Author: Inanna Callan

Valkyrie Princess Cynthia
Book One

code: g, bd, humil, exhib, va, nosex.

---
Chapter One: Tribunal, first Act

The Kingdom of the Aevia could not believe the words of their own herald. The Valkyrie Princess; Lady Cynthia Aevia was to be court-martialled and extradited to the Empire of the Azure Dragon. Heralds brought the shocking news to the public markets and taverns. Despite the warmth of the early morning a chill had entered the mind of everyone. How could their finest warrior have fallen from grace? How could she, the Invincible Sword Maiden, always at the fore of the charge of any war suddenly be exiled from their kingdom to some other country? 

Disbelief spread throughout the streets as they openly expressed their dismay at the decision of their King to take away Aevia's finest warrior. There was almost a stampede to the castle's gates. Watchful peasants noted the bitter looks from their soldiers, who couldn't help but feel demoralized learning that their greatest warrior had fallen, not from a mortal wound but by the decision of some mealy-mouthed magistrate? 

Guards with Quarterstaves pushed the crowd back to make room for the soldiers marching in from all barracks in the Kingdom. As soon as they saw her their eyes widened in shock of the sight as they cried out in disdain and outrage at the proceedings.

There was no mistaking The Princess Cynthia Aevia, she was short and slim, the figure of a lovely girl only eleven years old. Despite her Unmarred white skin, her long golden locks of hair and jade-colored eyes she was always known as the fiercest warrior that could make an enemy army turn around and flee in fear. It was no secret everyone carried a degree of lustful desire for the princess as she was infamous for her "battle armor" that covered naught but her private parts and leaving everything else open to see.

But today she appeared before the great crowds as a blessing and a curse, completely different from the one they knew. Gone was her proud posture of walking upright despite the rampant show of flesh her scant armor afforded her, she now bent under the weight of the Rod, an instrument of punishment crafted for those who were to be courtmartialled. The Rod was a heavy crossbeam that chained her arms away from her body and to the ends of the beam, forcing her to wobble with each step lest she fall. Her white flesh, once the dream of many who's desires now answered them. Her nubile breasts were unadorned by her usual breast plate and bounced with each step she made from the ponderous beam. The sweat from her back flowed to her hips bereft of her thong panties, revealing the pubis of a girl no more than eleven years old. 

More than once did she stop, and the horseback guards holding the chains that came from each end of the crossbeam pulled her up slightly, straighening up her body as she caught her breath and gave everyone a good view of her naked body. Her face was flushed with embarassment as she silently endured her indignity, the only sound she made was her gasping for breath and a small sigh of relief as the guards momentarily relieved her of the enormous weight off her shoulders. She didn't look at anyone, avoiding eye contact and just letting them look wherever they wished to; from her heaving breasts to her flat belly or her hairless feminity. She took another step and the guards released the weight, she groaned a little from her abused shoulders and resumed her disgraceful journey, pacing herself the military drums that spelled the end of her career.

They led her to the prisoner's platform, which allowed everyone to get a good view of her. As she stepped up the platform she saw on the opposite side her King and his officials watching the proceedings. The soldiers bringing up the rear of the parade circled around to march in front of their king and salute him and their generals, before coming around back again to their predetermined place.


---

She was the Princess Cynthia Aevia. Heiress to King Radom Aevia and Queen Malath Aevia. At a young age. She was driven by a desire to fight for her family's honor when she witnessed at the age of seven, the death of her older brother at the hands of assassins. By the age of nine she was at the fore of every war her Kingdom would wage, killing wave after wave of soldiers opposed to her. 

Returning from a campaign one day. She went to the tent of her general and saw him in the passionate embrace of an adult woman. She executed her soldiers who ridiculed her about her being a child to know such things and changed her appearance.

She ordered her mages to craft her a personal protection ward, enveloping her in a swirling shroud of force that repelled any form of attack against her. With that, she began to appear in public wearing a scant mockery of armor; besides her regal winged helmet, short metal boots, and black leggings that covered all the way above her knees, all she wore was a tiny thong that did not in any way cover her shapely buttocks, a breastplate that did not cover her front except for her chest, leaving her body otherwise uncovered. In this erotic visage she resumed her charges into battle as a fatal distraction.

