Helena : Blod & Pain

Was it because Helena was young that she showed the spirit to fight valiantly to King Aarez.

By this time, she's brought to a big spacious room, a place with lots of metal tools that Helena had seen for the first time. The room was used by the king to train his physique, and endurance in matches or work out.

Louis stood up straight and watching Helena, who was sitting cross-legged in front of him.

"How dare you speak out in front of King Aarez, aren't there any manners that you discovered and learned before Empress Helena?" asked Louis with a cynical look.

Helena, who was sitting on her knees, clenched her hands tightly. Before long, she straightened her face, giving the king a stern look.

"I do come from a poor family, and also I work with farmers. Surely you never know, right, how it feels to clean a horse's stable," Helena replied with an attitude that was too bold.

"You're so presumptuous. Well, let see. How far you dare to go against what I say?" Louis glanced at the two large bodyguards, one of whom was already holding a large whip.

"I'm very sorry, Your Highness. I'm not presumptuous or disrespectful to you as King Aarez. I'm just answering the question, which you gave me." Helena replied and showing an innocent face.

Louis narrowed his eyes, even more, looking at Helena who he thought had no ethics.

"Not a single empress dared to oppose or argue with me. You are too brave, Helena! Do you know where you went wrong?" asked Louis was already holding the tip of Helena's chin.

The pair of eyes met again. Both of them gave each other the cruelest look to subdue their opponent. Both are too stubborn, showing whose speech is better.

"I'll give you one last chance to get my forgiveness," Louis said and didn't let go of Helena's chin.

"Your Highness? But forgive me for asking you. Where is my fault now?" Helena asked back.

"Is it because I defended Rima? Is this my fault? Or is it just because I ask for your mercy so that Rima is not exile?"

"Tch! How dare you! So you will persist with your opinion, Empress?" asked Louis, who had already slapped Helena's chin roughly.

"If I apologize to you. Are you going to pardon Rima? Don't you see her merits, all this time she was guarding Queen Revania? Would you be able to act so cruelly to Rima?" asked Helena, but sadly she talked too much at length.

"ENOUGH!" Louis's loud voice boomed loudly in the room. It made Helena surprised because she realized that she had managed to provoke the anger of King Aarez.

"Don't you ever associate this matter with Revania, even…"

Louis was already big angry, and he came back closer to Helena. His eyes looked very scary. Like a man, who was intent on killing an enemy, with each side of the jaws of his face clenched.

"YOU DON'T EVEN DESERVE TO SAY REVANIA'S NAME, AND YOU WON'T WANT OR WILL NOT BE THE QUEEN OF THIS COUNTRY!" Louis cursed loudly, pointing firmly at Helena's face.

"Just so you know, King Louis, I've never had the slightest interest in becoming the queen of this country. Moreover, being your consort. It feels like all my freedoms have been taken away. Even I can't be free to express my opinion. Hhh..! who came from commoners," said Helena with a look that didn't look at Louis's face. Her eyes were already watery, but she didn't want the tears to escape her eyes as hard as she could.

"How dare you say this. You should know what punishment you will face." Louis couldn't hold his patience anymore.

"If I deserve to get punishment, Your highness. Please, you can do so. If it is a good cause for me, King Louis. Then, I will accept it well." Helena answered in a low voice.

"You!" Louis snapped at the two bodyguards, who were already flanking Helena, who was still sitting cross-legged on the floor.

"Do your duty, give Empress Helena ten lashes. The lashing will stop if the Empress issues an apology."

The two bodyguards stared at each other. One of them slightly lowered his head so he could speak to Helena, "Empress Helena? Are you sure you don't want…"

"Just do it!" shouted Helena cutting his off.

"Very well, Empress Helena." The bodyguard finally grabbed Helena's back, putting pressure on Helena to bend her back more.

Helena's arms stretched out straight to the floor. Of course, she was still wearing her clothes. There was no way Helena could take it of and, she just hoped the clothes she was wearing were thick enough to withstand the pain of the whip that had been lifted high.

"Helena, you can hold it in. Just ten once, you're a strong woman. Show to Louis, you're not a kid." Helena thought. For a moment, she saw Loius was already sitting on a chair.

Louis's gaze was cold, not showing any pity at all.

"Let's get started," said Louis had given the signal.

