‘To the old rulers, what did power entail?’

Ana pondered that question. She thought about it in her heart and soul.

Her nobility status was given from birth, however it wasn’t as simple as being born into power either. Giantess society dictated that power had to be earned, along with various qualifications being needed. It was far from a simple monarchy.

Yet, the kind hearted queen couldn’t separate that angst from herself. It became a question worth asking.

‘To some, power came from might. Others would say wealth, and few maybe reputation or resources. If everyone’s interpretation of power was different, how could there be such a visible sign of what a powerful country was, along with what a weak country looked like?’

The giantesses of Ranate were powerful by birth. Their land, maybe lacking in some resources, still had plenty to go around for the needs of the general populace. Not to mention, from pillaging and plundering with their might in the past, the country was rather rich.

However, Ana scorned that last fact. She disliked it somewhat. 

‘Is the fate of the weak to forever be condemned? To have their wants squashed and their needs plundered?’

She thought about Leon, like she normally did. About the miniature man tucked away in her violet bra cup. The man squirmed, yet could do nothing in retaliation. Every step Ana took may have been like an earthquake to him, as he was bouncing around with her breast.  

She found his size quite adorable. It was a rather natural thing for many giantesses of the modern era to think about. Gone was the attitude of constant cruelty and unfairness, instead it was replaced with teasing and loving domination. The concept of getting hurt was padded away with enchantments. It was the safety mechanism needed to finally give the giantesses a different perspective on humans. 

Ana wanted to protect him. To simply hide him away from the troubles of the world. To shackle his being to hers, to forever have him be available at her every whim. It was a selfish desire, Ana herself knew that. Which is why she would always restrain herself. 

There was a fine line that separated that love from selfish lust. One was more aligned to the state of the country now, and the other reminded Ana of the past. Of Ranate during a different era. 

‘The people who proliferated such archaic ideas… Some of them still remain today.’

Lisa Stonehall was the one who came to mind. The ex-warrior giantess of the past who still sat proudly in the council of today. Her wants and ideals were reminders of the Jade era of administration. A time period both Ana and her mother both disliked. If anything, it was a time period most giantesses now looked back on with a sense of disgust.

Which is why Ana couldn’t help but be grateful to Rheas. Who she had bumped into. 

“Thanks, Rheas. Thank you for the intel and for listening to the needs of the country.” Ana shook her hand, however Rheas was in a depressed gaze. It didn’t seem like she was too happy with her decision. This all had arisen from the pressure Ana put on her a little while back.

“...Yeah.” Was her only response. She stood in a daze. Same floor as where Lisa was, however she was outside the cell room and in the guard’s office instead. Ana had requested her to be there at some point so she could thank her. 

However, Ana had also noticed that Rheas wasn’t exactly too happy either. So she pulled her in a little closer and whispered in her ear.

“You know this was the best outcome. Deep down inside I know you think that. Why be dragged down with Lisa? I know you as someone better than that.” She quietly whispered. Perhaps it was a little manipulative. However, Ana knew this was needed. 

Lisa had slowly changed Rheas over the years. Lining her beliefs to be closer and closer to the corrupt woman rather than having her own. For years those beliefs went unchallenged. However, only when Ana put the slightest bit of pressure back did it shake up Rheas’ ideals.

The queen of Ranate had effectively threatened to eventually put the two of them in jail together, or to have Rheas sell out Lisa as to protect herself. 

‘Obviously, Rheas Goldstone protected herself. Her family name is rather important in reputation, no one would forgive her if she tarnished it.’

Rheas couldn’t help but give a sick, off handed look to Ana who put her in this position. However, the lady at the top of the social hierarchy, Ana Darlington-Bliss could only smile. One that was neither innocent nor devious. It simply gave out a message. One that spelt out-

‘Do not taint our country with your archaic ideals. Do not taint my love with your hate.'

It was a terrifying gaze. Ana had always planned to subdue Rheas and Lisa in the council. She needed them gone and replaced for her to enact her ideals. However, the moment they brought Leon into the equation, Ana was merciless towards them in the game of politics. 

**Creek**

The wooden, dungeon door opened. It was the door that separated the guard’s office to the cells of that floor. Ana had opened it as she walked into the giantess area. Obviously being a section dedicated to prosecuting giantesses. 

Many were here. The simple footsteps of her being caused many cellmates to give her the side eye. The reason? It was simple. Ana herself was the reason many of these people were stuck, rotting away in their cells. 

This specific floor was dedicated not only to giantesses, but giantesses that had offended Ana as a political opponent and simply wouldn’t quit upsetting her. Many people here broke rules and regulations surrounding the humanization of humans in Ranate society.  Methods to rehabilitate them were also unsuccessful, so they were all placed here while the council plotted around what to do with them. 

As such, they also had the worst cell floor. Only a single window too per cell, that was too thin to allow any giantess to cross through. Bars, made with reinforced strong steel separated freedom from prison. As for their toiletries and such, well, Ana preferred not to get into that here. 

“Let us out… Please let us out…” Voices murmuring could be heard. Enough to pull only the weakest heart strings on Ana. However, the words that came after would remove all such feelings. “Please… the humans in Rhasba Village. They’re my prey… They’re my-”

Such a display was disheartening to see at the very least.

‘Sure, it’s obvious that stuffing people in a shitty cell isn’t going to change their attitude. But seeing it upfront is still…’

Ana knew it was pointless to say that jail time alone would change people. After all, these people were jailed for punishment, rather than rehabilitation. Such a difference in intention would change the outcome and purpose of the jailing. It most certainly wouldn’t make the average inmate into a better person. At least not like how it currently was. 

‘Sadly… You can’t rehabilitate everyone either. So you end up with this dilemma.’

She sighed. Putting one foot in front of the other, she kept moving forward until finally-

“Oh… It’s you.” A soft, undirected voice called out. 

