The price of comfort

Chapter 13

Chapter 13: The Grounds and a Glimmer of Hope

The sun was high in the sky as Della ventured out of her apartment, deciding to explore more of the King's sprawling estate. She needed to clear her mind after the intense encounter with King Nikolai, and walking the grounds seemed like the best way to do it.

The gardens were as beautiful as ever, with vibrant flowers and meticulously trimmed hedges. But today, Della noticed something she hadn't seen before—prisoners working. They were tending to the gardens, cleaning pathways, and performing various other tasks under the watchful eyes of the guards.

Curious, Della approached a group of prisoners who were trimming hedges near a fountain. They looked up at her with weary eyes, their movements slow and deliberate.

"Hello," Della greeted them softly. "Can I ask you something?"

One of the prisoners, a young woman with dirt-streaked cheeks and tired eyes, nodded. "Sure."

"How did you get these jobs?" Della asked.

The woman sighed, setting down her shears. "The King puts us to work as a form of punishment. It's better than being locked in a cell, but it's still hard."

Another prisoner, a slender girl with sun-bleached hair, stepped forward. "I'm here because my father tried to emigrate out of the country. He's a wealthy businessman, and the King wanted to make an example of him. He doesn't want his people to leave, but he wants tourists to come and marvel at all he has done."

Della's heart ached for them. "I'm so sorry," she said softly.

The blonde girl gave a small, bitter smile. "Don't be. Just be careful. The King isn't as kind as he seems."

Della nodded, her mind racing with thoughts of escape and the harsh realities of the King's rule. She continued her walk, feeling the weight of her own situation and the suffering of those around her.

As she wandered further, she came across a section of the fence that surrounded the estate. It was heavily guarded in most areas, but here, there was an opening. The fence was bent and partially obscured by overgrown bushes. Della's heart leapt. Could this be her chance to escape?

She looked around, her heart pounding in her chest. There were no guards in sight. The opening was small but big enough for her to squeeze through. She took a few cautious steps toward it, her mind racing with the possibility of freedom.

But as she reached the opening, she paused. Thoughts of her friends flooded her mind. If she escaped, the King might take out his wrath on them. She couldn't bear the thought of them suffering because of her actions.

Della took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her decision. She knew she couldn't abandon her friends, not when they were counting on her. She had to find another way.

Reluctantly, she turned around and headed back towards the main part of the grounds. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—hope, fear, and determination. She had seen a possible way out, but she couldn't take it. Not yet.

As she walked back, she encountered more prisoners working. She spoke to a few of them, learning more about their stories and the King's cruelty. Each story fueled her resolve to find a way to bring about change, to end the suffering.

The sun was beginning to set as Della made her way back to her apartment. She had spent the day exploring the grounds, trying to clear her mind and gather her thoughts. The stories she had heard from the prisoners weighed heavily on her, and she knew she had to find a way to protect her friends and herself.

As she approached her apartment, she noticed something was off. The door was slightly ajar, and her heart skipped a beat. She pushed the door open cautiously and stepped inside, her eyes widening in shock.

King Nikolai was sitting on the edge of her bed, his expression dark and menacing. "Good evening, Della," he said, his voice cold.

Della's heart pounded in her chest. "Your Majesty," she stammered. "I... I was just exploring the grounds."

The King stood up, his eyes boring into hers. "Exploring, were you?" he said, his tone dripping with suspicion. "And did you find anything interesting?"

Della swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. "I spoke with some of the prisoners," she said carefully. "I wanted to learn more about them."

King Nikolai took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "Did you now? And did you happen to find a way out?"

Della's blood ran cold. He knew. Somehow, he knew about the opening in the fence. She felt a wave of panic but forced herself to remain calm. "No, Your Majesty," she said, her voice steady. "I did see an opening, but I didn’t go through it."

He studied her for a long moment, his eyes narrowing. "You could have escaped," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Why didn't you?"

Della took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "Because of my friends. If I had escaped, you might have taken your anger out on them. I couldn't risk their safety."

King Nikolai's expression softened slightly, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "You care about them that much?"

"Yes," Della replied firmly. "I couldn't leave them behind."

He seemed to consider this for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Very well. You made the right choice."

Della felt a small measure of relief, but she knew she wasn't out of danger yet. She had to be careful, to navigate this situation with utmost caution.

King Nikolai stepped closer, his hand reaching out to stroke her hair. "You are a very intriguing woman, Della," he said softly. "But remember, you are mine. You belong to me."

Della nodded, her heart still racing. "Yes, Your Majesty."

He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear. "And I will do whatever it takes to keep what is mine. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Della whispered, her voice barely audible.

He pulled back, his eyes searching hers. "Good. Now, come here."

Della hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. His touch was possessive, his grip firm. She felt trapped, but she knew she had to play along.

"You will not leave this apartment without my permission," King Nikolai said, his voice a command. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Della replied.

He kissed her, his lips demanding and insistent. She closed her eyes, trying to push down the fear and revulsion that bubbled up inside her. She had to stay strong, to survive this.

When he finally pulled away, he smiled down at her. "Good. Now, get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

Della nodded, her mind racing. "Yes, Your Majesty."

He left the apartment, the door closing with a soft click. Della sank onto the bed, her body shaking with relief and exhaustion. She had come so close to escaping, but she knew she had made the right choice. She couldn't risk her friends' safety.

As she lay there, her mind drifted back to the stories she had heard from the prisoners. She had to find a way to protect them, to bring about change. But for now, she had to survive. She had to be smart, to play the part the King demanded.

She would keep fighting, keep hoping. One day, she would find a way to bring down the King's cruel regime. But for now, she had to endure. She had to stay strong for her friends and for herself.

With a determined heart, Della closed her eyes and tried to sleep. The road ahead was long and treacherous, but she was ready to face it. She would not let the King break her spirit. She would fight for her freedom, no matter the cost.