The corridor stretched long and dim, lined with tall stone walls that echoed the faint shuffle of footsteps. A maid moved quietly along the hallway, her plain dress brushing against her ankles as she carried a folded bundle of linens in a basket.
The oil lamps fixed on the walls cast wavering shadows, and with each step, the polished floor caught a faint glimmer of her reflection.
Her eyes were fixed on the path ahead, the silence of the grand hallway broken only by the soft creak of the floor beneath her weight.
The maid trudged softly down the corridor, both hands gripping the handles of a wicker basket pressed against her hip. Inside, thick woolen blankets were stacked high, their heavy folds threatening to spill over with each careful step.
The basket strained her arms, and the weight slowed her pace, but she kept moving, her slippers slapping against the polished stone floor.
Shadows from the sconces stretched across the walls, sliding over her face as she passed. Though the task was ordinary, her steady focus made her seem almost swallowed by the stillness of the grand hallway.
The maid's arms ached from the weight of the basket as she finally reached the door at the end of the corridor. She adjusted her grip, preparing to push it open, when a sudden sound made her freeze.
Her breath caught in her throat. She tightened her hold on the basket, straining her ears.
The maid leaned forward cautiously, her heart drumming against her chest as she shifted the basket to one arm. With her free hand, she steadied herself against the cold stone wall.
The door before her was ajar, just a slim opening, enough for a strip of dim light to spill into the corridor.
She lowered her head and inched closer, tilting to peer through the narrow gap. Her breath fanned softly against the wood as she pressed her eye through the open space.
The chamber beyond was hazy in candlelight; shadows stretched long across the floor, moving as though something or someone stirred within. She held her breath, straining to catch sight of what made the noise.
Inside the chamber, entangled on the bed with William was a concubine, whose legs were spread wide open as William rammed her from behind.
The concubine was moaning in ecstasy; that was the sound Tamar heard when she got to the front of the door.
The maid wanted to turn and leave, but a magnetic force glued her eyes to the scene on the bed. She retracted her gaze and then looked around; no one was coming. It won't hurt to stay for a little while.
She fixed her gaze back on the scene transpiring on the bed. The concubine's moans were getting loud; her eyes were shut closed as she moved her body to the rhythm of William's thrust.
The maid felt her body quiver, she swallowed the saliva gathering in her mouth, and then clasped her legs together. Her thighs were already wet, and her nipples stood erect, vibrating with lust.
She held on to the basket with one hand. Using the other hand, she traced her fingers up her thighs; her breath became etched. Her hand landed on her wet spot, and she squeezed it.
A small moan escaped her lips as juice trickled out of her p*ssy. For a fleeting moment she redrew her gaze. She flashed her eyes sideways to see if anything was coming.
No one was coming.
She began to finger her core, increasing her pace with each stroke.
"Ohhh!
She moaned softly, her gaze fixed on the scene in front of her. William pulled out of the concubine; the maid gasped at his huge manhood.
"So huge."
She whimpered, her eyes glued to it.
She stroked her clitoris, massaging it, her breath unsteady. Suddenly a hand tapped on her shoulder.
The maid froze, her eyes widened.
Her hand immediately flew from under her dress. She slowly turned around only to meet the dark gaze of Selena.
"My lady… I"
The maid was trembling; she wanted to explain, but Selena raised her hand, signifying her to remain silent.
"Come with me."
Selena said, her gaze cold as ice.
The maid's face paled. She followed Selena from behind until they arrived at her chamber.
"Shut the door."
Selena's voice was calm, but the maid felt a sense of uneasiness.
The maid shut the door; she put the basket she had been holding in her hand aside and then fell to her knees, her forehead touching the floor.
"I beg of you, my lady, show me mercy."
The maid pleaded earnestly; Selena gazed upon her, watching with a predatory glare, then retracted her gaze.
"Rise."
Selena said, and then, using two fingers, she signaled the maid to come forward.
The maid rose to her feet; she walked up to where Selena was seated on an armchair beside the window in the chamber.
Selena rose to her feet, then turned around, facing the window.
"Untie the ropes of my dress."
She said, and the maid got to work. She untied the rope of Selena's dress, and it came sliding down. Only a thin, plain dress was covering Selena's body.
Selena walked up to a jar filled with wine; she filled up a silver cup with wine and then brought it to her lips.The maid could only watch in silence; she wanted to know what the queen mother was thinking, what her fate would be.
Selena's eyes remained glued to the maid; she ravished the maid with her eyes. Gulping down the last drop of wine in the cup, Selena placed it aside.
"You know..." she began after clearing her throat.
"When Harris died I was completely stripped and shattered." Her voice was shaking, her eyes slowly losing their spark. She blinked once, slowly, as if each motion weighed heavily, and when her gaze lifted again, it was void.
"Every day I wept, seeking vengeance. I cried myself to sleep, hoping that maybe…just maybe Harris will come back to me." She paused.
"But he didn't."
She added,
The warmth in her pupils receded like a tide, leaving behind a flat surface, calm but unsettling.
"I was miserable but still managed to mask my face with a smile. I picked up the pieces and moved on, because as the hand of authority, I couldn't let my enemies call me weak."
Selena steadily rose to her feet, crossing her hand elegantly, and walked up to the maid.
"It's quite devastating…" She began increasing the pace of her steps.
"Having to sleep alone, craving to be embraced, to feel like a woman who was once loved. Instead I have to hide under a mask and show a good example by leadership."
She was now standing in front of the maid, face-to-face.
The maid looked rather confused, but still she lowered her gaze, trembling under Selena's gaze.
Selena grabbed the maid's jaws with her hand, pulled her forward, then pressed a smacking kiss on her lips.
The maid's eyes widened as she struggled to contemplate what was happening. Tamar pulled away from the intensive kiss.
"My lady, this is inappropriate."
Tamar muttered breathlessly, and Selena scoffed.
"I have craved to be touched; fuck nobility."
Selena's voice trembled desperately. She was an aged woman, a woman in her late fifties. It was simply a taboo to hear such words sprouting from her lips.
She slowly slid her hand behind Tamar's neck and then pulled her closer.
"You will do as I say."
She muttered in Tamar's ears. She reached out for Tamar's left hand and then placed it on her chest, pressing her hand against her left breast.
"Help this desperate woman to regain her sanity." She said, taking Tamar's other hand, she placed it on her lower abdomen.
Tamar didn't know when tears stung her eyes. Why does Selena look so dangerous right now? It was as if something had been unleashed.
"Please…please, I beg you."
Tamar said in a whisper before shutting her eyes; the tears trickled down her cheeks before dropping on the floor.
All her pleas fell on deaf ears. Selena undressed completely. Tamar was slowly taken to bed and forced to make all of Selena's wild fantasies come true.
In all the years Selena made love to her husband, Harris Clegane, who was now dead, never has she felt such ecstasy.
Her moans echoed within the walls of her chamber as she twisted and curled on the bed.
By the time Tamar stepped out of the chamber, she was a shadow of her former self.
She felt utterly worthless, used by the queen dowager.
Selena, however, was beaming with a newfound satisfaction. She stepped out of her chamber lighthearted. Her face, which was always mundane and strict, was now cheerful.
Johanna crossed paths with Selena while walking towards the garden. She couldn't help but notice the spark on her face. She squinted her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things; Selena wasn't exercising her bossy attitude.
Her eyes trailed Selena's every move; even the way she walked was different. Johanna's creased her brows.
"What could have gone wrong?"