Enslaved by a Royal Family

A group of soldiers belonging to a faction simply known as "The empire" came into my village one day and sacked and razed it to the ground. Most people were killed, my parent included, then I was hauled off by the soldiers into a small carriage in a small cramped cell that I could only sit in. As I slowly regained consciousness, my eyes fluttered open to the harsh glare of a dimly lit cell. The cold, hard floor felt unyielding beneath me, and I was immediately aware of the dull ache in my muscles from an unknown beating. Memories of the marketplace flooded back - the fear in the eyes of the other enslaved children as they were auctioned off, the cruel laughter of their new masters, and the final piercing scream that had echoed through the market square. I shivered, wrapping my thin arms around myself in a futile attempt to ward off the chill that seemed to permeate my very being. I sit up in the back the cold cell with my knees to my face, trying to collect my thoughts.

A loud clanging noise echoed down the hallway, signaling the arrival of another group of slaves. Panic rose in my throat as I heard the guards roughly herding them into the cells on either side of mine. I curled into a ball on the floor, trying desperately not to draw attention to myself. It was no use; soon enough, a guard roughly yanked me to my feet and shoved me in front of him.

I stumble to my feed and try and keep up pace with the guard pulling me forward "Stop resisting" The Guard commands as I'm pulled to the back door of the prison I wanted to tell him that I wasn't trying to resist, but so far every time I spoke to these people they would beat me until I went quiet. So I said nothing as he continued to pull me back stage. A man walked through the backstage door and smiled, turning back to go outside. "All rightly folks next up we have a small 11 year old girl healthy as can be, Take a look!" And with that I am shoved on-stage next to the man "Bidding starts at 10 bronze coins!" The auctioneer yelled as he looked over the crowd, trying to find a buyer. I stood there shivering as my eyes scanned the crowd looking for any sign of familiarity. 60, bronze coins! "2 gold coins" A small boy yells out from the crowd, The crowd goes quiet, the man takes a moment to collect himself before snapping out of his surprised daze.

2 gold coins, Going once, Going twice,  Sold! A man in the crowd stood up and waved his hand, signaling he was the highest bidder. The auctioneer nodded and walked over to the man, shaking his hand. The man nodded in my direction, and the auctioneer grabbed my arm, leading me over to the new owner. "She's all yours" The auctioneer said as he let go of my arm. The man looked to his side, I could tell that he was very wealthy just based on the cloths he was wearing not only that but buying a slave for gold, not even silver or copper just gold. I keep my head down and mouth shut waiting for instructions. The man grabs my shoulder and pushes me along light as he as his son head towards a carriage.

The sound of my chains around the shackles on my arms and legs start to really annoy me as I walk towards the carriage.

 I could see a woman in the front, the man jumps into the front seat with what I'm guessing to be his wife as the boy and I sit in the back.

"Now, son bidding like that out of the blue without telling us first isn't something you should go around doing often" His father lightly scolds "I asked you to bring me here for a reason the young child responds back" "So you want to keep her then sweetie?" The boys Mom jumps in. They keep going back and fourth acting like I'm not even there. As soon as they finish their debate on letting the child keep me or not the carriage starts to move forward. I keep my eyes down and try to look at the kid once again, he seems to be around the same age as me. Same age as me and yet he get's to be free and have parents and I don't. I think to myself. I'm pulled from the thoughts when the boy starts speaking to me "Hey" he says to me I don't respond instead just look up at him "What's your name?" "Duna" I reply, my voice  barely above a whisper.

"Well, Duna" He says with a grin "From now on your name is slave and your going to be my slave" My heart sinks into my stomach and I look away from him. The boy starts to laugh and nudges me with his elbow "Don't worry, your new master is very kind" He says with a smirk."kind enough to let me keep my name?" I softly reply, still looking away from him. The boy seems taken aback by my response, but quickly recovers. "Well, you'll have to earn your keep around here, Duna. My father's estate is vast and there's always work to be done. You'll be expected to help out with the cooking, cleaning, and tending to the garden. Of course, you'll also need to learn your place as a slave. Obedience and loyalty are key." He pauses, studying my face for a reaction. "But don't worry, I'll show you the ropes." My face remains, blank, "Are there any other slaves?" The boy laughs again, "Oh yes, plenty of them. You'll meet them all soon enough. There's Cook, who runs the kitchen, Master Thorn, who takes care of the horses, and Lady Lily, who tends to my mother's needs. They're all experienced slaves and know their place. You'll fit in just fine." He tilts his head to the side, examining me once more. "You're a smart one, aren't you? That's good. It's always better to be smart when you're a slave."

