“I tried to convince him too, but he’s resolute. Right now, you’re the only one who can change his mind. At the very least, you need to ensure they bring him back to the palace alive. I’ll handle the rest somehow… For now, get him to rescind the kill-on-sight order. Considering the time you’ve spent together and the fact that he even promised to break off your engagement with Erita, don’t you think he might listen to you?”

“I have no value anymore. I have nothing left to offer him.”

When Ail began spending time with Salina, the assumption Ruth formed was simple. Salina, being the daughter of the prestigious Astro family and the younger sister of his elder brother’s wife, held far more utility than he ever could. Moreover, she was beautiful, intelligent, and ambitious—a perfect match for someone like Ail. She could align with his needs effortlessly. Of course, there was also the possibility that Ail was attracted to her physically. In every way, she was ideal. No one could fit Ail’s life more seamlessly than Salina, and so Ruth had been cast aside.

After all, Ruth would soon be gone. The only things he had ever been able to offer Ail were scandals to shield him and loyalty as a knight. The scandals would fade, and countless others were ready to pledge their loyalty to the future emperor. Ruth had become utterly worthless to him.

“Ruth, even so, you must do everything you can. You can’t just stand by and do nothing,” Kamiel said firmly.

Ruth bit his lip slightly at Kamiel’s earnest tone. He was right—he couldn’t just stand back and wait. But going to Ail and begging him was something Ruth dreaded deeply. Even the thought of seeing him felt torturous.

“We have to do everything we can until the very end. I’ll go directly to the Empress and make a plea. You convince His Highness. If the kill-on-sight order remains, Elsen could die within the next hour. No matter how vast Virel is, with that many soldiers deployed, he’ll be captured in two days at most.”

Even with Kamiel’s patient coaxing, Ruth hesitated. Kamiel found it strange. Normally, Ruth would have already rushed off to beg Ail for mercy before Kamiel had even finished speaking. His hesitation was odd.

“What’s wrong? Is there some issue between you and His Highness?”

“…No, it’s not that.”

“Then?”

“It’s just… things are a bit awkward right now. I’ll go see him.”

Finally making up his mind, Ruth stood up. This wasn’t the time to let his pride get in the way. He had to prioritize what was important.

“Is His Highness still in the council chamber?”

Kamiel also stood as Ruth did.

“He should still be there. There’s a lot he has to take care of.”

“Then when can I see him?”

“Wait a bit. I’ve already told them to inform me the moment he leaves the council chamber.”

“Alright.”

Ruth let out a small sigh as he moved toward the door, reaching out to grasp the handle. His right hand, still wrapped in bandages despite the healing progress, trembled faintly. The subtle spasms, as if his tendons were jerking uncontrollably, made him pause. Seeing this, Kamiel came up behind him and gently pulled Ruth’s hand away from the door.

“You should rest for a bit in your room.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re clearly agitated. It’s better to take a moment to calm yourself.”

“After I see His Highness.”

“He’ll be in the council chamber until evening anyway. It’s better to calm down first before meeting him.”

Kamiel’s words were reasonable. Ruth was undoubtedly agitated. Meeting Ail in his current state would only lead to a chaotic conversation. He needed to clear his head before facing him. He realized, with a strange sense of detachment, that his entire body ached—perhaps from how tense he had been without realizing it.

“Alright, I’ll do that,” Ruth murmured in a slightly trembling voice.

Following Kamiel, who opened the door ahead of him, Ruth exited the Crystal Palace.

It was already the time when the moon was slowly sinking. Ail, who had been holed up in the central administration building all afternoon under the pretense of dealing with the incident involving Erita and Elsen, did not return to the Golden Palace after finishing his work. Instead, he had dinner with the Empress, held a long meeting with her, and then, claiming to feel stifled, took a ride around the outskirts of the imperial palace on horseback. Meril had been continuously relaying the news that Ruth was waiting in front of Ail’s room, but Ail ignored him and enjoyed his walk for over three hours.

The cool breeze of the night made for a pleasant horseback ride, and Ail didn’t return to the Golden Palace until nearly dawn. Before the news of his arrival could be announced, Meril, who had been waiting in front of the Golden Palace, approached him with an awkward expression.

“Your Highness, Commander Kaizel has been waiting for over seven hours.”

Ail, who had been wearing casual clothes and riding on horseback, dismounted lightly while holding his riding crop.

“I never called for the Commander.”

