Chapter Seven – The Ultimate Punishment
As I stood in line waiting to see the physician, I felt a wave of anxiousness wash over me. I knew I had never been touched by a man, but what I did not know is how anyone could tell. What were the signs? How would they know? would they ask questions? or would they do some sort of examination?
Nobody had seen my nakedness other than Arya as she washed me yesterday, would this affect my results. A thousand questions kept running through my mind, making it so I was unable to find peace within myself. The longer I waited the worse it became, and fear started to grip the very heart of me.
Finally, It was my turn to enter, a maid ushered me in.
“Lady Esperanza you will enter the room then lay upon the bed, placing your feet and legs upon the stirrups on each side, then lift up your gown so that your bottom half is completely uncovered. The physician will ask you questions, and his lady assistant will look at your private area to confirm your answers” the Maid said, and I nodded my understanding.
I began to shake slightly, not relishing becoming so exposed.
“When you are finished you will leave via one of two doors, the physician will tell you which one, make sure you do exactly as they tell you and all will be well” she continued then opened the door.
The room was sparse, a small hard bed in the centre, with two stirrups either side, I climbed onto the bed as instructed, moving my robe up around my waist, then placed my legs up onto the stirrups. I felt bare, naked, and ashamed as I lay in such a compromising position, embarrassment and humiliation of this act caused a lone tear to escape my eye and wet my cheek.
A door behind me creaked open, and an old lady of around 60 years sat in a chair at the foot of the bed, facing my naked private area. A man came and positioned himself behind a thick drape, which shielded his view of me and I him, then began to ask questions.
“Have your lips met with any man?” he asked
“No, My lord” I answered honestly
“Has a man touched your breasts?”
“No, My Lord”
“Has a man ever seen your nakedness?”
“No, My Lord”
“Has a man entered a finger into your private area” I shuddered at the thought
“No! My Lord”
“Has a man placed his manhood in your mouth?”
A small gag erupted from me as I thought of such a vile act.
“No! My Lord”
“Has a man placed his manhood inside your private area?”
“No! My Lord” again I shuddered at the thought.
“Proceed” he then said, and the old lady gently touched my lady parts, looking inside and opening my lower folds.
“Intact” she said then removed herself quickly
“You may leave by the left door” the Physician informed me.
Once I was alone again, I wiped away another small tear, that had escaped onto my cheek, because of the humiliation of the examination. I took my legs out of the stirrups and placed my feet onto the floor, bringing the robe down to cover myself again, then proceeded to leave through the left door.
Waiting for me was Alya, she smiled brightly, as she led me to another room, which had many recliners with in it.
“Take some wine My Lady, and some fruit, whilst you wait” she instructed me.
I poured a glass of the red wine, and took some grapes, and sat upon one of the recliners, looking around the room, I noted there were around 15 less woman than had previously entered, and wondered where they may have gone.
Another six ladies arrived in the room, before the Lord Enoch appeared with the other beautifiers,
“Only 80 of you remain, you have proven yourselves to be pure, and will continue, the others have been convicted of attempting to cheat the crown and treason, and will be taken forth with to receive the ultimate punishment”
I gasped, knowing that this meant they would die, I quickly scanned the room, noticing that the Lady Cassandra was missing, along with some of the other wealthy females, and shuddered. For all I did not particularly like them, I was saddened to know that they would now face death and bring shame upon their family.
Suddenly I could hear screams and crying from another room, echoing along the corridors. Everyone fell silent, nobody dared to utter a word, all of us looked on in horror as the cries became more desperate.
“We will leave this place” The Lord Enoch announced, and each of the beautifiers gathered their remaining protégées and we filed out of the room back through the corridors and into the main beautifying area.
The Lord Enoch approached me falling in step beside me and gave me a reassuring smile.
“Lady Esperanza, do not distress yourself, those women had the chance to leave before they were found out, they thought they could trick us, but they could not. They were only interested in power and position, and knew the consequences should they get caught, now, remove your robe, and settle yourself in the large Milk bath, and give today no more of your thoughts, it is over.” He smiled kindly.
I nodded, and walked to the side of the pool, Alya, removed my robe, keeping it outstretched to give me privacy as I descended into the warm milk, and sat on one of the benches that resided underneath the liquid attached to the side of the pool. The thick white liquid reached to the bottom of my shoulders, completely covering my nakedness, and the warmth began to sooth my troubled mind.
“Bring the Lady Esperanza some fruit to eat as she bathes” Lord Enoch instructed, and Arya left returning minutes later with a plate consisting of a banana, apple, and some grapes, along with a glass of wine.
“Eat my lady” Alya encouraged, as she pealed the banana and handed it to me.
I had never tasted this fruit, and I must admit I enjoyed it the flavour bursting to life in my mouth. I wondered if the tooth brushing had helped with my taste buds, or if it was just because my lips had never experienced such delights, but I devoured the fruit quickly.
