Chapter 21: Wavering

Jolga firmly caught hold of my shoulder and did not let go.

Although I weakly struggled, I soon realised that breaking free would be impossible and
looked up at Jolga in resignation.

“There’s something bothering me.”

His voice as he spoke was intentionally calm.

“Lady Julieta is... ‘the Daughter of the Asbals’.”

“...”

“Born in a family cursed with an early death, the daughter of the Asbals cannot give
birth to a crown prince. Am I right?”

“You’re right.”

“You knew that Sigurd was my son. You know that he doesn’t possess the blood of
Asbal. If you let Julieta marry the prince then the Asbal bloodline would cease.”

“...”

“However, you did not abandon the duty entrusted to the Asbal family. When I think of
that, I understand how Lady Julieta was allowed to be the Crown Princess.”

My elbow was wrapped by long fingers that were made to swing a sword around.

“You intended to adopt an heir, right? The child of Julieta and the Crown Prince, the last
successor of the Asbals. And the prince-“

“-would be recommended by the nobles useful to the Royal Family to marry a consort
from another kingdom. Their child would then become the successor.”
As I completed his words, Jolga made a pained expression.

“What about His Highness and Lady Julieta?”

“Of course, they know. Julieta is a daughter who understands her position well.”

“That’s why you spoke of a suitable replacement. Because Lady Julieta was never tied
to his Highness and then you… you after that-“

I looked down and placed my other hand on Jolga’s hand that was gripping my arm. I
felt his large physique suddenly tremble but I pretended to not notice. With my fingers, I
lightly rubbed the veins that seemed to pop out of the back of his hand.

“Jolga, you see, I could still forgive the fact that His Highness wanted Miss Nasha as his
queen no matter what. In any case, there were already plans for him to take in a consort
at some point. Although I would have been hard-pressed to find another Sacrificial
Priestess in a short span of time, it would still have been possible. Julieta was hurt but
she would overcome her pain in due time.”

“But… His Highness...”

“That’s right. Quite unexpectedly, he made Julieta who had worked herself to the bone
for the sake of the kingdom and for the same of His Highness, she, who had lost her
precious youth in the service of His Grace Kharis, stoop to becoming a Sacrificial
Priestess. Do you understand this? His Highness, whom she had continued to love and
support, faced Julieta and told her to ‘Die’.”

“Nothing will remain. The proof that Julieta lived and the reason for her birth, I can’t give
anything. Since it is like this, at the very least, as her father I can accompany her fate.
Perhaps we should die together.”

“Don’t. Lord Anderheim!”

I forcibly shook off Jolga’s arm as he spoke to me in a strong tone.

“Shut up! What do you know!?”

“Lord Anderheim! We cannot lose a truly loyal subject such as you; one who has
continued to support this nation all this while!”

“I don’t care! Don’t order me around!”

I quickly paced through the corridor, through the sunbeams, and went down the
staircase, reaching a wall at the bottom of the stairs before I loosened my cravat1 and
heaved a sigh of relief.

I spoke too many flowery words and my tongue felt sore.

Does that mean I am not used to it?

As I took a break, Malacia, who had left the room to chase after Sigurd, passed by me.
Giving me a slight smile as he approached.

“Lord Anderheim, you were here? I did chase after the two, but by the time I reached
the courtyard, Lady Julieta had already quite adeptly comforted Sir Sigurd. I decided to
leave them to their own means.”

“Ah, I saw it from the study above. My beloved daughter seemed quite the angel.”

“No need to be so modest. She quite resembles Lord Anderheim.”

I see, praising me.

“I can say that the preparations on my side are going quite well. It all depends on what
the other side will do now.”

“Got it. Then I will return to the Shrine for now. What should I do with Lutora? Should I
leave him here?”

1
a kind of collar
“I don’t mind either way. To begin with, Lutora values his friend Sigurd more than his
mother as they used to hang around in the past. He shouldn’t have any resistance
accepting Sigurd as his brother.”

“Well. Then I will take him with me. It is high time for us, as Melia’s [Medicine] is about
to run out. If she grows too violent and injures the ladies-in-waiting and the children any
more, I will be troubled.”

“Is it going well?”

“Yeah. Little by little. It’s already the ‘third one’.”

Seeing off Malacia, who went up the stairs to return to the study, I leaned against the
wall for quite a while. As I got up and prepared to show up in the courtyard where the
children were, my ears caught the faint sound of footsteps.

“Malacia!”

What followed were a series of loud and chaotic footsteps and a voice that sounded
cornered.

The first footsteps that came down from the stairs were those of the Head Priest
Malacia. Before I, who was hiding close to the wall, could look over what was happening
and before he could turn back to look at the person who called out his name. Arms
extended toward him and bound Malacia’s arms behind his back.

“Lutora?”

Puzzled, Malacia said the name of the man who caught him. However, he didn’t feel the
arms that were bound to his back loosen one bit.

“Hey… don’t misunderstand.”

Lutora muttered as he buried his face in Malacia’s chasuble2.

“Morino was feeling down. He had lost his confidence and was crying, so I simply
comforted him. Um, it isn’t what you think.”

“Ahh. Was that what it was?”

Malacia quietly chuckled.

“Though I might look like this, I am the Head Priest after all. Not only people’s
confessions, I shall never reveal their interests and tastes either. Regardless of whether
you and the Prime Minister are lovers, or simply in a physical relationship, I have no
intention of ever telling this to others. It’s alright. Be at ease.”

“That’s not it!”

“Ah… shit. I don’t even know what to do.”

Moving his hands from the other’s back, Lutora traced Malacia’s chin as the other
cocked his head. Letting out a small sigh, he slowly loosened his grip.

“We’re going back to the Shrine, right? I’ll carry the luggage.”

“Yeah. But Lutora, you can take your time. You’re meeting with your father and lover
after a long time too.”

“I’m telling you, he isn’t my lover!”

“Hm? Ah, my bad. Then is it that after all? It’s common among youngsters too, friends
with benefits, right? I can’t say much good about it though. Please be prudent.”

“Did you not understand what I said?”

2
[Link]
Lutora’s shoulders dropped and while scratching his head, he reminded Malacia, “We’ll
go together, so wait for me.” Saying so, he climbed the stairs with huge leaps. As I
surreptitiously peeked out from the wall beside the stairs, Malacia looked at me and
lightly shrugged his shoulders.

When Malacia had returned to the study to call on Lutora, he chanced upon him
consoling Morino with a hug as the latter cried with his face buried in his hands. Uttering
a quick, “Sorry for disturbing“, he intended to go back to the front door, but Lutora’s
expression abruptly changed as he chased after him.

“I wonder if he’s gotten too attached.”

“Don’t ask me that. Try to avert the crisis on your chastity as far as you can.”

“You know my past, don’t you? I don’t have a shred of that left.”

“Well. Whatever you do, please decide how you will deal with them at the earliest.”

“I understand. But well, I like this puppy.”

That was quite the comparison.

I choked on my laughs as he spoke.

Seeing Lutora, who was a whole head taller than Malacia, embracing him was certainly
a sight. I couldn’t see him as anything but a collared pet dog running around its master,
vying for his attention.

“Whether you throw him or keep him, just make sure he’s useful. I don’t like keeping
useless pets. He has to work for his meals.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. I don’t wish to sell myself short either.”

As Malacia said that, Lutora returned from the study with baggage in hand.
“Then, Lord Anderheim, I shall excuse myself for today.”

“Ahh.”

“Lord Anderheim. I am thankful for letting me have a seat today. I would love to hear
from you in the future and if it’s alright, I would love to have Sigurd… brother become
family. Please convey that to him.”

“Thank you. You’re a strong man.”

As I smiled, he returned a slight bow.

Wrapping his hands around Malacia’s arm, he urged him toward the carriage that would
take them home. His gaze held a fervent passion within.

He might have not realised it yet, and he might not know its meaning, but there was no
doubt that the fire of possessiveness had been lit within.

“Well then, I wonder what will happen.”

It seems that he would make for an interesting [Pawn].

The kind that would feed bait to an already caught fish.

Chapter 22: Sister
Born when Sigurd was three, his younger sister was, to him, an existence that could
only cry and flail about.

Even so, when Sigurd reached out to touch her with just a timid finger, she grasped that
finger, wrapping it up in a palm smaller than an autumn leaf. The moment her jade
green eyes peered up at Sigurd’s young face and he saw her round cheeks, plump from
laughing happily while babbling and cooing in a clumsy voice, something implanted
itself in his heart. It was an oath, a lofty promise to protect the precious, new-born angel
lying before him for the rest of her life.

That oath was broken quickly.

As he grew older and started to understand how the world worked, what he found was
an ever growing mountain of evil deeds built by his father, who in turn scorned Sigurd,
but spoiled his younger sister. Rumors spread among the gossiping nobles, as they
pointed their fingers at him for not having a single outward trait of the Asbal family.

At the age of seven, his sister was chosen as the Crown Prince’s fiancee, and
simultaneously, became the Dragon Priestess with the duty to oversee the shrine’s
rituals. Around the same time, Sigurd, who had been allowed to enter the Knights’
platoon, became acquainted with Crown Prince Vikram. As they grew up, so did their
friendship and trust.

Occasionally, he would overhear rumours about his sister’s reputation, and every single
one was terrible. While His Highness would give a wry smile wryly and say, “As
expected of your sister,” Sigurd himself couldn’t help but feel shame.

And then, fate brought a beautiful girl to the side of those supporting the Crown Prince.

Nasha Laturi.

A sacred maiden brought over from a remote village for the sake of becoming the
Sacrificial Priestess who would be offered to Ancient Dragon Kharis.

There was no citizen who didn’t know that Placemith prospered because of the Ancient
Dragon’s grace. For that reason, the Sacrificial Priestess, who would become the
Ancient Dragon Kharis’s fuel, was guaranteed a high social status and was respected
and waited upon by even the royalty.
At first, it was just to comfort Nasha, who was confined to a room in the royal castle, that
the Crown Prince and Sigurd, in his role as His Highness’s Imperial Knight, visited the
Sacrificial Priestess’ room. Because of this duty, Sigurd had the chance to meet her.
Eventually, his feelings began to change.

It was the same for them too; Sigurd, Lutora, Morino, and Crown Prince Vikram. They
were all the same. On the condition that she must be accompanied by someone, Nasha
was allowed to leave the room she was confined in and bravely faced her fate. She
desperately gathered information, never discouraged by the burden of her unfortunate
circumstances, as she earnestly moved forward.

I want to become Nasha’s strength, he thought.

I want to remain by Nasha’s side, supporting her, he prayed.

However, the man she’d chosen was His Highness Vikram.

Her younger sister, who bore the same face, fell in love with Sigurd, despite his
thoughts still being full of Nasha. After receiving her confession, Sigurd decided to
accept her feelings.

He accepted her for the sake of being able to pray for the happiness of his Lord,
Vikram, and the first woman he ever loved.

He accepted for the sake of killing those feelings.

“...Brother.”

Crouching on the lawn under the shadows of branches, Sigurd sat with his head
between his knees until he felt someone draw near.

A reserved hand reached and touched Sigurd’s black hair before cupping his cheek with
her palm.

“Julieta…”

When he lifted his head slightly, his sister stood there with a frown on her beautiful face.
The sister that Sigurd had, the entourage had, pushed into the depths of hell with their
schemes.

Enduring ten years of excruciating pain, only to finally be discarded by the Crown Prince
and her future ripped away from her.

His beautiful sister stood before him.

“Brother, my dear brother…”

“...”

“Even if we aren’t related by blood, you’re still my precious brother.”

This sister, whom he’d started living with at Morino’s request in order to guard and
observe her, wasn’t exactly the rumored Dragon Priestess he’d heard so much about.
He’d heard that Julieta had hurled cruel words at Nasha, when she had visited the
temple with Crown Prince Vikram, but if an engaged man was escorting a young lady
who wasn’t his betrothed, it would be enough to foul anyone’s mood.

Engrossed in reading fairy tales, admiring small animals and the greenery in the
courtyard, challenging maids to dessert-making in the kitchen, Julieta had been freed
from the intense pain of being the Dragon Priestess. She was living her days to the
fullest, as if trying to make up for lost time.

Even with all that, her small body, even now offering up prayers to the sun as it began to
set, bore the traces of the scars left in her heart.

Julieta hadn’t rejected the role His Highness forced upon her, but even if he understood
the pain she had gone through and all the time she had dedicated to him—

It was already too late.

What could he do? How could he get her to open her heart to him?

The only one who could heal her loneliness and pain was, as much as he detested and
regretted the fact, their father and no one else.

Which brought him back to today...

He’d heard the secret of his birth as he eavesdropped through the wall, a secret that
had given reason to his father’s hidden distress and poor treatment towards himself.

How could his father face Sigurd, a child born of his mother’s infidelity, a visible proof of
betrayal, and still show him love?

“Julieta...You...knew about it?”

Even if she had overheard the conversation from the study through the walls like him,
Julieta was not as distressed by the news..

It was possible she’d already known he was not her brother by blood.

Asking her with his gaze, Julieta replied with a small nod as she wiped away the tears
running down Sigurd’s cheeks with her fingers.

“There was something that Father once said when he came to visit me in the temple.”

“...”

“He’d happily told me all about your knightly achievements, and then afterwards had
muttered to himself, ‘Blood will tell.’”

“...”

“Even as flattery, one could not say that Father is skilled with a sword.”

“...I...see.”

“Yes.. .Although, I was only certain of it just now.”

“Ugh...”

His very foundation was crumbling beneath his feat..

The world he thought to be true, the justice he had unwavering faith in, was collapsing
all around him.
He couldn’t protect a single thing.

He couldn’t save a single thing.

His family had been supporting him all this time in silence, and yet he was the one to
push them off the cliff.

“...If only.”

“...Brother?”

“If only you hated me more…!”

How much easier would it have been that way?

If he was despised, treated cruelly, or had salt rubbed in his wounds, the agony and
regret he felt wouldn’t be this intense.

“Brother.”

She held his face between her hands as he clenched his teeth together.

Julieta stared straight at him with tears in his hazel eyes.

“...I love you, my dear brother.

You’re the only one I have, you know? Even though Father couldn’t love you well…
Afraid of being hurt, he always kept you at arm’s length.”

“...”

“I won’t allow you to be hurt. I will protect you from anything that may hurt you. ...That’s
why…”

The angel with swaying silver hair, smiled.

“Don’t cry, Brother. Julieta is here by your side.”

His aim when becoming a knight was to protect the people who had guided him since
his youth and to protect his beloved country.

That’s why, to be protected by someone else, by such an ephemeral girl—

“...Julieta!”

Driven by a sudden impulse, Sigurd pulled Julieta into a hug.

“Julieta…”

The body he held was light as a feather; the shoulders covered by the collar of her
sopravveste1 were delicate enough to break.

Despite that, the floral fragrance wafting from her long hair, and the sweet body heat of
a young lady warmed his skin where they touched.

Her pale fingertips pressed a handkerchief to Sigurd’s snot-sniveling face.

“Oh Brother. You’re such a crybaby,” she said in a teasing voice that sounded like the
chiming of bells.

