Content warning: This novel contains strong non-con themes and themes of abuse, along with the misgendering of a transgender character, mentions of pregnancy and depictions of gender dysphoria.

Over the next few days, Forrest was to be prepared, in order for his body to be tested in ways that made him sick to his stomach.

The King refused to touch him other than over his clothes, until his Majesty could be certain that these acts would bear no repercussions. What a coward, Forrest could only think, as the maids bathed him, then took his measurements for the third time today; the King had plans to dress him up in all sorts of garments, it seemed, and Forrest hated it.

A knock on the bathroom’s—if one could even call it that, with how large it was—door, interrupted the maids who were currently tending to Forrest’s unruly, chestnut strands.

Forrest blinked. Before him stood a rather tall and muscular man who appeared to be older than the Halfling, though, probably not by much.

Footsteps echoed across the tiled walls as the stranger walked through the fog of the bath’s rising steam, until he came to a halt, right in front of Forrest’s naked body.

The Halfling peered upward at the man. A guard’s uniform sat atop his broad shoulders. His posture—perfectly straight and controlled—inspired great confidence in his skills as a warrior.

He might have been considered a perfect person by the royal court—that is, if he hadn’t also been a Halfling himself.

Forrest first noticed the signs when the man ran a hand through his short, blunt cut hair. Like Forrest’s, it was dark, but this was not what alerted him. No—Forrest’s gaze was fixated on the man’s ears. They were like a human’s: only, the tip of them were pointed to the sky, their edges sharp like the corners of autumn’s dying leaves.

And then, the man spoke, and Forrest saw the guard’s fangs. Like his, too, he could only think, as he wondered why in the world a Halfling was here, serving a King who had been well known for hunting their kind.

“Are you listening?”

A flutter of warmth rose across Forrest’s pale neck, the heat turned his skin a darker shade of rose. Forrest tensed. He could not meet the stranger’s gaze again, especially not when he was this bare—this vulnerable—completely naked, in the King’s bathtub.

“Y-Yes…” Forrest stared down to his knees. He lowered his voice. “I am now,” he muttered. It occurred to him then, that he had been mistaken, and that this guard was likely much older than him because of how his kin tended to age.

He expected the man to scold him. Yet, the guard did no such thing. He rested a hand against the hilt of his sword, his weight against what seemed to be his better leg. “It is a tad overwhelming, isn’t it?” he told Forrest.

Forrest could only gasp, as he finally looked up to face the stranger. “It is,” he echoed. For the first time since his arrival, a smile tugged at Forrest’s lips.

He learned soon after, that the man was named William, and that William was here to escort him to the markets, where Forrest would be tasked with buying whatever necessities made him feel most comfortable.

The meaning behind this order was unclear. So, as he and William paraded down the castle’s hallways, the Halfling found himself asking the guard, “What does that mean? What am I meant to feel comfortable with?”

Upon hearing the words, William’s once-relaxed features turned stern for the instance of a second; had Forrest not been watching the guard’s reaction carefully, it is likely he would have missed the change.

William gulped. He said, “I do not know, either.” And, after a moment’s hesitation: “We will have to ask the King.”

Somehow, something told Forrest that William did know, and that whatever this was about, it was not going to be a pleasant trip.

During the entirety of their walk, the Halfling eyed every part of the castle in hopes of finding a means of escape. Yet, even if he were to run, then what? Forrest thought.

Where would I go?

He could not return to his old village, his old home and friends—the King would catch him. Nor did he have the funds to travel to the edges of the land, in order to take a boat that would lead him far from this dastardly place.

Perhaps, Forrest would get the opportunity to steal enough gold coins in the near future. However, right now, he had to be patient. Silent.

The markets were quite lively in the early morning, but Forrest could not find it in himself to appreciate the sight. There was something so dreadfully lonely about being surrounded by this many villagers—yearning to beg them for help, all the while knowing no help would ever come. Forrest’s heart felt heavy in his chest.

He looked away.

It was about an hour into their trip, that the Halfling could not contain his curiosity any longer: not to mention, he figured it would be wise to figure out whether William may potentially be on his side.

Both him and William were seated across a round fountain, that was risen right in the middle of the village plaza, as Forrest cleared his throat. He stopped eating the meat broth William had bought him from a food stall.