Chapter 1

**11 years ago **

“Keanna!” she turned to see her father rushing towards her across the field.

“Father?” she questioned as he reached her, confused why he was running.

“Come with me now.” he said as he grabbed onto her arm and pulled her toward their tent. 

As they entered the tent, Keanna felt a tension like no other. There were men scattered around the tent and a man positioned in the middle. She saw her mother kneeling in front of this man, she grew even more confused. Who was he that her parents had to bow? 

“Is this her?” The man asked. 

“Yes, my King.” her father replied shakily. 

The King! The King was here in her father’s tent, why on earth would he be here? He got up and walked towards her, and Keanna immediately lowered her gaze.

“Mmm, I’ll accept her,” he turned his head towards his men and continued. “Throw her into the harem.” 

Keanna’s head whipped to the side in her father’s direction as she couldn’t believe what she heard. She expected her father to protest to this, but the words he spoke stung her heart.

“In order for your mother, brother, and I to live, you must sacrifice yourself. You want us to live, don’t you?” His voice was icy and firm. 

Keanna was in a state of shock, the men came and dragged her away. Tears fell from her eyes when she saw her mother look away from her, not even a word or trying to fight for her.

 **Present Day **

Just like that, Keanna’s miserable life in the harem began. From the moment she got there she laid low, only going places no one entered and coming out at late hours to eat when all the other women left. So much time had passed, she felt like she was losing her mind. She missed the days where she could run through the fields and watch the sunrise and set. A wave of sadness hit Keanna’s heart as she thought of this, she missed it all, especially her family. 

She let out a heavy sigh, she didn’t know how much longer she would last, her body had gotten thinner from lack of nutrition and her skin even paler. Even knowing this she hid further in the darkness, better to be like this than be noticed, she thought.

One night Keanna decided to have a bath. She stood alongside the wall of the bathhouse when a light came flashing into her eyes, she screamed from the sudden brightness and covered her eyes.

“Who are you? How dare you not bow in the presence of the King!” The guard yelled. 

Keanna became frightened and immediately dropped to her knees and lowered her head. The King?! Just my luck.

“Hmm, what are you doing out at this late hour?” he questioned. “You may rise.” 

With that order, Keanna lifted her head from the ground and looked at the King. She was completely frightened, as she had spent the last three years avoiding him, and here he was standing in front of her. 

“Oh my,” he started, his voice sounding a little amused. “I had no idea there was such a beautiful girl like you in the harem.” he observed her some more and turned to his advisor to ask who she was. 

Keanna could only wonder what would become of her as she knelt on the cold stone floor. Her eyes followed their every move, the King gave her one last look then left. She let out a breath of relief she had survived, well that’s what she thought, but four days passed and he called her to his bedroom.  

“Ahh, I remember you now, your father gave you up in place of your mother.”

He lifted her head with his wrinkled finger, he began caressing her pale cheeks, she flinched and eased back into pillows. Her startled gesture made him smile.

Keanna hadn’t realized her robe came undone as there were many eyes in the room. The guards and attendants accompanied the King wherever he went, even when he was with his concubines, to say she was uncomfortable was an understatement.

The room was completely dark save for the light given by the moon. Her black hair shone in the moonlight, looking like woven silk, her clear blue eyes peeked through her long lashes. He continued to stroke her cheek.

“You truly are beautiful. Why haven’t I seen you?”

She never caught his eye, she hid herself well, to make sure this never happened. But one can only hide for so long.

He grabbed her robe and took it off. He stared at her body licking his lips and inching closer towards her.

Keanna was pushed down on the bed with a move of his hand, she tried to get back up immediately but it was futile as he climbed on top of her.

"Is this your first time?"

"Your Majesty..." 

Before she could further continue, he kissed her hard. With his breath surging in, he pushed his tongue into Keanna's mouth. When she tried to push the King away, he stopped and slapped her, speaking coldly. 

"If you refuse me again, I'll cut off your hands." 

Keanna knew his words weren't empty threats. If she refused him, she'd die. Keanna's trembling hands fell to her sides, showing she'd refuse no more. 

She prayed that time would pass quickly so she could return to her dark corner and pretend everything was okay.  

The King bit the nape of Keanna's neck and started massaging her breasts as though he was pleased. With a firm grip on her chest, he grabbed and gathered them together, rubbing his face on them. His beard was rough as it grazed her skin leaving red marks.

He rubbed her breasts, forcibly putting them into his mouth and bit her erect nipple.

“Ahh!” she screamed. This was torture that spoke of death, she thought. She closed her eyes, hands gripping the sheets beneath her.

Keanna gasped as his finger began rubbing her clitoris. Instinctively she wiggled and the King who was trying to climb on top of her pinned down her body.

“It seems pleasure is unfamiliar to your body.” he said as his breath fanned her face.

She felt nothing but pain as her flesh kept being rubbed. He invaded without hesitation, a place where not even Keanna’s hand had touched.

“Uhh!” she cried out, closing her eyes tight.

His finger entered her forcibly as she wasn’t wet. He soon added two more fingers, she felt her inner walls being scrapped by his fingernails. Keanna closed her eyes tighter and clenched her teeth, trying with all her might to endure.

The King grabbed her hair, yanking her up.

“Open your eyes.” he demanded.

Maybe he’d release her if he found her reactions to be boring, she thought. Hope rose in her as she slowly opened her eyes as commanded, but it soon died when she came face to face with his groin.

