In the Shadow of the Crown

Raen’s day began as any ruler’s should early, with the world bending to his will from the moment he opened his eyes.

By the time the first light of dawn seeped through the palace windows, he was already dressed in his imperial attire—a sleek black coat adorned with gold embroidery, every movement precise, exuding effortless dominance.

He left the royal chamber in silence, allowing himself one last glance at Eliza, still nestled in their shared bed.

The empire awaited its ruler.

In his private study, Velkor, his ever-loyal chamberlain, stood ready with neatly stacked documents and his usual air of quiet efficiency.

Raen sat down at his desk, his golden eyes flickering with expectation.

 “Have you prepared the list?”

Velkor stepped forward, placing a thick stack of parchment before him.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The candidates have been carefully selected according to your requirements. Noble-born, well-versed in etiquette, and…” Velkor’s voice remained steady, but his words carried weight, “…without personal ambition.”

Raen’s fingers traced the edge of the parchment as he listened.

“Good. Read them aloud.”

Velkor obeyed without hesitation, detailing each woman’s lineage, skills, and temperament. The emperor listened in silence, his expression unreadable as the chamberlain went through the names one by one.

When the last name was spoken, Raen finally leaned back in his chair.

“Acceptable.” His voice was smooth, final. “They will begin serving the Empress tomorrow.”

Velkor bowed. “As you command, Your Majesty.”

Raen gave a small nod, his mind already shifting to the next task at hand. Before he could dismiss his chamberlain, there was another knock at the door.

A guard entered, bowing respectfully.

“Your Majesty, the magus has arrived.”

Raen’s lips curled into a small, pleased smile.

“Bring him in.”

While Raen attended to his imperial duties, Eliza found herself drawn to the palace gardens.

Dressed in a flowing gown, she wandered between the carefully sculpted hedges, inhaling the delicate fragrance of roses.

Here, there was silence.

Here, the weight of expectation faded, if only for a moment.

But even in solitude, she could not escape the invisible chains that bound her.

She traced her fingers over a soft rose petal, lost in thought.

Then, a shadow fell over her.

She turned.

At the garden’s edge, Raen stood watching her, his golden eyes unreadable.

But he was not alone.

Beside him stood a figure cloaked in deep green robes, a dark hood concealing his features. The air around him seemed heavier, charged with an unnatural energy.

Eliza’s pulse quickened.

Raen approached first, his touch deceptively tender as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

“Eliza,” he murmured, his voice a silken caress.

She barely glanced at him, her gaze locked onto the cloaked figure.

“Who is this?”

Raen’s lips curled into something almost amused.

“The one who will ensure your perfection.”

She barely had time to react before he took her hand and led her back into the palace.

They entered a private chamber, dimly lit by flickering candlelight. The air was thick, almost suffocating.

Eliza stood still as the magus stepped forward, his shadow stretching unnaturally across the stone floor.

Slowly, he raised his hands, hovering them just above her skin. A strange warmth passed through her, brushing against something deeper than flesh—something she could not see but could feel.

A shudder ran through her.

The magus remained silent, his fingers moving in slow, deliberate patterns, as though weaving invisible threads into her very being.

Raen watched with calm intensity, his arms folded.

Minutes stretched into eternity before the magus finally lowered his hands. His dark eyes gleamed with knowledge.

“I will need five months,” he declared.

Raen’s gaze sharpened. “No less?”

The magus hesitated for a moment, then exhaled.

“There is a way to shorten the process.”

Raen’s eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued.

“Explain.”

The magus steepled his fingers. “Normally, the mind must adjust gradually, or there is a risk of breaking it beyond repair. However…” He glanced at Eliza, assessing her. “Her spirit is strong, but her will is already bending to you. If we double the enchantments each month, the process will accelerate—without the risk of shattering her.”

Raen’s lips curled into a slow, pleased smile.

 “How much time will that save?”

“At this pace, four months.” The magus paused, then added, “Possibly three.”

Satisfaction gleamed in Raen’s golden eyes.

“Do it.”

The magus nodded.

“Then we begin tonight.”

The magus moved with practiced precision, tracing glowing symbols onto Eliza’s wrists, her collarbone, her forehead. Strange whispers filled the room words in a language long lost to time.

Eliza’s vision blurred.

The air grew dense, pressing against her like unseen hands. Her thoughts slowed, distant, as though something was slipping away something vital, something hers.

Raen’s hand rested on her shoulder. Steady. Possessive.