“...I love you.”

On that day, he’d sworn an oath to when the newborn Julieta first grasped his finger.
Even if he wasn’t allowed to do so, he would do so once again anyway.

1
overgarment
“I love you too...Julieta. My precious, one and only sister.”

“Brother…”

“...I want to kill the me of that day…! Believing only in rumors, not knowing of your pain
and suffering…!”

“...”

“Even though I’m your elder brother. Even though I’m your family…!”

“...No, Brother.”

Within Sigurd’s arms.

Julieta weakly shook her head.

“I am the daughter of Asbal. Our original purpose was to serve the Royal Family and
support them from the shadows...Thus, for daring to wish for His Highness’s affection…
it was my comeuppance.”

“Such a thing…!”

“...It’s fine, Brother.”

“...”

“For someone as thoughtless as I to remain as his fiancée, surely His Highness would
feel annoyed.”

“...”

“I offer sincerest apologies and deepest regret, but I will no longer be a bother, I would
be grateful if you could forgive me.”

What did my sister say she did?

Did she truly deserve retribution to the point she was in such pain? Must she bear this
blame with only a sorrowful smile?

There was no mistaking it, the one who should have borne the blame was none other
than Sigurd himself, and along with him—

“...”

He could see them in his mind—

The smiling face of his first love, and the profiles of the friends he held in such high
esteem.

Their images—

were clear in his mind.

A/N:

They are unrelated by blood.

Chapter 23: Encounter
In the faintly lit room, the morning breeze blew from the window.

Waking up, Lutora stretched and let out a short yawn.

It was early morning. Seeing how he couldn't hear the morning prayers, it must have
been quite early.

But Lutora promptly leapt out of bed and washed his face and mouth in the basin he
had filled with water the night before. Throwing away the used water, he rinsed the
basin and filled it with fresh water. Returning to the side of the twins sleeping soundly on
the bed, he lightly tapped their heads.

“Cain, Abel, wake up!”

“Mn-...”

“Uhmn...”

“Hey, wake up quickly! Don’t you know what day it is today?”

“Hm...?”

“Huh...?”

“Wasn’t someone going to come today?”

The twins opened their eyes with a snap.

The two young ones leapt out of the bed in tandem, waking up to Lutora’s words.

“That’s right! Today...”

“Lady Julieta!”

“That’s right. Lady Julieta was scheduled to come today for a visit.”

“Yes!”
“Yay!”

“Hey, wash our faces and dress up. Don’t forget to brush your teeth too.”

“Aye sir!”

“Roger that!”

As the twins scurried about, Lutora, who had gotten ready before the twins, left the
room that had become his sleeping quarters for the past three months. He gave a quick
glance across the hallway.

“...”

En route to the chapel just beyond the hallway, a very familiar man spotted Lutora
standing beside the door and gave him a small smile.

“Good morning, Lutora.”

“Morning, Malacia.”

The Head Priest, on his way to the morning prayers, had a peaceful expression as
always.

“Are Cain and Abel in your room again? I told them not to sneak into your room under
the cover of night too, for your lover would get angry.”

“I’m telling you, Morino isn’t my lover… might as well have you sneak into my room at
night.”

Malacia heartlessly laughed off Lutora, who had inadvertently revealed his inner
desires.
“Hahaha, what a funny joke.”

“Good morning, Reverend Malacia.”

“Good mornin’!

“Yes, good morning to you too.”

As the twins, who rushed out of the room next, clung to Malacia, the words, “I’m not
joking,” that Lutora spoke as he scratched his head, did not reach Malacia.

“Both of you woke up early. Well done.”

“You see, today’s the day Lady Julieta comes to visit.”

“Yeah, she’s praying right now. After that, she told me that she would come to play with
you all.”

“Yay! I love Lady Julieta!”

“...Me too.”

Standing beside Abel, who raised both his hands and jumped, Cain nodded as his
cheeks turned crimson.

“My my. Lady Julieta seems quite popular.”

“That’s because she’s being considered akin to a [Saint] right now...Sigurd’s

overprotectiveness is scary even from afar.”

“Well, it’s great if brother and sister get along,”

It had been more than a month since Anderheim and Julieta, the father-daughter pair,
had left the Prime Minister’s residence.
The mansion the two moved to, was on a corner of the hill that gently extended from the
west gate of the capital.

Surrounded by a small forest, the mansion was not that large, but was nevertheless
enveloped by verdant greenery and flower beds full of roses. Led by her father and
brother, Julieta happily strolled in the garden, brushing her face against the roses and
cheerfully smiling. Rumours of her beauty soon spread far and wide.

The anecdotes that accompanied it were, ‘The former fiancée betrayed by the Crown
Prince’, ‘the woman who was forced to become the Sacrificial Priestess instead of the
Crown Prince’s beloved lover’, and ‘the descendant of Sage Asbal that endured bitter
pain for ten long years’. These half-truths soon manifested as gazes of sympathy
towards Julieta and the simultaneous sense of hatred towards the Crown Prince and his
fiancée.

Young noblemen, unceasingly came uninvited in the hopes of interacting with Julieta.
Seeing Sigurd flatly reject them, indignantly muttering with a mask-like straight face, “I
won’t let anyone catch a glimpse of Julieta,” made Lutora’s blood run cold.

After the four of them offered their morning prayer at the altar and had lunch together,
Malacia left for the chapel for his usual morning duties, and the twins left for the
orphanage, saying they had to make preparations for the reception. Left alone, Lutora
decided to go to the outer court to meet the two who were visiting.

“Sir Lutora!”

As Lutora walked in a leisurely manner, a temple knight came rushing to him in panic.

“Hm? Amy? What happened?”

She was wearing her Sugarloaf Helmet, as she was on duty, but Lutora quickly
recognised her voice and gait. As Amy reached Lutora’s side, she cupped her hands
near her mouth and whispered to him.
“This is bad, Sir Lutora. Under the staircase His Highness and his fiancée have arrived
by carriage.”

“Huh!?”

“They didn’t announce their visit, did they?”

“Of course they didn’t! What was His Highness thinking!?”

“It’s time for Lady Julieta and Sir Sigurd to arrive soon… what do we do!?”

Although she did not know the exact details, Amy did know that this combination was a
recipe for disaster and rushed to find Lutora in the Shrine.

“It would be fine if it were on His Highness, but Nasha too… it’s hard to show my face...”

Two months ago. Lutora, who had volunteered in the study in the royal castle to gather
inside information about the Shrine, was outed by Melia, who told her older sister Nasha
that her use of Suimo began at Lutora’s behest.

When she asked Lutora why he didn’t stop her, Morino defended him, saying, “If it
weren’t for that, Melia would have gone crazy.” But what the both of them received was
a harsh yell from Nasha, who said, “It’s because of your incompetence that my sister
became a victim!”

Abused and called traitor, Lutora left the castle heartbroken. Malacia, who welcomed
him back, was shocked to see his haggard appearance. Informed of the situation by the
weeping twins who clung to him, Malacia cradled the crouching Lutora’s head, spending
the whole night beside him without a word.

I was scorned by Nasha, the one I love. Yet I do not hurt. It’s all thanks to Malacia.

Lutora had to admit, the impossible had happened.

By no means was he an angel. He was a man who would willingly dirty his hands for the
sake of the Shrine and the kingdom.

His fortitude as he smiled, taking pride in his disgrace, should not have captivated
Lutora.
Even his task of spying on him was now a mere excuse. The children of the orphanage
were cute and the temple knights idolized him. Spending his days beside Malacia,
whom he once despised as a foe, he realised the other could be so gentle, so full of
affection.

This time, I want to become Malacia’s strength.

I want to be relied on. I want to be told, ‘it's no good if you aren’t there’.

“Maybe I should say it will be hard to face them… I’ll go and welcome His Highness and
Nasha. When Sigurd and Julieta arrive, guide them along the outer court to the
orphanage. The chance of them checking on Melia’s condition is high, but I don’t think
they’ll visit the orphanage. What about Melia’s medicine this morning?”

“On Malacia’s instructions, they administered her a diluted dose. She is calm now.”

“We can do nothing but pray that the medicine doesn’t wear off… let’s go.”

“Got it.”

Urging Amy, at the base of the stairs below the arch stood a carriage with the royal seal
engraved on it. Just as she was to take Vikram’s hand to alight from the carriage,
questioning Lutora’s appearance at the base of the stone steps, she denounced him,
speaking loudly on purpose so everyone around could hear.

“You traitor! You said you’ll stay by Melia’s side!”

“Nasha! What are you saying!?”

The Crown Prince immediately remonstrated with her, but the person in question,
Nasha, puffed her cheeks in complaint.

“But Your Highness, you heard it too! Melia was made to drink Suimo on Lutora’s
orders!”
“But isn’t it a medicine to ease the Dragon Priestess’ sufferings? It’s no doubt a powerful
medicine, but if it weren’t for that, Melia would go crazy. Didn’t he explain that? You’re
barking up the wrong tree by blaming Lutora.”

“Then at least let Sigurd be by Melia’s side instead. If her lover Sigurd is by her side,
even Melia will be at peace.”

“Sigurd is now Lady Julieta’s guard.”

As he alighted the steps, a frighteningly composed voice escaped his lips.

Distancing himself from the days when he was carried away by love, from the days
when the fire burning again in his heart left him at a loss, what he saw was the ugly side
of his former love. One who was self-centred and egoistic, not bothering to hide her low
birth at all.

“Protecting the Sacrificial Priestess is an important duty of the royal family. You have
experienced it first hand, you should know it, right Nasha?”

“Don’t call me so casually.”

She drew closer to Vikram as if to hide behind him. From the shadows, Nasha glared at
him.

“Sigurd is Melia’s fiancée. Using the excuse of him being her brother, staying together
with a man who already has a fiancée, that woman knows no shame, does she?”

Looking at her actions a few months back, it was the pot calling the kettle black.

Receiving a dubious gaze from Lutora, Vikram felt ashamed.

“I don’t have any recollection of ever getting engaged to Melia. May I ask who you
meant while talking about a shameless woman? Was it my sister Julieta?”
The one who spoke with a tone heavy filled with wrath was unmistakable.

Sitting beside a veiled woman was an imposing youth dressed in a knight’s uniform.

Sigurd Isys Asbal.

Chapter 24: Confrontation
Leaping out of the carriage, Sigurd turned to Vikram and politely bowed to pay his
respects while ignoring Nasha, who seemed like she had something to say.

“Your Highness, I apologise for my long silence.”

“Sigurd. You being healthy is of greater importance to me.”

Seeing Vikram giving a nod in reply, Sigurd returned to the carriage for the time being
and held the girl sitting inside with both arms. He then got down from the carriage
before placing the girl’s feet gently on the ground.

“Does it hurt, Julieta?”

“No. Thank you, brother Sigurd.”

Glimpses of the girl’s smile through her veil revealed her absolute trust towards her
brother. Lifting up the hems of her robe, she lowered her head and curtsied. Her
gestures exuded refinement from tip to toe.

In addition to her intrinsic noble grace, her untiring efforts and diligence polished her
gestures further.

Not minding the temple knights who were sighing in admiration underneath their
helmets, Nasha curled her lips and ostentatiously latched onto Vikram’s arm. Feeling
Julieta’s gaze on her, Nasha’s expression held an unmasked superiority as she placed
her cheek on the Crown Prince’s arm.

“Your Highness, Lady Julieta...! Has she even followed me here to harm me? Poor
Sigurd is also forced to ferry her around! Quickly return him to Melia’s side!”

“Nasha. Don’t throw baseless accusations.”

Vikram’s response to Nasha’s coquettish speech was indifferent as she clung to his
arm. Nasha’s eyes grew wide at Sigurd’s frigid attitude as she had thought of him as an
ally.

“Why? Did you forget, Sigurd? I was harassed by this bitch multiple times.”

“Anyone would wish to antagonise someone who needlessly follows their fiancé along.
Would Nasha be alright if your fiancé, His Highness, escorted another noblewoman?”

“His Highness Vikram would never be unfaithful!”

“...”

It was precisely because he had done it in the past that Nasha was standing there.

Nasha seethed in rage all by herself as Crown Prince Vikram shifted his gaze around.
Even the Temple Knights sensed the dampened mood, to say nothing of Lutora and
Sigurd. A voice from the stairs above asked, “What happened,” diffusing the tense air.

“Malacia.”

Standing atop the stairs was a man with a slightly grave expression, Head Priest
Malacia. Hearing the commotion, he had walked to the arch in the outer court from the
chapel.

“Amy, Lutora. It’s alright, leave it to me. Your Highness. It is common courtesy for the
royal family to inform the Shrine of a visit in advance. An abrupt visit when there is no
urgent business leads to confusion for both parties. Please be more discreet with your
actions. They needlessly cause turmoil amongst the subjects.”

“That, um... My apologies.”

Nasha must have unreasonably said that she wished to meet Melia. Her patience must
have run out after seeing countless formal requests get rejected. Then she must have
decided to come to the Shrine uninvited.

Seeing Vikram not commit to his answer and replying evasively, Nasha butted into the
conversation.

“Hey, why is Vikram the one apologising? Aren’t you only a Head Priest? His Highness
Vikram is of a higher status!”

“Miss Nasha Laturi. It is quite evident that you haven’t learnt much from your Queen
training.”

“Wha...!”

Malacia looked down on the country bumpkin, who did not even understand the
difference between status and power. Urging Lutora and Amy, who were flanking him on
both sides, towards the outer court. He then gently spoke with a smile to Sigurd and
Julieta, who were still waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

“The descendant of Sage Asbal, Sigurd Isys Asbal. The Holy Maiden, the honourable
Sacrificial Maiden, Julieta O’shayne Asbal. I welcome your visit. The children were quite
impatient for the day you would visit and they are eagerly awaiting your arrival.”

“I would like to show our gratitude for this warm welcome on behalf of the both of us.”

“I was quite pleased to receive your invitation.”

“The stairs leading up to the Shrine are a little uneven. Please watch your step, Lady
Julieta. Take your time to climb up the steps, don’t rush. We shall return a little earlier,
but... Your Highness, Miss Nasha. If you have any business, please ask prior to taking
action. You are welcome to enter the chapel.”

“What!”

Like a child flying into rage, Nasha bunched up her skirt with both hands and left
Vikram’s side. She rushed up the stairs before stopping on the steps in front of the
Shrine. Her actions did not have a shred of prudence, to say nothing of dignity. Seeing
her, both the Crown Prince and Sigurd stood speechless.

“Please wait!”

Chasing after Malacia, the voice disappeared past the dragon-shaped arches.

Vikram, who was left behind, turned to look at Julieta.

Julieta’s jade eyes peeked through her veil as well, peering at Vikram’s azure eyes.

The girl he had betrayed and abandoned.

The girl upon whom he and his friends had imposed the fate of death in exchange for
the one he loved.

The girl he had thought of as the villain.

“Julieta.”

“...”

“It’s been a while. You seem well.”

“I am glad to hear that Your Highness is in good health too.”

“Um, Julieta.”

“...”

“I want to apologise.”

“...”

