Side Story: The Queen's Life Sentence Dungeon
"Cut off that man's head."
"P-please! I beg you, Your Majesty! Spare my family at least...!"
"Guard. Get rid of that thing quickly. The pig's squealing is utterly grating on my ears."
At the queen's imperious command, the guard bowed his head deeply and dragged away the wailing minister.
Now, that minister—and his entire family, even his distant relatives—would all face punishment under the law of implicated conviction. Of course, the queen was merciful enough not to kill them simply for sharing blood. His wife and children deserved death, but she had no intention of extending that to far-flung kin. They would all be sold into slavery and sent to toil in the mines. Better than dying, wasn't it?
The queen sneered as she watched the minister being hauled away. Pathetic. So utterly pathetic. A pathetic face. A pathetic body. A pathetic voice. Hideous beyond comparison to her own youthful beauty.
The queen had despised such ugly humans since childhood.
That night, she hummed a tune to herself as she changed clothes. Normally, she'd have a maid do it, but this was a clandestine task. She couldn't risk some loose-lipped servant.
Her figure was exquisite once she shed her garments—massive breasts, a cinched waist, flared hips. But what truly set her apart was her hair and skin: lustrous red locks and flawless porcelain. They were her pride and joy.
So it was no wonder she was furious. No matter her status as queen, sharing a bed with a senile, sickly old king was infuriating.
"I wish you'd just drop dead already, you wretched geezer."
Even if the king died, she couldn't become queen outright. But she could install the still-unweaned prince as regent in his place. Then slowly mold him into her puppet.
But wishing wouldn't make him die.
With a heavy sigh, the queen donned a robe and slipped out of her chambers.
Click-clack. Click-clack.
There should have been guards patrolling at night, but she'd dismissed them—they got in her way. Specifically, they interfered with her nighttime activities.
The queen proceeded down the darkened corridor, trailed only by one of her faithfully brainwashed guards via magic. His face was hidden beneath a helmet.
Right now, satisfying her own lust was paramount.
She arrived at a small prison beneath the palace—her secret dungeon. It opened only to her ring and one other, buried deep underground where no one else knew of it. Vast as a grand cavern, it had cost a fortune and years to excavate, but it was complete. Even the builders were long dead, making it perfect for her private indulgences.
Inside, rooms branched off, each holding a different criminal. Over a hundred cells, one prisoner per room. Some stared with vacant eyes, others with seething hatred.
"Oh my♡"
These were all heinous traitors: serial killers, rapist-murderers, infamous bandits, drug makers, high-bounty fugitives. And ministers who'd caught her eye for the wrong reasons.
She never would have crossed paths with them otherwise. But now? She picked up various torture tools. Time to make them suffer—ripping nails, lashing whips, branding with red-hot irons.
"Ahahaha! Scream louder!"
The queen tormented one man. Once a commander who'd swung his sword and led troops, he'd dared offer her "advice." Now he writhed under her hands.
He shrieked endlessly. Torturing actual criminals was fun, but breaking these types was even better. She felt her pussy growing wet. Fingering herself, she sliced off his fingertips one by one. He struggled, but the restraints held firm.
"You, bring that over."
"......"
She pointed to a paralytic drug with mild aphrodisiac effects—an Eastern import called a syringe. A sharp needle into the bloodstream injected liquid that induced powerful paralysis and arousal. Even in agony, he'd get hard.
His face was decent enough, so she decided to indulge him personally.
"Consider it an honor. Ahahat!"
Afterward, she'd kill him—or spare him if she liked. Plenty of healing items to prolong the fun.
The guard approached slowly from behind with the item. Without turning, she extended her hand. Hurry up.
But he dawdled. Irritated, she whipped her head around to curse him out.
"What the hell are you—?"
Suddenly, he seized her throat and jabbed the syringe into her neck. Her eyes rolled back as drool spilled from her lips. Her head spun, limbs trembling uncontrollably.
"Wha... trai...tor?"
She'd perfectly brainwashed him. He should have been a soulless puppet.
In disbelief, she stared at him. Slowly, he removed his helmet. Not her subordinate. Not those empty eyes.
Switched out?
"............!"
Words wouldn't come. Heat surged through her body as her limbs went numb. Bladder control failed—hot liquid trickled between her thighs.
"Whoa. Disgusting."
Drooling, she face-planted onto the floor. Limp, she ended up in a cat-like presenting pose. Mortifying. She wanted to rage, but couldn't twitch a finger.
"I got a commission to take you out. Thought about poison at first, but this seems cleaner."
The man spoke in a flippant tone. An adventurer, no doubt—one who handled dirty jobs. Palace guards were elite, so maybe gold-rank?
Desperately, she calculated. Paralysis would wear off in thirty minutes. If he slipped up, or another guard found him...
"Anyway, never dreamed a place like this existed, Your Majesty. A secret underground prison opened only by your ring."
He patted her ass. If I get free, I'll have your limbs sawn off and feed you to the pigs. She ground her teeth.
"You left the prison management to your puppets during the day. Then at night, you come back with this guard to torture. Poor thing~."
Grinning, the adventurer continued.
"They're all insane to some degree. Still conscious, but brimming with hatred for you. Wonder what they'd do if released?"
Her heart sank like a stone. A lie, right?
"Tons of torture tools... healing potions... and whoa, stockpiled food for ages? Must've hauled it all at once—too much hassle otherwise. Perfect, huh?"
Perfect.
At those words, she thrashed to stand. No use.
He slipped the ring off her finger.
No! No! Don't! Please!
"Two rings total. The guard's and yours. Both mine now."
Smirking, he headed for the exit.
"In thirty minutes, all restraints unlock. I'll take the rings and leave. You'll rot here forever."
Thirty minutes—the exact moment her paralysis faded. But without the ring...
Desperately, she glared up at him.
"Locked in an inescapable prison with a hundred criminals who hate you. Food for a year, at least?"
A year? Despair crushed her at the number.
"If someone who loves you searches, maybe they'll find you in three months. Enjoy your time with the gentlemen."
"........................!!!!"
With that, he strolled out. The ring flashed; the massive door began grinding shut.
She strained to scream before it sealed. Riches! More than the client's pay! Don't leave me alone!
No voice emerged. The door slammed shut with a thud.
Unless he changed his mind, she was trapped.
Time passed. Ten minutes. Twenty.
She writhed toward the door. If she screamed loud enough, someone would come. Even in this deep, secret dungeon—builders dead, unknown to all—someone would find it.
"Quee...n..."
Thud. A man's hand clamped her head.
She tried to turn, but he yanked her hair, dragging her back.
"Kyaaak!! Kyaaaaaaa!!!"
Save me. Save me!
Her silken hair made an ominous snap. She was flung into the prison's center, trembling as she lifted her head.
"Ah......"
Dozens of men loomed over her, faces twisted in hatred and grudge.
One rasped in a hoarse voice, half-mad—he must've missed her talk with the adventurer.
"...How do we get out of this prison?"
As if she knew. No—they couldn't escape.
"Can't... get... out......"
Hatred blazing in his eyes, he approached slowly.
"Really! I swear! Let go! Let g—grk, ugh?!"
She struggled, but rough hands pinned her arms. A nail tore free with a crack.
"Aaaaaaaaaaah!!! Aaaah!!"
Pain beyond imagining. Tears streaming, she screamed.
Lifting her head to beg, she gasped in horror.
A serrated saw. Knives. Rope. Pliers for ripping. A glowing-hot iron. Chains for binding.
And a hundred men. Criminals. Murderers. Rapists. Vindictive ministers.
Now... it was just beginning.