And so, none would ever take the Warrior Princess Cynthia lightly ever again, even as a child yet to grow into a woman. Her Jade-Green eyes were lit with a ferocity none could muster and her bronzed, golden hair that fell just short of the small of her back lit her up in the fog of war. Her lithe, shapely legs carried her far and fast in the battlefield, slewing one dissident warrior after another, her small frame accentuated by her slim waist and hips that were beginning to shape under puberty allowed her to evade one stunning blow after another. Many a ogre of a man tried to smash her under his ponderous mace or battle-axe, only to have her step aside and use it as a platform to launch a fatal stab to the head. The last vision before her blade ran through their heads was her parted legs, her luscious hips thrust forward as she snapped her body back like a spring to deliver the coup de grace, the whiteness her nubile flesh interruped by the stylized codpiece between her legs that hid her delicate girlhood from view. The luckier ones found their faces buried between her legs, inhaling her arousing scent only to have their senses abruptly cut off as she twisted her whole body, snapping their necks as she used that to bend back and slice adjacent enemies in a full circle around her, and many who died that way died with smiles on their faces. 

And not only enemies could get a good look at the princess, for she frequently rode ahead. Those brave enough to ride with her to the fore of a charge were rewarded by her jiggling buttocks as she bounced up and down the saddle, twin swords or lance drawn at the ready. The sheer number of men who followed her as she ran up the ladders to scale walls during a siege, or up the stairs as she stormed a castle. The Princess slept in the nude alone in her tent. And those lucky enough on guard duty would see her silhoutte as she undressed and sponged herself off. 

As she grew to her eleventh year, the Princes had won her kingdom one victory after another. Whether it was defend her homeland or to quell a rebellion from a far off colony she rode at the head of the charge. Her unmarred, flawless body becoming from an object of desire to a fearful tribute to her invincibility.

And so it was when the Azure Dragon Empire made an alliance with her kingdom. Like her homeland the Azure Dragon was equally successful in it's exploits. Word of comparison of her kingdom to the empire was a sure way to rouse her ire. Without a word, the princess ordered a mass execution under the crime of sedition while visiting a colony that rested between the two factions.

None would question the decision of the princess. Ere her judgement was rash, and perhaps immature, the military saw it as a decisive act against any rebellion. But her later actions would not be passed off so lightly.

---
Emissaries from the Azure Dragon invited the Royal family for a state visit, to discuss the possibility of a union between the two houses. The Princess abstained from taking place in her family's royal carriage and rode at the head of the convoy, garbed in her familiar military dress. 

Despite word of her exploits, the people of the Azure Dragon were shocked at her appearance. She carried herself proudly, her reputation for being quick to anger kept the foreigners silent even in their own soil. Several of the more conservative people retreated from the spectacle and lamented the decision of their emperor to merge with a kingdom who's prominent official carried herself in the most vulgar fashion. 

The welcoming committee, consisting of robed officials averted their eyes and tried to ignore the princess, preferring to address her parents instead. So discomfitting was the princess' appearance before them that one minister, apologetically bowing before the King asked if his entourage could excuse the princess from the meeting and to at least have her wear something more modest. 

Princess Cynthia, who's ears were sharpened from years in the battle was no stranger to the slight sounds of assassins making their way to end her life. It was but a slight feat for her to overhear the conversation. Without warning she unsheathed her sword and held the point of it to the offending courtier in a fraction of a second.

"I am the Sword Princess Cynthia, Might of the Aevia Kingdom. You do not dare question my appearance worm, for to belittle me is to belittle my Kingdom!"

The scene fell into shocked silence. The official, who's heart nearly leapt out of his chest stumbled for excuses, not wanting his actions to bring war to a saturnine figure before him. He also knew that, by the time this debacle was over with, he would be belittled for cowering under the threat of a half-naked little girl.

Satisfied at his apology, she smugly sheathed her sword, turning to lead the procession of her party. The rest of the Azure Dragon's courtiers wisely hid their anger at the trespass committed in their own soil, contenting themselves to watching the princess's butto sway with each strut as she sauntered ahead of them, treating the tour as as if she had just conquered another kingdom.

The meeting with Emperor Radomich Ladja was terse. But as it progressed she began to realize that he was using the fiasco to this favor by threatening to sour relations with her family and kingdom if she did not make amends.

Wanting to dissolve a war quickly, she offered her service to the Azure Dragon Empire in order to alleviate her tresspass.

"If you think I belittle your military exploits Princess Cynthia, you are mistaken." The Emperor replied "your brash actions are the core of our now-growing tension. Mass executions in the town of Coriander to silence them for speaking freely, drawing your sword and threatening a member of the court for merely following his duty to maintain decorum which you have so blatantly disregarded. I understand that your desire to appear so comely before all men is to silence any dissent towards your competence, that, I do not question. But this is not merely an act of flagrantly breaking rules by choosing to appear in your...military...attire but also an affront to peaceful negotiations by choosing to appear in it."