“I heard many things. About the pain and the loneliness that you endured. I didn’t know
a thing.”

“...”

“I know that you cannot bring yourself to accept my apology this late. But, Julieta-“
“There is no need, Your Highness.”

Cutting through Vikram’s eloquent excuses, Julieta’s words held an indomitable will.

“Your Highness is the one to rule over Palcemith. Please do not bother about the stones
on the roadside like me.”

“How could I?”

“I am not the one who will walk beside Your Highness. It is Lady Nasha. Please leave
me as is.”

“But Julieta, I-“

“I shall pray from the heavens that Your Highness’ reign be peaceful. That way, my
obligation of loyalty towards the kingdom shall be fulfilled. That is all.”

“...!”

The kingdom, the citizens and most importantly, the Crown Prince.

The pure wish of the innocent girl who had continued to love him.

“Julieta...”

It wasn’t something he could do as one who had trampled all over her destiny.

But at the very least, he wished to—.

“Julieta, your hand. The steps here seem quite high.”

Vikram endured a curtsy and held out his hand in front of Julieta who was dragging her
feet with tiny steps.
It didn’t matter what he looked like. He just wanted to help her.

“No, Your Highness.”

However Julieta resolutely shook her head seeing the Crown Prince hold out his hand,

“I am the Sacrificial Priestess of Palcemith. I wait for the moment when I offer my
everything to His Grace Kharis. Even if the other person were Your Highness… I am
afraid I cannot take the hand of anyone other than family. Your feelings of concern have
reached me.”

“Julieta, come here. Take my hand. If you feel you might fall, I can carry you in my
arms.”

“Well, if Brother says so.”

Through her bashfulness, Julieta meekly placed her palm atop Sigurd’s outstretched
palm.

Left behind, Vikram could do nothing but watch as Sigurd guided Julieta’s small frame
over the stairs one step at a time.

The two climbed the stairs and were just about to pass under the arch leading to the
outer court of the chapel when Sigurd, who was holding Julieta’s shoulder, turned to
look behind, sending a quick glance at Vikram who was looking up at them.

“Sigurd.”

The one who had competed with him in everything from sword fighting to studies, right
from childhood; his greatest rival, Sigurd.

For Vikram who had no siblings, he was the closest thing to a brother, and his best
friend.
The greatest knight whom he had never doubted, with whom he believed he would
share his joys and sorrows while carrying the country on their shoulders.

“...”

This was the proof that a ravine had grown between the two.

Sigurd did not respond to Vikram’s murmuring and disappeared beyond the arch.

“...”

Vikram climbed up the stairs, alone, with his shoulders drooping. As he passed under
the arch, a woman’s shrill voice akin to a shriek reached his ears.

“No! What is that!? Why!? I don’t believe it...!”

“Nasha! Calm down!”

“Give me back my Melia! Give her back! Disgusting!”

“Calm down! Your actions will only hurt your sister more!”

“Stop it! Right now! Release Melia from the duties of the Dragon Priestess!”

As he approached the source of the voice, he found Nasha Laturi creating another fuss
inside the chapel with a crowd surrounding her.

Not minding Malacia and Lutora stopping her, she broke into the residential quarters
behind the chapel. She barged into the room of the Dragon Priestess and saw Melia,
who was now completely unrecognisable.

Melia would be in her senses only for the time period when her medicine (Suimo) was in
effect. She would advise the commoners on their grievous worries behind the closed
doors of the confession room during that time; a duty of the Dragon Priestess.
However, due to the addictive nature of her medicine, her fragile reasoning was
consumed by greed.

Unlike Julieta who received confessions from girls of similar age as her, the ones who
came to Melia for advice were all men who didn’t seem like they had a decent job in any
manner. In the end, seeking advice was all in name and they came to hear the
coquettish moans of the Dragon Priestess who indulged in pleasure day and night from
the medicine behind closed doors.

Malacia and Lutora had tried their best to stop her, but giving confessions and receiving
advice were the citizens’ rights. As long as the Dragon Priestess didn’t reject them, they
could not prevent the visits.

Lutora was in tears as he apologised to Sigurd. Sigurd had learnt of Melia exposing her
true nature once she became the Dragon Priestess from the ladies-in-waiting and the
children. He patted Lutora’s shoulder to comfort him and said, “It’s not your fault.”

Thus, inside the Dragon Priestess’ room.

Nasha saw Melia on all fours, lapping up the bowl of the Suimo-infused milk with her
tongue.

Despite her degenerate expression, they still had the same face. Fear ruled her instincts
as she rushed back out and, despite knowing that she was inside the tranquil Shrine,
she was reduced to the plight of having her shrieks resound throughout the whole
chapel.

“That’s [Link] have performed the duties of the Dragon Priestess in the past. It’s fine
if you go back to doing it now!”

With tears pooling at the corners of her eyes, the one Nasha pointed at was Julieta, who
was showing signs of surprise through her veil.

“In any case, you are going to be eaten by the dragon, right? If that’s so, it doesn’t make
a difference if you start suffering now!?”

“You impudent… how dare you…?”

Malacia and Lutora were dumbfounded at Nasha’s excessively self-centred words.
Holding the shaking Julieta close as if to protect her, Sigurd glared at Nasha as he
trembled in rage.

“Why… Why are you protecting that woman, Sigurd? Your lover is Melia!”

“Julieta is my precious little sister...! I won’t let you make a mockery out of her...!”

“Sigurd, you’re being deceived by that woman! That’s right, it doesn’t make a difference
if the Sacrificial Priestess is eaten by the dragon sooner or later! The duty of the Dragon
Priestess ends once the Sacrificial Priestess is eaten by the dragon, right? Everything
will be solved then!”

“Nasha… Nasha. What. Did. You. Just. Say...!”.

The words Lutora spat out by grinding his teeth, did not reach the agitated Nasha.

“Let’s do that! Let us quickly feed Julieta to the dragon! Melia will be saved and the
dragon that supports the nation will also have a full stomach! It’s a perfect plan!”

That cheerful voice.

Passed through the chapel to the room where the hollow-eyed Dragon Priestess was
lying down.

It reached her clearly.

Chapter 25: Fool
As Nasha Laturi’s twin sister, Melia Laturi was born and raised in Cofone village.

The Laturi family may have been poor, but their familial relations weren’t poor.

There was her kind and gentle eldest sister, her lively, beautiful, second eldest sister,
who was the most popular person in the village, her elder twin sister with the same face,
and her sickly but cute and honest younger brother. Including herself and her parents,
their family of seven led a humble but happy life.

That peaceful life completely changed the day the Knight Templars came from the
capital and forcibly took her elder twin sister, Nasha, back to the capital, claiming that
she had been chosen as the holy maiden.

While her parents had gone to the nearest town and reported the situation to the
stationed knight squad as well as the town mayor, nothing came of it. Maybe they just
couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger on behalf of a single missing girl from a small village.

The family might have been at a loss, but there was some good to come out of the
situation... When her parents had gone to town, they were approached by a wealthy
man who happened to be in town as well. He explained that he knew of Cofone village
from when he had gone there to purchase goods in the past and, hearing about their
situation, offered his aid. Of course, it was on the condition that one of the two eldest
daughters, renowned for their beauty, would be married off to the man as a concubine.
Still, for an impoverished villager, it was a good match. The sisters gladly agreed to
marry the man regardless of whom he chose, and the middle-aged man sent the
parents back to their village with money for surgery for their weak son. Later, the
wealthy man contacted them saying, “Unfortunately, I am unable to marry either of the
elder sisters as I will be taking a noble lady as my wife. As the situation is like this,
please keep the deposit money given.”

That was an act put on by the Laturi parents for the sake of hiding the fact that they had
sold Nasha to the Shrine from their children. However, Melia and her elder sisters did
not realize it and were grateful for their sudden good fortune.

With nothing else to worry about, Melia decided to track Nasha down alone. Thankfully,
because she shared the same face as Nasha, it was easy enough to gather information
just by asking around if anyone knew of a girl with the same face as hers being escorted
by knights.
Blessed with luck, Melia continued her journey and somehow managed to reach the
town that lay just before the capital.

In that town, Melia was approached by some men claiming to be part of a merchant
group who were delivering goods to the capital. They offered to take her to the capital if
she helped with loading the goods, and Melia readily agreed.

The men said they would bring her to where the merchant group was staying and led
her to a dim-lit building on the outskirts of town.

Within the building, the [sampling] of goods had already begun.

Young women, kidnapped from various places or gathered for sale, were being raped by
the men of a kidnapping ring.

It was too late for her to run by the time she realized she had been deceived. Even
compared to the other young women, Melia stood out as being especially young and
beautiful and was thus presented to the large man who was the head of the bandits.

Despite her struggles, her clothes were torn off, but moments before she was robbed of
her chastity, the kingdom’s knights burst into the kidnapping ring’s hideout. The one who
burst into the particular room Melia had been dragged into was Sigurd, accompanying
them as support from the Imperial Knights. Stunned by Melia who had the same face as
Nasha, Sigurd let down his guard, letting the head bandit escape after dealing him a
blow.

After hearing of her situation, Melia was invited to the castle and reunited with Nasha,
who had been chosen as the Sacrificial Priestess without her consent, and was trying to
escape her current circumstances. Melia informed Nasha of their family’s well being and
requested to be allowed to remain by Nasha’s side as a support and relief for her, so
Melia was allowed to stay in the castle.

She quickly realized that Nasha was in love with the Crown Prince, who was already
engaged, and it seemed that the Crown Prince also had feelings for Nasha. Although
the Crown Prince’s fiancée was Sigurd’s younger sister, His Highness, and not to
mention Sigurd himself, were prejudiced against her, so Melia had thought that the
fiancée was probably a terrible person.

If so, she might as well make Nasha the queen; then both His Highness and Nasha
would be happy.
Speaking to her one-time savior, Sigurd, and planning together to support the two’s
romantic journey, Melia realized that Sigurd was also in love with Nasha, even though
Sigurd didn’t reveal his feelings to anyone, keeping it hidden in his heart like a treasure.

When she found out his feelings, the pain in her heart made Melia realize that at some
point, she had fallen for Sigurd.

She shared the same face with Nasha. Would it be possible for her?

Melia revealed to Sigurd that she knew of his feelings for Nasha, and laid her own
feelings out to him. Sigurd said he may need time to sort out his feelings, but would
agree if she was willing to wait. Thus, their relationship started.

Unlike His Highness and Nasha, who were unabashed about their mutual love, Sigurd
and Melia’s relationship was a pure and modest one with decorum. Even so, Sigurd
always chose to escort Melia without fail and, after several dates, he let Melia wear his
mother Yurikano’s keepsake pendant at a ball.

She was happy, unbearably delighted— in utter bliss.

However, several days after that ball, she overheard what some noble ladies visiting the
castle said, causing her heart to freeze over.

Sigurd’s family, the Asbal family, was a long-standing duchy lineage, who had served as
Prime Minister for generations. It would not be a problem if she was a titled noble lady,
but the commoner Melia would, at most, only be allowed to be a mistress. Becoming his
legal wife was impossible. On the other hand, should Sigurd throw away his family
name and title for Melia, he would then have difficulty serving the Crown Prince. There
wasn’t the slightest chance he would allow that to happen.

That was why.

That was why Melia, who was suffering from a love divided by status, jumped at the
chance presented to her.

By becoming the Dragon Priestess, she would be given equal status to Sigurd, even if it
was only for a single generation, but she hadn’t understood anything regarding the
heavy responsibility that accompanied the position.

Before the excruciating pain brought about by being the Dragon Priestess, Melia’s small
amount of dignity served her little.

Every time the effects of the healing spells cast by the healers dissipated and she was
overwhelmed again by intense pain, Melia would scream and cry without shame or
honor, finding fault with everyone around her. If the mood struck her, she would abuse
the ladies-in-waiting who looked after her, and the joy gained from their unresisting
existences allowed her to forget her pain momentarily. When she found out there was a
medicine that could relieve the pain of the Dragon Priestess, she threatened Malacia
and Lutora into giving it to her.

Suimo’s effects were extraordinary, and after a long while, she was finally able to pass
her days without excruciating pain. Thanks to finally being able to sleep and swallow
food again, Melia slowly returned to her former beautiful self.

Around the time Melia recovered, someone visited the confessional room; someone
who had somehow, somewhere, gotten a glass bottle filled with a flower with round
petals sunken in pale purple liquid— a large-built man who had Suimo in his
possession.

After feeding Melia a single drop of Suimo on his fingertip to prove it was real, he
pushed the desperate Melia to the floor, a vulgar smile showing from underneath the
hood he wore to hide his scars.

“It’s been a while… Do you still remember me?”

“More… Give me more.”

“You… are the woman of the man who gave me these scars, right? Perfect. I’ll make
that knight’s wife's body into something unbelievable.”

“I’ll do anything, I’ll do anything so—”

That day, the boss of the kidnapping ring, who Sigurd and the knights had allowed to
escape, leisurely took Melia’s virginity, using Suimo as bait.

After that, the man would bring several ruffians into the confessional room and give
Melia Suimo while they played with her body as they pleased.

Due to the side effects of having taken copious amounts of Suimo, Melia had long since
lost her reason and had the unwaveringly blind faith that, even after her body was
tainted this much, she would still be able to become Sigurd’s wife.

And then, one day.

And then, one day while rolling around in her bed, tired of waiting for the day her role as
Dragon Priestess would end, her beloved sister, Nasha’s, shouts reached Melia’s ears.

“Sigurd is being hoodwinked by that woman… That’s right, it’ll be fine if we just feed the
Sacrificial Priestess to the dragon sooner! Once the Sacrificial Priestess is eaten by the
dragon, the Dragon Priestess’s role will be done, right? Everything will be solved then!”

Oh I see, that’s right.

That woman should be referring to the Sacrificial Priestess, Julieta.

Deceiving my beloved Sigurd is unforgivable.

“Let’s do that! Hurry and have Julieta eaten by the dragon! It would save Melia, and also
satisfy the dragon that supports the kingdom! It’s a great idea!”

Aah, as expected, her sister was both kind and wise.

She was a splendid woman who always thought about Melia.

Melia, who praised her elder twin sister from the bottom of her heart, was fawning over
the man who always brought her Suimo just a few days later.

“Hey There’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

Melia offered up the one remaining proof of a bond she had left. The pendant she
couldn’t even remember receiving from Sigurd, the proof of being his lover, was the only
thing she had left to offer the man to coax him to do her bidding.

“The Sacrificial Priestess, Julieta. Could you feed her to the Ancient Dragon? If you do
that, it would immediately set me at ease.”
“Heh…? The reward would be this pendant? It does seem to have some worth.”

“When I become Sigurd’s wife, I’ll hire you… We can enjoy ourselves everyday."

At some point during their interactions, he’d slowly grown addicted to Suimo himself
after having licked it off of Melia’s skin. That was why her suggestion sounded so
appealing to the man.

“Alright...I will listen to your request.”

“Really!? Thank you!”

Clinging to the nodding man’s large neck, Melia rejoiced.

