Princess, It's Time for Torture
Inside the prison. Princess Sunho hung naked behind the iron bars, spitting blood with a hazy gaze. The taste of iron dragged her back to reality.
'I never imagined things would turn out like this.'
Her body was in poor shape, yet she recalled the day her father, Sunryung, had returned in that state. Covered in mud, he had bowed his head in haste and rambled about what happened at Shetka as though he had finally understood something. He had thought he received a secret letter from Sadat, only to realize he had been deceived. He had been scolded harshly by her and developed a fever, but upon reflection realized something was wrong. It took him a long time to admit the events at the eunuch's house, the youngest child's cries, and—though it pained him—that Sunho had ultimately been struck.
Thus the foolish emperor Sunryung formally bowed his head and said, "I am a worthless father. Please, save the youngest in my stead."
She had been startled by the sudden incident at dawn, but quickly regained composure. Nodding at the mention of "Sadat's doing," she accepted it without knowing why Sunho had helped.
──If only it had ended there.
The problem began afterward. Having secured his daughter's help, Sunryung moved far too quickly.
"The previous selection of an heir is hereby canceled. After all, the eldest daughter Sunho is the most fitting candidate for the next emperor. Does anyone object?"
"Nyo-ho?!"
"W-what is the meaning of this?!"
"Your Majesty! You previously stated that the youngest daughter, Princess Suncheong, would be more suitable as the next emperor~!!"
"Because no one surpasses Sunho in age, achievements, or knowledge of state affairs. The youngest daughter Suncheong is certainly adorable, but one cannot discuss governance while blinded by love. I have no intention of shaking the nation with my own folly."
"T-then what about the two who went to the Cornelius family—!!"
"—Silence! Those two left the Chang Kingdom long ago! My mind will not change! Be gone!"
"What is this…"
"Surely not…!"
Realizing the emperor had turned to Sunho's side, the eunuchs ground their teeth. They could have discussed it further, yet the very next morning Sunryung arbitrarily declared, "The previous selection of an heir is hereby canceled," and named the still-quiet Sunho as the next emperor—something that would surely provoke rebellion.
'So this is the result. Father was foolish to the very end. No… Even knowing Father's foolishness, I was foolish for not warning him that night. I am in no position to criticize others.'
At the time, she should have shouted to stop him even when he named her. She should have manipulated the eunuchs more thoroughly, left them as puppets, and cleaned up the messy interior before cutting them off… but the timing had been poor.
'My faction is away with the army for joint training. The reason the eunuchs did not hang me yet was because Father was on their side…'
In the midst of that, Sunryung had caused that mess, so it was only natural they would eliminate her by force. The eunuch faction could not stop the spreading rumors either, so they would have wanted to avoid this situation, yet they had been driven to it.
'Escaping with only Riu was impossible. Still, she managed to escape, so I will trust that she will bring help and wait.'
She spat. A half-broken tooth flew out with it. The monocle she always wore so elegantly was shattered, her teeth ragged. Her pinky finger was bent backward and broken, left bruised. Several long needles pierced her small breasts, and blood dripped like meat on a rotisserie. Her toenails had been pulled out. The sight alone brought both despair and sharp pain.
'This is the worst experience of my life…'
When she lowered her gaze further, the speculum inserted into her exposed sex showed her the reality. Though she had not been raped—being a princess—she could see blood dripping from between her legs, indirectly revealing she had endured something far worse. She felt like praising herself for not screaming like a child. Thanks to that, blood tears flowed from her broken monocle and tightly shut eye.
'……I want to recover my strength, but in this state it is impossible. Even staying still wears down my will. I hear spies from other countries endure far worse. Honestly, I am starting to respect them.'
Thanks to her bloodline, she had only been treated this badly. Imagining what actual spies must suffer made her laugh weakly despite her exhaustion.
'How long will it take Riu to bring someone… Is there even a country that will help… Well, even if things go well, the chance my life will remain is slim……'
Before sinking into negative thoughts, she forced her mind to work. Staying idle would only make her depressed, so she clung to hope and recalled Sadat's face.
'If there is hope, it is Shetka. Whatever they felt from my meaningless invitation, they are the ones who acted. Honestly, I did not expect them to take action, but since they gave Father a reason to move, they might save me.'
No matter how clever Princess Sunho was, she never imagined Roman had moved Sadat. There were no hints, no information, and the idea that Sadat had submitted to Roman's manhood was simply too far-fetched. Instead, she judged him this way:
'Cornelius… will not move. Once he received my younger sisters, the debt was repaid. He has honor, but not to the extent of Riu. I should simply express gratitude for accepting my sisters.'
The only one she could truly rely on was Shetka… It was a slightly off judgment, but for Sunho it was the best she could do.
Anyway, she had supporters, and Riu had escaped. Clinging to the thought that things would somehow work out, she bit her lip.
