Toxin

The Black Martial Emperor roughly pulled down my pants. As I jerked my body upright like I’d been struck by lightning, he grabbed my hair and pinned my head to the floor. The searing pain, as if my scalp were being peeled off, made me bite down on my lip. My exposed hips and genitals shuddered with shallow breaths. My flat stomach was sucked into his mouth, and his slick tongue scraped against my skin. The sensation sent shivers through me, and when I tried to draw my legs together, my genitals lightly brushed against his chin. He stared at them with blatant disgust, then licked them long and slow before taking them deep into his throat and sucking hard.

“Hah…”

I hurriedly lifted my hips and pushed at his shoulders, but he didn’t budge. My pants, which had been clinging to my thighs, were yanked off roughly, leaving my lower body completely exposed. My ears turned red, almost steaming from the heat. He suddenly moved up, staring directly into my eyes.

“Finally, gouge out the eyes cleanly and insert glass ones.”

As his fingers, glowing coldly in the air, descended toward my eyes, I instinctively squeezed them shut. When his fingers, which had been pressing my eyelids, fell away, a lazy voice followed.

“On second thought, maybe it’s better to leave them as they are.”

The Black Martial Emperor bit down on my lips, then licked up along my neck. My upper body arched backward as he toyed with my hardened nipples. He also rubbed the sensitive area around my armpit with his tongue, the feeling slowly awakening a sensation I didn’t want. My entire body stiffened.

“Ugh…! Ha… Ah, no… Stop…”

Desperately, I lifted his head and buried my face into his firm neck. As I licked at him, he exhaled a deep breath. He embraced my waist tightly, spreading my legs wide and positioning himself in between. Rubbing his almost bursting erection against mine, he then quickly pushed the tip of his member into the hidden opening. My heart jolted at that moment. He steadied his breathing and leaned on his elbows over my shoulders, watching me with a blank expression.

“Have you been making good use of your looks? This doesn’t seem like your first time.”

The heat in my chest that had been burning intensely suddenly cooled. I wasn’t naive enough to think he’d believe a clumsy lie, given the wild rumors about his extensive experience. I whispered calmly through my trembling lips.

“I… I’ve sold my body before.”

Another blaze flickered in the Black Martial Emperor’s eyes. He twisted his lips coldly.

“A mongrel and a male whore… It seems you were better at spreading your legs than holding a brush.”

I looked at him, struggling to breathe.

“There’s no one willing to give a job to a starving mongrel…”

His gaze touched my cheek.

“I had to sell everything… I had to sell whatever I could.”

Perhaps I had sold my body more often than I had sold my paintings. It was true that selling my body yielded more profit. I sold myself to protect my mother, and even now, with her gone, I continue doing it in her name. No… that’s not true. This isn’t for anyone else. This is for myself, to survive. A demon like you… A filthy soul like yours has no right to desire a pure body. You don’t deserve such a thing. I slowly lifted my trembling eyes to check his expression, but I still couldn’t read it. Only half of him had entered me, and the rest of my body burned with anxiety, terrified of what would happen if he changed his mind.

“Please… let me go…”

My wet voice echoed against his chest and returned to me. I twisted my hips, trying to push him away. My fingers, cold and trembling, barely responded.

“Let me go. Please, move—”

My words were cut off and swallowed when he bit down on my lips savagely. His voice, low and menacing, came out from somewhere dark and bottomless.

“I want to snap your neck.”

He lifted himself off me. I naturally assumed he was pulling out. Just as despair set in, believing everything was over, the rest of his thick shaft was suddenly thrust deeply into my tight hole.

“Hah… Ah…!”

The excruciating pain, as if a scorching spear had impaled me, made my back arch high. When he withdrew, he immediately slammed back in, pressing in so deeply it felt as though my insides were being crushed. My heart squeezed painfully, pounding violently in my chest.

My heart pounded like a drum, rousing the dormant toxins in my cells and veins.

A cry filled with anguish echoed through my entire body. Suddenly, the face of someone seeped into my mind—sometimes smiling weakly, sometimes pushing forward without hesitation. I even thought of Orumun, who had once made me a dangerous offer. Despite my will, my thoughts clung messily to every passing image. My damp lips parted, releasing shallow breaths filled with excitement. As I slowly lifted my head, I met his gaze, brimming with raw lust, without any filter.