The magic wove itself into her soul.

By the time the ritual ended, Eliza felt… different.

Not broken. Not in pain. But something had shifted.

She turned to Raen, her lips parting as if to speak

No words came.

Raen’s golden eyes gleamed with approval.

He offered her his hand.

She took it without hesitation.

As they walked toward his study, Raen finally turned his attention back to the magus.

“What exactly have you done?”

The magus exhaled, as if expecting the question.

“The process has only just begun. Right now, the magic is settling within her mind, dulling her resistance. She will still think, still feel, but she will not question—not truly.”

Raen glanced at Eliza, who walked beside him in silence, her fingers still curled around his.

“And the next stages?”

“Each month, the magic will deepen. She will be unable to feel anything but love for you. Any stray emotion—fear, doubt, hesitation—will vanish. Your presence will bring her joy. Your absence will bring her pain. By the end, she will exist only for you.”

Raen’s fingers tightened around hers.

“Good. But I want more.”

The magus tilted his head.

“Tell me.”

Raen’s voice was soft, yet absolute.

“I want her to move only when I allow it. Speak only when I ask. And when she does, she will say exactly what I want to hear.”

The magus nodded. “Easily done.”

“She will be like a doll,” Raen continued, his voice smooth and satisfied. “Motionless, waiting to be picked up. Silent, unless spoken to. Eyes always open, watching only me.”

The magus’s lips curved.

“As you wish.”

A final spell was cast.

Eliza’s body stilled completely. Her breathing was shallow, her posture straight. She did not blink, did not shift, did not move unless Raen commanded it.

Her eyes—usually bright with life were now empty. Unblinking. Unseeing. Only the faintest hint of her awareness remained, just enough to stay in place and obey.

When Raen spoke, his commands would bring her eyes to life, her pupils gleaming with love and devotion. But the moment she finished her words, her eyes would return to their dull, emotionless state, fixed on him but devoid of any feeling other than a passive readiness to serve.

Raen’s fingers brushed her lips, reveling in her stillness.

“Perfect.”

The magus bowed.

And with that, the final step toward her absolute submission had begun.

Raen’s satisfaction was not only in her complete obedience but in the profound alterations made to Eliza’s body and mind.

The magus had worked tirelessly, not only to dull Eliza’s resistance but also to create powerful, invisible runes etched deep into her very being each rune adding another layer of control, reinforcing her obedience. They were subtle, hidden from any eyes but Raen’s, an invisible web weaving itself into her form, ensuring that she would never question his commands again.

Her obedience was no longer just a mental conditioning. With each rune, each new layer of magic, Eliza’s will was entirely bent to his desires.

“These runes will strengthen her resolve,” the magus explained. “Her mind will no longer consider anything outside of your will. Her body will respond without hesitation.”

Raen smiled, pleased with the results.

But that wasn’t all.

The magus had also implanted programming deep into her mind. It was a precise, complex set of commands, each one designed to compel Eliza to obey Raen’s every word without question. The program would force her to follow each order, no matter how insignificant or commanding, without deviation.

Her mind was now a blank slate, ready only to be shaped by Raen’s desires.

But Raen wanted more.

He wanted Eliza’s appearance to be perfect—unimprovable. Every detail of her body, her face, her form had been enhanced. Her skin became smoother, her hair shinier, her eyes sharper and more captivating. Her body was now a flawless reflection of his power—beautiful, obedient, and unyielding.

“Her beauty is unmatched,” the magus assured him. “Her form, her grace, no one will dare compare.”

Raen nodded, pleased. But the enhancements didn’t stop there.

The magus had also embedded a delicate but powerful mechanism within Eliza’s body an unseen device that would monitor her every physical change. It would track her health, her menstrual cycle, any weakness, and even her pregnancy.

“This device will alert you,” the magus explained. “It will tell you when her cycle begins and ends, and should anything go wrong with her body, it will notify you immediately.”

Raen’s eyes gleamed with approval.

“And the pregnancy?”

“It will notify you the moment she is pregnant. It will even track her condition, alerting you to any signs of pregnancy sickness, including nausea or aversions to certain smells.”

Raen smiled.

“Good. But one final thing,” he said, turning to the magus. “When she is pregnant, she can move only when she needs to, when she’s unwell or when she desires my presence.”

The magus nodded.

“Understood.”

Raen’s eyes gleamed

with excitement.

“She will be perfect. Completely mine.”