Though it was words fueled by a juvenile's mind who was quick to offend, she began to realize later, that she brought grave dishonor to her family by her outburst.

"I accept your offer to be of service to us, but as of today, I vote no confidence in your presence while your King and I try to salvage what little negotiations we might have."

The Princess slid her boots off the table and stood, she paused as she passed behind her father, who merely nodded and then she left.

"I could see why your knights prefer to follow your daughter's desire to lead" the Emperor muttered as he watched her shapely behind sway around as she walked away. He cleared his throat and resume negotiations with the King.

---
"Princess Cynthia!" A boy called out to her. He was about her age, dressed in flowing robes with the colors of royalty she presumed him to be the among Emperor's sons.

"I am Kaelthas, crown prince of the Empire" he bowed slightly, he blushed, nervously drinking at the sight of her body. "Word of victories have spread far and wide...but I have never dreamt of meeting you in the flesh.." he swallowed, working his throat as he vainly tried to conceal his embarassement despite being the one covered in voluminous cloth. "...it would appear the legends speak true and highly about your beauty." he struggled to keep up with her fast pace, more of avoid looking at her nearly uncovered rear and to show respect to a fellow member of royalty.

Cynthia ignored him, her temper still cooling down from the previous outburst and the refusal of her family to speak on her behalf. She chose wisely to not say anything and leave and planned to return home unaccompanied. She would later want to speak with her father later on to discuss the terms of her service to the empire that she gave unthinkingly.

---
Act Two: 
Alea Iacta Est

"It cannot do, we cannot accept such a demand from Azure Dragon!" dissented one of the king's ministers.

King Aevia leaned back from his seat. It was expected of course that they would be initially shocked at the demands of reparations asked for by their would-be ally. 

"Such a demand not only brings shame to our country but to also your own royal blood, your highness!" added another one "Even if you were to disown her, your majesty, the fact is everyone will consider this a great shame to the Kingdom if we were to agree with such a sentence."

"Please consider, your majesty. Sooth, Lady Cynthia's...actions...may not exactly be fitting of regal stature, but to submit to these such demands only serve to make the princess even appear far more disgraceful."

"Your Highness..." the venerable Minister Frollo De Shaun stood, earning silence from every other dissenting official "...in every practical sense of the term, this is just not acceptable. I understand that you are supportive of Cynthia's objectives to save face and stand trial before the Azure Dragon's Tribune. But I am not only confident that the princess will heartily object once she sees the terms and conditions..." he paused, adjusting his glasses as he finished reading the rest of the outrageous terms "but I also believe it is of no good reason at all, to give to the hands of the country we are now in tension with, our finest soldier. We are not only giving them our dignities but also a valuable military asset. It just will not do my lord."

King Radom Aevia listened to their objections and nodded at each turn. They were right, In a military sense, Cynthia was the finest warrior in all the kingdom. To surrender her to the custody of even a prospective ally in order to maintain relations was indeed absurd. And for her to come there as a prisoner would only cause much dissent and lack of faith on part of his kingdom's word.

The King of Aevia believed in an egalitarian system of justice. Much of the success in their military endeavors came from the fact of that they selected and maintained only the ones worthy of the role, most of the ministers and generals came from humble beginnings. Just as they came from sons and daughters of farmers albeit talented and sagacious enough to merit the post, his own daughter Cynthia, despite her young age and regardless of her scandalous actions, earned the grace to be a general due to military skill and aptitude. Now, to ensure peaceful negotiations and a solid alliance to form between his kingdom and the empire of the Azure Dragon, the latter demanded the extradition of his own daughter on grounds of serious breach to the peace talks. 

A young man in long flowing hair, cleared his throat and stood. He was present with the King during the negotiations with the Azure Dragon, and for a terse two hours, he and his liege worked together with the Emperor to address what could be done about Cynthia.

Famujou De Kojiwar, despite his birth as a foreigner was raised and educated among his native peers without prejudice, he felt no tinge of racial animosity when they levelled their gaze at him with disdain, like him they all worried about the status of their kingdom and their princess once they decided to accept.

At this point, Princess Cynthia entered the meeting room. She was dressed in her royal gown; a simple flowing dress that was common sight to everyone in the palace as she only wore her "battle dress" when she went about in official duty. She took her seat beside her father who merely nodded at her and held her hand.

"I understand that Emperor Ragnomich Ladja has no intention to harm or execute our princess upon extradition. I have also come to learn that drawing one's sword within the confines of the Imperial Palace is a grave infraction of the law as the Emperor values negotiation over armed conflict...at least within the quarters of whatever building he resides in. In addition, our Princess has threatened bodily harm to one of his advisers and of course her actions are being interpreted by the Azure Dragon as a threat to the peace talks we have, which in turn they point out undermines our sincerity in our desire to make a peaceful merger between our kingdoms."