“Oh right. At the same time, would you kill Julieta’s father too? Sigurd hates him, and I
don’t think I can get along with him either.”
Chapter 26: Triumphant Malice
“With the exemption of the tariffs on wheat brought about by its excessive demand, we
have raised the tariffs on cotton products. The frequent adjustment of government fund
acquisitions during the period of this special event is generally understood by the
counties affected.”

“Cotton is predominantly grown in Count Hanning’s territory. I heard that this year’s
harvest was particularly abundant… he has gained our favour quite well.”

“You’re right. After that, I received an offer from Count Hanning, and he said he would
love to cooperate to make His Highness’s accession ceremony a success.”

“Hah... he’s already made his plans to earn a connection. Not bad.”

“Thank you.”

A stark contrast to Morino, who happily bowed his head, Anderheim simply took off his
thin silver-rimmed glasses and threw the documents he was going through on the table
before giving out a long sigh.

“And for how long do you intend to keep coming here?”

He glanced at Jolga and Morino as he asked, only to see them tilt their heads in
confusion. Seeing them acting as such, the former Prime Minister Anderheim massaged
his temples and gave another long sigh.

It had been a month since the former Prime Minister Anderheim and his daughter,
Julieta, had moved from the Asbal family mansion, that had been called the Prime
Minister’s residence for generations, to a small mansion built on a hill to the west of the
capital. The old butler Thomas, the cook, and a few maids accompanied him to the new
mansion, saying that they would follow him no matter what. Taking Julieta’s hand,
Sigurd guided her along the beautiful verdant gardens. Learning the art of gardening
from the gardener who frequented the place, he built an elegant garden that seemed to
melt into the forest. Seeing the finished product, even Anderheim felt a little admiration
for him.
From the day Sigurd came to know of the truth of his birth, he began opening up his
heart to Anderheim little by little. He also began doting on Julieta in the literal sense.

Perhaps Anderheim’s abuses at Morino’s lack of preparedness were quite effective, for
once he had put in place an effective management system for all the gold hidden
underneath the Asbal Mansion that he had been handed, he groped for answers for a
way to tip the scales that made the nation move and put them into practice. Then he
came to Anderheim to chronicle his successes in detail.

Lutora was sleeping over at the Shrine as usual, but the twins, Cain and Abel, were
called by Anderheim. They were to study the management of the territory along with
Sigurd. The twins’ intelligence had caught Anderheim’s eye from the very beginning,
and he had often expressed his wish of making them his ‘successor’s’ aides to Malacia.

“No matter how soon Julieta would have been blessed with His Highness’s child, I
would still not live to see them reach adulthood. I thus needed to groom an outstanding
aide beforehand.”

“Lord Anderheim...”

“But it’s a different story if Sigurd temporarily succeeds the title. While they are a bit
young, as they gain experience together, making them the aides to the one who
succeeds the territory ‘after’ you would maintain stability. It would also reduce confusion
amongst the citizens of the fief.”

“Father...”

Morino was in admiration of Anderheim’s far thought out education, while Sigurd, deeply
impressed by his father’s well-thought plans, further resolved himself to put his heart
into studying the management of the territory to splendidly protect its denizens, albeit
temporarily.

Somehow, even Jolga seemed to find time to frequently visit the mansion on the hill, just
to deliver Julieta a book with a knight motif and jacket, a book rare to find outside the
knight’s personal salons, even within the royal capital. He narrowed his eyes upon
receiving his reward— a smile.
“...Well, it’s fine. I’ll be going now.”

Tempted by Anderheim who got up as he combed up his hair, Jolga too got up from the
sofa facing Anderheim.

“Lord Anderheim, where are you going? What about guards?”

“I don’t need them. I’ve only been called to the site of construction on the banks of the
Luft river. I heard that they dug up a part of an ancient relic of some kind. They
requested for me to come and look it over to see if it was possible to continue the
construction. Although I have retired from the post of Prime minister… in these kinds of
matters, experience speaks volumes.”

“I see...would you mind if I accompany you in that case?”

Morino prepared to get up, but Anderheim lightly pushed him down with one hand.

“I don’t mind, but it is on the border of the fiefs. It includes territories disputed between
the two lords too. If you, the new Prime Minister, were present, it would make it difficult
for both of them to say what’s on their minds. I’ll call you once the situation calms
down.”

“I see. I understand.”

“Once Sigurd and Julieta return from their excursion, tell them that it might rain today
and that I told them not to spend too long out in the garden.”

A while passed since Anderheim said he would leave and rode the carriage, his
coattails fluttering in the wind.

As Morino taught a new mathematical operation to Cain and Abel, who had finished
their studies, and Jolga slept for a while on the sofa, Sigurd and Lutora came rushing to
them.
“Huh...?”

“Morino? Father?”

Hearing their questioning voices, Jolga opened his eyes and Morino blinked his eyes in
surprise.

“Commander, why are you here...? I heard that the maids wanted to meet Julieta and I
took her to the royal salon. I didn’t think it was appropriate to listen in on a conversation
between women, and they told me that you would come as a guard. I was relaxed and
left her behind at the salon to pick her up later...”

“Morino, you’re here too? I heard that you had called Malacia to discuss the budget and
came here after escorting him to the castle...”

A chill ran up his spine, as if something were caressing him.

Jolga sprang up to his feet and ran to his favourite horse he had tied up in the barn.
Lutora and Sigurd followed in quick succession, each jumping onto their own horses.
From the other side of the gates of the mansion the neigh of horses sounded.

“S-Sir, Lu...to...ra...!”

“Amy!?”

The broken voice atop the horse calling Lutora belonged to the Temple Knight Amy. As
she passed through the gate, she slipped down from the saddle and caught a hold of
Lutora who came rushing. He wondered why she came here, when he saw a large
slash across her back, which was stained with blood and grime. Her hands and feet too
had countless wounds on them.

“Why, what happened!?”

Gasping for breath, Amy desperately swallowed back the blood in her mouth, grabbing
onto Lutora’s clothes in a bid to catch his attention.

“T-There’s a problem! Sir… Lutora. Strange men broke into… the Shrine. He said…
Lady Julieta will… be eaten by the Dragon...!”

“What!?”

“They… took the children as hostages. I brought back… Lady Julieta and Lord
Malacia… from the castle...! We all tried to… tried to stop him… but...!”

Amy bit her lips and raised her chin. It couldn’t be helped that she felt frustrated at her
powerlessness.

“This… is… bad...! The two… agreed to do as they said… in order to not let us… get
hurt!”

“...!”

“They were taken to the passage leading to the underground lake...! P-Please. Save…
them...!”

“...Big sis Amy!?

“Amy!?.

As Cain and Abel came to check what the commotion was about, they let out a scream
seeing the bloodied appearance of Amy, who was raised in the same orphanage as
them.

Entrusting Amy to Morino, who came rushing soon after, Lutora jumped onto his horse,
and ran out, hooking his feet onto the stirrups. Sigurd and Jolga followed quickly after,
riding side by side. Crossing the muddy fields, they leapt across fences, taking the
shortest path to the shrine.
“...Malacia is a quick thinker...!”

Lutora grinder his teeth as he spoke as if to console himself.

“They’re buying time! The path to the underground lake is a confusing maze...!”

Sigurd’s face was pallid as he gripped the reins tightly to the point his fingers turned
white.

“Shit… Julieta...!l

Although it was within the castle, why did he have to leave his precious little sister
behind?

Barely any time had passed since the last incident, when Nasha screamed at her at the
Shrine.

He didn’t know who had plotted this, but it wasn’t as if there wasn’t anyone who would
side with the enemy.

“Sigurd, don’t rush!”

“Ugh...!”

“Believe in Sir Malacia.”

Turning his horse around, Jolga skillfully manipulated his horse along the cliff’s top path
from where he could see the roof of the Shrine. With swift handling of the reins, his
horse slid smoothly down the slope. Sigurd and Lutora somehow managed to remain on
his heels, and the three rode their horses up to the staircase at the entrance of the
shrine. Led by Lutora, the three ran to the doors of the passageway leading to the
underground lake.

Even on their way to the back of the Shrine, they saw countless injured Temple Knights
and fallen priests.

“Ah, Sir Lutora...!”

“Please, save Lord Malacia...!”

“Please, Lady Julieta is...!”

The fact that they all entreated him in unison was something for later. Throwing open
the doors of the underground passage, Lutora held a torch as he led Sigurd and Jolga
unhesitatingly through the maze-like path. It was possible for him to retrace a path he
had gone through just once without any mistakes. It was Lutora’s ability as a part of his
skills as a spy. Malacia taking him through the path once to show him the storage site of
Suimo turned out to be quite helpful.

“Going straight ahead will lead you to the underground lake!”

Reaching the end of the passage where the ceiling was quite high, the three rushed
past. There was someone waiting for them.

As they threw open the gigantic steel gates, there was a man collapsed in front of the
gate, cradling the children, his head bleeding. Malacia.

“Malacia!?”

Lutora rushed to him, helping the limp Malacia to his feet.

Only the current Head Priest of the Shrine, Malacia could open the doors leading to the
underground lake. Although the children were hostages, he took the men round in
circles in the maze-like path, buying as much time as he could. He even put up a clear
fight right in front of the doors to the lake. The two men— one who tied up Julieta’s
hands and feet and carried her like a sack, and another with a scar on his face, were
irritated. They hit him and made him faint. Grabbing his unconscious hand and placing it
on the doors, they opened them.

“Julieta!”

Reflected in Sigurd’s eyes was Julieta’s figure along with the men carrying her on their
shoulder along the path illuminated by the gathering spirits. Hearing Sigurd, the men
noticed the three’s presence. They roughly tossed Julieta’s thin frame onto the
Sacrificial Altar.

Her binded limbs robbed her of freedom as the momentum pushed Julieta off the altar
and towards the lake.

She fell into the lake where the Ancient Dragon Kharis rested half his body, a lake filled
with water that was deadly poison to humans.

“Julieta—!”
Chapter 27: The Course of a Bad Plan
With the heel of his palm, Sigurd struck the man who jumped and brandished his knife
about, knocking him out. He then slipped past the man who thrust at him while curling
his lips and slashed at him. His eyes were glued to the altar.

"Julieta...Julieta!!"

He called her name, yet no reply came back from the empty altar.

In despair, Sigurd rushed to the edge of the altar. Throwing his sword away, he leaned
towards the lake as if he would jump in at any moment now.

As if to hold back Sigurd,

"!"

Something came up from under the altar.

"Wha..."

It was the head of a huge dragon.

Silver scales and scarlet eyes. Rich Mana filled the air.

Although stakes held down his four limbs and he was deprived of half of his soul and he
could only move freely from the neck, the Ancient Dragon, Kharis, had lived for a
thousand years, sealed in the underground lake. Every ten years, in return for the
offering of the Sacrificial Priestess’ blood and flesh, the whole of Palcemith would
prosper from his blessings.
The ancient dragon stretched his long neck and pushed the dumbfounded Sigurd's body
to the centre of the altar with the tip of his nose. And what was on top of that huge
nose?

"Julieta!?"

"…Brother…?"

Julieta, the Sacrificial Priestess, who had her limbs tied up and was deprived of her
freedom.

Sigurd picked up Julieta from the tip of Kharis' nose, undid the ropes that tied her thin
limbs, and confirmed her safety. Although there were some scratches from when she
rolled off the altar, it seemed that the men did not initiate violence or assault against
Julieta, who was brought to be fed to the dragon.

Even so, his terror was still fresh in memory. Tears of relief streamed down Sigurd’s
cheek as he hugged Julieta, whose small shoulder trembled.

"Thank goodness, really, thank goodness...!"

"Brother..."

"Julieta. My dear Julieta... Don't go anywhere. Don’t leave me, don't go. If I lose you, I'll
go crazy..."

"Brother... Thank you, brother... I also feel the same."

How could he easily let go of the warmth of his sister, his beloved, as she rubbed her
head against his chest?

Raising his head above the pair of siblings hugging tightly, the ancient dragon let out a
small cry.

"..."
"Well, Your Grace Kharis."

Returning to his senses, Sigurd straightened up and kneeled on a knee in front of the
Ancient Dragon. Kharis turned to Julieta, who was prostrating next to him, and let out
another cry as if to say something.

"I am grateful for your concern… I am fine."

"...Julieta, you can understand the words of His Grace?"

Sigurd looked down at Julieta in surprise as she replied with a smile to the Ancient
Dragon. But on the contrary, his sister looked back at him wide-eyed.

"Yes… he asked me... if I was hurt... Brother, can you not… hear it...?”

"For me, the words that have meaning… are very..."

"...It’s the technique given to the Sacrificial Priestess, to enable you to talk with His
Grace Karis."

Hearing a voice from behind, Sigurd and Julieta looked back. As he had regained his
consciousness, there was the figure of Head Priest Malacia, who was supported by
Lutora, and managed to walk under the altar while holding the wound on his head.

"Malacia... don't force yourself."

"It's… okay… fufu, I’m glad... I heard that His Grace Karis will cherish the Sacrificial
Priestess who offers herself on the Dragon God festival. I believed that he would save
you."

"I understand... hey, lean on me more."

Malachia had made a long-standing bet on the tradition that the Ancient Dragon, Kharis,
will not hurt the Sacrificial Priestess. While the men were violent, he took them in circles
as long as he could to buy time. Supported by Lutora, Malacia paid his respects in front
of the Ancient Dragon, just like his brother and sister. Lutora followed suit.

On top of the altar, Sigurd kept staring into the bottomless depth of the eyes of the
ancient dragon, Kharis. He finally opened his mouth quietly as if he had decided
something.

"Your Grace Kharis. I am Sigurd Isys Asbal, Knight of the Kingdom of Palcemith. I am
the brother of the Holy Maiden, Sacrificial Priestess Julieta… I am not the blood of Sage
Asbal, but I am proud of my family name. I would like to ask Your Grace one thing, I beg
for your compassionate will.”

In response to Sigurd's plea, Ancient Dragon Kharis let out a small grunt from the back
of his throat. Sigurd, who took it as acceptance on seeing Julieta’s expression, lowered
his head low enough that it rubbed against the cobblestone floor.

"Please... Please teach me how to free the Sacrificial Priestess. If Your Grace knows
any way to cure your hunger without offering the Sacrificial Priestess, please enlighten
this insignificant me. The Sacrificial Priestess is my sister. She is important to me, even
more than my own self. If there is a way to save Julieta, no matter how much pain I
have to endure, I want to do it, even if that means I will be the one eaten instead."

Hearing his heartfelt entreaty, Julieta’s eyes opened wide in surprise. Lutora and
Malachia too showed startled expressions beneath the altar.

"Brother...!?"

"Sigurd...!"

"Wh..at...?”
Not minding the three, Sigurd looked straight up at the ancient dragon Kharis. Facing
him, Kharis let out a cry that reverberated across the ceiling of the underground lake.

"...!"

Julieta, who was the only one who could understand it’s meaning, turned stiff.

Sigurd gently hugged her.

"Julieta."

"...That, His Grace..."

“Julieta? What did His Grace say?”

Julieta’s jade eyes wavered in hesitation, yet prompted by her brother's palm, which
gently stroked her hair. She announced the oracle given by the ancient dragon.