"K… ugh…"
Blood flowed past her broken teeth. The pain would not subside. She felt that screaming loudly and crying would bring relief, but her pride would not allow it.
……How many hours had she endured like that?
"Haa… hah… ugh…?"
While Sunho regulated her pain with shallow breaths, soldiers appeared before her. She tensed, thinking it was more torture, but this time one of the eunuchs stood openly among them.
"……You certainly have the nerve to show your face."
"Nyo-ho-ho-ho~! I am relieved to see Princess Sunho looking so healthy~?"
She wanted to retort that this was what he considered healthy, but her jaw hurt too much to speak.
"What brings you here? Coming all this way must mean you still have questions to ask."
"For someone in your position, you certainly talk a lot… Nyo-ho-ho! That must be proof you are cornered~?"
"—Get to the point."
"No need to get angry. I merely came to check on the princess's well-being~?"
"At this late hour?"
Sunho glared at him, calling it a vile hobby, but the eunuch only chuckled without flinching.
"Since you were once my princess, I came to show some consideration~? I thought I would share a few things with you~?"
"What is it."
"You probably noticed already, but the capital has already been secured~! His Majesty has also agreed to cooperate with us and make the youngest daughter emperor~! Oh-ho, you may rest assured… Even Her Majesty the Empress Xian will be with us for a while, so no harm will come to her from anyone~!!"
Nyo-ho-ho-ho~! Nyo-ho-ho-ho-ho~!! Every time he laughed unpleasantly, sweat sprayed around him.
"…You certainly talk a lot. Are you planning to use Mother as bait?"
"Well, bait or not… We were going to catch the escaped loach, but she was caught far too quickly~?"
With those words, the soldiers tossed something through the bars.
—A spear. A broken red spear.
'This is… Riu's……'
"That expression says 'surely not'~? Of course it is 'surely not'~? Nyo-ho-ho-ho-ho!!!"
"What did you do to Riu!!"
"Nothing much~? That girl has a reputation for being loyal, so we used Her Majesty the Empress to call her back~♪"
"Did you take Mother hostage?! And you call yourselves eunuchs!"
"Hostage sounds unpleasant. We were simply trimming her nails because they looked a bit long, so do not misunderstand~♪"
Nyo-ho-ho-ho~!!
Then he took out a single red eye from his robes and threw it onto the floor.
—There was no mistaking it. It was the eye of the woman who had always loyally protected her master.
Riu's eye was here.
"Riu, even you…"
Even Sunho could not keep a blank expression at this. She spat blood.
"Heh, becoming a shield for Her Majesty… Truly the model of a loyal dog~! She would have shone even brighter if she had joined our cause~! Yet because she served a foolish master, this is what became of her~! Nyeo-ho-ho!! Nyeo-ho-ho-ho-ho!!!"
She had believed in Riu. She had believed that loyal warrior would help her. She always had.
'And this is how it ends…!'
She felt her patience snap. Blood flowed endlessly from her already ground-down teeth. Seeing her like this, the eunuch laughed in satisfaction.
"Delightful! Refreshing! Exhilarating! Nyo-ho-ho-ho~!! There may be some unrest now, but if the princess behaves, that petty disturbance will settle quickly~! Once Princess Suncheong ascends and stability returns, we will release you then. Until that time, you will be learning 'how to be a good girl'~!"
"How dare you…! Do you think I will follow such orders…?!"
"Of course it is our decision~! Right now you bare your fangs, but we are professionals in this field~! It will not take long for you to become a fool who only thinks of flattering us after your fangs are pulled~!"
Nyo-ho-ho-ho~!!
After laughing vulgarly several times, he stepped back. A man with a cloth over his head walked in silently. The man, reeking of corpses, looked at Sunho and smirked.
'The man who carved into my body earlier…!'
Her body stiffened instinctively. Cold sweat poured down like rain. She wanted to scream and wail, but that was not permitted in her position.
"Then I shall take my leave. Enjoy your intimate time together until morning~!"
"How far are you permitting?"
"Turn her into an obedient doll that matches her appearance. Do not damage her virginity, as it would affect market value. Remember, what I want is a doll, not broken trash~!"
"…………"
He nodded. The torturer picked up his blades. Sunho's body trembled uncontrollably. The eunuch turned away with a satisfied expression.
"Princess. It is time for torture."
"Kuh… ugh…!"
She shouted and struggled, but the restraints did not loosen. The one who could help her was dead, and external aid might never come. The outstretched hand brought only fear and despair, not salvation.
"Then, if you will excuse me."
—Crack!!
『Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!』
"Nyo-ho-ho… What a sweet scream~♪"
Leaving behind the scream that did not sound like it could have come from her, the eunuch exited the prison. In this hellish pit, Sunho's last pillar of support had long since vanished.