Jessie, waving his hand dismissively as a final farewell, turned and walked away without looking back, disappearing into the hallway. Kamiel, staring blankly at his retreating figure, looked down at the scroll in his hands and sighed deeply once more. As Jessie had said, simply possessing this was an act of rebellion. He was forbidden to open it, read it, or even give it to anyone else. But he couldn’t just burn it either. This dangerous gift might be the last chance to save his friend.

Having received it, he couldn’t simply pretend not to know anything and walk away like Jesse. He had already made up his mind to some extent. The only question was how to use it.

“I want to see that child alive… you know.”

***

Rough breaths filled the room. Lying on the floor, not even on a bed, Ruth endured Ail’s rough intrusion, suppressing a groan and holding his breath. His hands were bound. When Ruth resisted fiercely, Ail finally untied the sash around his waist and bound his arms. The next moment, Ruth’s rear was forcibly opened, and he cried out in pain. But the persistent caresses that followed soon replaced the pain with pleasure.

Ail knew exactly which parts of Ruth’s body felt good and rubbed them relentlessly, teasing him.

It hurt. It hurt and itched. An intense desire was building, threatening to burst.

His head spun, his vision filled with blinding white.

His penis was erect, begging for release. But it never came. Slowly twisting his hips, Ail rubbed only that area, refusing to touch the front.

Frustration gnawed at Ruth. He reached out with his hand, but Ail grabbed his wrist and pressed it down. He looked down at Ruth and smiled. A beautiful smile, drenched in sweat, incredibly alluring. He whispered,

“Do you want to cum?”

Ruth didn’t answer. He just shook his head.

Ail watched him, then moved his hips. When Ail suddenly entered deeply, Ruth arched his back, and Ail winced slightly.

“You’re too tight.”

He said that, but he pulled back again. The sensation against his sensitive spot caused Ruth to finally let out a suppressed groan.

His rough, cracking voice echoed, and Ail pushed in again, harder this time.

“Stop… ”

Ruth thought he was at his limit. He couldn’t bear the sensation anymore. He strained, but Ail pulled out again. This time, he was completely out. As the fullness inside him receded, Ruth looked at Ail in surprise. Then Ail released his wrist.

Was he going to end it there? Ruth looked at him with a startled expression. Ail pulled Ruth close and held him. He lifted him and carried him to the bed. As they moved, the thin fabric that had been draped over Ruth’s body slipped off and fell to the floor with a soft thud.

Ail laid Ruth on the bed and climbed up beside him. He grabbed Ruth’s shoulders and pressed him down. Ruth was now lying on his stomach on the bed, and he stiffened when Ail’s hand reached for his waist and pulled him up. Then, Ail entered him again from behind.

“Ugh.”

Ruth moaned, clutching the sheets with both hands. Ail entered slowly, moving his hips. He also leaned down and licked Ruth’s spine.

The area where his lips touched burned.

Ruth’s penis was also slowly leaking pre-cum.

Meanwhile, Ail’s movements grew more intense. His rough movements stimulated Ruth’s sensitive areas. His breath and gasp tickled Ruth’s neck, his hand stroked his side, and they slowly approached their climax.

His hot, hard member moved inside Ruth, and at some point, he released a hot stream of semen. The semen erupted inside Ruth, stimulating his sensitive spot, and at the same time, Ruth climaxed.

For a moment, Ruth felt exhausted and limp. But Ail still seemed unsatisfied. He kissed Ruth’s shoulder. Was he going to do it again? Ruth wondered, and then Ail slowly withdrew from him. Finally, Ruth relaxed and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and released the tension in his muscles.

But that was short-lived. Ail turned Ruth over again and began to kiss his entire body. His lips moved down from his neck and shoulders to his chest and lower abdomen, persistently caressing him, slowly descending.

When his lips touched Ruth’s penis, Ruth froze. Ail began to lick Ruth’s penis, which had already reached its peak and released cum. He took it into his mouth and sucked hard, and Ruth’s body flared up again.

“Ugh!”