"The pearl... His Grace said, ‘Give me the pearl.’”

After saying that alone to Sigurd and the others, the Ancient Dragon once again swung
his neck, turning its head out of reach of the altar.

Left behind, Sigurd held Julieta as he went down from the altar and joined Lutora, who
stood up as he supported Malacia.

"Lord Malacia...!"

"Lady Julieta, please forgive me, I put you in danger...!"

"It’s fine, Malacia. More importantly, what about the children taken hostage? What about
your injury?"
"It's okay. I just feel faint."

Lutora and Sigurd, sandwiched between two smiles, lightly bumped fists together.

"Are you okay, Lutora?”

"I'm fine. I'm glad that Lady Julieta didn't have any big injuries."

"... What about the Commander?"

"…That..."

Lutora looked at Julieta for a moment and slightly faltered. Perhaps he thought it wasn't
something he could hide and sighed again.

“The man Sigurd knocked out with the heel of his palm quite thoughtfully had a letter of
communication from his accomplice. It said, ‘As planned, I called the former Prime
Minister'.”

"...!"

"What...!?"

Lutora laughed as if to rebuke the agitated siblings.

"It's okay. He might be alone, but my father has already left for the location… He is the
strongest knight in the kingdom, there is no way he could lose. Lord Anderheim too has
experienced many such predicaments in the past. He won’t die that easily."

"Yeah... Lord Anderheim is a person who has insight I can't match. He might not be
good at physical fights, but even if he were caught up in the enemy's plans, he will not
be killed easily."
"So, let us do what we can. First, let us rescue the ones in the temple above and
interrogate the ones fallen over there… and a background check on the men Sigurd
defeated.”

"…Got it."

As the four nodded and began to act, Jolga, who had leapt out of the temple and rode
his favourite horse again, reached the site of the riverbank construction along the river
Luft.

Judging from the words Anderheim had said to Morino before going out, it was an old
land, straddling two territories, where the riverbank construction was currently taking
place. With that much information, it was easy to narrow it down.

In the meantime, dark black clouds shrouded the sky and the large drops of rain that fell
hit hard onto the back of Jolga riding a horse.

While covering his hazy vision with his hand and looking around with squinting eyes, he
found a part of the road where large tracks formed at the foot of the bridge and
disappeared into the slope.

"...Lord Anderheim!"

Looking down, there was a carriage under the slope, which seemed to have rolled down
from the road and hit a tree. Around the broken carriage, several men with hooded
cloaks over their heads gathered on horseback, but when they were found by Jolga,
they pulled out their weapons all at once and ran up the slope.

"Are you a fool!?”

Maybe it was because the rain got in the way and they couldn't recognize the figure on
the horse as Jolga. At least if some of them had known it was the Knight Commander
Jolga, they might have escaped. The men attacked carelessly, seeing the vastly
outnumbered Jolga. They had no chance to escape as they were cut down by [The one
who controls the Dragon, Quistacis]. Their corpses rolled on the ground in no time.

Jolga, holding his sword, hurriedly pulled the horse to the side of the carriage, and
descended from the saddle to confirm it. The door with the coat of arms of the Asbal
family and the carriage, with a partly broken roof with the rain shield, had water trickling
inside, and the high-quality room was stained with water and mud. It looked unattended.

Where did the owner of the carriage go? He wondered if he fell into a river.

"...Jolga?"

"!"

The voice that Jolga was looking for came from an unexpected place.

From the top of a branch of the big tree, which the horse-drawn carriage had crashed
into, but whose trunk was damaged.

"...Lord Anderheim!?"

As Jolga’s hazel eyes gazed up, he met the jade eyes returning his gaze. A wet coat,
darkened due to the rain and pale skin with scratches. Silver strands of hair stuck to his
forehead. Glasses that were dirtied by the mud and barely on his nose.

"You were safe!?”

"Ah... somehow."

Above the relieved Jolga, Anderheim let out a long sigh, clinging to a tree branch.

When Anderheim’s carriage passed by a deserted bridge, the coachman was first
attacked by a man jumping from his horse. As the coachman resisted, the wagon lost
control and the whole carriage, along with the horse, slid down the slope. Anderheim
managed to get out of the carriage, enduring the impact of the roll, and then crawled up
to the tree and hid in the shadow of the thick branch.

He managed to hold out as the men searched for the disappeared Anderheim, but it
would have been a matter of time before he was found.

"What have I done... to fall victim to such a trap?”

"I shall inform you of that. But first, let's leave this place. The men around the carriage
have been defeated, but it seems that not just rain, but thunderclouds are approaching."

"…I see."

"Standing under the big tree would shield us from rain, but on the other hand, that would
make us prone to lightning. Let us hurry."

"…I see"

"The Luft River is rapidly flooding too. If this situation continues, our escape may be cut
off."

"…I see."

"Lord Anderheim?"

Jolga looked up at Anderheim, who replied, but didn't move.

"..."

He realized what had happened and called out, fearfully.

"N-No way."

"..."

"You can’t get off?"

"...I'll kill you."

Of all the times Jolga had faced Anderheim.

The words that came from above held the most intent to kill.
Chapter 28: Thunder (NSFW)
In the past, he’d seen a kitten get stuck on a branch after climbing a tree, unable to get
itself down.

Even when he tried to help the kitten down, it just flashed its claws at him and then
escaped higher up into the tree.

No matter how he reassured the kitten he would catch it, in the end it became unable to
move, trembling as it clung to the tree and he failed to save it.

“Hey, you—don’t think about pointless things.”

“...I’m not.”

“Crap… what a shameful situation.”

Jolga had never seen Anderheim like this, uttering complaints as he sat atop the
branch, in a rare show of emotion. Compared to Anderheim’s habitual distasteful sneer
that seemed to reveal his deceitful intentions, this was far more enticing.

...Enticing?

Jolga was surprised by his own feelings.

He looked up at Anderheim, still stuck in the tree.

He was known as the biggest scourge of Palcemith, but was in fact an extraordinary
strategist. A patriotic Prime Minister, who’d thrown away even his daughter and dignity,
becoming a scapegoat, all to protect the kingdom.

He had continued to take on Jolga’s resentment, all so he could protect Jolga’s heart.

Pale blue lightning fell from the sky, tearing through the curtain of rain clouds the late
afternoon sun was barely peeking through.

At the thundering that followed the strike, Anderheim’s hand accidentally slipped from
the branch. He fell, and Jolga easily caught Anderheim in his burly arms.
“Are you all right, Lord Anderheim?”

“This is… terrible...!

Jolga held Anderhiem as the man continued to swear and whistled through his fingers.
His horse came running at the summons, and Jolga set Anderheim atop the steed. He
mounted immediately after, and, one foot in the stirrups, began riding despite the rain.
The Luft River had already breached its banks, the riverbank construction swept away
in the muddy waters.

“We can’t go back...?”

In order to reach the paved road at the top of the slope, they would have to ride pillion,
forcing the horse to struggle against the rising waters while carrying double. It would be
a dangerous gamble to cross, but if they didn’t, they would be forced to take a long
detour around. With the thunderstorm growing more fierce, it wasn’t wise to remain
outside for long on horseback.

“It can’t be helped...!”

Pulling the reins, Jolga guided his horse to the forest with massive trees, the very same
place he had warned Anderheim was dangerous.

“Hey!”

Hearing Anderheim reproach him from behind, Jolga looked over his shoulder and
replied while they rode on.

“There’s a hunter’s cabin a little ways ahead.”

“...Are you… sure?”

“I’ve used it in the past during the deer season. It’s most likely empty at the moment.”

Just as Jolga had said, they reached the small cabin before even a half-hour had
passed. It stood alone, surrounded by the forest’s big trees.

He opened the wooden door with a key hidden under a lantern hanging beneath the
eaves, and then hitched his horse to the rings fitted in the wall with a casual ease. The
more Anderheim watched Jolga, the more he felt certain Jolga truly had been here
countless times before.

The cabin itself was a simple log house with a wooden floor, but the walls were lined
with hunting tools. The soft pelt of some long-haired beast was spread out in front of a
brick fireplace. It seemed as if it was still being used from time to time, as it didn’t smell
of mold at all.

“I’ll build a fire at once. Please wait.”

“Ahh… got it.”

Skilfully using flint and some dry tinder, Jolga created a spark and fed the fire by putting
kindling atop the fire dog, the metal bars that supported the wood within the fireplace.
Once the larger logs of kindling had caught fire, burning with a steady flame, he
retrieved some of the water stored in the cabin and heated it above the fire in a copper
vessel.

In the meantime, Anderheim, who was feeling a heavy chill in his body now that he was
out of the rain, began to slowly remove his dripping wet clothes, shivering as he did so.
As he struggled to unfasten his cravat, the elegant, ruffled, detachable collar soaked
through by the rain, with his numb fingers, Jolga, who had already stripped down to his
undergarments, reached out and undid it for him. Peeling off Anderheim’s blouse, Jolga
shoved a blanket at him and forced him to sit beside the fireplace.

“...You seem quite used to this.”

Sitting beside Anderheim, who was trembling under the blanket, Jolga gave a light
laugh as he adjusted the firewood with the fire iron.

“It’s crucial for a soldier to have experience with marching in the rain.”

“I see.”

“Here, drink this. It should warm you up.”

Jolga fetched his hip flask and poured some of the brandy inside the small container
into the brass cup he’d warmed above the fire, mixing it with some of the warm water
from the copper pan. He wrapped the warm drink in a cloth and handed it over to
Anderheim. After giving it a small sniff to ascertain the contents, Anderheim held it in
both hands and began to sip at the brandy-hot water cocktail.

Jolga mixed himself a similar drink, and holding it one hand, reported to Anderheim
about the crisis Julieta and Malacia were in. Anderheim’s eyes grew wide and he
jumped to his feet and shouted, “This isn’t time to sit and chat with me!” After being
informed that Sigurd and Lutora had already rescued the pair, he let out a long sigh of
relief and sank back down onto the rug.

“Thank goodness...”

Illuminated by the pale orange light of the flames, his profile with his cheeks slackened,
seemed all the more relaxed and gentle.

Realizing his intermittent incoherent mutterings had come to a sudden halt, Jolga turned
to look at Anderheim. Anderheim was dozing off, his bangs let down over his face.

“...There.”
Before the cup could fall from Anderheim’s hands, Jolga took it out of the other man’s
loose fingers. He then caught Anderhim’s leaning body, and holding him with one arm,
Jolga gently lowered the slender body down on top of the fur. The silver strands that hid
Anderheim’s pale forehead tickled Jolga’s fingers. Anderheim’s expression with his eyes
closed seemed overly innocent, and the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed was
extremely light, just like a child.

“...”

The descendant of the Sage Asbal, who received the ancient Dragon Kharis’ curse in
the place of the hero Palcemith, had stopped aging at twenty two. That was because
the curse originally meant he was supposed to die at twenty two. While he wasn’t able
to undo the curse itself, Sage Asbal managed to change the curse using a secret
technique, and extended his life to fifty five. That was how the beauty that the Asbals
were famed for later came about.

Jolga now honestly thought that Anderheim was a beautiful man.

But it wasn’t because of his ageless beauty or his youthful body.

It was his heart that held a fire within it.

Jolga slowly reached out his fingers lightly brushing against Anderheim’s slightly parted
lips. Feeling no resistance from the sleeping man, he edged his finger into the gap
between Anderheim’s lips. Despite not being conscious, the man must have felt
something out of place, as he gave a light snort, and his moist tongue moved, as if to
check on the source of the rough touch.

“...Ah.”

Something warm slowly filled his heart.

Unable to resist his instincts, Jolga placed his palm on top of that thin, pale chest.

The moment he bent down with the intention of replacing his fingers with his lips—
“!!!”

Lightning lit up the sky like it was midday. Thunder followed soon after, ringing through
the forest wrapped in a curtain of darkness.

“...!”

Perhaps the dull vibration lurking beneath the heavy sound of rain had woken him.

Jade eyes stared straight up at Jolga, trapped beneath a frozen Jolga.

“...”

Even though Anderheim was aware of the situation he was in, he didn’t say a word.

He simply turned his gaze towards the finger brushing against his lips and the palm
resting on his chest.

What they meant.

Why they were there.

His gaze held those silent questions.

Jolga knew at the moment that if he gave Anderheim the wrong answer, he would lose
his chance forever.

That was why—

“...I want to feel.”

He didn’t mince words. His thoughts hadn’t yet caught up to his desires, and so, without
hiding his raw emotions, he begged for Anderheim’s consent.

“I want to feel your insides.”

Laying his excessively honest desire bare, his request was accepted. As his fingers still
brushed against the other’s lips, they parted slightly as Anderheim questioned the
strength of Jolga’s resolve.

“It’s gonna cost you.”

“Bring it on.”

Hearing his unhesitant reply, Anderheim gave a slight laugh.

“...Do as you… like.”

Before Anderheim had even finished giving his consent, Jolga was lapping up his lips
like a hungry wolf.

The tip of Jolga’s tongue parted Anderheim’s lips, feeling the tongue lurking beyond,
and sucking it from its base. Tearing off the blanket from Anderheim’s wet body, Jolga
daringly ran his palm across Anderheim’s bare chest. His middle finger brushed against
the small decorations on his chest, and using it as a hook, Jolga strongly pinched it.

“Uh...hn...!”

Anderheim struck Jolga’s shoulders with his fists in desperation, and somehow
managed to free his lips. Taking several shallow breaths, he glared at Jolga with
tear-filled eyes. Perhaps no one had told him that such a sight only fuelled a man’s lust
further. Although he knew it would spoil the mood, Jolga couldn’t resist asking about
Anderheim’s past experiences.

“...Anderheim. Have you done it with a man?”

“There’s no way… I would have...!”

Just as he’d thought. Raising his willow-like eyebrows, Anderheim raised his voice at
Jolga.

Forget a man who had gone on long wars, Anderheim was a genuine civil servant. Far
removed from the practice of sodomy that ran rampant on the battlefield, he had no
reason to learn of it. Not to mention who would dare push down the evil Prime Minister
notorious for his schemes and tricks.

“...I see. It’s an honour.”

“...”

“Am I… your first… man?”

“D-Don’t say stupid… things...!”

Teasing Anderheim’s nipples with his fingers once again, Jolga strongly held
Anderheim’s back as the man spoke with a broken voice. Taking off Anderhim’s braies1
and sliding the underwear down his slender thighs, he spread Anderheim’s legs wide
apart, slipping his broad waist in between them. Realising his position resembled that of
an infant having its nappy changed, Anderheim’s cheeks flushed in shame, but once he
watched Jolga take off his own underwear and caught sight of his huge penis towering
above Anderheim’s lower abdomen like a weapon of mass destruction, Anderheim was
unable to meet Jolga’s gaze, at a loss for words.

“Will that… really fit?”

1
[Link]
“It’s all right.”

“...For the knight commander, of all men, to be hiding such a secret.”

“That has nothing to do with this...”

“...I’m going to need a will.”

“You won’t need that. ...But I will take you to heaven.”