I look down with a sad face I really wish he'd stop pointing out that I'm a slave, I was taken from my village and my parents were killed and now my freedom is taken too, the only thing I have left now is my name, It isn't fair... I think to myself tearing up a bit. The boy notices my tears and quickly tries to comfort me, "Hey, hey, don't cry. You'll be fine. We'll have fun, I promise." He reaches over and pats my knee, "See, we're already friends, aren't we? And when we become friends, we look out for each other." His smile is kind, but there's something off about it. Something cold and calculating. I swallow hard, nodding in agreement, "Y-yes, we're friends." The carriage ride continues in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. As we near the Castle, I can't help but feel a sense of dread building up inside me. What kind of life awaits me here? Will I ever be free again? Only time will tell.

We walk into a large trade district, walking past various venders chatting away.  Selling their goods to one another.  There are so many shops it almost looks like a small village I'm lead by the boy and his parents to a big castle at the back of the vender area

The boys dad pauses "Well honey I must go attend some things in the other section of the castle I hope that new slave will fill for me"

"Oh course dear, that's why I let our son buy her with gold" Her eyes narrow  towards him.

I take in my new surroundings. 

We walk down a long hall way with one door on each side then,  further back the hall way spits into a few more hallways all connected in a square-like layout. The mom turns to leave opening the door besides us. revealing a large kitchen with tables on one side cooking shelfs on the other with another door leading into a back Unown area. Then another door to the side leading to a dining room. I assume the queens and kings room is there due to the fact she headed to that door alone, no one else passing through it. I also take note of another door leading down a straight hall way I can see a room with a gameboard inside. and more doors. in what I assume to be more slave rooms.

A middle aged man appears before in an apron, he grabs my shoulder and moves me to the back hall with all the doors. "This is the slave quarters. Alden told me he wants you in this one"

I nod and walk inside the room is empty with a small bed in the corner or the room next to a dresser. I notice a dress much nicer than dirty clothes I have on siting on the dresser. 

There was also a metal collar siting on the dresser.

I close the door behind me charging into it. Then I save my old dress in the dresser.

As I save my new dress, I can't help but feel self-conscious. The fabric is soft and flowing, much finer than anything I've ever worn before, and the lace at the neckline and sleeves makes me feel even more exposed than usual. 

Alden must have known that this would be my first time wearing such an outfit, because he's left a note pinned to the inside of the collar: "Dear Duna, I hope you like your new clothes. You look beautiful in them. Please remember to wear the collar at all times, and always keep it clean. Your friend, Alden."

As I finish unpacking, I hear the sound of footsteps approaching. Alden strolls into the room, his face flushed with excitement. "I've got just the task for you, Duna," he says, clapping his hands together. "You're going to be my personal attendant. You'll dress me, feed me, and entertain me when I'm bored. And don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to rest and relax between your duties." He grins, the cold gleam in his eyes sending shivers down my spine.

Alden informs me, gesturing around. "It's not much, but it's yours now. You'll be expected to keep it clean and tidy at all times. Now, why don't you get settled in, and then we'll find you something for you to do?" He turns to leave, but then stops and faces me once more. "Oh, and Duna?" He says, using my new name. "You're my personal slave. No one else's. Understood?" I swallow hard and nod, trying to keep the tears from spilling over. "Good girl,".

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I survey my new surroundings. The cot is soft and inviting, but the collar hanging on the wall nearby sends a chill down my spine. I force myself to ignore it and focus on unpacking my meager belongings. In my old life, I had so many things - clothes, toys, even a small collection of books. Now, all I have are the few things I was allowed to bring with me: a change of clothes, a blanket, and a small wooden doll that had belonged to my mother. As I hang up my new dress, I can't help but feel self-conscious. The fabric is soft and flowing, much finer than anything I've ever worn before, and the lace at the neckline and sleeves makes me feel even more exposed than usual. Alden must have known that this would be my first time wearing such an outfit, because he's left a note pinned to the inside of the collar: "Dear Duna, I hope you like your new clothes. You look beautiful in them. Please remember to wear the collar at all times, and always keep it clean. Your friend, Alden. "As I finish unpacking, I hear the sound of footsteps approaching. Alden strolls into the room, his face flushed with excitement. "I've got just the task for you, Duna," he says, clapping his hands together. 