“Put it in your mouth.” he said as he pried Keanna’s lips apart.

If she refused, she’d die. Immediately she understood, women who couldn’t satisfy the King in the bedroom died.

The King’s eyes beamed with desire as she pushed it into the gaps of her opened lips. A rancid smell pierced her nose and she could almost taste it.

She had no clue what to do with the thing that would touch the back of her throat. His manhood grazed her teeth, he immediately pulled it out of her mouth.

Smack

Keanna’s head spun, and it stunned her. The guards clutched their weapons tightly and the attendants lowered their heads.

Blood trickled down her lip and she was pushed back onto the bed. The King easily spread her legs, she just laid there and lowered her head.

He began positioned himself at her entrance, his pre-cum drenched her womanhood. She wanted to vomit from the horrid scent that reached her nose, but if that happened she’d be strung from the castle walls.

All Keanna wanted was to go outside, even f it’s once, to take in the fresh air.

The King’s manhood was leaning into her entrance about to enter and she couldn’t imagine the pain to come. She clenched her teeth in preparation for the pain.

“My King!” a servant came in screaming.

A guard moved and placed his sword to the servant’s throat. “You bastard, you dare come here. Do you wish to die?”

The servant was frightened beyond relief, but not by the sword to his neck. The guard moved to slit his throat, but the servant shouted.

“It’s a rebellion, Sire!”

The King bolted off Keanna and faced the servant.

“What are you saying? Who would dare start a rebellion?!”

The servant became frantic, “The 9th prince Neil did. Quickly Sire, you must escape, half of the palace has already died.”

The King dressed quickly and hurriedly escaped the room with his servants in tow. Only a naked Keanna remained.

Prince Neil, she knew him. She’d seen him from afar many times. During the night security in the harem was tight but in the day she could roam wherever she pleased, however limited.

The library is where she spent all her time, no one went there, not even the King. She’d read lots of books, mostly ones of adventure and the outside world. And in this place she saw the prince.

Clang! Clang!

She heard weapons clashing against one another. Keanna sprung to her feet and wrapped her robe around her, she ran off outside.

This was her last chance to live and step outside. For when a new king ascends the throne, the women of the previous King will either be released or killed. There was no guarantee she’d escape safely, however she still wanted to leave.

Her stomach turned at the smell of the palace. Screams echoed in the halls and she shivered. She came to a familiar place, there were women and servants grabbing jewelry. Keanna passed by them and made her way to the gardens.

There’s a service door where food was always carried in the back of the garden. Many times she thought of escaping through it but, it was heavily guarded. So she gave up on the idea.

Today might be different. She pushed the handle of the door with all her strength.

Creek.

Did the guards run away too? She took one step out the door, and it was easier than expected.

Slash!

Keanna felt something hot pour onto her face. Her eyes faced forward, there was something blocking her view, something big. It soon fell to the side then she realized it was a guard.

“You’re the King’s woman.”

Dozens of torches were lit and it was blinding, she couldn’t see the faces of those in front of her. The damn feeling she felt on her feet must’ve been blood. All the guards were dead.

If she took one more step, she’d be outside. She wanted to feel the dry land, not one soaked in someone’s blood. Keanna took a step forward, climbing over a corpse with a blank expression.

“Stop.”

A sharp blade was positioned at her throat.

Keanna smiled brightly at the man, the blade trembled slightly as she did that. She held the blade with both hands, it cut deeply into her palms, wrists bruised. Blood flowed to her elbows.

The robe fell off her body, her naked body was explicitly revealed underneath the bright torches. She’d stepped onto completely dry land.

“Finally, it’s all over.”

She told the man who had the blade to her throat with a satisfied smile.

A chilling voice came from behind the group with torches.

“What is over?”

Keanna looked up at the night sky, the last thing she’d ever see. The moon brightened up the world, if it weren’t for the torches she’d be able to see the stars. What a pity.

She was wrapped in something before she could take her eyes off the sky.

Huh?

A cape wrapped around her body and strong, firm arms lifted her. Keanna saw the wonder of those arms and inhaled a sharp breath.

“…Prince?”

Jet black hair that resembled the night sky, high-bridged nose and a sharp jawline. He had black eyes that were similar to his hair. The man towered over the other men and was probably taller than Keanna by two heads.

“You will remain in the harem as usual.”

The nausea that she’d been suppressing surged. She struggled in his arms to get away so she didn’t vomit on him, but he didn’t budge. She could no longer keep it in and threw upon his shoulder, she quivered when she realized.

“The person who didn’t fear death or a sword at her neck is trembling in fear from vomiting on me?”

Without even flinching at the vomit on his shoulder, the Prince entered the harem.

***Neil Pov***

He walked into the harem, it was his first time entering this place after he was born.

There were women trying to escape, searching for a way to live with the jewels they’d taken with them. Upon seeing the Prince and his men they screamed.

“So noisy!”

His men held their swords towards the women threatening them, and this time their cries spread. Neil didn’t like the noise that filled the harem, thoughts of ‘I will die helplessly.’

“Take all your things and leave. Those who are here when the sun comes up will be killed.”

The palace was now in his hands. His father had escaped secretly, being led away by his guards. His vassals had sworn loyalty to him, and wherever his father hid himself, Neil would surely find him.

From the start, he had only one purpose.

He cast his eyes on an unconscious Keanna.

“Call the physicians.”

“Yes, My King.” They responded and everyone in the room knelt before him.