After their banter ended, Jolga used his finger, moistened by Anderheim’s tongue, and
began to tease at Anderheim’s rear opening. Though Anderheim’s body contorted itself,
as if trying to escape, Jolga pinned him down, not permitting any chance of escape. He
began exploring Anderheim, taking his time and using his gentle touch to teach the
inexperienced man the delights of being penetrated.

“Ah...hn...”

Jolga removed his two, thick fingers, ignoring Anderhiem’s lustful moans.

In one swift motion he thrusted, pushing his organ, already dripping with desire at its tip,
inside Anderheim’s chamber. Drilling through Anderheim’s opening, Jolga’s organ
mercilessly created a path for itself within the man.

“N...o...!”

At the aggressive impact, Anderheim felt as if he could see stars.

His nails grated against the floor as he clutched at the rug lying beneath him.

His knees were seized and forced apart, spreading his legs even further. They were
deeply connected to the point where their lower hair brushed up against each other. In
this state, Anderheim’s body continued to sway.

No matter how well Anderheim understood the act of love, he still did not possess the
tolerance needed to accept a man’s body.
“Hur...ts...”

“...Anderheim.”

“Ah… Ahh....!”

“Can you… feel me...?”

Yet gradually, little by little, the pain shooting up his insides turned into a feeling of
oppression.

Deep inside his channel that sucked in Jolga’s manhood, something began to stir and
awaken, in a literal sense.

“A...ah. Jol...ga... it… feels… weird....”

“Tsk...”

“Ho...t. My stomach… inside… ah… sto… don’t… rub. There… sto.... Ah...!”

“...Here?”

The voice tickled his ears, and Jolga felt around for the place tinged with nectar and
then persistently grinded against it.

“N...No. Jolga… Jolga… nn… ah, uhn....!”

“Ugh...!”

Anderheim arched his back as he came, tightly clinging onto Jolga’s shoulders. Inside
Anderheim’s stomach, Jolga’s own semen spewed forth from out of his penis.

At the tight clenching that followed Anderheim’s climax, Jolga let out a low grunt, and
pulled his penis, buried to the root, free from Anderheim. With the huge organ that had
filled it no longer present, Anderheim’s lower abdomen quivered with a sense of
emptiness, copious amounts Jolga’s cloudy semen dripping out of his hole.

“Ah...hn...”

“Haah...”

“Hn...”

Their close connection was now broken.

Their rough breathing gradually calmed down.

The man who had conquered Anderheim, narrowed his eyes in satisfaction, just like a
beast after rut.

“...Jolga.”

“...Anderheim.”

“Huff...”

Hearing his name being called, the beast immediately cuddled up to Anderheim.

Brushing his bangs that were sticking to Anderheim’s forehead due to sweat, Jolga
dropped a gentle kiss onto the forehead still burning with fever.

As he felt the gentle pecking of lips and the warmth of the palm atop his—

Anderheim’s consciousness gradually plunged into darkness.

Chapter 29: Training a Dog
I cracked my eyes open at the dull thud of the wooden door closing, my sound sleep
disturbed.

“...”

The first thing that came into my sight were tiny specs of dust dancing in the air,
illuminated by the rays of light shining inside.

The sooty roof, the brick fireplace that had a pan on it with steam rising and a thin
blanket wrapped around my naked body.

Perhaps Jolga had noticed me stirring awake.

The creaking sounds of the wooden floorboards drew closer and as I idyllically turned
my gaze around, Jolga’s upside-down face came into view.

“You woke up?”

“...”

“...How’s your body?”

“It’s fine… I think...”

He must have been taking care of his horse tied outside. Putting down the bucket he
held in one hand to the floor, Jolga chuckled and sat down beside me as I lay on my
back, grumbling. It seemed like he had cleaned me up while I was unconscious, as I
didn’t feel sticky. But the dull pain in that place was proof that he had entered me last
night.

Blocking the face that naturally approached me with my palm, I tried to force him back.
He unexpectedly began creeping his tongue along the webbings of my fingers.
“Y-You bastard...!”

Although I resisted, our difference in strength was evident from the very beginning.

I struggled for a bit but was no match. As I resigned and gave up my resistance, Jolga
grabbed hold of both my wrists with one hand and pressed them against the floor,
above my head.

He easily peeled off the blanket around me with his now-empty hand, his fervent hazel
eyes gazing at my pale limbs that were now exposed to the morning sun.

...This man. He seems like the type to check every nook and cranny of his possessions.

I thought he would be satisfied ogling me, but the excited Jolga got on top of me and
started tugging at his shirt, intending to take his clothes off.

I immediately hit his head and pressed my open palm against his face as he whined like
a dog that had just been robbed of its food.

“Stay(Stop it).”

“...Anderheim.”

“You mutt… no mating.”

“...But I want to.”

“...”

As something hard rubbed against my abdomen through his clothes, my hole, that had
just been taught the pleasure of being invaded, throbbed inside.

It wasn’t as if I fell in love with Jolga and slept with him.

Honestly speaking, I felt that it was a stupid plan to use your body and seduce your
enemy. If one had no alternatives and had to use dirty tricks that put their lives on the
line as a last-ditch effort, such scheming would eventually bring about the schemer’s
downfall in any case.
Yet I offered myself to Jolga on purpose, resigning myself to being eaten from the very
beginning.

I just made one miscalculation.

Our body compatibilities were too good.

I was an obvious virgin when it came to men… but was your first time with a man
supposed to feel this good normally? Or was it that Jolga had excellently prepared me
for it?

I didn’t mind if my partner was enamoured by me, but I would be in trouble if I fell too
deep.

But I still had to fall just a little bit for him, or it would stretch credibility. Finding a balance
was hard.

“...What should we do if I can’t ride a horse?”

“...”

“Stand back, Jolga. Now’s not a good time.”

Hearing my flat refusal, Jolga reluctantly got up.

I almost thought I could see a pair of drooping ears and tail as he stood dejected, but I
heard that training your dogs early on was crucial.

I somehow managed to get up while Jolga was outside the cabin and took the clothes
drying by the fireplace. Enduring the pain, I got dressed.

We may be compatible and all, but the damage my body took was a completely different
thing.

Jolga gave me a hand once he returned from taking care of his horse. In order to leave
the hunter’s cabin, I tried to sit astride on the horse. But just as I put one leg up, a sharp
pain shot through my body, making me grab the mane and lie face down as a result.

In the end, I was carried on Jolga’s knee as he sat on top of the saddle and had to lean
against his chest. Such a humiliating manner of riding was made unavoidable.
“...Are you alright?”

“My butt hurts, but most importantly my heart hurts...”

“...I’ll try riding as slowly as possible.”

“Fuck it… Jolga, just you wait. I’ll surely walk all over you someday...”

“...Oh, I’m so scared.”

As I grumbled without a pause, although he ignored it, he seemed oddly happy.

It was sunny, as if the storm yesterday was a lie. Inside the quiet forest, we were
enveloped by a refreshing atmosphere as the sun filtered in through the leaves. The
wind brushing against my cheeks, too, felt gentle.

“I already have an idea of who might be the mastermind behind the attacks on you.”

Just before leaving the forest, Jolga’s voice turned stiff as he muttered.

Meeting my gaze as I looked up, he opened his hazel eyes, hidden beneath his long
eyelashes again. Sadness seemed to dwell in them.

“...The Dragon Priestess, Melia Laturi.”

“...You must be joking.”

It was a name I had expected to hear. But I raised my voice, pretending to be surprised.

“If I was joking, I wouldn’t say such a thing.”

“...What’s the proof?”

“The man who kidnapped Julieta had this with him.”

He held out a silver pendant with a slightly dull mellow amber stone in it.

“This is...”

“You should remember this… It belonged to Yurikano.”

“But this pendant, Sigurd—“

“That’s right. Sigurd gave this pendant that he kept as a memento from his mother to his
lover Melia at the ball.”

“...”

“Melia gave it as a reward to the criminal to assassinate you and feed Julieta to the
Dragon.”

“...Impossible!”

I looked away from Jolga, and covered my mouth with my hand, pretending as if I were
trying to not speak of my feelings out loud.

“Why did Sigurd, my son, have to face such pain...!”

“I fear that Melia’s spirit is already broken.”

Although they were allies, Jolga’s opinions were indifferent. Perhaps it was because
Julieta and I were exposed to danger.

“If we leave it be, it would do nothing but harm to Sigurd and the others. We have to cut
relations at once.”

“But… she is Miss Nasha’s younger sister. Can you do it that easily?”
At my question, Jolga gave a small nod.

“I have an idea ...But first, let us return to the mansion. I have to report your safety.”

“You’re right.”

“I’ll increase my speed a bit. Hold on tight.”

Pulling the reins, Jolga faced forward as he held me and increased his speed as we
rode the horse.

As I clung to his chest, the figure of the girl driven to insanity in the distant Shrine came
to mind.

Well, that’s it for the [First One].

Chapter 30: The Former Capture Targets
We left the forest, following the trail of mutilated corpses that had been abandoned
along the banks of the river Luft. The bodies of yesterday’s assassins showed signs of
having been picked at by scavengers and although the storm had washed away much
of the gore, the grisly scene left me nauseous.

Jolga pulled the horse to a stop and dismounted momentarily, searching through the
bodies for clues that could identify them. Climbing back up, he handed over the remains
of a scarf and a small leather scabbard. Engraved upon it was a twisting black
centipede. Narrowing my eyes beneath the twisted frame of my glasses, I examined it
thoroughly to be certain of it.

"...I recognize this."

"If I’m not mistaken… wasn't this the symbol of the kidnapping gang that was destroyed
by the Royal Knights?"

"Then they were the remnants… why did they get involved with Melia?"

"I don't know. I have to look into it for now… in any case, it doesn't seem to be a
coincidence."

Riding together on the horse, Jolga and I reached the mansion on top of the west hill.
Anxiously waiting for us were Julieta and Sigurd, who calmly supported her from behind.

"Father!"

“Father! Commander!"

Upon hearing the approaching hoofbeats, Julieta rushed out, dragging her injured foot.
Leaning upon Sigurd for support, they greeted us at the gates. Taking Jolga’s hand, I
dismounted and spread my arms wide and embraced the two of them.
"Father...! Thank… Thank goodness you’re safe...!"

I rained kisses down on Julieta’s cheeks as tears fell from her eyes and, reaching out
towards Sigurd, who looked as if he had seen something wondrous, stroked his lustrous
black hair which he had inherited from his mother.

"Julieta… you too. Thank goodness you're safe. ...Sigurd, you did well protecting
Julieta. As expected of the son I'm proud of."

"...Father."

Albeit a little embarrassed, Sigurd was unable to shrug off the hand that patted his
head, his eyes curving up as he flashed a slight smile. Lutora, who had lingered in the
entryway, Cain and Abel in tow, smiled widely upon seeing Sigurd’s expression. His
countenance suggested that he had learned of something good to tease him with.

"Lutora, I am indebted to you too."

Hearing me call out to him, Lutora greeted me with one hand on his chest.

"That… It is an honour to be of use to you."

"How is Malacia?"

"He wanted to greet you, but he received a head wound a night ago and has been
forced to rest by Thomas. He hasn’t shown any new symptoms, so I believe he will be
alright."

"I see. The most important thing is that he's safe."

"Yes. The Temple Knights and the Priests have received treatment too. While many
have serious injuries, there is no threat to their lives."

"That’s great… but it would be better if this story didn't grow any bigger."
"...That is true, but..."

Lutora let out a small sigh.

"The tale has circulated wide enough that we can do nothing to stop its spread. If we
don’t do something quickly, His Highness' position will be in danger."

"Why is that? "

"Weren't Malacia and Julieta kidnapped from the royal castle? Abducting dignitaries
from there should have been impossible."

"That much is obvious."

Palcemith is a monarchy; as the backbone of the kingdom, the castle should have been
the safest place to be.

"That is why I believed there were accomplices who had aided them on the inside and
immediately informed him."

"...And the result was?"

Hesitating, Lutora mouthed the name in a small voice.

"...It was Nasha."

"Hah!? "

Our eyes grew wide. Sigurd, who had already heard the news, pulled Julieta from my
embrace. After a brief hug, he asked the twins, “Please take Julieta to rest in her room.”
Julieta looked at me bewildered, but after seeing me nod, she obediently followed the
twins.
Mindful that we had been standing outside conversing, Jolga and I were urged into the
parlor on the first floor of the mansion. As I took a seat on the couch, Jolga sat down
next to me. Pushing along a trolley, Thomas brought in a tea set and skillfully placed the
refreshments on the center table. While it was a little early for teatime, Jolga and I, who
had not had anything solid to eat since the night before, appreciated it.

Gobbling up the sandwiches, I spread the clotted cream on top of the scones. At that
moment, Lutora escorted Malacia from the bedroom. The bandages wrapped around
his head made him seem pitiful, but his fluffy white hair that was usually hidden under
his mitre1 was now flat, making him seem younger than before. Lutora, unconsciously
displaying his over-protectiveness, supported Malacia by his waist as he moved.
Malacia's skills were quite praiseworthy, having won him over without even sacrificing
his body.

As we both mutually expressed relief at the other's safety, I praised Malacia in my heart.
Holding another document in his hand, Morino entered the reception room.

"I'm home...! Ahh, Lord Anderheim, Commander Jolga...! I was at ease on hearing that
the Commander had gone to rescue Lord Anderheim. But I am really grateful, seeing
Lord Anderheim safe!"

"...What do you mean, 'I'm home'? Is this your house?"

"Morino, are you done with the investigation?"

"Yes. Unfortunately… it is just as we guessed."

His mannerisms were a bit abrasive, nibbling on the scones as he leaned against the
armrest and conveniently ignoring my grumbles.

...Has he grown more unrestrained as the days go by?

Well, that is proof that he will be much easier to manipulate.

1
[Link]
"Nasha received a letter from Melia, which said that she wished to invite a few friends to
the royal castle. ...Since it was a letter addressed to the Crown Prince's fiancée from the
Dragon Priestess, it was exempt from inspection."

"Hey, isn't that too careless?"

Morino nodded back with a sigh.

"...There's no excuse for my actions. The reason is that Nasha is now desperate to form
connections with nobles who hold a strong influence over the monarchy. The exemption
of certain letters from an inspection was a proposal made by the Crown Princess Nasha
herself, in order to curry favor with the said nobles."

"...What's with that?"

Even I would not request something that foolish.

"Nasha has already dismissed all the instructors His Highness assigned to her in the
beginning. New instructors have continuously been hired, yet none of them last long.
She holds frequent tea parties to get to know the nobles and the young noblewomen of
her age better. But... as a lady, or even as the future Queen, her performance has been
poor. Her reputation is already in tatters."

"...Is that so? She should have received aristocratic training as the Sacrificial Priestess,
even before she stole the position as the Crown Prince's fiancee from Julieta. Who was
in charge of teaching her?"

"That... my apologies. We are also partly responsible for it."

The three 'former' capture targets all shrugged their shoulders.

"Nasha had received permission to leave her quarters during her confinement as the
Sacrificial Priestess if anyone among us escorted her. Which is why, ever since that day,
we would accompany her."