My body temperature spiked. Every sensation moved sluggishly, yet violently distorted. Bit by bit, he pushed himself inside me. The overwhelming pressure made it hard to breathe, but I forced myself to take him in. He needed to go deeper… deeper. As he thrust again, the pain of my entrance tearing made me bite down on my lip. I clenched around his cock, pulling him deep inside, gripping him tightly with force. At that moment, a restrained groan escaped from the Black Martial Emperor’s mouth.

“Hah…”

He spread my legs, lifting my knees until they touched my ears. His cock penetrated even deeper, invading my insides, before retreating as if it were trying to rip out all my organs. The pool of moist pleasure vibrated obscenely. He exhaled a hot breath. His cock, which had tried to escape the tight muscles inside me, hurriedly dove back in, pounding recklessly.

“Hah… haah…”

“Ugh… ahh… haah…”

He let out heated breaths as he ground his cock inside me like rippling waves. Each irregular thrust into me stirred up the slick walls, which helplessly let go as he pulled out. Every time he skillfully plunged in and out, my limbs twisted uncontrollably, and my own cock was tossed about wildly. The pain retreated, overtaken by the pressure, while hidden pleasure began to ripple from deep within. The Black Martial Emperor shoved his fingers into my mouth, coating them with saliva. He then ran his hand up and down my shaft, rubbing the indentation at the tip, making an overwhelming sensation flood back.

With his cock clenched tightly inside me, he quickly rotated his hips in a circle. He scratched every corner of my insides, hitting exactly where I felt it the most. The ceiling wavered in white. I nearly lost hold of my sanity under his relentless hips.

“No… no… Haah… Your Majesty… no…”

“Haah… huff… haah… ah…”

The stimulation attacking me from front and back caused my own to begin to harden. I clung to his neck, trembling. I didn’t need pleasure for myself. The one who should be bound by such shackles was the Black Martial Emperor. No… no… As I licked the sweat from his cheek, I let out a sob stained with blood. Then, I bit down hard on the cock filling me inside, gripping and releasing it sharply. The intense pressure and the scraping inside made him slam his hips upward even harder, his movements becoming increasingly wild. He thrust his tongue into my ear, licking it thoroughly. The signature strong scent of the Imae Tribe clung to his sweat-drenched hair, wafting into my nostrils.

With my mouth wide open, I screamed. His gaze, devoid of restraint, pierced through mine as though it would burn me alive. As my walls quivered, tightening and releasing around his cock, I could feel the throbbing veins on him clearly. The friction that had been rippling against me increased as he neared a ferocious climax. I bit down again as he thrust rapidly. At that moment, the lower part of his abdomen, slamming into my hips, stiffened noticeably. His cock buried itself so deeply that it felt as though my lower body would split in two. His upper body sagged heavily as a devastating surge of pleasure burst forth.

“Ugh…”

“Hah…!!”

His jet-black hair flew wildly. I saw him, drenched in sweat, his brows furrowed as he reached the peak of pleasure. I squeezed down hard, swallowing his cock, pulling him even deeper into the abyss.

Let the toxins lurking in my cells and blood seep into him…

Let his body, unknowingly, be consumed and devoured bit by bit…

As he poured his massive load into me, I felt a strange sense of climax, suffocating my insides with its intense contractions. He pulled my head up, biting into my lips as he drained every drop of his seed into me. The heat spreading through my body traveled to his cock, making it feel like it would melt as I tenderly held him. After what seemed like an endless period of indulgence, the Black Martial Emperor’s hair spilled over my neck and chest. His hoarse, rough voice rumbled low.

“Hah… What is this…”

The Black Martial Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if the sensation he felt was absurd, his stubborn pride still unwilling to accept it. With an expression full of displeasure, he lifted his upper body. However, he didn’t pull out his cock. I barely caught my breath, my hazy mind trying to regain focus. Hot semen slowly dripped out from the loosened gap.

“Hah… ugh…”

My lips panted, spilling out shallow, rapid breaths. My sweat-soaked hair clung to my arms, neck, and chest. Despite the burning heat, chills continuously crept over me.

“Why are you trembling like this?”