Unlike the prisoners from earlier. Lisa repeatedly participated in the stealing and dehumanization of humans. She stole Marvialasian citizens and fighters from their homeland at the borders through a network of trade, and kept them around at her home as pets. It was a blatantly disgusting act of horror. 

“ It seems your past caught up to you, Lisa.” Ana firmly called out. There was a seat next to the cell, right in front of it. Ana pulled it over and sat right in front of Lisa’s cell.

“...”

“Despite your silence. I’m sure you actually have a lot to say right now.”

“...”

“ Well, before I can actually talk about all that, I’ll cut to the chase just in case I end up with an important matter to attend to.” Ana summarised.

“That being?” Lisa finally spoke. 

“ Your punishment.” The words had Lisa sit up straight in her cell as she began to listen. “It is a shame. As much as I’d like to be against the death penalty, people like you make it very difficult. Still though, it would cause our media to be upset if we did something that major to you.” Lisa Stonehall was a former warrior after all. Someone who made a name for herself in the battlefield. Ranate media loved people like that. Which annoyed Ana a little bit. “Victor of the battle of Roane River. You ignored the orders of your general at the time and formed an ally with the dwarves. Which is what led to the friendly relationship between our people. You and the dwarven people formed the Great Dwarven Alliance, a scheme that you profited off of.” 

“ I was dubbed the hero of this country for a time…”  Lisa quietly voiced.

“What a hero you were.” Ana’s tone shifted to sarcasm as she spoke, returning back to normal afterwards. “With the alliance established, with new allies in force. Your platoon stomped not only the soldiers attacking, but also the nearby villages. Villages in Marvialasian territory full of civilians! One report suggested you kicked off a village hut, along with people inside of it.” 

“ Your point being?” 

“ I suppose nothing. Such acts were allowed back then. You were even hailed as a hero by the media. A product of your time you could say.” 

“ War changes people. Something, someone as privileged as you would never understand.” Lisa clicked her tongue. 

“That may be true. However, what I think of what you did in the past is irrelevant. You’ve been sanctioned by a prior ruler, it would be a hassle to challenge that. More importantly you broke the law of today’s Ranate. That’s why you are here.”

Silence once more. Lisa simply stared for a minute before saying anything.

“ I did what was needed at the time… I then went to the council to make sure we eradicated Marvialasia, at least before you Darlington-Bliss fools came into power.” She seemingly ignored the latter half of Ana’s words.

“ I may not agree with your actions from back then. However, I will still thank you for fighting for our country at the very least. That being said, your grand endeavours in the council failed to represent the wants of the giantesses of today, or of the humans that are citizens of this country of today. So, what did you do in rebellion? You illegally stole humans and kept them as pets. Such a vile, abhorrent, disgusting act could only warrant the most extreme punishment. You killed many in the process of your amusement…” Ana lectured, like a nagging scholar to their disciple. She had enough. 

“... “ Lisa stayed silent. Not a word escaped her mouth. Ana shuddered to think how many people were sacrificed, doomed to be food and sent down that gullet. Slowly digested and broken down to bits and pieces as they screamed for an escape. It was a painful process, no doubt it must have been. In fact, was such a thing as an easy death even possible?

“Despite that, despite what you deserve. The media would flock to your defence if they ever heard we sentenced you to death. It is unfortunate to say, but the last thing I need right now is a bunch of annoying nobles pestering me about my rule.” Ana paused. Gathering Lisa’s attention. “So, your sentence for the time being will be being stripped of your authority as a council woman. You will be placed under house arrest, after we’ve done a search through your house. After the war is over, your punishment and sentence will be changed.”

“To what?” Lisa weakly asked. 

“ That I won’t reveal as of yet. However, depending on the outcome of the war, your punishment may not entail complete misery. For the time being, we will say you’ve been caught in acts of corruption and fraud. A rather light punishment, however even this would gather attention I’m afraid.” 

“ Jade would condemn you. Her late majesty knew what was needed for this land. Not this softness for humans.” Lisa scorned. 

“They say, the queen before Jade was someone who sought peace. Her reign was an era that was neither tyrannical like Jade or the giantesses before herself. I’d like the current era to be just like that.” Ana reasoned.

“All good things come to an end. You’re being self righteous. From the very beginning of our land, from the moment Ranate was settled as a queendom, we were a people that plundered… The very first Queen, Ranate Darlington-Bliss was from your noble bloodline. She was ruthless but observant and understanding.”

“Ruthless is a strong word. We don’t truly know what anyone was like back then. All we have are some historical records and recounts.”  Ana interjected. 

“What are you then? Observant maybe, understanding too I suppose. However, you lack a certain edge. A certain sense of cruelty. All powerful people need it, we are to blame for everything after all. Both the good and the bad. It’s impossible to pander to everyone. Yet, you desperately try to gain the recognition of humans and giantesses? Nothing short of a fool's errand.”

“ I would say that Ranate, the queen that our land was named after, was a cunning and opportunistic woman. A proud, intelligent person that still had morals, albeit morals that were somewhat cruel and unusual. Times were different, however it doesn’t excuse her actions. She simply took and did what was necessary for her own goals. She may have my surname, but our goals are far from alike.” Ana defended herself. 

“... She raided and emptied out the land south east of ours. It’s been empty and hollow ever since. A forgotten Eparchy. Legends tell it used to be housed by witches that were a magical superpower in the region, ones that believed in gods that were titans. Their last act of resistance was a spell they casted on our ancestors, one that in legend lingers to this very day. Whatever it is.  That was their last act before Ranate’s following wiped them out. '' Lisa muttered. Still rebelling to Ana’s reasoning. 

“I’ve already told you, just because we share the same surname, doesn’t make our beliefs and ruling principles any similar. Whether our historical records show that her surname even was really Darlington-Bliss is up for debate. Much of our history is in broken pieces, all because of the mad queens people like you worship. All they leave behind is a wasteland, a field of regret and misery.” Ana was acting up, her mannerisms were getting forceful. Her attitude became rather aggressive. 