"...How often?"

"Nearly every day."

"...Sigh, it isn’t worth talking about now."

I let out an audible grunt.

Well, this was a common system in Otome Games. Each part of [The Dragon and the
Sacrificial Priestess] had one action each you could do in the Morning, Noon, or Night.
At first, you could only choose from two actions. [Study] to increase your status, or
[Conversation] with the capture target that visits your room. As the main story
progressed, an additional option to [Go Out] would be added. Incidentally, you could not
choose [Study] at night. But you could trigger certain events with [Conversation] or [Go
Out]. Because once your affection levels with the Capture Target were high enough,
your status would also rise to some extent, so it was not necessary to choose [Study].
Nasha’s present state seemed to reflect that.

"Melia's letter said that her 'precious friends' wanted to tour the Royal Castle. She
wanted us to give them a warm welcome. Nasha received it and gave permission for
Melia's 'precious friends' to enter the Royal Castle and receive VIP treatment without
doing any background checks. As they were the Crown Princess' VIP guests, they
weren’t checked for weapons either."

"...Are you an idiot?"

"They knew we would resist, so they aimed for a day when we would be absent. The
invitation for the Head Priest and Julieta was carelessly stamped with the Prime
Minister's seal. As for the letter Lord Anderheim received… uh...."

Taking over from Morino, who hung his head in shame, I quietly spoke.
"It had the royal family's… His Highness Vikram's seal."

“...I thought His Highness’s handwriting seemed different, but the problem with the
riverbank construction had happened when I was incumbent. His Highness has been
quite busy recently, so I assumed a court official wrote it on his behalf."

"Yes..."

"...If news of this mistake saw the light of day, it could lead to His Highness being
disinherited..."

Of course. While we might be enemies, His Highness Vikram wouldn't dare use his seal
on orders to assassinate me. This was most likely Nasha's handywork, as she listened
to the sweet whispers of Melia's “precious friends”. They most likely told her that they
would talk to me about changing the Dragon Priestess and save Melia from the shrine.

...It’s amusing seeing her tighten the noose around her own neck.

“...Let us set aside the issue of Miss Nasha's involvement. Currently, maintaining His
Highness' reputation is of greater concern. Got it, Morino? I received word from His
Highness and left to inspect the riverbank construction. I coincidentally happened to
encounter the remnants of the kidnappers and was coincidentally rescued by the Knight
Commander who was patrolling the area... It's a tad forced, but we'll go with this story
for now.”

I wonder what I looked like in the eyes of the former capture targets, as well as those
who weren't my accomplices when they looked at me so earnestly.

Born into a tragic family?

A patriotic Prime Minister?

A truly loyal subject?

I planned to further solidify these 'truths' from here on with my 'relationship' with Jolga.

It seems I have set up quite the smokescreen.

Chapter 31: The Dragon Pearl
It was immediately after we had more-or-less decided on how to deal with Nasha's
forgery of the letter from the Crown Prince.

This time, it was Sigurd who told me of the Ancient Dragon Kharis' words when he
asked for a way to save Julieta from her fate as the Sacrificial Priestess.

Morino seemed to have heard of this matter from Sigurd already. This time, while
looking up information, he pulled up the documents from the royal archives regarding
this.

"The 'Pearl' that His Grace Kharis spoke of, must no doubt be the 'Dragon Pearl'."

"Well, that is plausible."

"The Dragon Pearl that you speak of… is it the part of His Grace Kharis' soul that the
Hero Palcemith snatched away?"

The item called the 'Dragon Pearl' was the most important item in the ending branch of
the otome game [The Dragon and the Sacrificial Priestess]. The 'Dragon Pearl' was a
part of Ancient Dragon Kharis' soul that the first king of Palcemith had snatched using
[Quistacis: He who Controls Dragons] that was now in Jolga's hands. In a life or death
battle, by losing a part of his soul that could be said to make up half of his body, the
Ancient Dragon Kharis' power halved. It was then that it was possible for humans to
seal him in the underground lake for the first time. That was its history. It was an
anecdote that every single citizen of Palcemith knew.

And depending on whether you acquired 'Dragon Pearl' or not, the heroine's ending with
the hero would be [True End] or [Good End].

For instance, in the Crown Prince route, in the [Good End] that the player got without
acquiring the 'Dragon Pearl', the villainess noble Julieta would be swallowed as a
sacrifice by the Ancient Dragon Kharis. But he would reawaken ten years later and
demand for another sacrifice. The heroine would become the newly enthroned King
Vikram's wife, but having to reign as the queen without any backers, her palace life was
a never-ending source of worries. Though she would have three children with the king,
they would all be girls. She was unable to bear a successor. Out of the three
princesses, one would later be offered as the Sacrificial Priestess to the Ancient Dragon
Kharis. King Vikram would later take in a concubine, and the prince born to them would
succeed the royal lineage… Or so the epilogue went. The ending left an unpleasant
aftertaste.

And in case of the [True End], where the heroine acquired the ‘Dragon Pearl’, she would
return it, which constituted a part of his soul that could be said to make up half his body,
back to the Ancient Dragon Kharis, who had been sealed in the underground lake for a
thousand years. With his seal released, Ancient Dragon Kharis escaped the
underground lake. After that, he followed the holy maiden who liberated him: the
heroine who became the King's wife. With the Dragon staying, the blessings to
Palcemith remained unchanged. With a strong backer like the Ancient Dragon Kharis,
the heroine consolidated her position as the queen and gave birth to the Crown Prince.
She lived the rest of her days in happiness… This was the changed epilogue.

No matter who the capture target was, the plot was the same, with slight changes
here-and-there.

"I looked up past literature but I haven't yet gotten a clear answer. It's just that, even
though it is called a 'Dragon Pearl', it might not look like the 'Pearl' we imagine it to be."

"Do you mean… that the 'Pearl Choosing' was originally to return the 'Dragon Pearl' to
His Grace Kharis?"

"Yeah… that was its original significance."

"Are you serious?"

Lutora, who had believed the 'Pearl Choosing' to be a mere facet of a ceremony, was
surprised to hear Malacia affirm the secret.

The 'Pearl Choosing' that Lutora spoke of would be performed by the Sacrificial
Priestess the day before she would be sacrificed. It was a custom for the Sacrificial
Priestess to choose one out of the huge number of ornaments present in the royal
treasury. That ornament would be worn to the ceremony the following day.

They could not injure the remaining half of the dragon's body and it wasn't desirable to
keep it away from the Ancient Dragon Kharis, who resided beneath the Royal Palace.
Therefore, Sage Asbal disguised the 'Dragon Pearl' that the Hero Palcemith had
obtained as an ordinary ornament and hid it inside the treasury in a corner of the Royal
Palace. Then he left behind the words:

‘If there ever comes a Sacrificial Priestess who sees through the guise of the 'Dragon
Pearl', it is a sign from the heavens. It indicates the time for a new bond of trust between
the ancient dragon Kharis and the kingdom of Palcemith…’ Or so he said.

As Morino ran his eyes through the ancient text, he read out a line. Malacia nodded,
saying, "It is exactly as the Shrine says."

"Generations of Sacrificial Priestesses have no doubt challenged the Pearl Choosing

ceremony in these thousands of years, but all became food for His Grace Kharis."

"In that case, we have to find the special characteristics of the 'Dragon Pearl'. By hook
or by crook."

"Yeah, I'll gather information as well. Lord Anderheim, my apologies, but I will be making
a commotion around the mansion for a while today. Please forgive me."

"Isn't it for Julieta? I don't mind at all. If I can do anything to help, I'll gladly cooperate.
Just tell me."

"Thank you."

I have safely switched over to the [Partnership] stage.

Actually, in relation to the 'Dragon Pearl', the system was a little troublesome. Of
course, I had cleared the game multiple times, so I already knew. But as Morino said, it
wasn't generally known what ornament the 'Dragon Pearl' was disguised as. It was
necessary to investigate it, moreover, its correct form changed depending upon the
capture target.

That was the reason why I went to the point of exposing Julieta and Malacia to the
danger on purpose. To create an opportunity for Sigurd to hear the ’Dragon's Oracle'.
Seeing the gentle gaze Sigurd had given to Julieta, and Julieta's own feelings of
affection towards Sigurd, I knew that if Julieta's fate followed the events of the game,
then she would no doubt be in the Sigurd Route.
In Sigurd's Route, the 'Dragon Pearl' was a silver circlet with a transparent
teardrop-shaped gemstone inlaid at its base. It could be said to be the dragon's
weakness1.

Whether it was really that or not, Sigurd and the others should look for proof, just like
the capture targets did in the game. I wanted that proof.

"Then, Head Priest, Lord Anderheim, I shall temporarily return to the royal palace."

"Got it."

"Then, I will visit the infirmary to check on Amy and the others. I'll bring Cain and Abel to
the Shrine on my way back. Later, Malacia."

"Understood. Take care."

"Ahh. Sigurd, I'll leave it to you."

"It's alright."

After Lutora and Morino left the reception room together, Jolga stood up and patted my
head.

"I'll also try chatting up the 'suspect' that I spoke of just now. Anderheim, while I don't
think there are any assassins around the mansion, please try to avoid stepping out. I'll
send a guard from the Knight Order as reinforcement later."

"Sigurd is staying back. I'll be fine. Now, go quickly."

"...pft"

Jolga left the room with a chuckle. Sigurd left the room as well, saying that he wanted to
check on Julieta. Thomas placed the now-empty tea stand on the trolley and pushed it
back to the kitchen. Left in the room were only me and Malacia.

1
An inverse scale. It's from a legend of a scale under a dragon's chin that grows backwards and causes
the dragon to enter a fit of rage if it is touched.
"..."

Seeing no indication of a third person, I messily took off my shoes then threw myself
down on the couch.

Frankly speaking, I was at my limit.

Particularly, my waist.

Sitting down on the single-seater sofa beside the couch, Malacia let out a small laugh
seeing me groan as I hugged the cushions. Seeing my haggard figure, he must have
guessed that Jolga slept with me last night.

"The Knight Commander acted faster than my expectations."

"Geez. Your dog can properly ’wait’, while his father is like this. Shouldn't it be the
opposite normally?"

"Haha, that's because he's a well-trained puppy. You need determination to take on a
beast like me."

"Yeah, right… I'm reconsidering my opinions of you. You did well not to lose your sense
of reason after being messed up by him."

"That's a matter of experience. It's fun once you get used to seeing a man shaking his
hips, gasping on top of yourself. But really, Commander Jolga is a lucky man to have
taken Lord Anderheim's virginity."

"I'm not confident that I can reach that point in a month's time. Well, I'll just leave that to
Jolga..."

"A month's time. Ah, it will come, right? The long-awaited circus."

In a month.

A famous circus troupe would arrive in Palcemith to perform.

The circus troupe toured the Yugena continent, presenting their beast shows, splendid
acrobatics, and comical performances many times to greatly entertain the masses.

...But that wasn't the only amusement the circus brought along.

"Do the performers know? "

"Ahh… somehow, it's all according to plan."

"My goodness. I'm looking forward to it."

That day would be the turning point that would decide Jolga’s and my fate.

By that time, I have to teach Jolga well.

The pleasure of enjoying the show that was me.

Chapter 32: Exit
The foolish mistake made by the future Queen Nasha’s younger sister, the Dragon
Priestess Melia, spread throughout the capital in an instant.

It was a huge crime to attempt to harm the Sacrificial Priestess Julieta and Head Priest
Malacia for the sake of her selfish desires. Betraying the Crown Prince’s trust was a
great offense as well.

Even though she was the future Queen’s sister, she would not be able to escape severe
punishment.

However, she currently held the position of the Dragon Priestess. Should she be
punished, the position of the [Dragon Priestess] would be empty and they would have to
find a new maiden to take on the duty. Troubled by the gravity of the matter, His
Highness Vikram and Prime Minister Morino discussed with their vassals and decided to
sentence Dragon Priestess Melia the [Donna's Punishment].

Back when the Kingdom of Palcemith had yet to escape from the turmoil in the
aftermath of the Langrede war, Donna was the name of the concubine of King Frof
Saculia Palcemith, who was the grandson of King Migliore Gakach Palcemith.

Although Donna was originally from the streets, she was the very definition of a siren,
taking all men captive with just a gaze, using her voluptuous body. She snuck into a
banquet held in the castle and seduced King Frof and successfully gained his favor. She
became an adopted daughter of an Earl who was a subordinate to King Frof to easily
marry Frof. With her beauty, not just the king, but all people of influence became her
allies one by one. This hurt the Queen, who had not even been married for a year.

Before long, the King suddenly died of a mysterious illness and thinking that she could
obtain full control of the Kingdom of Palcemith, Donna plotted the assassination of the
Queen. While the attempt was somehow thwarted, Donna was already pregnant when
she was captured by the Royal Knights at that time. Her crime was great, however,
within her womb was the child of the late King.

Donna took her unborn child as hostage and demanded to be released.

If they did not heed her demand then she would kill herself and the king’s unborn son,
she had said while bursting into laughter at the troubled vassals.
The troubled vassals requested for wisdom from the witch living within Shizune Forest.
The witch casted a spell called [the Sleep of the Afterlife] on Donna, which left the
physical body alive but killed the consciousness. Half a year later, Donna delivered the
prince while still asleep and drew her last breath shortly after. The prince that Donna
gave birth to was raised well by the Queen, who later grew into the king who would be
called the Sage King, King Cornus.

With such a history, even now, within the Kingdom of Palcemith, there was barely
anyone who would name their daughter Donna. It was synonymous with an evil woman.
On the other hand, if one wanted to praise another with a meaning like, “You’re so
amazing, I can’t believe you were born from those parents…”, the common phrase used
was “You’re Donna’s child”.

The effects of the [Sleep of the Afterlife] was so inhumane that the witch did not dare to
leave the spell behind. She split it and sealed it into 10 sheets of parchment and handed
it to the officials before disappearing back into Shizune Forest.

By unraveling one of those sheets of parchment, which were strictly controlled within the
Royal Castle, and casting the spell on the target it was possible to give them the effects
of the “Sleep of the Afterlife”. That was what was called the [Donna's Punishment].

After Donna’s generation, that sentence has been carried out a total of three times.

Melia would be the fourth.

Using this spell would leave only Melia’s physical body alive to fulfill her duties as the
Dragon Priestess.

For Melia, with her mind damaged by the Suimo and her beautiful body repeatedly
violated by lowborn men, [Donna’s Punishment], where she would no longer feel any
pain and simply continue sleeping, would be a relief, in a sense.

The Crown Prince’s fiancée, Nasha, broke down into tears when she heard the details
of the sentence, pleading Prime Minister Morino to keep investigating carefully, as she
was certain that the true culprit was someone else. Conversely, Morino cautiously
reminded her of her falsifying official documents and explained, “The more we
investigate, the riskier it would be for you and His Highness' position.” This silenced
Nasha; after all, she prioritised her own safety more.

