp, no matter how the situation unfolded.
Then came the torturous interrogations. Ignorance was no excuse; treating a foreign king so poorly could be seen as an act of war. Even if handled diplomatically, Kaz—the man at the heart of it—and his House of Desk would face punishment. The woman with the longsword who’d been there? She’d be implicated too. If Rubia didn’t hold them accountable, the entire nation would bear the consequences.
Kanata was clear: none of this was premeditated. If he’d planned it, he would’ve done it with more finesse, he thought wryly. Rubia’s biggest mistake came after the interrogations, when they decided to confine him. Had they apologized, thanked him for “rescuing” Raina, and let him go, he might’ve left quietly, his identity undisclosed. But confinement gave him time—too much time.
Bored and slighted, Kanata began plotting his retaliation. What Misia called a “farce” was born then, carefully planned and executed. Rubia’s Dukedom might’ve suffered for it, but as far as Kanata was concerned, they’d brought it on themselves.
”Anyway,” he said, stretching his arms, “it’s about time, don’t you think?”
”Time for what?” Misia asked, tilting her head.
”We’ve got a guest coming. I need you and Alusia to run a little errand for me.”
Kanata gave them a task—nothing major, but it’d keep them busy until dinner. Once they were gone, he settled in to wait for his “guest.”
*
The guest arrived, her movements jittery, eyes darting nervously around the room.
”I’m Kanata,” he said, his tone cool but pointed. “Your master’s been… quite the host.”
That was enough. The woman understood immediately, dropping to her knees in a desperate bow, forehead nearly touching the floor. Two young girls beside her mimicked the gesture, their small forms trembling.
The “guest” was three girls: Kaz Desk’s wife and their daughters. By rights, Kaz’s crimes—disrespecting a foreign king—warranted stripping his noble title and public execution, with his entire family facing the same fate. But Kanata had chosen a different path, one that let him appear merciful. Instead of death, Kaz would be reduced to a heavy-labor slave—a lenient punishment, by some measures. His wife and daughters, however, Kanata claimed as slaves for himself. The rest of their kin? Stripped of nobility and enslaved, but spared execution. They should be grateful, he thought.
These slaves would be sent to his territories, worked to the bone. An unexpected boon, really—new hands to bolster his ranks.
But back to the girls before him. Kanata had summoned them for a “filming session.” Poor Kaz, slaving away in grueling labor, would need something to keep his spirits up. What better than images of his beloved wife and daughters? His wife, writhing in pleasure. His daughters, blossoming into “fine young women.” Kanata planned to send these recordings regularly, a twisted act of kindness.
”We’re filming now,” he announced, his voice cold and unyielding.
The woman’s face drained of color. “Please,” she begged, her voice breaking as she pressed her forehead to the ground. “I’ll do anything you ask. Anything. Just… spare my daughters.”
Her name was Mira, wasn’t it? Kanata grabbed her hair, forcing her to look up. “That depends on you. You know what to do, don’t you?”
”Yes,” she whispered, her hands trembling as she began to undress.
”Mom?” one of the girls stammered, her voice thick with confusion.
”Misha, Aisha,” Mira said, her tone firm despite the quiver in it. “Stay there and watch. Whatever happens to me, you stay quiet. Don’t fight back.”
She knelt before Kanata, her eyes pleading. “I’ll serve you with everything I have. I’ll obey every command. Just… don’t touch my daughters.”
To prove her sincerity, she exposed herself, baring her body without hesitation.
”That’s the spirit,” Kanata said, his voice low. “Show me your commitment.”
Mira nodded, her hands moving to his pants, pulling them down. She took him into her mouth, her tongue working carefully, almost reverently.
”Mmm… *slurp*…”
Her movements were stiff and hesitant, reflecting her distress. As she worked, her head moving rhythmically, she let out soft, strained sounds, her effort undeniable. Kanata watched, mildly impressed. *She’s trying hard.*
”Come closer,” he said, beckoning the girls. “Watch what your mother’s doing. Study it.”
The daughters shuffled forward, their faces flushed, eyes fixed on the floor.
”How does it feel,” Kanata asked, his voice sharp, “seeing your mother like this?”
The girls’ cheeks burned red, their gazes dropping further.
”Mom… why…” one whispered.
”Mama… I’m sorry…” the other choked out, her voice barely audible.
Mira’s cheeks burned with shame, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she knelt before Kanata. The weight of her daughters’ gazes—Misha and Aisha, trembling in the corner—pressed against her like a physical force. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to continue, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please… I’ll do whatever you ask. Just… leave them alone.”
Misha and Aisha clung to each other, their breaths quickening as they watched their mother’s humiliation. Confusion and fear twisted in their chests, their young minds struggling to process the changes unfolding within them—emotions they couldn’t name, stirred by the tense air in the dimly lit room.
Kanata’s lips curled into a cold smile. “That’s enough for now,” he said, his voice low and commanding. He gripped Mira’s chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You know what’s at stake, don’t you?”
Mira nodded, her throat tight. “Yes,” she whispered, her hands trembling as she clutched the hem of her dress.
”Good.” Kanata’s eyes flicked to the girls. “Come closer, both of you. Watch your mother. Learn from her.”
The sisters hesitated, their faces flushed with embarrassment. Misha, the elder at twelve, took a reluctant step forward, pulling Aisha along. Their eyes remained fixed on the floor, unable to meet Kanata’s piercing stare.
”How does it feel,” Kanata asked, his tone sharp, “seeing your mother like this?”