“ The glory days are over. Do what you will.” Lisa seemingly closed off the conversation. Refusing to elaborate further. An idea that was expressed through her lack of eye contact and irritated facial features.

“... It appears you won’t be talking any further. A shame.” Ana also was exhausted from talking to the older lady. Exasperated even, at least mentally. Not only did she refuse to talk any further, but she was fixated on the few points she was making. 

‘Where did the strong image of Lisa go? She shows no concern for what's happening at all. Absolutely nothing.’ Ana concluded in her head. What she was witnessing was the face of someone who knew they were defeated. Someone caught red handed. ‘ No. I want you to talk. I want you to see how badly you’ve gone off the right path. Even if it won’t change anything, for all the humans you’ve sacrificed, I want you to wallow in a little bit of misery for what injustice you've done.’

They were strong words. However, Ana was a strong person. She would back them up. 

She began undressing her top, she was wearing a purple cloak with a white design that would be lined on to its most upper parts. Seemingly at the area that would be akin to her collar. Underneath that expensive wear was her glorious form. Clad in a dress that wasn’t quite the norm of Ranate tradition, the colour of red was missing, it only really was white. A strange fact that Lisa noticed but paid no heed towards. Regardless, beneath her purple cloak and white dress, beneath her bra specifically was-

“ My husband.” Ana lovingly whispered, loud enough for Lisa to hear. For her to see the display of Ana undressing herself. “The man you mocked, scolded and ridiculed. I bet you didn’t plan on him actually coming back from Marvialasia did you?” Ana was holding the poor man, trapped between the squishy flesh of his wife and the fabric that damned him to his place, via holding the underside of her own tit. She lifted it up with that hand, caressing its form. Gently rotating and moving her hand around. Ever so slightly, and periodically she would tap her index finger onto Leon and push him against her nipple. A sensation that would do more than a mere tickle, it was a feeling of pleasure. Pleasure from feeling her loved one’s touch, along with the euphoria of having his body trapped to her own form.

Leon himself could hardly see out of the bra. However, he had heard the conversation. His ears were the only thing besides his libido that were working at all. The bottom half of his body didn’t help either. The fabric, drenched in the sweat of Ana was rubbing off vigorously against his dick. Keeping him trapped like a caged animal, but also as his member would grow, that feeling would only intensify. 

‘ Ana, my love. What are you doing?’

He innocently questioned in his head. Knowing full well that screaming in anguish or in pleasure wouldn’t get his queen to notice his rather pathetic pleas. That in itself wasn’t something Leon minded, it was more so the fact that Lisa was watching. 

She was watching, in shock. In surprise. 

“How... How!  A mere human, a mere human that donned the crown as a decoration no less. How is it still alive?! Back in one piece no less!” Lisa questioned. Ana couldn’t help but notice her particular word choice. 

“...”

 That being said, Ana didn’t answer back immediately. Her own mind was lost in thought. Lost in pleasure for the teasing she was doing towards her helpless husband. If anything, it was a sign that she urgently wanted to do more with him. That if given the opportunity, she would make him feel things that nothing else could compare to. That she herself would use him, and feel things that were incomparable to the bliss of all else that there was to offer from the world. 

“ Answer me! You-” Lisa snapped. For once, showing the vigour of her annoying old self again.

“Oh please, I thought you were using your right to remain silent.” Ana mercilessly called back. Her mouth, slightly drooling. An action she wiped away with the back end of her left hand. “ It's no wonder you have no idea. After all, your head is still stuck in all the ideas and traditions of so many years ago.” She paused, as she bent forward. Such a small, miniscule action had Leon’s entire world shaking. He was restraining himself as hard as he could from shaking his hips back and forth. The last person he wanted, watching him do such an action was Lisa. However, Ana’s allure and body was making that rather difficult. Especially since knowing Ana, she didn’t mind anything Leon did down in her bra at all. The man could do everything that was physically possible, and Ana still wouldn’t complain. 

“What have you-” Lisa began, only to be cut off by Ana’s passive face. Her face smiled, but her eyes remained deadly. Focused on the target. The captured giantess for a moment, and only for a moment,  couldn’t help but wonder if this is what her eyes looked like when she hunted the tiny humans. Such a thought frightened her. It never had occurred before. She immediately pushed it away.

“ The idea of a human coming back to a giantess… A foreign concept for you isn’t it. But I love it, personally. Take a look, Mrs Stonehall, this is what the new Ranate wants. What it yearns for. This image right here.” She bobbed her upper body back into an upright shape. Shaking Leon even more. This time in a manner that was wholly uncomfortable. “Ah shit.” She muttered under her breath, not loud enough for Lisa to hear. “ Are you okay?” 

Ana asked, and waited for Leon to squirm. She had gotten fairly good at understanding yes or no answers from her beloved simply from the way he squirmed around. An angsty squirm was one that represented discomfort. Whereas gently or the lack of squirming meant comfort. Finally, there was the periodic, desperate squirming which meant something else entirely, an action that Ana didn’t press Leon on for more information as both of them had acknowledged what it meant in their heads. Simply put, it was a moment of lust from Leon. Regardless, Ana continued speaking.

“Ah… Well there’s that. That is the society I want. Sure, it may be impossible to have a completely fair society to humans when they live with us giantesses. But I want to try. I’m done with the old, the way of not even checking up on our little human counterparts. I want the giantesses of now to… Well still be themselves, but also to be at least a little considerate towards humans.” 

Lisa couldn’t form words to debate Ana. Not because she was convinced in the slightest, but because she knew Ana had already solidified herself into this position. She wasn’t someone Lisa could manipulate as of now. Even with that acknowledgement, Ana only spoke more. 

“ Look at the poor guy. He’s helpless, but you can tell he likes being there. I’d even know if he didn’t want to be there too. If he wanted to leave. So, I also knew he’d come back to Ranate after going to Marvialasia. He took his training seriously, he took his mission seriously and he took our love seriously. He only could do those things because Leon knew I took the plight of his people, the humans, seriously.” Ana paused. Covering up her top once more. The flickering torches that lit up the dungeon, the only light source in play, were soon to be covered up by the layers of fabric on Ana’s body. Soon, Leon was to be submerged in warm darkness. “ What about you? Your lack of faith in humans comes from what?” She lectured.