Without answering, I buried my face into his chest. My lips and fingertips trembled uncontrollably. He softly embraced me, wiping away the moisture soaking my cheek with his tongue. His eyes, dark as the abyss, pierced through me with an unreadable expression. I couldn’t understand the meaning behind that look. However, it was different from the gaze that had once aimed Jincheonroe at me. As he slowly withdrew and thrust back inside me, repeating shallow strokes, his size swelled again.

“Your… Majesty…! That… Uhng… Ha…”

Startled, I pushed him away. Black Martial Emperor grasped my arm with one hand and held me down. Feeling my tightly clenched insides, he exhaled deeply. As I inhaled, my shoulders tensed, and my saliva-slick nipples shivered. He descended and swallowed the tempting peak into his mouth, licking it with his tongue before gently biting the tip with his teeth. Without hesitation, he began thrusting his hips urgently.

“Ugh… Uhng… Haa… Ugh…”

“Hah… Haa… Haa…”

Our tongues tangled together messily. As my insides clamped down around his member, twitching wantonly, his eyes glimmered with an eerie madness. His once perpetually bored gaze was now consumed with excitement, a darkness entirely overwhelmed by lust. My body shook wildly from his violent movements, greedily drawing in his strong form. The Black Martial Emperor ground his teeth, cursing as he wildly pumped into me in unpredictable directions. I greedily swallowed the flood of his seed as he continued to ravage my mouth with his tongue.

Soon, he tossed aside his cumbersome clothing, revealing himself completely naked. The murderer, caught in a frenzy of passion, devoured his prey with the fervor of a madman. He voraciously consumed the flesh of the demon he tasted for the first time, stripping the meat from the bone. I, in turn, enveloped him in everything soft and moist. My tender flesh concealed the deep malice and hatred, leading the merciless conqueror down a path of self-destruction.

***

A deep darkness hung above, punctuated by faintly glimmering stars. Inside, once filled with the sound of moans, an eerie silence had settled like that of a tomb. The lamplight bathed the bedchamber in a blood-red glow, resembling a twilight world. The transparent curtains fluttered as if they could fly away at any moment, like the wings of a dragonfly. I quietly sat up. My body felt as heavy as lead, but my mind was strangely clear. Each movement caused the semen pooled inside me to spill out, but it didn’t feel unpleasant in the least. Though my insides throbbed with the ache of being repeatedly torn, it was never painful.

I looked down at the arm wrapped around my waist. The conqueror, having gorged on his prey, was now lost in a deep, satisfied sleep. His smooth face showed signs of fatigue, and his rhythmic breathing echoed in my ears like a ringing. His hand, resting on my thigh, caught my attention. The fingers bore deep bite marks, the skin torn and blood coagulated. I gently lifted his hand and licked it, carefully cleaning off the dried blood.

Suddenly, beyond the red curtains, something glowing caught my eye. It was a mirror, supported firmly by two phoenixes. Inside, a newly emerged creature, almost like a butterfly in transformation, was trapped. The body and face I had looked at my whole life seemed both familiar and foreign. In the soft lamplight, my pale skin, so white it was almost blinding, was marred with red marks. My luscious hair clung to my wet body like sword cuts.

The curves of my soaked form.

The deep, sultry purple eyes.

The moist, seductive crimson lips.

Inside the bronze mirror, the demon, wearing an outrageously seductive smile, stared back at the murderer. The acrid scent of smoke filled my nostrils. I felt like my soul had shed its physical shell and was now floating in the air. More smoke drifted down like mist. I could feel a hand—though it was cold—gently playing with my hair, winding it around. Or maybe it wasn’t a hand at all. A hot, wet mass slid down to my forehead, brushing against my eyelashes. Irritated, I slowly opened my heavy eyelids to see a silver pipe caught between thick lips. Was it the peculiar fragrance clouding my mind? My thoughts remained hazy as I blinked slowly, half-asleep.

The man inhaling the smoke removed the pipe from his lips, and immediately, his mouth descended upon me. His tongue shot out like an arrow, darting toward my eyes. Reflexively, I closed them. Frustrated at missing its mark, the tongue lingered, teasing the skin around my eyes. I wanted to spit out something at this lunatic, a madman of a monster who seemed hell-bent on devouring my very soul, but my body had melted like salt dissolving in water.