With Ruth’s penis in his mouth, Ail’s hand began to grope Ruth’s rear. At first, he pressed around the opening, but then he entered it, and the semen Ail had left behind flowed out. Feeling humiliated, Ruth tried to pull back, but Ail grabbed his waist with his other hand and held him down. The finger that had entered was slowly scraping along the inner wall.

Being attacked from both front and back, Ruth’s cock became rock hard again. He felt like he was about to collapse from exhaustion, but his body was still responding to the stimulation.

He wanted to tell him to stop, but his lips wouldn’t move. Only a thin moan escaped from his slightly parted lips; he couldn’t say no.

His body’s betrayal of his will caused Ruth to close his eyes tightly. He felt himself slowly sinking. He was sinking, body and soul, towards the bottom.

He wished he hadn’t opened his eyes again.

He wished he could just sink into the depths of that abyss and never open his eyes again.

That was his only desire.

————————————————— Ail, noticing the heat swirling in the room, opened his eyes and looked at Ruth, who was asleep beside him. He clicked his tongue softly. In the bright sunlight, Ruth’s complexion looked terrible. Seeing his pale face, Ail let out a sigh.

Feeling sorry for him, Ail reached out and stroked his hair. Ruth made a muffled sound and burrowed deeper into the covers. Ail pushed all of his long brown hair to the side, then quietly got out of bed and got dressed.

A short while later, Ail, fully dressed, kissed Ruth’s forehead, still asleep, then quietly left the room. He opened and closed the door carefully, making no sound. The guards and Meril, who had been guarding the room, quickly bowed their heads. Then, Meril exclaimed in surprise when he saw Ail’s face.

“Your Highness, your lip…”

Ail’s lower lip, bitten by Ruth, was swollen and covered in dried blood. But seeing Meril’s horrified expression, Ail replied calmly.

“It’s nothing. Ruth will be fine, just leave him be.”

“You should have it treated first.”

“It’s fine.”

The guards and Meril, who had stayed up all night guarding the room, all knew who had inflicted that wound. They had heard the loud thuds and soft screams coming from the room, so it was only natural. That’s why none of them asked who had done it. It would be a serious crime to injure a member of the royal family, but since Ail was covering it up, they couldn’t dare ask who had done it.

Ail led the knights and attendants of the Third Order, who had been waiting for him, out of the hallway. He touched his lips, which were slightly sore. The wound stung. He must have bitten it quite hard. His stomach and sides were also bruised, but they weren’t visible, so it was fine. But this lip wound would make everyone he met ask what happened all day long.

He clicked his tongue softly and stepped out into the garden, where the hot sun was shining down. He walked slowly across the garden. The sun was scorching hot. It was so strong that it made him dizzy. He had been drinking a bit too much the night before. That’s why he lost himself for a moment.

He had done something out of character. To beg him like that. But it had made one thing clear. His heart was now completely closed. He had only confirmed that all hope was lost. But he wasn’t angry. He was just disappointed.

As he thought about all this, Ail arrived at the Golden Palace and headed towards his room. Just as he was about to open the door, he saw Salina sitting inside and frowned.

“How dare you. To enter my room without permission.”

Salina stood up at Ail’s sharp, irritated voice and bowed her head.

“I apologize. I waited and waited, but you didn’t come, so I took the liberty.”

The rumor that Salina was to be his new fiancée had already spread widely, so the servants must not have stopped her. He had a lot to discuss with her, so Ail didn’t press her further and went to sit in front of her.

“What is it?”