Thinking about how Ruth must have waited foolishly for seven hours in front of the door, Ail felt a little pleased. That was just the kind of thing that suited Ruth—standing there and waiting desperately for him, watching his every move. It was audacious of Ruth to act like he could leave first.

“He hasn’t eaten and has been waiting the whole time.”

Meril was speaking in a flustered, unlike-him way. Without calling for a stable boy to tend to the horse, he left it standing by itself while following Ail. A knight who had been keeping watch outside the palace grabbed the horse’s reins, looking flustered. Ail couldn’t help but smile at Meril’s uncharacteristically panicked state.

“What’s the hurry? The night is still long.”

“Your Highness…”

Meril’s voice, tinged with some reproach, didn’t bother Ail, who continued smiling as he crossed the corridor. As he walked toward his room, located at the innermost part of the Golden Palace, Ail saw Ruth standing in front of the door, like a nail driven into the ground. Ail smiled as he raised the corners of his lips. His anger was beginning to subside.

Walking deliberately slowly, it took much longer than usual to reach the door, and Ruth, with a pale face, bowed as he greeted him. Whether it was from not having seen him for a while or from the events of the day, Ruth’s face looked terrible. Ail clicked his tongue when he saw the gaunt expression, as though Ruth might faint any moment.

“Your face is a mess. So, what’s going on at this hour?”

Ail, in a good mood, treated Ruth kindly as he always had. Ruth’s shoulders trembled slightly at the sweet, melting tone of his voice. It was clear Ruth feared Ail. Ail had known this since four years ago. Ruth often acted rebellious, but when Ail smiled kindly, he would become scared and lower his tail. It was likely a matter of instinct—Ruth knew well that the kinder Ail was, the angrier he was. So, when Ail was angry, Ruth would boldly confront him, but if Ail smiled, Ruth would shy away, terrified.

“I have something to say. Please spare some time, even if it’s just for a moment, despite the late hour.”

“You’re right. It’s too late and difficult, though. It’s time to rest.”

Ail had known Ruth would come to him since the previous night. In fact, he hadn’t been able to sleep because of it. He had been curious, wondering what face Ruth would show and what he would say, his heart racing with anticipation.

Just imagining Ruth’s tear-filled eyes as he begged him was enough to arouse him. He had already finished when he imagined Ruth kneeling and swallowing his sobs, begging to do anything for him. And when Ail briefly fell asleep at dawn, he even dreamt of forcibly holding him while Ruth cried out, saying he didn’t want it.

In the dream, Ruth was thrashing about, crying. Ail had pinned him down, biting into his soft skin, forcing his way inside. Ignoring Ruth’s screams and pleas, he had thrust deeper, the sound of Ruth’s gasping breath and screams still seemed to echo in his ears.

It had been an incredibly vivid dream. So real that Ail almost regretted it being just a dream.

As Ail looked at Ruth with half-lidded eyes, he saw Ruth clench his fists tightly in response to the gaze. He was quite sensitive.

“I know this is rude, but it will only take a moment. Tomorrow will be too late.”

The voice was one that had lost a lot of its venom. It was hard to believe that this was the same person who had arrogantly lifted their eyes and left when we last met. Now, they were weakly trembling. While I liked the change in their demeanor, I didn’t appreciate the reason behind it. It seemed to bruise my pride a little.

“If you’re going to say that, then there’s nothing I can do. Follow me.”

As Ail turned toward the door, Meril quickly approached and opened it, exhaling a sigh of relief, as if grateful.

Ail walked leisurely toward the table in the center of the room. It was a cool night, so they hadn’t sweated much. Holding the thin riding whip they used, Ail sat in the chair in front of the table and told Meril, who offered to bring tea, that it wasn’t necessary, then motioned for Ruth to sit down.

“Sit.”

Ruth hesitated for a moment due to Ail’s soft tone but eventually sat in the chair opposite Ail. Then, he lowered his gaze again.

Ail felt a twisted pleasure seeing Ruth tremble like a delicate deer caught by a carnivorous predator. After knowing him for four years, this was the first time Ail had seen Ruth so pale and flustered. Even when he was being chased by the enemy during a hunting competition four years ago, or when Ail had a knife to his throat, Ruth had been proud. Seeing him shake now was quite a sight. The excitement was so overwhelming that Ail felt a dull ache in his lower abdomen.

“I heard from Kamiel earlier. He said that you ordered Elsen to be killed immediately upon finding him as the kidnapper of Erita.”