"You're going to be my personal attendant. You'll dress me, feed me, and entertain me when I'm bored. And don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to rest and relax between your duties." He grins, the cold gleam in his eyes sending shivers down my spine. "Am I required to do anything specific behavior wise?" I mutter under my breath as I study the collar, not daring to look up at him. Alden's smile widens, as if he's pleased by my hesitation. "Oh, yes. There are certain rules that you must follow as my personal slave. You must always address me as 'Master Alden', and you must always be respectful and obedient. You must never disobey me, no matter what the task may be. And most importantly, you must never attempt to escape or defy my authority in any way." He pauses, leaning in closer to me, his eyes boring into mine. "Do you understand these rules, Duna?" "Yes, Master Alden" The words taste like ash in my mouth, but I force them out anyway. Alden nods, seemingly satisfied with my response. He turns to leave, pausing at the door to add one final instruction. "Remember, Duna, I am your master now. You exist to serve me. If you ever forget that, there will be consequences." I feel my heartrate speed up, I avert my eyes to the floor. "Yes Master Alden" 

I mutter out, my voice barely above a whisper. As the door clicks shut behind him, I'm left alone in my new room, the weight of my new reality pressing down on my shoulders. I take a deep breath.

Alone once more, I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I try to steady my nerves, but the weight of the collar around my neck feels heavier by the second. I reach up and touch it, feeling the cold metal against my skin. It's not too tight, but it's unyielding. It's a constant reminder of my new position in life. Of my new name. Of my new master.A knock at the door startles me from my thoughts. Alden pokes his head in, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, Duna," he says, "I've changed my mind. You'll be staying here, in my room. I've decided that you'll be more useful to me if you're close by. Plus, it'll be more comfortable for both of us." His tone is casual, almost offhand, but there's an undercurrent of possessiveness that sends a shiver down my spine.

I swallow hard, my heart racing as I take in my new surroundings. The room is spacious, with a canopied bed fit for a king, a large dressing table covered in ornate trinkets, and a sitting area near the window. Even the air smells different here, perfumed and rich. Alden watches me silently, as if waiting for some sort of reaction. "Where do I sleep?" I mutter noticing there's only one bed in the room. He chuckles, walking over to the bed and sitting down on its edge. "You don't sleep, Duna. You're here to serve me, remember?" His tone is casual, almost dismissive. "But when you're not tending to my needs, you may find a comfortable spot on the floor near my bed. It will be your place while I'm awake." He pauses, studying me intently. "And make sure you're always ready to attend to me at a moment's notice. Do you understand?

"So I don't get to sleep with a blanket or pillow?" I ask trying not to cry, feeling a lump forming in my throat. "No, Duna," he says, his voice hardening. "You are not a person here. You are my property. You do not need such luxuries." He stands up, walking over to his dressing table and beginning to undress, revealing his muscular, tanned body. "Now, get to work. I want you to help me prepare for bed."

"How do I do that?" I mutter trying my best to hold back my tears. "Well, first you should help me remove my clothes," he says casually, as if this were the most normal thing in the world. "And then you can wash them for me. Once that's done, you can brush my hair and help me get into bed." He turns to face me, his expression cold and unyielding. "Don't forget to be thorough. Master Alden expects nothing less than perfection from his slaves." I nod, unable to meet his gaze, feeling a mixture of shame and anger coursing through my veins. I start to remove his shirt the help with his pants, holding his cloths "Where do I wash these?" I mutter, not wanting to touch him any more than I already have. "In the basin over there," he says, pointing to a small basin near the foot of the bed. "And be quick about it. I want to get some sleep." I nod again, feeling a knot forming in my stomach. As I start to wash his clothes, I can't help but wonder how much worse this could possibly get. After washing and drying his clothes, I help him into a new set of silk pajamas before moving on to brushing his hair. It's a strange feeling, brushing someone else's hair when you're not even allowed to touch them. But I do it anyway, trying my best not to make any mistakes. When I'm finished, he thanks me and tells me to get some sleep. I nod, crawling into the cot and pulling the thin blanket over me. It's not much, but it's all I have. As I try to fall asleep, I can't help but think about how different my life was just a few days ago. How I had a family and friends and a future full of possibilities. Now all I have is this cold, hard floor and the boy who owns me.

.