Suddenly, I felt an unsettling sensation, like a giant reptile coiling around me. Its touch was cold and ominous. Desperate for warmth, I burrowed deeper into its embrace. Strong arms wrapped around my shoulders, muscular legs slid between mine, pressing down on me, pinning me in place. A deep, low voice rumbled through the air, mixing with the acrid scent of tobacco as it brushed against my ear.

“Yesterday you were like a wildcat, but today… you’re more like a drenched mutt…”

As I felt the sensation against my eyelids for the last time, I slipped back into a deep, swampy slumber.

***

When I opened my eyes, I was alone, completely naked. Struggling to lift my upper body, I looked around the spacious room. How long had I been asleep…? The sunlight streaming through the door indicated it was still morning. The once-crimson bedding, saturated and crumpled from the intense hours until dawn, lay damp and disheveled. Books, the vanity, and the lamp were all in disarray, scattered haphazardly. Even Black Martial Emperor’s clothes were strewn about carelessly, as if shed off. Had he already gone to work? I wanted to check on his condition, but he had vanished so completely.

Everything—the gun pointed at me, the events in the forest, and what happened afterward—felt like a dream. Black Martial Emperor had an uncanny ability to turn everything into a surreal experience. His presence, like the pungent smoke of a harsh cigarette, left me feeling helpless and disoriented. The lingering scent of tobacco in the room made my head throb.

Suddenly, a face came to mind. Was he alright? He had been badly injured yesterday; I wondered how severe the injuries were. I was scheduled to paint his portrait in the afternoon, but my curiosity was unbearable. Yet, above all, I was more concerned about Black Martial Emperor’s condition. It was a different concern from Raonhiljo. I couldn’t remain in a room with no master, so I got up to put on some clothes.

“Ugh…”

The pain was excruciating, as if my lower body had been severed. I crawled painfully to the corner and grabbed my clothes. At that moment, sticky semen began to flow from between my buttocks, staining the floor. I tried to stop it quickly, but it oozed out through my fingers and clung to them like spider webs. My brow furrowed. After considering what to do, I wiped my hand on the Black Martial Emperor’s clothes nearby and cleaned myself off. I managed to fasten the torn upper garment and put on my pants. As I used the wardrobe to support myself while standing, I noticed three Jincheonroes hanging neatly on the wall.

Come to think of it, I was supposed to meet with the Chieftain soon, but since coming here, I had been so preoccupied with survival that I lost track of time. My heart pounded lightly. I carefully touched the Jincheonroes. The cold metal and the indescribable sense of intimidation made my fingertips shiver. It was said that with these, I could challenge Black Martial Emperor and drag him to the ground.

However, with such tight security, sneaking it out of the room, let alone outside the fortress, seemed impossible. Although I was told not to worry about immediate retrieval, the security would not slacken over time. If Black Martial Emperor discovered it, I would be torn to shreds without even a scream. Was there no good way to take it outside? Maybe I would have to hide it inside me. I bit my swollen lips and gazed longingly at the metal beast. Suddenly, a dry voice appeared without warning.

“If you look at it like that, he’ll get excited too.”

“……!!”

Startled, I jerked my hand away from the Jincheonroe and froze, unable to breathe. Could it be that he had been watching the whole time? Since when…? Swallowing dryly, I turned my stiff neck. I scanned the vast room with my eyes, trying to locate the source of the voice. In a corner of the space, which looked like twilight red, I saw a long leg leaning against the wall. My pulse quickened. Following the leg with my gaze, I saw healthy skin. The exposed upper body moved slowly from top to bottom with each breath, drawing in the smoke. With great effort, I lifted my heavy eyelids to see his face.

“Ah…” I uttered a small gasp without realizing it. Contrary to my expectations, he looked perfectly healthy. It seemed that a single night of passion wasn’t enough to damage him. My pounding heart gradually calmed. Black Martial Emperor inhaled the smoke deeply and stared at me intently. Did he notice? He might know I was interested in the Jincheonroe, but he seemed to be concentrating hard not to show any sign of embarrassment.

“I didn’t know you were here.”

As his black eyes, fixed on me, fell to my chest, I felt a chill as if a cold wind had blown through. I bit my lips and adjusted my open collar. He tossed the cigarette onto the floor and pushed away from the wall. The slow, heavy footsteps approached. An arm extended from behind, encircling me as it leaned against the wardrobe, and soon a solid chest pressed against my back. The light contact felt like being crushed by a boulder, making it hard to breathe.