“What’s going on? It’s about the engagement. Well, if it bothers you, we can skip the engagement and go straight to the wedding.”
Salina was continuously asking Ail to announce their engagement. But Ail seemed reluctant.
“I’ve already told you, haven’t I? My father’s condition isn’t good, so it’s impossible for the time being.”
“That’s a poor excuse. If you’re thinking about His Majesty, wouldn’t it be better to decide on the Crown Princess before His Majesty’s condition worsens?”
“If I announce our engagement without finding Erita, it won’t be good for my reputation.”
“When have you ever cared about such things? Why not just admit it, that you’re concerned about Ruth Kaizel?”
Ail bitterly smiled at her remark, realizing she was a sharp woman.
“Why ask when you already know so well?”
“If it’s because you’re worried about him, I don’t know how long I should wait. Just ignore him and move on.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“You must. It wouldn’t be good for His Majesty if the Crown Princess position remains vacant any longer.”
At this point, Salina looked at Ail’s face and chuckled.
“Did Ruth bite your lips?”
“We had a rather passionate night.”
Her playful response came with a smile still on her face.
“I don’t mind if His Majesty lives in the northern palace. Beyond that, I don’t care who else knows. Whatever the circumstances, I will fully support you. Even if it’s not about our agreement, there is no woman with better conditions than mine.”
Ail couldn’t help but agree. Salina’s appearance, family background, and personality were all perfect. She was ambitious and bold. Not only as the Crown Princess, but as the Empress, there was no woman better suited. And above all, she was the only one who could stand beside him as an equal.
But despite all that, he hesitated. It wasn’t just because of the circumstances; it was because of Ruth. He wouldn’t care, but still… maybe he was secretly hoping Ruth would feel jealous. Ruth, who knew what had happened between him and Salina, would probably understand the terms of their arrangement. He was perceptive enough for that. Yet, Ruth said nothing about it, and that bothered Ail.
Thinking about it now, this might be an opportunity. If he got engaged to her, Ruth would surely react in some way, even if it wasn’t the reaction Ail desired. It was something worth trying.
With that thought, a cruel smile naturally appeared on Ail’s lips. His situation was pitiful, but it was better to use everything he could. If Ruth got angry at the engagement news, it would be good. If he said to not get engaged at all, it might be even better. But if there was no reaction at all, that would be a little sad.
And as Salina said, it was something that couldn’t be dragged out any longer. If his position remained vacant for too long, it could lead to complications. Moreover, there was always the possibility that he could end up marrying a completely unsuitable woman after wasting time. Even if Kaizel was quiet now, who knew what he might do?
Given the circumstances, rushing the engagement didn’t seem like a bad idea.
“Please make a decision.”
Salina asked again, and after solidifying his resolve, Ail nodded.
“One week.”
“Pardon?”

“I will announce it in a week. That should give us enough time. I will send someone to the Jenin family to ask for their understanding, and I also need to persuade my mother.”
At Ail’s firm response, Salina smiled brightly.
“Thank you.”
Although she had secured a promise from Ail, she didn’t fully trust him. Ail was the type of person who could easily disregard promises. If a woman with better conditions than her appeared, he would leave her behind without hesitation. That’s why Salina was growing more anxious. She had heard that last night he had shown interest in Ariel, a relative of the royal family, and she couldn’t wait any longer. As soon as the sun rose, she rushed to the palace. She could overlook his feelings, but she couldn’t allow herself to lose the position of Crown Princess. That’s why she had come this far.
“Then, I’ll take my leave now.”
“Alright.”
Ail casually responded to Salina’s polite farewell.
Salina felt a small sting to her pride from his indifferent attitude, but she forced herself to dismiss it. She knew that worse insults would come. This was the process of getting used to it. After all, no one would look like a human in the eyes of that young crown prince. He was made of cold, inorganic pieces, so she couldn’t expect care or affection from him.
All she desired was the position of Crown Princess, no, Empress. If she could achieve that, nothing else mattered.