Minister De Kojiwar cast another sidealong glace to his King before resuming "Documentation as you are reading right now, says that normally this would be a death sentence for her highness. However as Royalty, she is exempt from such a penalty and would be dethroned. Fortunately for us, she is our Princess and therefore such a penalty would mean nothing..."

"...therefore lord Ladja's entourage presented another solution to the breach of protocol in their own grounds. Extradition, she would then be imprisoned and sentenced to serve as a warning to all colonies of their Empire who intend to foment discontent. The sentence will last three years..." He cleared his throat and looked askingly at his princess, who merely nodded with her mask-like impression.

Despite his lieges' lack of reaction he himself hesitated before deciding to word out the rest of the sentences. True enough the room broke into a revolt until the King himself let out one terse syllable and they all apologetically sank back to their seats, staring at their papers in white-knuckled contempt at the Azure Dragon.

Cynthia took off her royal ring and cast it on the table. Just as the Azure Dragon wanted to reenact a judicial decision hundreds of years ago against an enemy they could not normally handle, she too reacted in the form of their history's rubicon. The metallic thud as her ring hit the table signalled her silent assent. She stood and walked away.

The rest of the assembly watched her walk a doomed general's walk to a suicidal last stand to protect his kingdom. Everyone knew that event in their history well, about a reckless general who's exploits earned him many enemies. In order to solve the conflict he vowed to meet his enemies, gathering one army of loyal followers he met them head on in a battle that was no war between the aggrieved nations but as a simple, large scale vendetta.

"Guards." King Radom Aevia called. "Arrest the Princess."

Despite their order, they could only awkwardly keep in pace with her as made her way to the dungeons herself in her brisk military pace.

---
Part Three: Dissent in the Dungeon

Lieutenant Rosenthal emerged from the Dungeon's stores bearing the softest length of rope he could muster, as he could not find any manacles that would be snug against her petite body. From there he heard his superior utter his contempt at the visiting dignitary after she left the room.

"Let's just fucking kill them" Captain Skemmanos De Iyza plunged his dagger between the bricks of the dungeon wall. Upon the Princess' arrival in the dungeon the Emissary has been inside, seeing that the princess made her appearance, she was now convinced of the Aevia Kingdom relenting to her liege's demands. She whispered what would be done to Captain Skemmanos, who's jolly face hardened into an expression of silent anger. She took two steps back, indicating her intention to leave the room as soon as possible. 

The princess entered the room without giving the emissary a glance, she just walked to the center of the Dungeon's foyer and folded her arms. She looked more like a general about to lead a raid into the dungeons rather than a prisoner. 

"Lady Cynthia," Emissary Ranpha Sparks called out, her hand on the door "I have presented instructions for your incarceration to captain Iyza, I imagine you must have some inkling as to what it would be and I wish to help you preserve as much of your former self as I can without shirking my duty. Therefore I shall take my leave." With that she slid the door shut behind her, stepping aside to bow before the King of Aevia as he sauntered past with his own entourage.

It was a long moment of silence in the dungeon and no one made a move. The guards looked to their captain wondering at the instructions of the Emissary while captain Iyza continued to scrape his dagger against the walls. For fifteen years he was master of keeping in maximum security the greatest threats against his country here. And now the culmination of his career was to scrape the dungeon walls with a sharp object like all his prisoners, held captive in walls made not of stone and iron but bricks of politics held by mortar of honor.

The Dungeon door opened again, this time with King Radom and Queen Malath. Cynthia continued to stare at the wall with her back to them, wondering if she was still worthy to speak with her parents.

"Mother and Father, my actions have led to nearly a decade of your most humble negotiations with the Azure Dragon toppling over with my recklessness..."

"Recklessness indeed..." Lord Aevia replied. Cynthia felt a slight rush of happiness hearing her father finally speak with her. "...maintaining honor while I was prepared to barter it for your defence."  He motioned to the captain of the guard to carry on with his duty. 

"L-lady Cynthia, tonight your ordeal begins." Captain Skemmanos caught himself stammering, he belatedly snapped a salute to his King to buy him time before briskly snapping back to her direction. He didn't want to appear weak before his princess.

"...extradited royalty in the Azure Dragon have the priviledge of carrying their entourage while they serve their sentence. It is the Law." Ranpha Sparks told him earlier. "it really is no different from House Arrest except it takes place in our land...but for your Lady's case..." 