“He’s irresistibly alluring, but it would be troublesome if he got aroused first thing in the morning.”

Could he really believe I wanted to do something like that with the Jincheonroe? He was someone who made it impossible to distinguish between jest and seriousness. A wave of anxiety overwhelmed me, as if everything might be exposed. Despite my body feeling like a rag, I managed to bend at the waist towards him.

“Then… I’ll see you on Saturday.”

As I took a step with difficulty, his hand grabbed my arm, forcing my body around, and his expressionless face filled my view.

“What are you doing?”

Why did everything coming from his lips sound so unusual?

“I’m leaving.”

“Where to?”

Without hesitation, he asked the question again.

“To my residence.”

“Are you referring to the stables?”

“Yes.”

The Black Martial Emperor stared at me with an unreadable expression before immediately grabbing my arm. Even that small action made my legs wobble. He swiftly pulled me up by my waist, lifting me. My elevated body landed on his chest. As I wiped the cold sweat off my forehead, he pulled my head closer and leaned it against his chest. His cold breath spread over the top of my head, and my horn briefly touched a damp spot. My nerves stood on end through my heightened sensitivity. He chewed the tip of my horn with his teeth, then licked it long and slow with his tongue. His voice, stretching like taffy, flowed down over my head.

“It’s not good.”

Turning my head back to look up at him, I spoke seriously.

“I remember reading in a book before that unstable emotions can be treated with illustrations. It’s said to be effective in reality as well.”

“If my ears aren’t deceiving me, it sounds like you’re saying I’m crazy.”

“That’s not necessarily true, but… considering your past actions, you must acknowledge that you’re quite different from ordinary people.”

His dark eyebrows arched upward.

“It’s refreshing to be treated like a lunatic by a mongrel. I’m disappointed, but it’s not needed.”

Even though we had mixed bodies, it seems I’m still considered a mongrel to him. I wasn’t expecting any significant change. No, as long as he showed interest in my body, I didn’t mind. When I saw his hand resting on the cabinet, I gently touched his firm fingertips and added softly.

“Usually, people deny it at first. But if you open up your heart a little and reflect on yourself calmly, you might find healing soon…”

His eyes narrowed slightly, and, as expected, his arrogant voice came out.

“No. It’s not needed.”

“But seeing how you hate the Imae Tribe without reason and aim a gun at your own blood and loyal followers without blinking, it might be worth questioning…”

“Not needed.”

“I understand you’d like to think that, but it’s not difficult…”

“Not needed.”

The cold-blooded killer with a Hyung-like brain declared clearly. Thinking I had agreed, he soon averted his gaze. Seizing the opportunity of his relaxed state, I firmly declared.

“Then I’ll start from this week. They say it really works, so you should feel better soon.”

And with a faint smile, I slightly twisted my eyes. The moment Black Martial Emperor’s gaze fixed on me, I realized he was much closer than I had thought. An uneasy silence ensued. Did I touch a nerve again? I often forget not to be complacent about laziness. Above all, Jincheonroe was so close that I could reach out and touch it. As my lips gradually hardened, I closed my eyes.

“Well then… I’ll be going.”

As I tried to step back, his arm around me held firm, leaving me perplexed. Suddenly, he inserted his fingers into my hair and smoothly tilted my head back. The penetrating gaze was chilling.

“Every time you spout such arrogant nonsense, it seems you’re trying to smooth things over with that smile…”

The Black Martial Emperor stopped speaking and observed me with relaxed eyes. My head was tilted back, making it hard to breathe. His emotionless face fell abruptly, as if it were a piece of sculpture. He sucked my lower lip intensely, sealing my chin and lips with his mouth and stealing the saliva pooled inside. Opening my top, he covered the nipple he had been glancing at with his lips, scraping the tip with his tongue. The central part digging between my buttocks had already become intimidatingly erect. As his explicit intent touched my lower body, my heartbeat quickened. His lustful voice, unlike my own, seeped into his earlobe.

“P-please… just, just a moment… mmm… mm…”

Every time his moist lips enveloped and sucked on my nipple, his well-defined jawline came into view. His drowsy eyes fixated persistently on the other nipple. The sight of him licking made my nipple stiffen with goosebumps. He hurriedly sucked on the remaining nipple. His tongue’s teasing around the round protrusion slowly brought a strange sensation to the surface. I needed to drive away this unwelcome guest. As I pushed him away in haste, his dark eyes pierced sharply into me.