“...” Lisa chose to remain silent. Holding herself in place from calling out the war with Marvialasia or Vascar. Simply because- 

“ Your normal examples won’t work. Leon has gotten intel, we know that we can work with someone in Marvialasia. We’ve also captured the king of Vascar. Suddenly, absolute statements like ‘All humans are…’ don’t quite work anymore do they?” Ana explained. Which is why Lisa stayed silent. If Leon arrived back with intel, it meant someone had to have given him intel from Marvialasia for it to be of any worth. Such a small action would leave a rather big statement against her ideals. Against what she thought of humans. To Lisa, Leon’s existence challenged not only her morals on humans. But also the foundation of the ideas behind those morals at all, the foundation that she would teach other giantesses such as Rheas about. Without them… Suddenly Lisa’s stance seemed a lot weaker.

Though, the stubborn giantess still wouldn’t budge. So, Ana spoke once more to continue and conclude the conversation.

“ The poor humans we found in your residence. There’s a lot of evidence that quite a large number have died, but we don’t know how many. The dealers that sold you them, they’ve disappeared. You also refuse to talk. So we don’t know the grand total. However, we’ve also found a small number of alive humans that look like they’ve gone through a lot of harm, but they’re okay due to their enchantments. I do not wish to know what accursed things you’ve done to them, but we will try to rehabilitate them and recover them back. I won’t let the damage you’ve done seep into more conflict… With that being said, please if you have any last things to say. Tell us more about the dealers that sold you them. We can prevent more harm from happening! We can even lower your sentence marginally! We can-”

“ I do not wish to speak to the daughter of a fool. There is nothing more to be discussed.” Lisa firmly shut down the conversation. An action that had Ana bite down heavily on her teeth in anger, it was the only proportionate response. Lisa had made it clear she was against her, but even she was a bit more lenient on her assessments towards her mother… Not today it seemed. 

“ Fine… Goodbye, Lisa Stonehall…” Ana paused before bringing herself to speak a little bit more. “ May your demise be the end of an era.” She still needed to properly give out a punishment, but could wait till the war was over.

With that, Ana stood up and began walking away. Not out of the dungeon just yet, for there was one more person she had business with. 

– – – 

“ Would you forgive me if I acted a little bit cruel?” Ana questioned, in the guard’s office except this time on the top floor. It was a rectangular corridor that housed many criminals, but the majority of the top floor inmates consisted of humans. 

Ana waited for the squirming from her husband. From his desperation to move and show any kind of signal. She promised herself that she didn’t just have him like this to only feel good. 

“ Thank you…” She felt a little lighter knowing that Leon, from his tiny squirms alone, had given the okay to be a little rough to their next target. “ Sure you don’t wanna see the king?” Ana gave Leon one final chance to change his mind. This was largely the reason she had him tucked away on her after all. 

However, Leon furiously moved about. An action akin to shaking one’s head as if conveying a firm ‘no’. 

“Well alright then.” Ana sighed. She huffed. It was a simple exhale that brought her upper chest inward, as the air left her body. She had hoped that Leon would partake in their conversation against the king of Vascar. Against his former ruler, the one who mercilessly profited from the corruption of his home. Alas, he appeared to be shying away into his shell. A remnant of the old Leon from the first few days she met him returned. It wasn’t exactly something Ana was surprised by, but it was disheartening to see nonetheless. She stood up properly, and walked towards the door in the guard’s office. Clutching the handle. “Apologies in advance, I’m going to be a little rough with him.” As she spoke, she gently padded herself, right where Leon was. Only with enough force to nudge him slightly. 

With that, she found herself in the damp atmosphere of the most upper floor of the dungeon. It was relatively quiet, an aspect that contrasted the lower floors which were full of the chatter and mad ramblings of many giantesses. The upper floor was almost silent. 

‘Almost’ being the key word. 

There was a quiet murmuring in the shadows, like rats that could whisper to one another, that was really the only way Ana could describe the situation in human terms. The whole scene was undoubtedly unnerving. Yet Ana persisted. 

In terms of inmate density, there were far fewer humans compared to giantesses. While it could be argued that could be proven solely through the differences in the amount of floors assigned to either, the fact that a far larger amount of humans being able to fit in one floor made it a rather unfair comparison. 

Such a fact only made the area even creepier, as dimly lit cages were laid out on tables which had many trapped humans. Majority of which were criminals, but some were in a weird middle ground of sorts. Such people had a rather unique situation to them, and dealing with them wasn’t possible at the moment for Ana. 

As such, even cruelly from their perspective, she had them neglected in the jail. An action she herself regretted deeply, as matters such as that would have been normally addressed if things were running as per usual. 

‘You poor things. Most of you ended up here because of the conditions humans have had to live in this country for so long…’ Ana acknowledged. Her attitude towards problems was almost rooted in criticism of systems and prevention rather than punishment and authority. At least for the most part. Being in her position, there was always some that she just couldn’t help or feel any sympathy for. ‘Then there’s the other human criminals. You poorly disguised fiends don’t deserve a second chance.’ Her kindness could only extend so far. She was a queen, someone in a position of power. She had to draw a line, so she did. 

Which is why… When she finally found the cube-shaped, metal cage that housed the battered down king of Vascar, she could just slightly hold back a face of disdain. As if she was looking at an annoying fly, no even less. A flea that brought forth an itch. An ant that repeatedly attempted to bite. To Ana that looked at problems with a broader lens, and as a ruler herself. Someone who could easily become the scapegoat of all the problems of her nation if things went wrong. She found herself someone to antagonize. 

