Wings of Ambition Shackled by Fate

Trigger Warning: Non-consensual interactions, mature content

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Valeria couldn't believe it. She was married. She wished desperately that this was all some terrible nightmare, that she'd wake up any second in her familiar room, her future still her own. But it wasn't a dream. The priest was gone, and now the guards were hauling her back to her bedroom. She focused on putting one foot in front of the other, trying not to break down. The king would hear of it if she did. Showing weakness now would only give him more power over her; she couldn't let him see how much this affected her.

When the guards threw her unceremoniously back into her room—her prison—she thought, finally, that she'd have a moment to fall apart in private. But she wasn't even granted that solace. The same two maids from before entered behind her. Only now did Valeria take a moment to really look at them. One was young, with wide brown eyes and a nervous expression. The other was older, slightly plump, with a motherly air and a look of pity in her eyes.

"We need to prepare you now, my lady," the older maid said softly.

"P-prepare me? For what?" Valeria asked, a tremor in her voice.

The older maid hesitated, glancing away. "For… your wedding night, my lady."

Valeria froze, the weight of those words pressing down on her chest. The king had hinted as much when he'd left her alone in the throne room. But now, hearing it spoken aloud, the reality of it crashed over her. She had no desire to be near him, to be touched by him. She had heard whispered stories from friends—stories of pain, humiliation, and fear. Her stomach twisted, panic rising.

"No…" The word escaped her lips, barely a whisper.

The maids exchanged a glance. The younger one shifted uncomfortably, clearly understanding the futility of resistance. "This is your duty, my lady. As the king's wife… please, let us do our duty and prepare you."

"What… what exactly happens during the wedding night?" Valeria's voice shook, dread filling her heart.

The younger maid looked uncertain, perhaps not fully understanding herself. But the older maid's eyes softened with sympathy as she responded gently, "There's no point explaining, my lady. It'll only make you more afraid. Just… close your eyes, relax, and don't fight back. It will make things easier, less painful. It… it might even be over quickly."

The maid's words were meant to comfort, but they only made Valeria's heart pound harder. Her hands trembled as she nodded, too afraid of bringing punishment upon the maids if she resisted. She sat still as they removed her heavy wedding gown, undoing her elaborate hairstyle and letting her hair fall loose. They led her to a bath, scrubbing her skin and applying scented oils to her body. She felt like she was being prepared for some ritual sacrifice.

Finally, they dressed her in a sheer, delicate nightgown and brushed her hair until it shimmered. Then, without another word, they left, leaving her alone in the darkened bedroom.

Valeria paced, her mind racing. Maybe the king would forget about her. Maybe he would spend the night with one of his other wives or concubines. The hours dragged on, her nerves fraying with each passing minute. When the clock struck midnight, a sliver of hope flickered within her. Perhaps he'd been called away; perhaps tonight, fate would show her a small mercy.

But just as she was beginning to relax, the door creaked open.

The king stepped inside, his movements deliberate, unhurried. He closed the door behind him, locking it with a decisive click. His eyes roamed over her, lingering on the thin fabric of her nightgown. Valeria felt exposed, vulnerable. She quickly grabbed a blanket, wrapping it around herself, but he only smirked.

"What brings you here?" she asked, her voice wavering.

"Oh, my beautiful wife. You know why I'm here." His voice was low and mocking. "I've come to claim what is mine. To complete our union."

He advanced on her, his presence filling the room. Fear prickled along her spine, and she instinctively backed away until she felt the cool solidity of the wall behind her.

"I… I don't want this," she whispered, her voice trembling.

A cruel smile twisted his lips. "Unfortunately for you, you have no choice."

Without further warning, he leaned in, his lips pressing roughly against hers, one hand tangling in her hair while the other held her hip in a vise-like grip. Valeria's body went rigid, her instincts screaming at her to fight, to push him away. She had trained to defend herself, to be strong, but the fear locked her limbs in place, her thoughts scattered and chaotic.

"Don't fight," he whispered with a smirk. "It will only make things harder."

The king grabbed her by the waist and threw her onto the bed, climbing on top of her. He started kissing her neck, his hands roaming over her body.

She was still struggling to find her voice, to find some way to resist, when there was an insistent knock on the door. The king tried to ignore it, but the knocking continued, growing louder.

"Your Majesty! There's an urgent matter. You're needed immediately," called a voice from the other side.

The king's expression twisted in irritation, but he stepped back, eyes narrowing. He glanced down at her, his gaze cold and menacing.

"This isn't over," he said, a promise of what was to come. With that, he left, slamming the door behind him and locking her in.

As soon as he was gone, Valeria collapsed onto the bed, her body shaking. She drew her knees to her chest, burying her face as the tears came, quiet and uncontrollable. She stayed like that, curled up in the dark, trembling and crying until sleep finally claimed her.