I heard the door being pushed open paired with the sounds of footsteps approaching me. The lamp he was carrying blinded me even though my eyes were partially shut. I did not bother to even look up at him since this has been somewhat of a routine as of late. This shaggy haired man, whose messy bangs covered his eyes, was named Erik if I remembered correctly and he was in charge of me during my stay here.

　　“What day is it, Erik?” I asked him as he placed my meal on the wooden crate. I glanced over at it, not sure why I was expecting to see anything different, since it was the same thing, a small cup of plain water and a loaf of hardened bread.

　　“You don’t need to know that princess.” He said.

　　“Ah, but I am oh so curious to know how long I have been trapped here.”

　　“Just eat your bread and save your energy.”

　　“Is that concern I hear from you, Erik?” I teased even though I could hardly lift my head to look at him.

　　The lack of light and the lack of food has caused me to grow weak and fatigued. I tried my hardest to keep count of the days I have been here but without knowledge of the weather outside, I was clueless. Lady Marie had not come to visit me after that day and the company I had was Erik. He was not much of a talker, always placing my meal on the crate and leaving.

　　“Please don’t act so familiar with me.”

　　“Oh, apologies. But you are my only friend here, Erik.”

　　“I’m not your friend.”

　　“I can pretend, can’t I?”

　　“Looks like you are already losing your sanity, huh?” he muttered, leaning against the wall. His head was turned towards me as he watched me.

　　?“Am I?” I muttered, noticing how this was a first. Erik never stayed behind to talk. I then shrugged, trying to seem indifferent about this sudden change. I glanced over to the loaf of bread once more. “Do you think you could get me something other than bread, Erik?”

　　“No can do, princess. This is all we have to feed you.”

　　“Stale bread?”

　　“It’s better than nothing. Maybe this will teach you about the struggles of the real world.”

　　I smiled as I reached out my tied hands to pick up the loaf of bread. He was right, this was better than nothing, but the mere sight of the bread made my stomach twist. “Are you here to watch me eat?” I asked him.

　　“Can’t have you die from starvation now.”

　　I ignored him and took a bite of the hard bread, slowly chewing to make it at least go down easily. “You really cannot tell me what day it is?” I pushed my luck.

　　“Nope.” He shook his head.

　　“What about the time? You could at least tell me that?”

　　“Eat your food and stay silent.”

　　I sighed. “And here I thought we were friends.” I grumbled under my breath.

　　“The crowned omega is delusional.”

　　“You know, if you help me escape, I promise to pay you triple the amount she is paying you.”

　　“You said this yesterday, and I refused. Why do you think today would be any different?”

　　I kept quiet as I nibbled on the loaf. That was it. All I needed was for him to give me some sort of indication of the day or time. I had only tried to bribe Erik once, and according to him, that was yesterday. He only came to give me food once a day and I have seen him four times ever since Lady Marie came to talk. If this thinking of mine was correct, then today was the fifth day since I have been kidnapped.

　　Isaiah’s trial was probably over by now. I silently prayed that everything went smoothly with his release and with Amir’s departure. Slowly, anxiety crept into me. Five days have passed since I was kidnapped, how long more must I endure? Will they come for me? Or will they believe in the fake letter Lady Marie forged.

　　I knew that as long as Lady Marie’s plan was in action, I was going to get released from this forsaken place eventually, but when is eventually? How long must I remain in this dark room, eating almost spoiled bread.

　　“Hey. Stop daydreaming and eat your food. If you die, I’ll get in trouble.”

　　“I know…” I muttered. “Why are you so loyal to Lady Marie? I thought that you mercenaries would do anything for the right price.” I asked. ‘

　　“Well, you ain’t wrong but we mercenaries also want to be on the winning side. Right now, Lady Marie has the upper hand on you. You are trapped here while she is free to do whatever she wants. She is one step closer to her goals whereas you are just—here.”

　　“You make it sound as though I choose to be trapped here.”

　　“You choose this path knowing full well that this would be a possibility. Dangers are always lurking around you royal and noble folks. Ever since I became a mercenary, all I see is how filthy the rich act and how little they regard human life.”

　　“Haha, so you do have a heart, Erik. I am glad.”

　　Erik stayed silent for a moment and after a few more bites of the bread, I could not stomach anymore. I tossed it back on the metal tray and reached for the cup of water. I took a sip and was about to put it away when Erik came towards me.

　　“You should at least finish the water.” He said. “It’s clean.”

　　“I’m not thirsty.”

　　“Do as I say, or I will force it down your throat.”

　　I giggled. “Is this tough love, Erik?”

　　“Don’t push it, princess.”

　　I sighed and did as I was told, downing the liquid. He then snatched the cup and metal tray and went to the exit. I frowned, wondering why he had left the lamp and why he did not lock the door. Was he letting me escape, I wondered. I waited for a little bit in case he would come back for the lamp and lock the door but when he didn’t, I pushed myself up. I walked towards the door with much difficulty due to how all my strength had just vanished. Just as I was about to reach out for the door, it was pushed open, and my heart sank.

　　“Well, hello there, princess.” The eye-patched man greeted with a toothy grin.

　　I backed away from the door and watched three more men walk into the room behind Lanzo. Just before the door was closed, I caught a glimpse of Erik outside, he gave me a sympathetic look and mouthed something to me, ‘sorry’.

　　He knew that this was going to happen, he knew from the moment he came in to give me my food. Strangely, I was more annoyed at that fact than at the fact that Lanzo and his goons were in the room with me.

　　“Did you come back to get hurt again, Lanzo?” I mocked even though my heart was hammering from fear.

　　His goons snickered behind him, but Lanzo was not impressed one bit. “You should hold your tongue, princess. Lady Marie gave us permission to have a little fun with you,” he smirked.

　　I was not sure if I wanted to laugh or cry at that point as I remembered her words to me. You are going to wish you were never born, she said, and of course it would involve them laying their hands on me. I was too tired, too weak, could I even fight off four men when my hands were bound like this? I had to think of a way to run, to escape. The door was closed but it was not locked. If I could run, if I could make it then.

　　I needed to distract them but even as I moved back to keep my distance from them, they kept inching closer. I was scared, petrified of what would happen if they were to grab me. My gaze went to the lamp that Erik left inside. I could use it, I could toss it at Lanzo’s stupid face and sprint pass the others when they were distracted. I could do this.

　　Just as I moved one inch towards the lamp, Lanza reached out and grabbed me by my neck. He slammed me against the wall, the back of my head colliding painfully with the harsh textured wall. For a second, everything went blank as I attempted to push him away with my tied hands but to no avail.

　　“I have been waiting for this moment, princess.” He whispered into my ear. He held out his other hand and one of the goons placed a vial on his waiting palm. “I heard that omegas in heat feel amazing…shall we give it a try?” he smiled, holding the vial up for me to see.