“Why do you keep making that expression?”

I looked up at him, gasping for breath, unable to decipher his intent behind the question. His cold, black eyes pierced straight into me with a lethal sharpness.

“A look of fear. Did the ones who spread their legs before you react differently?”

Instead of answering, I lowered my head and licked around his cheek and ear, the spots that had particularly elicited a reaction from him yesterday. The wet sounds of my tongue echoed, soaking his healthy skin.

“Hah…”

His breathing surged abruptly. His rough hand gripped my chin tightly, forcing my mouth wide open. His tongue wrapped around mine, stroking it as he thoroughly explored the inner linings of my mouth. His invading hand kneaded my rear as though it were dough, before it pushed into the hidden opening. Once his hand withdrew, the throbbing center of his body immediately pressed against it. The spot that had been ravaged several times last night twitched in agony. The sensation that had been rising until a moment ago faded into the distance, which oddly made me feel relieved.

In contrast, his breathing grew harsher. The Black Martial Emperor covered me with kisses and laid me down on the cold floor. As soon as my back touched the ground, he pulled down one side of my pants. The moment he positioned himself between my legs, a voice called cautiously from outside the door—it was the Grand Chamberlain.

“Your Majesty. The ministers have been waiting for quite some time.”

“Why?”

“Did you forget? Yesterday, Your Majesty ordered them to gather in the office this morning.”

“Did I?”

The Black Martial Emperor asked curtly, glancing down at me. He slipped his fingers into my mouth, playing with my tongue.

“Tell them to wait.”

“For… for how long…?”

“Just a little while.”

He roughly pushed aside the loose fabric of my undergarments, exposing the entrance. It seemed he was going to hastily satisfy his desires and leave. His heated member hovered near the entrance, emitting warmth as it glided around the edges.

“…Your Majesty… Hah…”

I shook my head, signaling him to stop. But as if frustrated by not fully entering, he trembled at the entrance, his weighty length wetly brushing against it. His eyebrows twisted in savage excitement. His member, barely connected at the tip, slipped deeper inside. My hips lifted instinctively. My lower lip slipped between his wet lips as his tongue entwined with mine. Outside, the Grand Chamberlain called out again, his voice filled with urgency.

“Y-Your Majesty…? When you say a moment…?”

The Black Martial Emperor’s expression remained cold, but his gaze toward me was burning with thick intensity. The molten heat inside clenched tightly around his shaft, trembling fiercely as if it could melt him. With a hoarse voice, he finally answered.

“No. Postpone it.”

“F-for how long, Your Majesty?”

The Grand Chamberlain asked in a voice that sounded close to tears. “Mm… ah… hah…” I gasped below, covering my mouth to muffle the sound. My chest, which had risen and fallen steadily, was now slick with saliva and tangled strands of hair. His uncontrolled member withdrew before plunging deep into my core. His gaze bore into me as if he would burn me alive, his savage voice grating through his teeth.

“No. Just cancel it.”

***

The Black Martial Emperor left the room only after satisfying his desire to the point where I was soaked below. As he left, his figure still radiated strength and power. Maybe it’s because I’m not of pure bloodline that I took less of a hit. I hadn’t expected immediate results, but seeing him so unfazed—was he a monster in human skin? How many more steps until I completely fall off the edge?

I lay dazed on the bedding for a while before finally pulling myself together. The one suffering from aftereffects was me. He must have treated all his concubines this way. I almost wanted to offer condolences to the women who had been tormented by that beast of a man. Or maybe… it was the other way around? A bitter smile formed on my lips. I vaguely remembered the Black Martial Emperor telling me to wait for something, but whatever he ordered, I just wanted to wash myself in cold water. I barely managed to get up and stuffed myself into the torn robe. I asked the maid waiting outside the door for the closest bathhouse and headed straight there.

