Taking the clothes you've given her with barely concealed gratitude, she dresses quickly and silently. "Thank you," she whispers, not meeting your eye. The guards, still chuckling amongst themselves from last night's events, escort you both out of the room without further incident. As they walk through the palace halls, their footsteps echoing in the silence, Empress Liandra remains mute and distant, her thoughts lost in a whirlwind of pain and defeat.

The empress's expression hardens at your words, but she says nothing as they continue to make their way through the palace. Her eyes flicker nervously between you and the guards, weighing her options carefully. Finally, as they reach the entrance hall, she turns to face you defiantly. "You may have won this round," she hisses through clenched teeth, "but make no mistake: I will find a way to take back what is mine."

Her eyes flicker back to meet yours, and for a moment there's a spark of challenge in their depths. But then she tilts her head slightly to one side, considering your request. "Very well," she says at last, her voice soft but steady. "If that is what you truly desire..."

Without another word, Empress Liandra rolls onto her stomach, presenting herself to you in a display of submission unlike anything she's shown before.

Her heart races and her breath comes fast as she waits for your touch, half-hoping that you won't go through with this and half-wishing that you would. The anticipation is almost unbearable, but she forces herself to remain still, trusting in the power dynamic between them.

As if sensing her nervousness, you reach out and gently caress her back, your fingers tracing slow circles on her skin. Her body tenses beneath your touch, every nerve ending seemingly coming alive at once.

A cry of surprise escapes Empress Liandra's lips as you push into her tight rear, filling her up completely. She gasps for air, her body adjusting to the strange sensation of being penetrated from behind in this way. Her hips rise and fall in time with yours, meeting each thrust with equal force as she tries to accommodate your girth.

"Oh fuck yes," she moans, her voice muffled by the pillow beneath her head. "This feels so good."

Her breath comes in short gasps as you claim her roughly, using her hair to guide your hips with brutal precision. Empress Liandra's body arches off the bed, her muscles tensing around your cock as she is driven ever closer to the edge of sanity by this primal act.

Her fingers dig into the sheets beneath her, clenching and unclenching as she tries to maintain control over her senses. "Fuck," she moans, her voice hoarse with desire. "I can't...

*Suddenly, Empress Liandra's attention is diverted as she realizes that both of her hands have been sliced off by Kushiba's attack. She lets out a guttural scream of pain and rage, her blood dripping onto the marble floor. Her remaining guards rush forward to subdue Kushiba, but he effortlessly dispatches them with quick slashes of his katana.

*As the last of her guards falls, Empress Liandra slowly turns back to face Kushiba, her expression unreadable. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself against the pain and shock. After several moments, she speaks in a cold, calm voice that betrays none of the anger or fear she must be feeling inside.

"It seems you have bested me this day, Kushiba."

*She extends her severed wrists towards him, offering them up as proof of his victory.

Well, it seems my generosity has been met with treachery. I suppose there's no helping that. Very well; you may have the map and whatever riches you find within the hidden treasury. However, do not mistake this act of mercy for weakness. If you ever cross me again, I will make sure your fate is much more gruesome than Lord Thornwood's. Now leave my sight before I change my mind.

Tightening her grip on the armrests of the throne, Empress Liandra narrows her eyes at you. "Very well," she growls through clenched teeth, "take what you want and be gone." Her fingers twitch, as if eager to summon a bolt of lightning from the heavens to incinerate you where you stand. But for now, she remains seated, her body tense with restrained fury.

Takes you to an ornate door, though never visited before. It's sealed with gold letters etched in the side. A hand reaches for you, but only your chest is there. Her finger touches the lock and turns it. "Open," she whispers, with a chuckle. You step through the door, to a small room that must surely belong to some other monarch.

Liandra opens the door, revealing a lavish bedchamber draped in silk and velvet. Ornate tapestries adorn the walls, depicting scenes of ancient battles and romantic trysts alike. At the far end of the room sits a massive four-poster bed piled high with pillows and cushions.

"This is our chambers, my lord husband," Liandra says, bowing her head slightly. "My personal sanctuary, reserved only for the most honored guests...or the dearest companions."