Recklessness met with Recklessness. Both sides silently exchanging tokens of defiance to their own laws to appear larger not before the opposing side but before their own proud people. Skemmanos shut the remaining words of the Emissary and resumed his duty. He would speak with his king later.

"...Tonight your Ordeal begins" he said once more, his tone solid with the authority befitting his position "I suggest you acclimatise yourself without dissent." 

He guessed that she already had an idea what he was about to say but waited for his orders. He felt very uncomfortable giving orders to a member of royalty, especially with his own King and Queen watching the proceedings along with his men. The tension was crushing him as if he was tossed to the bottom of the sea.

"...Lieutenant Rosenthal, bind the the princess' hands away from her. She will hang here until the morning."

The Lieutenant snapped into a salute, first to his king, then his queen then his captain. Then in a symbol of dissent he snapped a salute to his General. Princess Cynthia snapped into attention. The Lieutenant stood straighter and held his salute for a while before the Captain cleared his throat, he didn't release his salute until the princess did the same. 

The King smiled. He was glad that his soldiers continued to look after his daughter. He squeezed his Queen's hand as they watched their Princess suffer her ordeal with dignity. Watching his soldiers act with defiance pleased him, and the irony of the situation brought a small smile to his lips. He would extract a heavy payment from the Azure Empire one day and his daughter will collect that.

Lieutenant Rosenthal dropped to one knee and began to tie the princess' wrists in repeating loops, the thick bind would ensure that the stress of carrying the weight of her body would not damage them despite being hanged for long hours. Tying the knots tight. He lowered a pair of chains from the ceiling then turned the princess around. 

Her eyes shifted only between her King and Queen. They watched as the lieutenant tied the ends of each rope to a hook on the end of the chains, bringing the princess' arms high above her head. The long, loose sleeves fell back to reveal her slim arms, toned from cutting down her enemies and holding her sheild from the fiercest blows against barbarian warlords. Her irises didn't waver as Lieutenant Rosenthal started to crank the both of the chains upward. 

Captain Skemmanos saluted to his king once more before taking another length of rope. "The instructions for her punishment tonight are clear." He whispered in the ear of the King, who simply nodded.

Princess Cynthia's jaw tightened as she tried to figure what was the exchange between the two. Captain Skemmanos knelt before her, saying "a thousand apologies my liege." Her eyes narrowed at his open insubordination; she was trying to be very formal about her ordeal and here her men were rampantly breaking protocol. She didn't want that spirit of defiance to affect her morale, now that she was hanging a foot off the ground with uncomfortable pressure squeezing on her wrists and pulling her arms up and away from her.

The Captain took each ankle and quickly knotted a few loops around each. She looked up to her King who slowly nodded. She didn't need to hear a word from her parents, their presence was a mix of discomfort and morale. She preferred to chose the latter.

With the ropes on her ankles secured to cleats on the floor. Captain Skemmanos stepped behind the princess and took out his dagger. Cynthia winced at the familiar sound of an assassin drawing his weapon. Her father nodded once more in silent assent. If she was to be executed right now, then she would be very happy, what better way to die than...

She gasped as she felt the Captain slice her gown open at the middle from behind her. Working quickly he ran the blade against the sleeves of her gown as well until it fell to the floor. Cynthia bit her lip in mortification as the captain lifted her underlying shift to cut away at her short underpants. While cognizant of the exposure of the female anatomy as evidenced by her usual battle attire, she carried it proudly and intentionally on the caveat that the personal barrier created by her mages prevented anyone from landing a single blow as well as any unwanted contact from any her men. But now, bound and under arrest, the increasing show of skin was completely different. Albeit she appeared scandalous in battle she had the opportunity to order the glances of those she did not appreciate to have their eyes put out and keeping their lascivious thoughts to themselves.

The princess' cheeks burned bright red while the guards averted their gaze. She hoped that captain Skemmanos would be professional enough to not turn his sight from her while he worked a blade close to her skin.

The princess' underpants fell to the floor on top her ruined gown, and seconds later her chemise, undone by simply untying the knots that held itself on her shoulders. Captain Skemmanos regretfully sheathed his dagger as her ordered to Lieutenant to resume pulling the princess up. As she was pulled up, the chains tightened, pulling her arms and legs away from her body in the form of a cross.

Cynthia stared at the floor, her face burning bright red in shame as she hung spread-eagled and nude before the gathered guards and her parents. Her petite chest once covered in a thin band of armor with stylized breasts was now revealed. Nubile as they are, they swelled to desireable mounds topped with a delicate pink rossette of a nipple hardening in the chill of the room. 