As expected, Ail smiled coldly.

“He’s a traitor. It’s a deserved punishment.”

“It was for Erita’s sake. Elsen would never harm you, Your Highness.”

“That’s not something I know.”

Ruth faltered in his words, realizing that Ail had no intention of changing his mind. He closed his eyes tightly. It felt like he was speaking to a wall. No matter what he said, Ail seemed ready to reflect it back immediately. A momentary thought passed through Roos’s mind: if it was going to be like this, there was no need to drag this conversation out. So, he decided to confront Ail head-on.

“Please take back your order.”

“Why?”

“The exact charges should be heard from Erita and Elsen once they’re found. That’s the only way to understand the reason behind it. And if there were unavoidable circumstances… you should consider that. Elsen saved Erita’s life. Please, show some mercy.”

Ruth bowed deeply and pleaded with Ail. With clenched eyes and a trembling voice, he cast aside his pride and clung to Ail for one last hope. But Ail remained firm.

“No one knows if Elsen truly saved Erita or simply kidnapped her. Or, did you hear something from your father?”

Ail’s words, striking at a painful spot, made Ruth bite his lip before continuing.

“There’s nothing like that. I just trust Elsen. Please, show mercy.”

“What if I don’t?”

At Ail’s sharp voice, Ruth closed his eyes tightly. He had expected this. There was no reason for Ail to show any mercy now that his value had dropped. Their relationship was at its worst. There was no way Ail would listen to his plea after just a few words of supplication.

Since he had expected this outcome, Ruth slowly took a deep breath and stood up. He felt Ail’s gaze on him, sensing his curiosity about how Ruth would act. Ruth walked toward the table.

His legs trembling, Ruth barely supported himself as he stood before Ail and looked down at him. After a moment, he knelt down in front of him and lowered his head. He placed his hands on the floor and begged.

“Please. I beg of you. Please delay the punishment for the two of them until after you’ve heard the full story.”

Ruth was pleading in front of Ail, forgetting all dignity and pride. Looking down at Ruth, Ail smiled with a twisted sense of pleasure. His body shivered, and a painful desire surged in his lower abdomen. Seeing Ruth kneeling before him made his heart swell with joy.

“Interesting. I thought you would never kneel, but… well, fine. But if I grant your request, what will you give me in return?”

For a moment, Ruth stiffened. He had nothing to offer Ail. Ail knew that Ruth had nothing of value to offer him in return.

Ail casually picked up the whip from the table and lifted Ruth’s chin. He met his gaze and smiled.

“I don’t believe in humans. I don’t trust their hearts, their loyalty, or their faith. In relationships, the only thing worth trusting is the contract formed by mutual need. It would be better if I had leverage over you. So, what will you give me? Only then can I give you what you want.”

Ail waited for Ruth’s response, enjoying the situation. As Ruth’s eyes filled with fear and confusion, Ail felt a slight pain in his growing arousal but was able to suppress it. After all, in just a few minutes, he would be able to experience a much more intense night than in yesterday’s dream.

He imagined entering that body and making it scream in madness. At that moment, he would comfort Ruth, whispering not to cry and embracing him tightly.

He was determined to keep that body to himself, loving it all night and trapping it within himself, never letting it escape.

The thought made Ail’s eyes gleam cruelly. Ruth swallowed dryly, feeling as if he were about to be devoured.

“Do you… want something from me?”

“Do you think there’s something I could want from you? You, whose value has been thrown away by your family and whose mother was a whore—what could I possibly want from you?”

At the cruel words, Ruth fell silent. As Ail observed his increasingly pained expression, he lowered the whip, tracing it along Ruth’s neck. The cold, leather whip made contact with Ruth’s skin, causing his clothes to slip down.

The overtly sexual gesture made Ruth’s pupils dilate in surprise.

“Isn’t it true that all you have to offer is your body?”

Ruth remained frozen, unable to speak, staring at Ail. Ail spoke again.

“What will you do? Will you offer me what you have and make a deal with me, or will you leave?”

Ruth’s eyes wavered with conflicting emotions—confusion, anxiety, and fear. Ail watched him, knowing there was only one answer, so he waited patiently.

The heavy silence stretched on, sinking lower than the darkest shadows. Finally, Ruth broke the silence.

“What… do you want me to do?”

“You grew up in the Red Light district until you were ten, so I’m sure you know how to please a man, don’t you?”

“……”