The Sand Bride - Chapter 36
* * *
“So, you want me to spare this one too?”
The term this—not even a person, let alone a slave—made Esther stiffen for a moment before she bowed her head deeply, reminded of her place. But she couldn’t help stealing glances.
The king Bianca had spoken of was nothing like Esther had imagined.
Slouched on a low resting chair was a young woman who looked no older than Esther.
But her pitch-black hair, blue eyes, tanned skin, broad shoulders, and well-defined muscles were nothing like the delicate noblewomen of Esther’s homeland. Her large frame and sharp features even slightly resembled Karzhen’s—even her aura was similar.
Except the king before her, Greta, gazed down at Esther with indifference and mild disdain rather than lust. Then she snorted dismissively.
“Let’s hear why I should spare this before I even consider it.”
“Because I want her to live.”
Bianca answered bluntly and boldly—so much so that Esther looked at her in surprise. But Greta didn’t seem fazed.
“Why?”
“…….”
Bianca pressed her lips together at the question. Greta rose from her seat and slowly approached until she stood right in front of Esther. Before Esther could even clench her hands in her lap from tension, Greta suddenly grabbed her hair and yanked her up.
“Ah—!”
Esther let out a short cry as she was dragged awkwardly to her feet. Not stopping there, Greta drew a small knife from her waist and began slicing off the shoulders of Esther’s dress.
With each cut, the fabric fell open helplessly, fully exposing Esther’s chest.
Treated like livestock—no, like an object—Esther flushed with shame, but Greta showed no hesitation. She scanned the red and blue marks covering Esther’s chest and neck before curling her lips into a smirk.
“My king!”
“Shut it. I wasn’t mistaken. Look at this—clearly fresh from being rolled around with someone. Was it you? Is that why you’re begging for her life?”
When Bianca tried to protest, Greta scoffed. She opened her mouth to say more, but the sound of the door swinging open forced her to turn.
“Brother……?”
At Greta’s words, Esther flinched and looked toward the door as well. There stood Karzhen, glaring at the scene before him. Behind him, Aldana priests rushed in, seemingly worried about a potential clash between Karzhen and Greta. They tried to soothe and usher him away, but when he barked at them to leave, they had no choice but to retreat.
Karzhen strode inside with a terrifying expression. His eyes swept over the half-naked Esther, Greta standing before her, and Bianca frozen in place—then he let out a hollow laugh.
“Brother. What brings you here so suddenly?”
Greta asked, a mix of confusion and displeasure on her face. But Karzhen ignored her—he knew his sister had no reservations, whether the person before her was a man or a woman.
And Esther, nearly naked and held in Greta’s grip, looked like she was about to be thoroughly used.
As Karzhen marched forward, Greta sensed the subtle shift in his demeanor and roughly understood what he wanted. She gave Bianca a troubled look before stepping in front of her and declaring firmly:
“The woman behind me is off-limits.”
“Who said anything about taking her?”
Karzhen looked at Bianca and Greta as if they were ridiculous, then pointed at Esther.
“I came for this.”
“For this?”
“What, you got business with it, Greta?”
At Karzhen’s sharp tone, Greta’s expression turned incredulous. His tone and demeanor were like a man interrogating someone over his woman’s infidelity.
She snorted and released Esther’s hair. The moment she let go, Karzhen lunged forward and grabbed Esther’s arm. Dragged stumbling along, Esther let out a frightened whimper.
Her eyes darted around as if searching for help, but when she realized no one would come to her aid, resignation settled heavily over her.
Yet her body refused to move easily. When Esther didn’t walk fast enough and dragged her feet, Karzhen’s face twisted further in anger as he hauled her along. Esther staggered, but he paid no mind, yanking her toward the door with force.
Her face contorted in pain. Finally, Bianca couldn’t take it and tried to follow, but a hand stopped her.
“You shouldn’t go.”
“But……!”
“Even if you do.”
Greta, holding Bianca back, smiled coldly and stated the harsh truth.
“You won’t be able to do anything.”
You know that, don’t you? Muttering the last words, Greta waved her hand, ordering the priests to close the door. Bianca knew they would stop her if she tried to rush out. But she couldn’t bring herself to sit back down or unclench her fists.
It’ll be okay. It’ll be okay……. The same words she had once whispered to her mother as a child.
‘All of that was a lie.’
And this was the thought that always followed.
Bianca’s eyes twisted as if she might cry.