Cynthia's gaze looked up seeing her men reluctantly casting a glance at the body of the princess fully uncovered. Her days of being empowered by her rising feminity have now backfired on her. As her prominently exposed breasts heaved with her tensed breath she was also aware of the gazes aimed at her exposed womanhood, all the time strutting around in her skimpy "armor" to the sway of her hips and jiggle of buttocks for the intent of raising morale in her men and distraction to her enemies, have been protected by a flimsy G-string that covered her girlhood and anus. Now they were exposed to everyone's view; back then she could seductively saunter across in victory parades, kick high after sliding under an enemy's sword, climb ladders with a troop behind her and stand with limbs akimbo atop a high platform to muster her troops. Instead, her girlhood was open to view, kept in everyone' view by her legs tied wide apart. She consciously tensed her legs in a vain attempt to cover them but only succeeded in sligthly turning her thighs inward and pulling her hips back, giving anyone behind her a good view of her exposed nethers. 

Lieutenant Rosenthal turned away from the delicious sight of her the princess pointing her rear in his direction while the rest, becoming conscious of how they looked at the princess in the prescence of their king averted their eyes to the walls or floors.

"Every guard in attendance will be her personal entourage during her stay in the walls of Lavitiana." The King spoke as he watched his Queen embrace her bound child tightly. He turned to Captain Skemmanos who bowed first and saluted "You will also be responsible to enumerate any and all occurences committed to her person. and report to me on a daily basis." 

King Radom watched his young daughter suffer her first step in public indignity. She was very young, a few more years and she would be openly accepting suitors from various kingdoms for her hand. Already various nobles; duke, princes, and even kings offered their sons or themselves for the hand of their princess once she ripened of age. Would they no longer desire the sullied princess, or would they clamor for her hand even more now they get to see even more of her, he wondered. 

Princess Cynthia Aevia is a warrior before a woman. Before she was allowed to even hold a sword she toiled in the muck along with the men who would become her subordinates. The long hours practicing swordsmanship in heavy, suffocating armor, the brutal training that held her in constant disadvantage due to her small figure, she surmounted them all and rose to become general.

He was confident that she would soldier on in the hardest campaign in her life and succeed.

"Beginning tonight, you are all relieved of your duty as jailers and appointed as royal ambassador guards." The King continued, after pausing to address every guard in attendance with a nod "You're one charge is Cynthia Aevia. You report to only me and the Emperor. But to me above all."

"Yes, my lord!" Everyone one replied in assent.

"Cynthia, as you can tell, your sentence to serve under the Azure Dragon is like no other mission you have been sent to. You will cooperate without question to your jailers and to the Emperor's demands, however. Your precedence of orders will be to the ambassadorial guard in the utmost." 

Queen Malath, released her embrace with her child as she stoicly nodded, she planted one final kiss on her forehead and Cynthia held back her tears, realizing that would be the final time she would be in touch with her mother for a long time.

"She will not leave your sight!" With that the King of Aevia turned and stormed out the door. There was a slight commotion outside and after a few minutes, more armored guards came in, their faces smoldering in contempt for the Azure Dragon.

"General Izya, we are the Praetorian Guard reporting for duty." replied the famous bodyguard of the king.

---
Part Four: the Long Night

With fifty men watching her, Cynthia felt extremely mortified in her exposed position. An uncomfortable silence hung in the air as everyone averted their gaze, contenting themselves to just stealing a sideways look.

"Lord Kurt, you needn't feel ashamed looking at a prisoner like me." 

The guards glanced at the direction of the person she was speaking to. The shorter guard hesitated, before doffing his helmet in a belated show of respect a man would afford a lady. 

"I would kill them." Prince Kurt Aevia replied "If only Father would permit me."

Cynthia rolled her eyes despite herself. Great, she thought, what we need is more people to be a total rebel while I'm trying to save face here. 

"You will not waste my sacrifice here, Lord Kurt. I am suffering in it quite enough and it is too late to salvage that." She leaned forward as far as she could muster, everyone saw in their mind's eye the vestiges of the princess' habitual lecturing pose against her older brother slated to follow in his father's footsteps as king. A sigh of relief issued at the lips of many, happy to see their princess retaining her regal ire. 

"...and you will not express any ire at them for doing so since my safety lies in their hands, they are on the same side as you and I." she stressed her syllables, each was like a hard slap to his face as she spoke. He winced, reeling from the talk down coming from a naked prisoner.

"And what am I supposed to do?" Prince Kurt yelled "ogle at you like some piece of meat?"