“Very Good Esperanza, now for the rest, I would like to eat the full plate if you can” Lord Enoch instructed.
I next bit on the apple, the crunch echoing around the large room, as the flesh entered my mouth, I let out a soft moan, enjoying the taste and feel of food in my mouth. Once I was finished, I took some of the grapes, but not long after my stomach began to cramp up again, so I left the remainder.
Noticing I had stopped eating Lord Enoch approached me,
“You have done well child, I understand you have had the stomach cramps off the food, this will continue I am afraid, until your body gets used to the good food. Keep on trying to eat a little more each sitting, so that your body can accommodate a normal healthy food intake and will reward you with womanly curves” he smiled.
“Thank you, my Lord,” I smiled back at him grateful for all of his advice and help.
King Xavier IV Point of view
I had received a report that another 17 in the beautifying process had been caught out as attempting to deceive the crown. The nonvirgins would pay the ultimate price for their betrayal. Normally I would not seek an audience to pass judgement, but today a fear had griped my heart, what if my little innocent girl who plagued my every thought was amongst them, and what would I do if she was? could I offer a kings pardon to one that showed remorse, it would be frowned upon, and against my better judgement, but to lose this girl would I feel hurt me in some deep foreign way.
I sat upon my throne, my crown upon my head as I commanded these women who sought to deceive me be brought into the grand hall.
They were lined up, in sack cloth, all had their hair loose hanging down their backs, each of them with red tear stained eyes. I took my time to look at each of them, and relief washed over me when I saw my preferred girl was not amongst them.
“You have tried to deceive me, you will all be taken hence forth from this place and hung by the neck until dead, dead, dead. Your bodies will be left outside the palace gates for your family to claim should they wish, or the vultures to descend”
My guards then pinned the cloth with TRAITOR written on in bold black lettering to each of the women, and they were removed from my sight, The grand hall filled with the echoes of crying, whimpering and screaming.
I sighed in relief, confused as to how I was feeling, I do not normally care about any other person than myself, people are possessions I never usually care for them, but this girl had awoken something inside me with just one small glimpse of her walking across my courtyard. The feeling was frustrating, yet exhilarating all at once, and I longed to gaze upon her beauty one more time.
Dog, ran into the hall, and curled beneath the throne, gnawing loudly upon a bone he had found.
“Come Dog” I ordered
And he dutifully obeyed, as I took hold of the Spector and walked out into the formal garden. I peeked over the box fences to the ladies of the hareem playing tennis and giggling with each other, these were not my new virgins, they had their own smaller secret garden, so that no man could look upon them. The ladies before me now where those that had met with my bedchamber. As I looked on, I wondered if taking some of them for my entertainment this evening would help chase the thoughts of the girl, I wish to gaze upon, who has taken residence in my head way from my mind, and I sent word for Enoch to attend me.
Enoch arrived soon after, and I took hold of the Spector and moved it forward indicating he had permission to approach me and converse.
Enoch bowed, and touched the tip before standing before me.
“Tell me Enoch, what is your report on my virgins?”
“Your Majesty, all that remain are doing well, they have begun the milk bathing, and after lunch will proceed to the waxing” Enoch bowed.
“Give me a report on each one individually” I continue, desperate for information of the one who has possessed my mind.
Enoch proceeds to give a full report on the characters of each one, and what the beautifiers had planned for them, then he gave the report I wanted to hear most of all.
“Your Majesty, my charge, the Lady Esperanza, has so far shown a character that is beyond reproach, she is truly innocent and pure, in mind body and soul. She has a beauty that shines from within, although has yet to develop the full womanly curves you desire. However, she has started with a feeding regime to combat her malnutrition, and although this is giving her much discomfort at present she does so without protest” Enoch smiled, he was obviously taken by the girl.
Esperanza, that was her name, and it was beautiful as is she.
“Is she eating the double portions?” I enquired, eager to have her develop, and become healthier.
“Sire, she is eating more than she has ever eaten in her life, but as yet can only manage a small portion each meal with snacks of fruit between” Enoch bowed.
Normally, this would enrage me, and I would care little of her discomfort, but I am not my normal self where she is concerned, and I care more that she is in discomfort than I do for forcing her to eat.
“Keep on top of her feeding, but do not cause her undue discomfort and report to me on her progress in two days” I command.
“As you wish, your majesty” Enoch bowed
“Make sure all the virgins are fully waxed, all area’s apart from the Lady Esperanza, if she is as pure of heart as you say this will make her uncomfortable, so wax only her legs, underarms, and leave her innocence covered for now, and give permission to her maids to allow the Lady to wash her own private area” I command, not wanting any other person to touch between her legs other than myself at the allotted time.
“As you command, your Majesty” Enoch agreed, bowing his head.
“Now, I have need of a distraction, send two ladies to perform in my bed chamber, now leave” I dismiss Enoch, before heading to my chamber to ready myself for a much required distraction.