Ruth, who had barely woken up late in the afternoon, managed to finish his bath with Meril’s help before collapsing into a chair in his room. While he was away, his bedding had been replaced with fresh sheets. As Ruth lay on the long chair, looking around the tidy room, he suddenly remembered last night and bitterly smiled.
While bathing, Meril had noticed the bruises on his side and stomach and seemed slightly shocked, but he didn’t ask about them. He had probably figured out what happened after hearing the commotion last night.
It had been a dreadful night. A long and painful one that left him emotionally and physically drained. They had inflicted physical violence on each other, wounded each other’s hearts, and eventually had a relationship that was close to rape… And now, here he was, repeating another day.
It still felt like he could feel him inside. He had dug so deep into him, stimulating his sensitive spot, and filled him with his semen. Despite being severely drunk and acting completely differently from usual, he had certainly been erect.
Ruth wasn’t sure about other people’s experiences, but when he had sex, it seemed he became gentle. He had been like this before, and even this time, when he embraced him, he had been gentle beyond words. He held him softly, pressed their lips together, and comforted him. In contrast to the passionate body that collided with his, his hands had been incredibly soft.
What was the difference?
And why did he embrace him?
Lost in these questions, Ruth suddenly recalled an answer. The few times they had been intimate, it had always been when he was angry. It seemed that when he got angry, he became sexually aroused.
Ruth wanted him, but that wasn’t something that brought him joy. He was a person who had too many unnecessary emotions, and he couldn’t enjoy or feel happy in a relationship without affection. A relationship without meaning only left emptiness.
Lying on the long chair, Ruth sighed deeply, trying to shake off the thoughts. He was tired now. He no longer had the will to do anything. He was exhausted just thinking, and he didn’t want to do anything. With his mind blank, he thought it would be nice to just die like this. Every time he closed his eyes, he hoped to wake up and find it was all just a dream, but that desire had now faded.
He just wished not to open his eyes.
He wished he could never open his eyes again and see this world…
Dying in a dream that he wanted was his only wish right now.
This wasn’t living. He was already in a state that was as good as dead. If a person could no longer make decisions with their own will, they were already dead. At least, that was the case for him.
It was better to die than live like a dog.
Just as he was closing his eyes again, feeling the sensation of his chest tightening, he heard a knock on the door. He wondered if Ail had come, so he stood up, and soon the door opened, and a knight entered the room. The moment Ruth saw him, he let out a sigh of relief.
The man was holding a large box in his hand.
“What is it?”
Ruth asked, puzzled. The man approached and set the box down, then bowed his head.
“It’s something that was from your room.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Ruth remember that he had asked Meril to bring him some items from his room the previous afternoon.
“Alright.”
Ruth responded with a bitter smile, and the knight bowed once more before leaving the room. As Ruth watched his quiet and deliberate steps, he noticed a smaller box inside the large one. He pulled it out. Inside the red silk-lined box was the necklace Ail had given him at the hunting tournament banquet. He had missed the chance to return it, so he had kept it in the box.
Looking at the necklace, he suddenly missed that day. At the time, he had struggled to escape from that moment, but now, he almost longed for it. That’s how bad the current situation was.

Ruth, who had been gazing intently at the large crescent-shaped pendant with sparkling jewels, eventually shook his head and put it back into the box, placing it on the table. He needed to return it to him. Whenever he came, he would give it back, but for now, he placed it on the table and started rummaging through the other items.
The box was filled with things that seemed to be of value. As Ail had said, it appeared everything else had been burned. There was nothing particularly precious, so Ruth carelessly sifted through the items in the box until he found a letter. The handwriting on the envelope was definitely Kasha’s. He wondered if it was something from the office, but no, it was just a single letter.
With a sense of unease, he opened the envelope, and the elegant handwriting of Kasha immediately caught his eye. The contents of the letter were simple. Kasha had learned of his current situation through a letter from Kamiel, and the letter began by explaining that the person who had just delivered the box was someone Kasha had bought with money. At the end of the letter, it mentioned that Kasha was on his way to Karileum and would meet Ruth soon.
Seeing the familiar handwriting and the scent of him on the letter, tears suddenly welled up in Ruth’s eyes. It was because he missed him so much. He longed for Kasha, and he couldn’t bear it.
Kasha was coming here. Although, as Kasha had said, they wouldn’t meet, the mere fact that he was coming to Karileum filled his heart with overwhelming emotion.
Tears blurred his vision.
Just once, he wanted to meet Kasha.
Right now, he missed him terribly.