Princess Cynthia turned away from his gaze as he did the same, realizing he was looking at her budding breasts. 

"Better to have my own people see me first than a crowd of unruly, unwashed masses of foreigners."

The Ambassador Guard looked at each other, wondering if it's a cue from their princess telling them not to shirk from their duty in keeping watch of her. 

She looked around the room, seeing ill-concealed expressions of distate against themselves and at each other.

"Please don't let them see you being ordered around by me." The Princess spoke, her harsh tone softening up. "...just think of this as a reward."

"Reward alright..." General Skemmons replied, she felt a twinge of relief when she found his tone bereft of any respect in it "...what kind of reward is a first look at the princess when everyone will see her tomorrow?" his attempt at humor brought about nervous snickers from his company. "I mean..." he stood, twirling his dagger in his hands, a known behavior when he is pressured. "...We've all seen the princess' swing her shapely behind, or maybe the Azure Dragon blokes don't have any real women?"

That brought about a hearty round of laughter with everyone. The Princess snickered besides herself, for once feeling a little proud about herself.

"They're just a bunch hooligans trying to look up a girl's dress and hiding behind their little crowns!" Major Rosenthal chimed in, he put on his helmet in the mockery of the Azure Dragon's Emperor and strutted around.

"Ye Gods, Lady Cynthia! Whatever is that thing? I've never seen a woman! I've always thought little boys bore my children for me!" Everyone erupted into bawdy laughter as they mocked the Azure Dragon.

"So why am I in chains your lordship? I won't bite!" Cynthia replied, snapping her jaws at the mock emperor who went into histrionic fright.

Prince Kurt folded his arms as he watched the bizaare proceedings with disdain. The princess' cheeks that were once flushed in shame were red with merriment as they joked around in mockery of her captors. But like every other man in the room, he couldn't help but feel desire creeping up to him as he stared at her nude body stretched to display all her charms, Perhaps, he thought, that she was merely finding a distraction from the distress she was recieving and was glad his men was there to provide her a farce to laugh at. But behind those fake smiles and forced laughter they were drinking in the sight of her young breasts bounced in abandon as her chest rose and fell with laughter as they looked at her from the side, her shapely butt clenching and relaxing as she joked with them and her undeveloped genitalia betrayed by her spread legs. She was after all, a beautiful young girl. 

half an hour later, the Ambassadorial Guard broke into two groups; one maintaining their watch on the princess, while the rest took their rationed sleep, dreaming of nude princess prancing about with swords drawn and heads rolling to gouts of blood from distracted foes. 

As awkwardly sudden the joking came around, so did it end. A heavy pall of silence imposed itself among them. Three years, Princess Cynthia thought. Three years of having to endure something like this. She wasn't sure how her mind could take it, would she end up doing something she would regret later? She didn't know. All she knew was that her request for death was impossible. Too young, they said. Her crime was harsh but the Azure Dragon could not find it in themselves to kill her. They sought to punish her soul rather than her body, she reasoned. 

She caught herself thinking about whatever it was that she did wrong and a flare of anger registered in her eyes. She shut the thoughts out and switched to more practical plans. With a deep breath, she relaxed herself, ignoring at those looking at her, they were just as uncomfortable as she is and she needn't say anything or look at them. 

Several minutes passed, it was almost like a game of dodging glances from people. She knew where they would be looking and tried to guess what part of her pleased them the most. She knew they probably might be looking down there, since it was the most exposed part of her privates given her flimsy thong and codpiece, but it was rather difficult to twist around to see how many were enjoying the view of her backside. She had a slight rush of goosebumps thinking about it, as if she could feel their eyes like fingers probing tentative touches behind her. 

Much to her surprise, most of those looking at her from the side or front were equally paying attention to her chest as well. She knew the charms of an older woman. She had seen women much older than her free of their garments, whether it was the attire of barbarian entertainers or spoils of war from fair cities, she had felt a twinge of jealousy when she once witnessed the charms of a dancing girl entertaining her men. The sensuous globes of that girl's breasts as she stomped, skipped, and prance to the staccato of drums and flutes. She didn't abstain from such entertainment, knowing how important it was for their commander to be present to bond with them. 

Nor was her treatment the first time she'd ever heard of it. Enemies of the kingdom who earned her ire also earned the lust of her men; after sacking one of their cities, they took the fairest women and hanged them on frames to display their womanly charms before the soldiers while they took their pick of those who captured their desires the most and had their way with them on the spot. She sighed and wondered if the gods were punishing her for allowing her soldiers to pursue such lustful activities and herself for inciting them. But she wasn't superstitious, she was a pragmatic general who knew that the gods rewarded those who actually took up their sword to meet the enemy head-on. She didn't believe in charms or rituals, every priest from every conquered country prayed that they would defend her invasions.