I threw off all my clothes and poured several buckets of cold water over myself. The water cascaded down from the top of my head, soaking my entire body. I had drawn the murderer of my mother one step closer to their death. How anxious I had been, wondering if he wouldn’t take any interest in me. It seemed the killer found the taste of this monster’s flesh to his liking. Thankfully. So very thankfully. I scrubbed my skin hard with my palms, trying to rid myself of the saliva and sensations that clung to me, but the feeling of disgust wouldn’t wash away. Scrubbing so hard it seemed like I was about to peel off my skin, I eventually scratched until I bled. At that moment, a massive amount of ejaculate flowed out from the opening. In the end, I vomited everything I had desperately held back.

“Ugh… ugh…”

I had mixed my body with the killer who had done that to my mother, several times over. A wave of nausea surged through me. I collapsed onto the floor, sinking into a strange sense of emptiness. The feelings I wanted to reject kept weighing down on my shoulders.

No, no… I’m…

I curled my body up tightly, clenching my teeth so no sound would escape.

“…I’m not dirty… I’m not dirty…”

I’m not dirty, I’m not dirty… I repeated to myself as I tore at my flesh, trying not to let myself self-destruct like when I first gave myself to Orumun. I could hide all the swirling hatred and murderous intent if needed. Hiding my emotions was something I was far better at than painting. As the corners of my eyes heated up, I quickly wiped them, chewing over my blood-soaked hatred. Still, the sharp pain in my chest wouldn’t fade.

***

With my clothes undone, the garment kept slipping open, revealing the flushed heat spots all over my body. I’d have to keep it properly held together with my hands until I returned to my quarters. At that moment, I saw Veronjubille approaching with some court ladies, their hair neatly tied up in ribbons. Her hair, styled in an elegant updo, was adorned with jade hairpins and ornaments hanging like fruits, while her red silk robe, embroidered with gold, accentuated her voluptuous figure. Just as I bowed to greet Veronjubille, she raised her hand and mercilessly slapped my cheek with her fan. It burned as if scratched by sharp claws. Slowly, I looked up at her.

“I went to watch the emperor prepare a trophy from the monster he hunted, and I overheard some interesting sounds from the room. From the beginning, you looked peculiar, but should I be pleased that my instincts were right?”

Veronjubille gave a sly, seductive smile.

“His Majesty may be good at scratching women’s itches, but I wonder if those skills work on men too. Unlike how he seems, His Majesty is rather reserved in the bedroom. Maybe you, as a male concubine, couldn’t be satisfied. His Majesty’s size is so large that it’s always difficult for me when he puts it in. How was it? Did he make you lose your mind the way he does for me? Did he drive you crazy?”

It was clear she was trying to provoke jealousy. Unfortunately for her, I didn’t feel a single thing she was hoping for. She should be thankful that despite her vulgar words, her beauty still kept her from looking cheap. I’d heard she was under the delusion that, being favored by the Black Martial Emperor, she was going to become the empress. She must see me as a rival for that position. I wanted to tell her she was worrying over nothing.

“If you’re finished, I’ll be on my way.”

“You impudent monster…!!”

Veronjubille struck me hard in the face with her fan again. This time, I could feel blood trickling down my temple, clearly from a deeper cut. Still, I faced her with a blank expression. Her lips quivered as she tried to force a smile.

“Do you feel like you’ve become human because His Majesty treats you as one? Do you think you’ve won the world? There are countless corpses of women like you who strutted around ignorantly, only to disappear without a trace. All within these palace walls. At His Majesty’s own hands. Do you think His Majesty would be satisfied with some lowly creature like you when the palace is filled with beautiful women from noble families?”

Veronjubille waved her fan playfully as she whispered sweetly.

“When I was younger, I once ate a frog. It was disgusting, but not bad. Sometimes, I crave unusual food, but those things don’t last long. At most, a month? Maybe two?”

The nerves that had been unfazed by all her insults suddenly went rigid. A month or two… So I have that long at least? I smiled faintly, holding her gaze.

“That’s enough for me.”

She glared at me, seemingly convinced I was bluffing. But there was nothing for her to uncover. Her gaze dropped to the top of my head, where she stared down at me.

“Fine. I’ll make good use of your horns then. His Majesty once promised to give me Imae’s horns as a gift, after all.”

If the life of the one you love so dearly falls into my hands, I’ll gladly oblige. There was no point in provoking her further. It would only cause more trouble, and standing there in my current condition was already a struggle. I averted my eyes. Veronjubille fanned herself leisurely before clicking her tongue as she looked at her bent fan.