The Emperor's Forbidden Harem: A Tale of Seduction and Power

In the Emperor’s Harem

1.
“Do you know who I am?” I asked the chained girl in front of me. The woman looked so small cowering in front of my erect manhood. She avoided my gaze and knelt in silence.
“Answer me!” I yelled, cracking the whip in my hand against the ornate marble floor. I could never use the whip on her, of course, I appreciated the flawless skin of my women too much too ever scar one of them, but she didn't know that.
“You're the Emperor Domitian,” she said quietly. “You killed my family.”
“Ah you're mistaken my lovely,” I responded quickly. “It was my soldiers who killed your family, and you would've been raped and murdered with them if one of my procurers hadn't been traveling among the squad that captured your farmhouse.” Her beautiful blue eyes stared up at me in fear. “You would find yourself a common whore in the gutter right now,” I continued. “If I didn't find you to have a compelling beauty that would make a fine addition to my harem.” To punctuate this sentence I grabbed her chin and stared deep into her soul. “So you'd better start acting grateful.”
I threw her to the ground and walked away to my full wine glass to take a drink.
“I am the one true lord of this world,” I said. “From the Sea of Serpents to the Northern ice wastes my soldiers are bringing the planet under my control. I employ 100 great scholars and philosophers to tell me the secrets of the world, and three great wizards who know what the scholars do not. I have raped 1,000 women and fathered 300 sons.” Most of those were in my wild youth of course, storming across the plains with 20,000 horsemen.
I remember the smell of smoke and blood the filled the air as we sacked a city and took it's women for our enjoyment. It felt like so long ago. In the time since I had become more selective with my women, my tastes refined in old age. “You are in my capital of Maradrim, the finest city ever founded by man. 20 years ago I took the city of Penatos through my strength, renamed it for the goddess who showed me the way to victory, and began the greatest empire this world has ever and will ever see. I watch over it all from my grand citadel and enjoy the spoils of my conquered lands.” I pulled her by her long black hair back to her knees. She was crying.
“Including their women.” This one was clearly a rare find, the agent who had saved her from rape and the sword had earned his gold. Her skin was olive and her hair raven black, but her eyes were a piercing blue and her face had an edged, dangerous quality to it. With a narrow waist but a curvy body and plump breasts I eagerly anticipated defiling her. She came from a rocky, seafaring peninsula somewhere far to the east. I read the name inscribed on her chain necklace.
“Marina,” I said. “A pretty name for a beautiful girl.” My voice softened and I changed tried to make her feel safer. “You will be safe here, Marina. You will find I am not such a cruel master. I can even be a generous lover, though sometimes I can take more than a woman has to give. You will be fed the finest food and spared the touch of any other man. When you die you will be entombed in my mausoleum, a place of honor, and if you bear me sons your name will be written in gold as one who birthed an heir of the God-King. Daughters will be returned to your homeland to be raised by your next of kin. I believe your youngest brother still lives.” Upon hearing this a light jumped into her eyes and she gasped in joy. A tear of happiness ran down her cheek.
“Marcus?” She asked, tentatively.
“If that's his name, yes. Learn to please me completely with your body and mind you will live a long, happy life. If you fail, well, I will extract my pleasure from you one way or another, though you probably won't survive it. If you raise a hand against me or resist me in ways that I do not find amusing.” I gestured at the wide, elegant window that presented a magnificent view of the sky and harbor. “It's 1,5000 feet to the cliff rocks, and the vultures are always hungry.” Marina shuddered and averted her gaze from the window's fluttering curtains.
“Your sisters always welcome a new addition, and I hear they have quite a bit of fun when I'm not needing release. And I don't just mean echeqa.” Echeqa was a game about moving military pieces around a checked board that had caught on in Penatos from some kingdom I'd conquered. I didn't have the patience for it, but some of my girls had more skill than even my best generals. “You will be issued silk robes and will be expected to keep your figure even after pregnancy.” I had given this speech so many times I could hardly contain my boredom and impatience for the real fun to begin. “I encourage you to learn to read. My concubines may request anything from the scholar's library and you may write letters to any one you choose. They'll be read, of course, to make sure you aren't giving away my secrets, but you'll understand the need for security.”
I poured us both glasses of wine, a tradition before breaking in a new acquisition.
“Now is any part of your position unclear to you? If you are so stupid as to not see the luxuries of your new life you still have one way out.” I didn't need to point to the window, her eyes shot to it immediately. Smart girl. Smart enough to reject that path.
“I will be your consort.” I was pleased, but not pleased enough to tolerate disrespect. My eyes hardened and my muscles tensed.
“Do not be confused, girl!” I hissed. “We are not equals, and you will address me as your Emperor.”
“My apologies, glorious one.” Much better. “I will be your consort gladly, my lord.” I relaxed again and put the wine glass to her lips, her wrists being chained behind her back.
“Then drink, your training begins now.” I tipped the goblet back and she gulped down the purple wine along with me. When our glasses were empty I replaced them on the table. Wine had spilled off her lips and run down her chin onto her heaving breasts. She was especially beautiful in the magical orange lights that illuminated the chamber. “In all honesty, Marina, I hope you survive it.” A look of fear donned on her.
“Guards!” I said to the two eunuchs that waited on the staircase. The entire citadel had a spiral staircase as core that twisted around a basket and pulley system. I was incredibly proud of my construction. It was the first great monument to my rule. “Summon Krista, it is time.” The guards nodded and descended to the three levels of harem directly below us.
The floor Marina and I occupied was the bulb on the very peak of the tower. The floors were fine marble inlaid with gold, and all around the walls were painted with murals of my victories, while the ceiling had a perfectly accurate map of the stars, bewitched to change with the seasons and the time of day, though the weather was always perfect.
Velvet and silk adorned the furniture of the room, which included a massive feather bed made of a section of the circular room and cushions lining every edge. Tall windows with satin curtains were spaced every 10 feet, but a roaring fire always kept the room wide. The largest window, the one I'd threatened Marina with, looked out onto the sea from the cliff my citadel was built on.

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THE END