---

Part Five: the Tribunal

Her legs buckled as she stood with parted legs trying to keep herself balanced. Sweat dripped off her chin and pooled to her legs as the judges took their time to make their appearance. She stood their for three hours, her legs already beginning to shake from the heavy crossbeam. The guards, especially those who fought with her on the field could only look on with pity as the proud child who only wanted to bring honor to her family and banish any belittlement to her person has been sentenced by the very kingdom she fought for. 

Cynthia bit her lip as she glared back at them. She wanted to drop to her knees but the hooded torturer would flog her if she disobeyed. The most she could do to salvage her dignity was to not succumb to fatigue too soon. She tried to glare back at her own people staring at her. But it was not long before she could not longer take the multitude of curious eyes and avert her gaze to the floor.

"Lower!" The torturer commanded. Recognizing the form of punishment she was made to endure, she obeyed, she parted her legs further and raised her toes, then lowered her squatting position. As a result her upturned bottom took a more rounded shape and lewdly presented itself to the people, some of whom nervously laughed and others to avert their gaze and move on with their business. With her heavy burden now shouldered in a more painful and humiliating way she grit her teeth and tried to breathe steadily.

By half an hour the princess was at her limits, her face was locked in a grimace, her face crimson from both the humiliation and the strain of carrying her load. The people closest behind her were transfixed at her hips involuntarily spasming from her shaking legs. The Torturer cracked his whip as a warning, the punished were to endure this position for two hours or face flogging.

At an hour, the princess was about ready to give up when the trumpets blared signalling the arrival of the Tribune. She maintained her position, breathing deeply in gasps. Sweat stung her eyes and she shook her head. Damn it, she thought. Filthy politicians and their habitual tardiness, I should have killed them first. Her venomous thoughts were interrupted when the Tribune made their appearance.

Leading the procession was Judge Frederick de Guane, head of the Tribunal who presided over trials of high treason. He came in from the gates behind Cynthia, looking impassively at her obscenely presented bottom as he made his way past the gathered crowd. Beside him, Emissary Golgan, messenger to Azure Dragon Empire, made little attempt to hide his pleasure at the sight of the proud princess bearing her punishment in front of her own people. 

"So the noble princess Cynthia, standing in public like a sweating pig!" He sneered, more to himself than to the entourage following them. "With an ass like this, our emperor will make good use of her wringing out his pleasures deeply." 

Judge De Guane cleared his throat. Golgan, realizing his faux pas, imitated his cough. Until the trial was concluded he decided that any further abuse was unwarranted and moved on. He contented himself to drinking in her sweat-drenched body as they walked along.

Among the royal entourage was Prince Kaelthas, crown prince of the Azure Dragon and youngest son of the Emperor. His face wore an unimpressed mask as he cast a sidealong glace at the princess suffering on the condemned's platform. He took his seat among the gathered dignitaries, looking at her without a hint of emotion as she glared back at the assembly of nobles she no longer belonged to.  

"Cynthia Aevia, you have been found guilty of grave misconduct in the line of duty with an important ally of the Kingdom." The obese judge intoned from his shaded perch.  "You are found guilty of indecent conduct, and inciting unnecessary war and bloodshed with an established political ally. Your sentence of death however..." he paused as he let the people's anxiety sweep across the walls of the castle.

K-kill me now she thought. Hoping to end her disgrace.

"...has been, commuted to indefinite servitude to the Emperor of the Azure Dragon Empire, as per your request."
Cynthia let out an audible sigh as her legs threatened to give out.

"Cynthia Aevia, you are now stripped of your rank and power as an officer of the Kingdom and disowned by the Royal Family."

Cynthia's heart sank. Her body continued to bear her horrible burden as silent protest to her dignity appealing to them.

"...you have been sentenced to a life of disgrace, under the hand of the Azure Dragon Empire. You will serve as a warning to all who oppose the ideals of peace..."

"...at the leisure of the Azure Dragon Empire, you will be publicly displayed without any respect and dignity. Punished for the entertainment of the public on a daily basis..."

The former princess screwed her eyes shut as tears burned behind her eye lids, mingling with her sweat.

"...you will, without question, obey all commands from your jailers, and accept all the humiliation and hardships that you deserve."

"...failure to perform satisfactorily to the demands of your jailors, is grounds for immediate termination of your eligibility for a pardon, and execution."

Without a word, the Tribune made their exit, ignoring Cynthia's collapse to the ground.

---