She truly had only two foes that needed to be dealt with. Two people that were the root cause of the pain that inflicted not only the giantesses of today, but also the humans near their lands. Those two people were none other than-

‘The king of Vascar, and the Marvialasian prince.’ 

The king of Vascar could have simply stayed away. There was no need to involve themself in the war. Yet, there he was on that day. That day where Ana had to force herself to kill human soldiers. The bitter queen couldn’t help but bite her overgrown nail in angst. 

‘So much pointless death. So much pointless conflict. You, you alone are the one who deserves all the blame from Vascar’s side.’ She couldn’t help but think. 

In the end, that was what a figure of authority was. They, at least on paper, housed all the power, but they also shouldered all the gaze from the public eye. If blame was to go to anyone immediately, it would be to such a person.

“Why?” Her voice unapologetic and to the point. It emanated a quiet sense of danger to the king. 

The open hostility was felt by the lonesome king. Unlike other cages on other tables or shelves, which housed multiple humans per a cage, the king was by himself. The cages themselves were rather special too. Unlike what the image of a dungeon presented itself as, it was definitely possible to escape from the cage. The shaky iron bars were evidence of that. With the correct aptitude and usage of magic, certain people would possess a high chance of a silent escape. Someone with the aptitude to change the quality of the bars from the cage could break them apart and escape. Someone could even utilise the coldness of the surroundings and freeze the bars, making them easy to snap.

However, almost no human had willingly tried. 

Why was that? For what reason, for what purpose? What could make the prisoners want to stay in their tiny realm, away from any chance of leaving the dungeon?

The answer was rather simple.

‘To get to the lower floors, the easiest way is to go down. The only way for humans to get around after leaving their cage would be to search for cracks on the wooden boards that made up the upper floor ground. Or maybe a crack on the doors. That’s their only hope. There are pests and other creatures that are only a tad too big to enter the cages we keep them in. So, while there’s a chance to escape. The cruel reality of an unpleasant death is far more likely.’ Ana summarized. 

The giantess felt rather mixed on the topic. As to leave the dungeon, the humans needed to get all the way down to the bottom floor. Maybe the first floor if they could find an easy way to make landing, and somehow get outside too. All of which posed a massive risk to the tiny’s well being.

 Not to mention, cracks on the floor boards were far too risky for most human’s to attempt to go through. Many of them were a death trap, a one way jump to a cell that was housing an inmate. A giantess. One that most likely would enjoy a new toy to play around with. 

‘On one hand. The way the dungeon’s floor plan is made is genius. It traps the humans on the top floor, subjecting them to the idea that their puny cages are the safest place for them to be. Only a giantess, maybe like a prison guard for example could lead them out safely. Which is very unlikely for an inmate here. Same with the guards who house much disdain for the humans. As such, on the other hand it is very cruel. The poor humans on the top floor only have us to depend on for their survival. Whether innocent or not, it’s all they get…’ Ana contemplated. Only to be broken off by a response from Cambiltoh. 

“Marvialasia promised us a share of your land… That was all. They promised to properly teach us magic too. How could we ever refuse?” Vascar’s king shouted, however, with the tone of a defeated man. 

‘You though, are far from innocent.’ Ana’s thoughts were vicious and straight to the point. Seemingly ignoring the vulnerability that Cambiltoh painted upon himself with his words.

Her popularity from the humans of the nation was not to be underestimated. If they had the resources to do so, they would make parades of her glory, of Ana’s kindness and rule. Dances, folklore, traditions in itself. All of that was proliferated around the day Ana took reign. It was an event treated almost like a festival for the humans. A couple days where they would boast about her in almost every way they could. While obviously Ana was far from perfect, in the history of the queens of Ranate, there was no one else far more suited towards their plight… However, she had a limit. She could consider rehabilitation on Marvialasian soldiers, but that thought process broke down once getting to any person of power. 

As such, her next words were not to be taken lightly at all. 

“ You’re lucky my soldiers didn’t squish you like a bug. They’re quite feisty, some of them.” Ana looked down towards her prisoner. She was an intimidating force of nature, a goliath that boasted not just power of strength but of political rule. If she’d desire, Cambiltoh, the king of Vascar could be executed right then and there. 

There would be no one to second guess it either. Lisa was in custody, Rheas was on thin ice. That left Elysia in the council and she would support the decision given the stakes. It was typical of someone who was only somewhat in line with the beliefs she had.

Ana could crush the helpless king, the ant sized spec was what he was in comparison to her. For the queen, dealing with Cambiltoh wouldn’t take any effort at all. She could remove him from the cube shaped cage, and position herself over him and let gravity do the work. Screams of terror would be replaced with screams of agony to eventual silence. To eventual nothingness. Such power was far from an over exaggeration. It was easy for Ana to envision the king as a bloody stain, or one soon to be. 

However, she calmed herself down. She took a deep sigh. One of annoyance. 

 While in her absence, the alchemist confirmed the king had some basic protections from enchantments. As such, he was quite sturdy. However, being quite sturdy and being indestructible were very different things. Ana didn’t want to kill the king. Not yet at least. She wanted him and Leon to have a proper conversation eventually. After all, Cambiltoh didn’t know of Leon’s whereabouts after he was exiled. If anything, it was doubtful if Cambiltoh knew much of anything about Leon. In his former life as a Vascar citizen, Leon was only a step or two above being a nobody.

But on the other side, Leon knew many things about his former king. Many unsavoury things. Ideas and systems Ana heard all about from her husband’s stories and words as the two fell asleep together every night. She knew all of the greed, the incompetence, the lack of care towards peasants. She knew all of Vascar’s failures from the perspective of a low end noble. What made it so painful was thinking of what the peasants had to go through. What their woes were like. 

For Ana Darlington-Bliss, a person who couldn’t help but see things from many different accounts from a story, she had a strong distaste towards the king. A dissatisfaction she had hid before as her kind queenly figure. However, in the dungeon alone with the king. A war criminal as far as Ana was concerned. 