While traveling in a carriage, Kasha suddenly heard a ringing in his ears. He opened the window and looked outside, surveying the surroundings. But all he could see were trees. No one had called his name. The knights and attendants surrounding his carriage were there, but none would dare call his name.
As Kasha looked around abruptly, Chelin, who was in the same carriage, reached out and grabbed Kasha’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
“I thought I heard someone calling my name.”
“Seems like you heard me call you.”
With a mischievous grin, Chelin leaned in closer to Kasha. Kasha, with a sly smile, gently pushed him away.
“There are so many men who call for me. I’ll have to think for a while whether it was your voice, Chelin.”
“Oh? Could it be that it was ‘that person’ who called?”
Even though Chelin’s words hit a sensitive spot, Kasha smiled leisurely.
“Still hung up on him, huh? You shouldn’t have looked back then.”
Kasha said this with a seductive smile, causing Chelin to chuckle happily. He found it ridiculous and absurd that someone, who could not even be compared to Kasha, would try to challenge him based solely on his status, but for now, he was indulging Chelin’s mood, as he needed his cooperation. This was a mere rookie who had just completed his coming-of-age ceremony, yet he was boldly declaring his intention to defeat him.
There were various reasons why Kasha had rejected Chelin, but one of them was to teach him a lesson for acting recklessly without understanding the consequences. But more than that, he couldn’t stand seeing him speak ill of “him.” He was a person who didn’t deserve to be spoken of by such a reckless fool. At least, that was how Kasha saw him.
He was someone precious, pitiful, and heartbreaking. A person whom he had longed for all his life, and now, even more so.
“If he finds out I went on a honeymoon with you, he’ll be furious and probably throw a tantrum. Wouldn’t that be a sight? I’d rather not see that. Should we cross over to Clozium straight from Karileum? Let’s show him right in front of him. I’ll protect you, so you don’t have to worry about anything.”
“I trust you, Chelin.”
While repeatedly calling him a “fool” in his mind, Kasha responded to him in a soft, soothing manner. Although Chelin’s sticky attitude made him want to vomit, Kasha was willing to endure even worse as long as he could get into the Imperial Palace of Karileum. Once inside, he would make Chelin taste humiliation. After all, if he was prepared to die, he might as well kill this fool first.
“By the way, I heard the Crown Prince of Karileum has come of age?”

“Yes, I heard so.”
“Then it would be good to stop by Karileum while we’re at it.”
At the words he’d been waiting for, Kasha’s eyes lit up, and he quickly reacted.
“Are you going to visit the Imperial Palace?”
“That would be nice. By the way, I heard the Crown Prince’s long-time lover is a knight from Vera. Do you know anything about that?”
“Yes. He’s a childhood friend.”
“Ho~ In that case, he must be quite handsome. I’d like to see him once.”
Chelin showed curiosity at the mere mention of the Crown Prince’s lover. His greed, always eager for things belonging to those superior to him, made Kasha briefly feel a pang of discomfort, but he forced himself to hold it in and began to plead with him.
“I’d really like to meet him as well. He’s an old friend, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen him. Please take me to the Imperial Palace.”
“Really? In that case, I’ll make an effort. Though, it’s not much trouble. All I have to do is say the name ‘Chelin Vista,’ and I’ll pass through to the Imperial Palace without a hitch. Even though it’s Karileum, no one will dare treat me poorly.”
At Kasha’s pleading, Chelin, now puffed up with pride, smiled and pulled Kasha’s shoulder toward him. Accepting his actions calmly, Kasha leaned against his shoulder and closed his eyes. Chelin, pleased with Kasha’s response, kissed his forehead. Just a few days ago, Kasha had looked down on him haughtily and scornfully, but now, in an instant, Kasha had apologized for his mistake and was in his arms. Chelin was oblivious to everything else. He was prepared to do anything Kasha asked. Especially when Kasha praised him and stimulated his pride, Chelin would be more than willing to push forward all the way to the Imperial Palace.

It had been a day since leaving Vera. They had just passed the border with Karileum, and the carriage carrying the two of them was crossing the Virel region. It would take about two more days to reach the capital, where the Imperial Palace was located. Once there, Kasha planned to meet Kamiel Larsen and ask for his help. He needed to hear the latest news and, just in case, make some plans.
After that, it would be the Imperial Palace. He intended to meet Ruth and somehow take him away from Karileum. Of course, that was only if Ruth wanted it and if Kasha was still alive by then.