“You said you don’t trust people, right? I don’t trust them either now. I don’t trust someone who deceives others with shallow and vile tricks, who lies without intending to keep their promises. I don’t trust a person like that anymore. I don’t trust any contract with such a person. So, I won’t ask anything from you. I have nothing left to give you. And even if I did, I wouldn’t trust you.”

Ail had said these words clearly. Now, he was receiving the same words he had once spoken. He hadn’t realized how painful such words would be until now, and yet he had said them himself.
He had hurt Ruth first. Ruth was now simply returning the favor. No, even if he hadn’t intended it, that was exactly what was happening.
It felt as though there was a stone lodged in the middle of his chest. No, it was as if ice had been embedded there. Cold, to the point of being unbearably frozen, the ice was slowly numbing his heart.
Soon, the blood would stop flowing.
He wouldn’t be able to breathe.
And he would die like this.

“Just once more… if you’re willing to be deceived, tell me what you want.”
“I have nothing to give you anyway.”
In response to Ruth’s calm reply, Ail did something he had never done before—he decided to plead. Justifying himself by saying that it was the alcohol, that he was drunk and had lost his reason, Ail struggled to speak.
“If… if I want your heart?”

Ruth smiled coldly. Cold as ice, mocking him.
“What would you do with that? What use is my heart to you?”
“Just… just give me your heart.”
“There’s nothing to give you.”
“Not even a little?”
“Not even a little.”
“Not even pity?”
“You don’t deserve pity.”

It felt as though he was looking at an ice wall towering high above the sky. A massive and tall wall of ice stretched endlessly before him, showing no gaps to reach through. As he approached, his body trembled from the cold, and when he reached out to touch it, his entire body ached from the sting.
He couldn’t get any closer. Ruth’s heart was already closed off. It couldn’t be seen beyond the cold ice wall. It was now beyond his reach. Everything was over. Hoping for anything now would be futile. Begging was useless.

“… I see.”
Ail murmured quietly.
“Yeah.”
He repeated the words he had already spoken and slowly closed his eyes.
Yes, everything was over. There would be no more chances. He knew whose fault this was. But even so, he couldn’t let go of Ruth right now, standing so close, just within reach. He couldn’t just look at him in vain.
If he couldn’t have his heart, he could at least have his body.
If he couldn’t melt the frozen heart, he could embrace it. If that too was rejected, he would tear it apart. If he couldn’t have it, no one else could.
A wounded man becomes cruel. He only sees his own anger and pain. No, he was always that kind of person. Ruth had just been an exception until now. Yes, he admitted it. From the very beginning, Ruth had been special. Even when he pretended to be a rogue, acting like someone else, every time he faced Ail, his mask would slip off without him even realizing. Until now, he had simply shown others his way of dealing with Ruth.
Only Ruth had been able to move him emotionally.

After a long while, Ail opened his eyes and looked at Ruth’s back, standing still as if frozen. Looking at his unshaken back, a sharp pain shot through his chest again.
It’s fine. I can endure this. I can endure as much as it takes.
Reassuring himself, Ail stood up. He moved closer to Ruth, who remained motionless, aware of Ail’s presence but not acknowledging it. Ruth stood silently, waiting.
Standing beside Ruth, Ail looked down at his profile. The neat and soft lines of his face were captivating. Reaching out, Ail grabbed his face, and Ruth looked at him in surprise, his eyes wide. Ail smiled bitterly at his face, and Ruth stepped aside, the warmth from his skin disappearing.
Hiding the painful ache in his heart, Ail spoke coldly.
“Don’t move.”

But Ruth responded with his body rather than words.
Without saying anything, Ruth took another step back.
“I told you to stop.”
At those words, Ruth frowned.
“… Then don’t come any closer.”
“This is my palace. You are my person while you’re here. I don’t need permission to touch my people.”
Only then did Ruth finally turn his gaze and look at Ail. His eyes were filled with the light of defiance, unable to accept what had been said.
“I am not Your Majesty’s person.”
“If you’re inside the imperial palace, you are mine.”
“Am I even a person? I thought I was just an object to use.”
Ruth’s words, which were sharp and filled with bitterness, made Ail squeeze his eyes shut. It was his own fault. He had spoken those words first, so he had no right to complain if they caused pain.
“Right. If you understand, stay quiet.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ail grabbed Ruth’s arm. Ruth tried to pull away and retreat, but Ail closed the distance and wrapped his arms around Ruth’s waist. Ruth, feeling the heat through his thin summer clothes, pushed back, trying to create some distance.
“Let go.”
There wasn’t much difference in strength. If Ruth decided to push back, he could easily do so. However, after four years of serving as his bodyguard, Ail had developed a certain habit that he couldn’t easily shake off. He was the one Ruth needed protection from, so it was hard to use force against him.
The smell of alcohol wafted directly in front of him, and Ail’s body heat was suddenly pressed against his skin. Ruth’s mind grew dizzy from the sensation of Ail’s scent and warmth.
He started to realize how dangerous this situation was. Although it had only happened twice, the vivid memories of being physically close to Ail resurfaced in his mind. In embarrassment, he quickly lowered his head and tried to push Ail away with more force.
“Let me go.”
But Ail only tightened his grip and pressed his body even closer. Ruth shuddered as Ail’s hardness touched his lower abdomen.
“You’re drunk.”
“Yeah, I’m drunk.”
Ail was startlingly honest, almost making Ruth wonder if he had lost his senses completely. For a moment, Ruth thought, Is this why he’s acting so strangely today?
“Please go back to your room and sleep.”
“I’ll sleep here tonight.”
Ruth’s face flushed bright red as he grabbed Ail’s arm and pushed back with all his strength.
“Then sleep. I’ll be leaving.”
Ruth pressed against Ail’s arm, preparing himself to use full force if necessary. But Ail didn’t budge. Instead, he grabbed Ruth’s shoulder and pulled him forcefully back into his embrace.
He held him tightly, almost to the point of crushing him. Ruth could hardly breathe.
Suddenly, Ail’s heart began to pound loudly.
Seeing Ruth’s neck flush red, Ail smiled wickedly and whispered into his ear.
“I came here to hold you in your bed.”
“… I refuse.”
Ruth’s voice trembled.
“You have no right to refuse.”
Filled with desire, Ail’s voice cracked as Ruth’s body shivered in response. Ail, realizing that Ruth was reacting, bit his ear, pulling him even closer.
If he couldn’t have Ruth’s heart, then he would take his body. Once his body was open, eventually, his heart would follow. At least, if he could tame him to fit his own needs, Ruth would not be able to live without him. Then he wouldn’t try to escape.
Since he was the first, he could make Ruth his, just like this.
Ail lifted his hand from Ruth’s shoulder and cupped his neck, pulling him in for a kiss.
Ruth’s eyes went wide with surprise at the sudden contact. In that moment, Ail greedily kissed Ruth’s lips, pulling him closer. Ruth felt dizzy from the rough kiss.
He couldn’t think straight.
He was gasping for air.
His heart was racing wildly.
At this rate, Ail would consume him entirely.
It wouldn’t just be his body—his soul would be devoured.
He didn’t mind losing his body, but he couldn’t lose his soul. He had vowed that he would never give his heart, but now he was on the verge of falling into this.