‘A filthy stain that dared to make my husband’s life full of misery… A fool that dared to challenge the peace and sanctity between our lands… An incompetent man that dared to endanger the lives of so many people all for nothing.’ 

She didn’t have much to say to him. In reality, she wanted Leon to say his share of words. She still did, even now. 

So, she decided on a new course of action. As she bent down, still standing but no longer upright. She tilted her upper body forward and towered over the cage. Her fake smile pervaded any sense of privacy within Cambiltoh. It was as if she was an angel from above ready to cast judgement. 

Her breasts, quite titanic from the king’s perspective, swayed slightly as she leaned forward. Her face descending down, all with the same disappointed grin she had only from moments prior. The king for a moment thought this was the end. That his life was beyond his hands. 

However, only one of those two statements was correct. 

“ For your actions. For being the acting head of the country, you deserve death. A painful one in my opinion, but I’m no savage.” Her words cut through Cambiltoh’s faint hopes. Any sense of freedom, any chance of coming out alive were gone. “But… I have someone that I think should speak to you first.” Ana recited, a notion that caught Leon's attention. He began squirming slightly, however Ana ignored it. 

“Am-Am I being spared?”  Cambiltoh, with only the smallest glimmer of hope in his eye, questioned. 

“No.” A calm response from Ana. “We’re only going to postpone your crushing until after he feels ready to speak to you.”

“He?” Cambiltoh in a confused gaze asked. As far as he knew, humans and giantesses disliked each other. There also were no male giants. There was no ‘he’ that should involve him in the conversation. 

“ Yes. Feel grateful. Former King of Vascar. Without him, I’d have one less reason to end you right now. For all the pain and suffering you’ve done to your people, I feel as if you’d deserve it.” Ana accentuated Cambiltoh’s title, but also added a descriptor to it that the king felt disgusted by. “ Well, for now that will be all I gu-” Ana was cut off, a notion she was not used to given her position. By a human, which was a fact she didn’t mind. Moreso, it was from a human she had little to no respect towards. After hearing his reasoning and how little it took for Vascar to be convinced to join the war, she could hardly take him seriously. 

That being said, while she wanted to kill the king, it wasn’t due to pleasure or a lust for blood. Ana felt disgusted by those emotions, at the very least to some degree she did. Her want to kill Cambiltoh came from what she felt was the only fitting punishment. Despite hating the death penalty, only with the most extreme of individuals she felt comfortable sentencing them with it. It was a rather conflicted position to be at. 

“F-Former? I’m still aliv-'' Cambiltoh started, but at the same time it took to muster up the courage to speak, Ana had mercilessly cut him off. 

“No one gave you permission to speak. I said we were done here. I apologise for being an angry mess, Cambiltoh, but I truly do not care about you. Is that clear?” The terrified human fell backwards and could only nod in response. “ You’re basically dead to me anyway. Soon you will be dead. A stain. You deserve it too, I’m sure many of your own captured soldiers would agree.” Cold, brutal and horrifying was all what Leon would describe Ana as right now. He didn’t like hearing her with this level of anger, but he couldn’t also help himself from feeling slightly aroused, after all he wasn’t on the receiving end of this outburst. He vowed to never make his wife this upset at him. Not only for his health and heart, but because Ana had to deal with enough stress in her life. “ I’ll give a preview of what could happen to you.”

As she voiced those words, she stood up properly and turned around on the cage. Which was now beneath her, and behind her. The table was below hip level, perfect height to sit on top of. A fact that made these dungeons populated and bustling during Jade’s era to torture humans. Many were sat on, and had experiences that the term ‘inhumane’ would barely scratch the surface of. 

The king, fear had took his legs, keeping them in place, in awe of what was above. With all his enchantments, he had never been put through much punishment. With his arrogance and glory, he simply applied some as a decoration of sorts. To tell his people that he was also participating in the battle. He never knew it would blow into this. Into the one way ticket to hell he rightfully deserved, whether he would admit it or not. 

Her glorious form, her ass. Was larger than the ground of the cage. In the area, the metallic prison was so much more puny. In terms of height, the cage was smaller than her ass as well. Much smaller in fact. He was effectively stuck in ground zero, the landing point, the zone of destruction where anything and everything would be squished. Flattened, reduced to a stain… A notion that Ana painfully kept reminding him of. 

“Please no! Please. You said you wouldn’t just yet. What about the person who wanted to talk to me? What about them?!” Cambiltoh shouted. However, Ana seemingly didn’t care because she hardly reacted to the information. 

Her dress covered her voluptuous form. It created an outline that really brought out her rear end. Her dress was rather unlike the normal Ranate traditions as well. This time having a white colour for her hips, waist and down under.  The reasoning for this was also rather simple, but it was an idea the culturally illiterate king had no clue towards. 

It descended down, slowly. Painfully slowly. Cambiltoh couldn’t help but watch in suspense as if time around him had stopped. He simply curled up into a ball. A shape he was far from reaching with his poor flexibility and physique. So, he could only lie down and watch. 

**Creak…**

Ana’s ass made contact with the cage. Creating an eerie sound that had Cambiltoh’s heart pounding. This was it after all, if in any second or moment the cage collapsed, the mass that dwarfed his field of vision would come crashing down. All encompassing, it covered everything. Even if by some miracle, Cambiltoh properly figured out magic and conjured a way to escape. It was too late. 

The hopeless human couldn’t do anything but admire the sight above. The shape, the curves, the size. There was something about it that seemed almost heavenly. It was never easy for any intelligent organism to see the difference in strength and size between themselves and another, but Cambiltoh was unsure how to react. Questions and ideas panicked through his mind.

‘Quick? Slow? Painful?’

‘What comes after death?’