Misha’s voice cracked. “Mom… why…”
”Mama…” Aisha’s whisper was barely audible, choked with apology and fear.
Mira’s heart ached at their words, but she forced herself to remain steady. “Misha, Aisha,” she said, her voice firm despite the tremor beneath it. “Stay quiet. Don’t… don’t make this harder.”
Kanata leaned back, his presence dominating the room. “You’re here to prove your loyalty, Mira. For their sake. You understand what happens if you fail.”
Her breath hitched, and she nodded again, her hands clenching into fists. The threat hung heavy in the air, unspoken but clear. She would do anything to protect her daughters, even if it meant sacrificing her pride.
Kanata turned to the girls, his voice softening but laced with menace. “You’re part of this now. Your mother’s doing her best for you. Don’t disappoint her.”
Misha’s eyes widened, her small frame shaking. She wanted to scream, to run, but her mother’s pleading gaze rooted her in place. Aisha, younger and more fragile, pressed closer to her sister, her breath hitching in quiet sobs.
”Enough,” Kanata said abruptly, standing. “Mira, you’ve made your point. For now.” He gestured toward the door. “This is just the beginning. You’ll perform for me—prove your devotion. And you’ll do it in front of them, so they understand their place.”
Mira’s face paled, but she rose, her movements stiff with dread. “Please… not them. I’ll—”
”Quiet,” Kanata snapped, cutting her off. “You don’t get to negotiate. Not anymore.”
He turned to the girls, his voice cold. “You’ll learn soon enough what it means to serve. Your mother’s setting an example. Watch closely.”
Misha’s stomach churned, a mix of shame and fear flooding her senses. She knew something terrible was happening, though she couldn’t fully grasp it. Her hand instinctively reached for Aisha’s, squeezing tightly. The younger girl’s eyes were wide, her small body trembling as she whispered, “Mama…”
Kanata’s gaze lingered on them, calculating. “This is being recorded,” he said, nodding toward a glowing orb in the corner—a device that captured every moment, every word. “Your husband will see this, Mira. What do you want to say to him?”
Mira’s voice broke as she spoke, tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” Her words were a desperate plea, not just to her absent husband but to herself, to the life she’d lost.
Kanata’s smile widened, cruel and satisfied. “Good. Tell him who you serve now.”
Mira’s shoulders slumped, her voice barely audible. “You… I serve you.”
The admission hung in the air, heavy with defeat. Misha stared, horrified, as her mother’s strength crumbled. Something stirred within her—a confusing mix of anger and helplessness. Her hand twitched, instinctively moving to her side, as if seeking comfort she couldn’t find.
Kanata’s eyes caught the movement, and he laughed softly. “Already learning, are you?” He stepped closer to Misha, his presence overwhelming. “Don’t be shy. Your mother’s shown you how it’s done.”
Misha froze, her heart pounding. “No… please…” Her voice was small, barely a whisper.
”Enough for today,” Kanata said, stepping back with a dismissive wave. “Aisha’s too young… for now. But you, Misha, you’re old enough to understand. You’ll learn your place soon enough.”
Mira surged forward, placing herself between Kanata and her daughters. “Please,” she begged, her voice raw. “Not Aisha. Not either of them. I’ll do anything.”
Kanata regarded her coldly. “You’re mine now, all of you. Slaves don’t get to choose their fate. But I’m generous. I’ll give you time to prove your worth—before I tire of you.”
He turned away, his voice casual but laced with threat. “You know what happens to slaves who bore me. You’ve seen it before, haven’t you?”
Mira’s knees buckled, but she nodded, her face etched with despair. She knew the stories—slaves worked to death, discarded without mercy. She couldn’t let that happen to her daughters.
Kanata summoned Syl through the Dungeon’s communication network, instructing her to take charge of Mira and the girls. Without another word, he left for the inn on the surface, his steps light, as if nothing had happened.
He returned to the inn, where Misia and Alusia awaited him.
Later, over dinner, Misia and Alusia returned with their report. Kanata listened, his mind piecing together the information, confirming his suspicions. Everything was falling into place.
”Well,” he said, leaning back with a satisfied grin, “that’s for tomorrow. For now, you two handle the cleanup in Rubia.”
The night stretched on, filled with idle chatter and laughter, as if the day’s darkness had never happened. For Kanata, it was just another ordinary day in the Light Capital.
Notes:
• Misia – Leticia’s loyal maid, captured alongside Leticia and enduring torment to shield her mistress, later drawn into Kanata’s control as well. Reminder: the maid who suffered first to protect her princess.
• Alusia – Fallen princess of Mercuria, clings to royal pride while navigating slavery, seeking vengeance. Appears: In a cramped slave trader’s carriage, shackled and reflective. Reason: Captured after her kingdom’s fall, now a slave. Event: Transported by slave merchants, intercepted by Kanata, beginning her servitude.
• Leticia – Princess-regent of Florence, captured in failed bandit talks and collared into slavery, later bound to Kanata by contract that gave him her kingdom. Reminder: the princess who lost both crown and freedom to a collar.
• Mira – Appeared in the plague-stricken village where Alice healed the sick. Taken as payment to serve in the Dungeon, she has silver hair to her waist, a timid, whispery voice, and flusters easily—always more compliance than confidence.
• Syl – Alma’s elder sister whose proud defiance wavers only when forced to betray her role as “Onee-chan.” She appeared in the dungeon as a captured intruder, meeting Kanata only when El threatened Alma and forced her to speak her name.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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