CETAR..!!

*Whip sound

The first time the whip had hit Helena's back, she immediately felt intense pain. Helena's hands clenched tighter,

"You can hold it, Helena," she said slowly. Helena's belief is getting stronger and ready to accept the next punishment.

"Wow… Don't want to apologize?" asked Louis, and Helena just gave him a cold stare.

"Fine! Then continue! Don't stop before Empress Helena says apologize." Louis gave the order again.

CETAR..!!

The second lash was already given back and aimed at Helena's back. The young woman clenched her hands, even more, holding back the pain that was starting to sting her skin.

"TWO! Continue!" Helena shouted on purpose. She spoke loudly in front of Louis, who was still watching her.

Louis didn't show any mercy at all. He just showed a face that was too flat. Was he enjoying Helena who was in pain?

CETAR..!!

"Three… proceed quickly," said Helena, and she was still holding back her tears from coming out.

Behind the door guarded by several guards. Harika - the palace maid seemed to be in a hurry. She wanted to enter the room where Helena and the King were. But the guards guarding the front immediately blocked his path.

"Please let me in," Harika asked. She could faintly hear Helena's voice screaming.

"I'm so sorry, but you can't come in," said the guard firmly.

"But… but… do you have the heart to let a woman get caned? This is the modern era! Why is this punishment still in effect?" said Harika, who was already in tears.

"I'm sorry, but this is an order from King Louis. You'd better wait outside." The bodyguard still did not give Harika to go inside.

In there, Helena was still adamant, and she was about to get her ninth lash.

The guards stopped for a moment when they saw Helena collapsed and sprawled on the floor. The faces of the two bodyguards looked very pitiful.

"Why did you guys stop?" asked Louis in a booming voice.

"Your Highness, but… Empress Helena… she's already…" The bodyguard holding the whip felt Helena had fainted and was unconscious.

"If you guys hesitate to do a small task like this, do I need to punish you two?" asked Louis, actually he was giving a threatening tone. "Or do you all want to be exiled forever?"

The two bodyguards stared at each other. But at the same time, Helena was already moving her hands. Slowly she lifted her heavy body, the wounds on her back visible.

The expensive clothes Helena was wearing are already damaged, mixed with Helena's blood.

"I still can do it! You don't have to worry. Two more times, right?" Helena gathers the remaining strength, showing Louis that she's not as weak as the King imagined.

"Empress Helena, you'd better say sorry to the King. You've been hurt enough today." Said a guard who looked worried.

"No! I won't do it! Just do it, I can still endure it." Helena said in a loud voice, feeling that she still had some energy left.

CETAR.!!

The ninth lash hit Helena's back. The pain made Helena want to scream at that moment. As a result, she could only bite her lips until her tiny lips hurt.

Louis got up from his seat, and he walked closer to Helena. He didn't intend to stop Helena's torment. He just stood still and stared.

Helena took a deep breath, staring at Louis' face with anger mixed with irritation. "Quickly finish, the last one," Louis said with a straight face.

CETAR...!!

It was so painful, Helena could only close her eyes. And finally, the tears managed to come out, past Helena's reddened cheeks.

While Louis just walked away, passing Helena without showing any pity. He walked quickly then followed by his two bodyguards. They left the room where Helena was still sitting bent and in pain.

When Louis came out, he saw Harika who was crying.

"Your Highness? Forgive me because wanting to see Empress Helena." Harika said, and she bowed to show her respect.

"You? You're Empress Helena's maid, aren't you? She's in there, accompanying her. And make sure she doesn't forget to do her duty on a night of mourning." Louis ordered firmly, and Harika could only keep quiet by nodding quickly.

When Louis is gone and out of sight. Then Harika ran to the room. He looked at Helena with a concerning condition.

"Empress Helena? Oh my! what have they done to you? It's must be very painful." Harika was helpless to see the wound on Helena's back.

"Hk… hk… Harika... I am… what am I really? I never intended to become the empress of such a ruthless king." Helena cursed. She was crying and continued to wipe her tears quickly.

"Empress Helena, don't say things like that. I have heard about the problem that happened last night. Too bad, because I can't meet Rika. But most importantly now, you need to be cared for and cared for." Harika tried to help Helena.

She could feel Helena's body shaking with fear or the anger she was holding back.