‘What about my kingdom? Who’ll continue the rule? My wealth…’ 

**Squeek…**

His thoughts were interrupted by the cage visibly weakening. The bars were almost bending. It was over soon. He knew it was. It had to be-

“That’s enough of that.” Ana randomly said. Snapping herself up back to standing. When she came to sit down, it appeared that it was more of a semi-squatting action, where she only lowered her legs slightly to get her ass on the table. Right above the cage, to the point of contact. “Did I scare you? Good. Now you know how your soldiers felt. What they were thinking, feeling, hearing. Everything they felt before they died. Frightening isn’t it?” She paused, turning around to see the damage she’d done to the cage. The state she’d left the king in. His face was full of a cold sweat, his body quivered without his own input. His body’s sympathetic nervous system had activated the fight or flight response, however there was no way he could fight. There was nowhere to run. He instead shut down, frozen in place. Forced to listen to the being in front of him. “ Yet. you would have your poor soldiers charge in and face death in the face, all so they could earn the bare minimum to live.”

Ana was of course referring to the corruption and greed that existed in the upper chambers of Vascar society, the disparity in wealth, the lack of rights for the common folk. The imprisonment of people who would dare try to leave the country, or in Leon’s case, the exile of them into giantess territory. 

She chuckled slightly having seen the state of the cube shaped cage. The bars on the side were slightly bent, and the roof was crunched downwards. Ana couldn’t help but to speak, whether it was to show a display of power to further have Cambiltoh submit, or a sense of kindness to let him know she wasn’t going for the kill, was up for debate. 

“Maybe I’ve put on some weight, I barely even touched it!” Ana lamented under her breath. A notion that sent a spine shuddering chill down Cambiltoh’s body. 

“B-barely touched.” He whispered, only loud enough for himself to hear. 

“Regardless, I hope the cage doesn’t break on you. I’m sure by now you’ve realised that it’s quite the requirement for survival here.” Ana played the part of the more devilish sounding queen, purposely making herself sound more aggressive. 

It wasn’t a part of herself she was proud of, but as the queen, it was necessary. There was a limit to kindness, a limit to forgiveness, a limit to redemption. 

Not everyone could earn those things, to some it was definitely possible, but for everyone? Ana knew there was no chance she’d just forgive anyone out there. Especially someone in a position of power like Cambiltoh.

‘I’ll just leave for another cage once it breaks-’ Cambiltoh thought. However he was interrupted as if his mind was read. 

“And if you’re thinking about fleeing to someone else's cage… Well, it would be a fool’s endeavour. There’s no way for you to enter another cage without breaking or damaging it first, which would defeat the whole point.” Ana explained, a fact that left the king of Vascar at silence. Total silence. He couldn’t even dare to think against the mighty goliath in front of him. “Do not worry about your soldiers, I have far more humane plans for them. Since perhaps they deserve some redemption, some kindness, some forgiveness even. I can’t say the same for the fool that orchestrated himself into this position.” Ana scoffed as she began thinking, not even giving Cambiltoh the bare minimum of her own thoughts. 

‘Really, if you brushed up on Ranate tradition you’d know that dresses with white bottoms wouldn’t even be used for crushing, or sitting on humans at all. Hell, why would I give you the luxury of being sat on? It wouldn’t make sense from a political power perspective either. A hostage is valuable at least as of the current situation. Not so valuable once the war is won though.’ She scorned the idiocy of Vascar’s ruler from her mind, Ana knew it was far more valuable to have Cambiltoh think he was at death’s doorstep. That a simple irritation or change in mood was all that for the end. 

“Goodbye, former king of Vascar, the next time we meet will probably be the last. I don’t particularly believe in the afterlife, as per Ranate tradition; for your own sake though, I’d start apologising to the captured soldiers around you in other cages. You are the reason they’re stuck here, rather than their homes with loved ones. Doesn’t look too good from a karmic perspective I suppose.” Ana mocked, as she began leaving. Giving Cambiltoh a new pounding fear in his heart. While Ana wasn’t fond of the tactics she had employed, they were pretty standard. In fact, she had a lot of practice with them due to the various arguments with Lisa and Rheas in the past. 

**Thud…Thud…*

Her footsteps grew quieter and quieter. Though they were a force to be reckoned with, at point blank, many humans would feel their own insides vibrate in fear from the titanic weight landing on the ground. Regardless, Cambiltoh could only stare up to the ceiling, beyond the cube shaped cage’s constraints and to the actual dungeon. He looked at its walls, its doors and the other cages. The place was dirty, no doubt there was dirt and filth scattered everywhere. If anything, he deduced that it probably used to be in far worse condition but it was the newly appointed queen that ordered a brief tidy up of the place. 

Still, to someone of royalty, there was only one thing he could say.

“Putrid…Filthy… How? How did it come to this?” He lamented, as he curled his body together to form a ball. He questioned what brought him to this point, to this position. Being a king meant being prepared to be a sacrifice, of being killed off at a moment’s notice in the relentless game of international politics. However, it was the human experience to feel. Decades of ruthlessness in being a political figure couldn’t change that. Cambiltoh was a mere toy to the giantesses, a tool to achieve a greater outcome for what was needed in the whole region. The moment he had partaken in the needless plight against Ranate, solely due to his greed and arrogance… His fight was over. 

“Why did it come to this?” Yet, the foolish king still questioned on and on. aloud. 

– – –

The figure dressed in white left the dungeon, carefully avoiding any signs of dampness that could potentially leave a stain on her dress. She had changed into it as it was one of her less expensive ones, a form of semi formal but semi casual wear of sorts. However, the giantess had taken a liking to it as of now. She didn’t want to get it dirty. 

“Brrr… It’s cold out here.” A tiny voice squeaked from atop her left palm. 

“ Of course it is, the Ranate air is unforgiving this time of year, there’s always little pockets where it doesn’t quite follow the seasonal cues.” Ana responded, offering a bit of trivia.

“I see.” 

“Wanna go back in?” While Ana’s outfit was a rather unusual dress, the top and bottom weren’t a one piece. It was pretty easy to take off the top, or even partially so to insert a human in. As such, she teased Leon with a good time. 

“Haha… All good things in moderation.”  He awkwardly answered. Ana was taken aback. It was the last thing she expected to hear. 

