He was a nobody. Although he was lucky enough to have gotten work inside the castle instead of having to work in the village or the fields, he did nothing of great notice. He did work where it was needed, whether it be in the kitchens or the stables or even hunting once in a while for the nobility’s food. But it wasn’t work that should have had anyone take notice of him, especially not her.

That wasn’t to say that he wasn’t good looking enough to catch a lady’s eye now and again. He was lean but muscular, the result of barely enough food and days of hard work. He had long brown hair, tied neatly back, and eyes that matched, with lightly tanned skin that came from the times he toiled in the castle gardens. Still, he only toppled with the maids and the serving wenches, never even dreaming about her because for her to want him would take a miracle, and so he never even thought on it.

The day she requested his audience was one that had him anxious over what he could have done wrong to be seen to personally by the princess. Surely he had done something not to her liking and now would be punished. He wracked his brain trying to think of any offenses he may have committed, but he had always been good in his work and polite to all those above his station.

He never expected the words that came out of her mouth that day. She had called him into her sitting room, where he had faced her with his eyes to the ground. As she sat on her plush couch, he stood before her and awaited her words.

“My father lets me have whatever I want,” she told him as she rose and began to circle around him, as though she was inspecting him. It was well known that her father indulged his daughter in any and all of her whims. “Now...now I find that I want you.”

Darius almost lifted his eyes in shock at her words. He couldn’t find his voice to ask for what she wanted him, even if she were to command him to speak.

“I am currently lacking a pleasure slave,” she said, directly to the point. Her very words sent shivers through his body.

“I have decided that you are what I am looking for, that is, if you want to give up your menial work. I should not have to ask, but I find that a willing slave is much more pleasant. If you resisted me, all my time and energy would go to breaking you, and that is not something I feel like doing. If you agree to this, you will obey me in every manner. If you find you cannot accept this, or cannot perform as I desire of you, I will grant you the ability to say so, and our arrangement shall be ended. But if you follow where I take you, I will take you to places of pleasure that you have never known. Look at me and give me your answer.”

Darius hesitantly raised his eyes to her. She was a vision of beauty and wickedness all at once. The princess had long black hair, straight down to her waist, with no adornment save for the crown that indicated her station. She was fair of skin and had rimmed her blue eyes with the blackest kohl. Her lips were painted a shade of dark red, one that matched the very gown she wore, save for the black corset that hugged her middle, bringing out the curves of her body.

As she continued to walk around him, Darius realized it was not just her physical attributes that made her stunning to look at; it was also the way she carried herself, her graceful movements, and a presence that spoke of power and majesty. All of this made him find her extremely appealing, despite the fact that he had no right to feel that way. The riding crop she held in her right hand only added to the picture.

As the princess suddenly locked eyes with Darius, he found he could not keep his eyes up. He dropped his gaze to the ground, and the princess actually grinned at him as she brought her riding crop up to touch his chin. A fine tremor ran through his body, but it was not entirely borne of fear. She studied him intently, taking several moments to note his features.

The princess kept up her appraisal of him. She used her riding crop to turn his face left then right before using it to poke and prod him in various parts of his body, even the most sensitive ones. Through all of it Darius stayed silent and as still as a statue. He kept his eyes trained on the floor and did not even utter a sound when the riding crop pushed between his legs. He knew she was awaiting his answer, but he found he couldn’t voice his desires, even though he had permission to do so.

As if she had heard his internal thoughts, the princess asked him again, “Would you like that, to be my pleasure slave? I am awaiting your answer.”

The very thought of being hers was exciting, and he wanted to pledge his loyalty and devotion to her, but in the end, all he said was, “As Your Highness wishes.”

The princess laughed genuinely, and it was not one of mockery but of delight.