“Wha-Why?” She almost shouted, but quietly. It was more so a figure of tone that resembled shouting. “We’ve been together for so little and you’re already bored of me…”  She frowned, putting out her lips slightly on purpose. A notion that caused Leon to immediately back pedal on. 

“ I want to talk, can’t do that If my mind is in other places…” Ana noticed him stare right onto her chest. His gaze eyed her bosom for warmth and comfort. However, he had rejected such pleasures for a chance at conversation. 

“They say we giantesses are rather used to being stared at. However, not many will admit how much they long for the gaze of their lover, and their lover only. A shame that my beloved refuses to reciprocate in more intimate ways.” Ana replied, as if announcing the fact to a crowd but no one was there to listen but Leon and herself. As such, it was done to elicit a sense of shame from her husband. 

“ We can’t converse from that damned humid prison.” Leon bashfully answered. A month without his wife had him regress a bit in how to deal with his towering queen. He had noticed Ana was acting far nicer and colloquial with him than anyone else, but other than that, he was a toy being played with. 

“ How mean! There are far worse prisons out there…” Ana half jokingly replied as she pushed out her chest slightly. However, she made a point too. A point neither Leon or herself were trying to acknowledge since Ana fished him out of her bra. 

“Yeah… The dungeon sucks.” Leon caved in, renouncing the playful tone the two had built up. 

“ The system sucks. Before my mother was in charge, it was far too easy to jail someone. Especially humans. Anyone who dared to voice a concern would be sent here, anyone who’d defend a human would be put under suspicion. Slowly, we’re changing things to a more eloquent period but I can’t help but feel like it isn’t enough.” Ana earnestly voiced. Leon simply sat atop her palm, which was facing towards the heavens above. Waiting for Ana to continue. 

“ When I see people who are actively sold on returning to our cruel roots, or people in positions of power that partake in that corrupt mindset. I guess It sets me off a little.” 

‘A little is an understatement.’ Leon thought to himself. 

“What do you think, honey?” Ana prompted. Feeling a little bit insecure. 

“ I won’t lie. It was a bit surprising to see up close. Or uh, feel up close. It was a little hard to see through the fabric haha.” He chuckled, awkwardly. “Point is, It was definitely off seeing you like that. The person that warmly accepted me into this land, acting so hostile against another human. It wasn’t surprising by any means, I’d always guessed you’d kill some people before. For whatever reason. But, it still was a little unsettling.” Leon commented. Unsure himself where he was going. In reality, he wanted Cambiltoh dead. He was the man at the top of the totem pole that made Vascar what it was. 

‘Even if he wasn’t, it isn’t like he had done anything to change the country for the better either.’  Leon thought. 

“ Yeah… I’m sorry.” Ana apologised. An action Leon felt was completely unnecessary. She acted a little mean, it was something Ana herself had recognised. Though, the death of Cambiltoh would bring forth a new era in Vascar undoubtedly. As such, it was a matter that often felt conflicting.

“Oh not at all. Don’t apologise. That wasn’t what I meant.” He tried to soften the blow. 

“No… I think it's worthwhile acknowledging.” Ana paused as she spoke. “When you have some sort of authority, and someone just doesn’t act the way you want them to. You end up saying and doing things, mean things. Acts that have an indescribable amount of cruelty behind the words spoken. For us giantesses, our size lets us have a natural sort of authority. We end up saying and doing the most inhumane things out there. I guess I even let loose some of that today.” Ana answered, there was no remorse in her words anymore. It was instead replaced with a sort of curiosity. 

“ I think it's normal. It’s the human experience after all. Bursts of anger, little bits of sadness and other emotions. We can’t always be happy. Back at Vascar, the nobles would act the same way with other nobles of lesser status, or even the peasants!” Leon reflected. He couldn't help but to think back to Anglo the dwarf, on how dwarven society would go about these problems. On what their status quo was like, and how their hierarchies and injustices played out. It was a fitting reminder for Leon to check back up on Anglo at some point.

“Doesn’t make it okay though. Still makes me think I could’ve handled myself maybe just a little bit better.” Ana mentioned an idea that Leon had forgotten all about. That this was the person his wife was. That this was who Ana Darlington-Bliss was. While she wouldn’t ever forgive Cambiltoh or Lisa, she would still try to recognise the problems in play. To try to do something about them. He could only smile at that response. 

“Mhm.” 

Ana paused, as she smiled back. Affirming that her lover was still standing with her. Even though she had let out a slightly ugly side of herself, she felt at peace that her husband was still there for her. 

She simply reached in for a kiss, or more accurately she pulled her palm to her face, puckering her lips. 

**Smooch.**

The sudden action knocked the little man backwards, making him dizzy. The two could only laugh it off.

“ We have some time to make preparations. We need to go over a lot of things, like seeing Sarina, and finish some administrative tasks… But, if everything goes well. The war with Marvialasia will be over at our next conflict.” Ana announced excitedly. “ We can’t keep our prisoners here in suspense forever either. You’ll talk to the king of Vascar right? For me at least?” Ana pleaded in tone. 

“... Maybe. I don’t really have anything to say to him.” Leon responded, he was embarrassed. 

“ Doesn’t matter. When this conflict is over, I want to show your people… Well you. I want Vascar and Marvialasia to be vassal states of ours. I want to show the innocent people of Vascar the possibilities of what mingling with us can do! I want to show them what their hatred has led them towards with the king. I want to show them more of us!” Ana’s optimistic cheer made it very hard for Leon to stay in a state of emptiness about the topic. 

There was only one thing he could do in response. A simple action that was brimmed with the positive energy mankind was capable of shining in. In a world where cruelty and corruption, betrayal and revenge, desperation and angst were all plentiful. Leon Vi baster, now in name a Darlington-Bliss, could only put his closed fist in the sky, as he was excited for the world around him to change. A sign that represented agreement with Ana, a giantess.

For the hope of a better tomorrow was, undoubtedly too, a part of the human experience.