Still, she could not give up and purposely summoned Melia’s lover, Sigurd, to the castle,
informing him in tears of Melia’s plight and distress and tried to incite him to rescue the
captured Melia.
However, Sigurd laughed off Nasha's complaint. He no longer needed a love that came
about from the suspension bridge effect1, nor a replacement love that he maintained.

“Why should I forgive a woman who would use my mother’s keepsake that I gave her as
payment to cause certain harm to my beloved sister? At most, out of pity, I will hold back
by just cutting her off... I no longer have a single shred of feelings for Melia.”

“How could that be…? Sigurd…!”

“Was that all you wanted to say? Julieta is waiting for me… I’m leaving.”

Her friends, who would have helped her regardless of her situation, had now become
cold toward her.

Forgetting that she had slighted them first, as her last resort, she requested her beloved
Crown Prince while crying, “Please save Melia”.

However, even His Highness could do nothing but nod, “Leave it to me”.

Originally, Melia’s crime included the attempted assasination of former Prime Minister
Anderheim, and Nasha’s forgery of official documents was naturally a serious felony. In
addition to the crimes till now, should those two be also made known to the world then
the Crown Prince and Nasha would certainly face the bitterness of disinheritance.

Former Prime Minister Anderheim Yucht Asbal was attacked while inspecting the
riverbank construction as contracted by His Highness and was rescued by the Knight
Captain, who was coincidentally patrolling the Luft River before it flooded.

Vikram cursed himself for not being able to outwardly express his gratitude at the former
Prime Minister Anderheim’s loyalty for willing to let an impressive tale go so as not to
cause a disturbance, despite him narrowly escaping death from the assassins Melia
sent.

“Dragon Priestess Melia Laturi.

For the crime of conspiring with the remnants of the kidnapping group which had set
root in the Kingdom of Palcemith, [Centipede’s Cage] and its leader Lanva and his

1
[Link]
subordinates, to assassinate the Sacrificial Priestess Julieta O’Shayne Asbal and Head
Priest Malacia.

You are hereby sentenced to [Donna’s Punishment].”

Thus, the pitiful younger sister Melia, who had been caught up in the fate of her twin
sister, unable to control her own body and driven mad by her selfish desires,
disappeared from the pages of history.

It was just over three months after Melia became the Dragon Priestess.

On the dawn of the hundredth day to be precise.

Chapter 33: Thermae (NSFW)
The villa Jolga owned in the Oswein territory was a half day’s ride from the capital by
horse.

Jolga had succeeded his family around the same time his son was born, and he’d
bought a stone fort built during the Langede war and refurbished it into a villa that suited
his tastes. There was a hot spring near the villa, which he used to create a thermae, a
sprawling bathing complex, within his personal residence.

The duties of the knight commander carried a level of stress and tension with them.
When Jolga reached his limit, tired of the intrigue politics of nobles, he would ride out to
the villa, just himself and a lone horse. An old couple who lived beside the fort managed
the villa, but at one time, Jolga had dreamed of visiting it along with his wife, once their
children were older, to vacation. In the end, they were never able to.

As he soaked in the hot water, just the right temperature to enjoy, he looked up at the
night sky, memories of his past romances drifting through his mind. Both his lover, who’d
been stolen from him, and his wife, who loved him despite his heart still belonging to his
former lover, died young. In the end, both women Jolga loved faced their ends far too
young.

He’d never thought he’d be able to love again.

“Ah… nn...! Ahh...!”

Shimmering moonlight reflected off of pale limbs, the slender arms and legs trapped
between the mosaic tiles of the bath and Jolga’s body. Perfumed oil dripped from their
bodies, warming their skin where the figures overlapped and rubbed against each other.
The tip of Jolga’s thick penis brushed against Anderheim’s entrance, the sensation long
grown familiar, and the silver-haired man’s delicate stomach trembled with anticipation.
Anderheim’s erection rose up from a silver thicket, dripping as he waited impatiently. He
clapped a hand over his mouth, attempting to muffle the moans that slipped free, but his
hand was pulled away as Jolga entwined his fingers amidst Anderheim’s.
Petals of myriad colours floated in the wide bathtub, water pouring into the large hot
spring through the mouth of the stone statue shaped like a dragon. A shroud of white
steam rose up to the ceiling of the atrium, escaping outside and diffusing into the sky.

“Jolga… Jolga. Ah… ahh...!”

“Anderheim.”

“Oh... ah… ah...”

Jolga called out Anderheim’s name and then nipped at Anderheim’s soft earlobes.
Jolga’s voice echoed deep within his own throat, and the sound, coupled with the
feeling, sent trembles of pleasure through Anderheim, and he let out a cry like a maiden
being fucked.

“I… ah… hn...!”

“Hm?”

“Quick...ly. Hurry Jolga...!”

Upon hearing Anderheim’s pleas, Jolga freed the hands he’d captured. Hot water,
scented with the fragrance of flowers, overflowed from the bathtub, soaking
Anderheim’s hair as he writhed on his back. Jolga placed his hands behind both of
Anderheim’s knees and bent them up until they reached his chest. In such a position,
his hole spread wide before him without any effort, and Jolga, taking in the sight, forced
his thick and bulging penis through the entrance, piercing Anderheim before the man
could realize how foolish his begging was.

“Nn… hn—! Ugh… ahh!”

As he received Jolga’s organ, Anderheim’s throat let out intoxicatingly sweet moans.
Jolga maintained their position as he vigorously drove his way into Anderheim’s ass.
Once Anderheim came from the front, Jolga withstood the contractions Anderheim’s
climax brought forth. Waiting for Anderheim’s breathing to settle down, and while his
penis remained inside Anderheim, he pushed the man’s thighs apart, spreading his legs
wide.

“Ah...”

“Anderheim.”

“Jolga...”

When Jolga lightly thrust inside in the missionary position, Anderheim gave him a nod.
He wrapped his arms around Jolga’s back, his pleasure growing to surpass what he’d
felt before. Matching the timing of Jolga’s movements as he thrust forward, Anderheim’s
hips rose and fell. It was exactly as Jolga had taught him, and knowing Anderheim’s
movements were in response to the lovemaking, Jolga’s heart trembled with joy.

Jolga’s gaze drifted downward.

Anderheim’s movements were unpracticed, but Jolga’s focus was on the countless,
barely visible traces of bruises on the pale skin, traces of where Jolga’s fingers had
touched the man.

“...!”

There was no mistaking them.

They were the undeniable proof that Jolga was the only man to have breached the most
sensitive part of Anderheim’s body— the one who had taught Anderheim the taste of a
man.

It was a mark only Jolga could leave on this man, tainting the virtuous man who had
given his all to protect the kingdom.
“Anderheim...”

“Ahh!? Ah… wh-why...? Ah… bigger… ah… ahh… Jolga...!”

Realising the immoral truth of their relationship, Jolga’s penis swelled as his excitement
rose. Anderheim had been savouring it, rubbing against his intestinal walls, at the
rhythmic and repetitive movements bringing him pleasure, when the sudden growth of
Jolga’s weapon of mass destruction filling his insides made him let out a shy, coquettish
voice. He grabbed onto Jolga’s neck.

Nearly a month had passed since the two had first made love on that stormy night.

Since then, Jolga had taken the initiative to invite Anderheim to his bed on several
occasions, and Anderheim had accepted.

Today as well, Jolga had invited Anderheim to his villa when the man let it slip that he
liked thermae lamenting his new mansion didn’t have one of its own.

Of course, Anderheim knew what Jolga’s ulterior motives were. After he’d healed his
body to his heart’s content within the elegant bath and warm water, Anderheim quietly
entrusted his body to Jolga, who’d entered with a glass bottle filled with perfumed oil.

Jolga himself didn’t have any reservations towards having a male lover. As a skilled
knight, he’d participated in many expeditionary forces since his youth. When confined to
a battlefield for long periods of time, desires would build up, and it was necessary to find
a way to release them. If it was an area where it was possible to bring in prostitutes,
then it was a simple matter, but when that wasn’t the case, options were limited. When
that happened, young, beautiful soldiers would be brought to visit the tents of the
officers as bed partners.

They knew the in and outs of battle, couldn’t get pregnant, and didn’t have a hymen—so
to speak. Jolga spent his days itching for a battle, his lust building up, until his superior
told him not to get backed up. So Jolga took to sleeping with the young soldiers allotted
to him during the lull before every battle, and ‘took care of his sexual urges’ just as
they’d advised. Amongst them were soldiers who had been called to the tents of various
officers and had grown accustomed to being fucked by men. After just one night
together, they would, each and every one, fall for Jolga, requesting that he make them
into his “exclusive.” Jolga always rejected them, stating his actions were only to satisfy
his sexual urges and nothing more.
“Jolga… ah… uhn. So… deep… ah… ahh… bi-big...!”

The man Jolga was now crazy for was far more youthful and refreshing than those
young soldiers, and his body was still so innocent.

From the moment they first slept together, he’d thought they’d had good chemistry, but
no matter how much Anderheim’s body grew accustomed to being fucked, he was still
weak to the sex talk and filthy words Jolga whispred into his ears. During their carnal
acts, he always begged to be touched and caressed, but one it was over, he was all
arrogance and condescension.

Anderheim’s expressions seemed to say that he detested Jolga’s actions to the point he
wanted to kill Jolga, but despite that, Jolga’s heart that had been turned upside down
ever since meeting Anderheim was now completely dyed in the colours of love.

As he realized this, another feeling rose up within him.

Greed— a desire to monopolize the man before him and never let another soul have
him.

“Ahh… it… feels… good. Jolga.”

“Do you want more?”

“[Link]… th-thrust more…!”

Holding on to Anderheim’s waist as the man arched his back as he came, Jolga
vigorously thrust deep inside him many times before finally taking his penis out.
Straddling Anderheim’s convulsing body, he pressed the tip up against Anderheim’s
swollen nipples and shot.

“Hnn… huff...!”
Jolga’s semen gushed forth, soaking Anderheim’s chest and nipples.

“Ah...”

It was hard to tell if Anderheim was really aware of his actions after that. Lost in his
thoughts, he stroked his chest, tracing his fingers along the nipple Jolga’s penis had
pressed up against, as he scooped up Jolga’s semen and sucked it from his fingers.

“...Mmm”

As he sucked on his finger, Anderheim thrust his other nipple at Jolga, as if to say, “this
other one too’”. Jolga leaned down and began sucking on it like an infant.

“Jolga...”

“Hm...?”

“Hey...once...more...”

“Will you be okay?”

“Yeah...it’s okay...”

Before Anderheim could even finish saying that being fucked by an unrestrained Jolga
felt amazing, Jolga embraced him and carried into the bath. Jolga sat cross-legged
inside the hot water and pulled Anderhim’s waist squarely towards him. Anderheim sat
above Jolga, his lower body sandwiched between Jolga’s legs.

“Ah… ahhh...!”
Anderhiem’s ass that had been filled with Jolga only a moment ago trembled with
delight as Jolga’s cock pushed its way in once more, and this time, it accepted Jolga
without any resistance.

“Jol… ga...”

“I’m moving now.”

“Ye-yes ah… good. Hn… ah… uhn. Jolga… Jolga—more...!”

Ripples spread through the hot water in the bath.

Anderheim begged Jolga for a kiss, and Jolga immediately granted his wish. Their
tongues entwined as their saliva mixed.

Anderheim’s thoughts, caught in the throes of pleasure, drifted away from his body. In
his mind’s eye, a curtain slowly raised to reveal the stage of the circus behind it.

Soon, this body would be finished too.

Hey Jolga—

my cute, little puppy—

give it to me… good?

A/N:

This is a subheading but, not just public baths, but even ones in your home can be
called thermae. So honestly this chapter title can refer to not just large public baths, but
also the one in a home, so really—

Bathtub Ecchi ♡

— might have been a more appropriate chapter title, don’t you think? ʕʘ‿ʘʔ
Chapter 34: Light
A few weeks had passed since the Dragon Priestess, Melia Laturi, was sentenced to
[Donna's Punishment].

Nasha, who had spent every day bawling beside the sleeping Melia, gradually ceased
her visits.

Before she realised it, time had slowly ambled on, and a mere two months remained
until the Dragon God Festival.

At this time.

As an opening act to the Dragon God Festival that was held once every ten years, a rite
known as [The Light of the Spirits] was hosted.

The spirits that gathered, drawn to the Ancient Dragon Kharis' abundant Mana, dwelled
in the fire of every furnace in the kingdom, giving their blessing to those that used it. To
offer their gratitude to the spirits, an oath to remain healthy would be written in a letter.
On the night of [The Light of the Spirits], these letters would be burned, entrusting their
words to the fire spirits. Hymns honoring the Ancient Dragon Kharis and the spirits
would then be sung.

[The Light of the Spirits] that had begun as a tradition transformed into a custom that
was intended to ask the spirits to grant wishes. By burning the letter containing your
wishes, and entrusting the words within to the spirits, they would be granted. ...It
sounded like a fanciful legend, but there were in fact, a number of records that pointed
to wishes being fulfilled. The spirits were the same as Ancient Dragon Kharis. Originally
they carefully watched over the human world and would enjoy “fun things”. Sending
your wishes to such spirits meant that they would occasionally be granted.

As the people grew restless, the festival grew even more exciting.

The streets of the capital were packed with food stalls lined on the sides, and musicians
performed under the beautiful lighting in the very heart of the city square. Unmarried
ladies spent time getting dolled up, readying themselves to go out on a date with those
they longed for. They did not leave a single stone unturned, doing their best to look
fashionable.

And on the meadow that unfolded when stepping out the south gate was the travelling
circus troupe that was known throughout the continent of Yugena.
They welcomed the audience inside the tent with a large ring inside and greatly
entertained the visiting people with their thrilling performances that unfolded each night.

"...During the circus'...performance?"

"That's right. During the show, the Crown Prince and Miss Nasha will definitely enter the
tent."

"At that time, you will break into the royal treasury and look for the circlet… that's the
plan."

In the parlour of the mansion located on the west hill outside of the capital.

Sigurd, Morino, and I were refining our plans regarding the circus performance that the
Royal Family was invited to and would be held on the day of [The Light of the Spirits].

To be precise, our aim wasn't the program presented by the circus, but the castle that
would be empty in the absence of the Crown Prince and his fiancée.

Sigurd and the others had read the books and records kept in the Royal Palace and the
Shrine from cover to cover and had narrowed down the 'Dragon Pearl' to a silver circlet
kept in the royal treasury.

Although the key to the treasury was in the hands of Prime Minister Morino, he naturally
couldn't use it for personal reasons. And although horrifying, setting aside the Crown
Prince, if Nasha were to learn that they were searching for something, there was a
possibility that she would hide it away beforehand. If that happened, it would be difficult
to conduct a public search.

The time given to the Sacrificial Priestess during the [Pearl Choosing] before the
Dragon God Festival’s ceremony wasn't long. Even if they knew what to look for, if they
didn't have enough time to search for it, it would be meaningless.

That’s why it would be necessary to choose a time when the Crown Prince and Nasha
were absent from the Royal Palace to bring Julieta to the treasury, so that they could
confirm the circlet's shape and where it was stored.
"I asked the troupe leader, and he told me that the performance for the Royal Family is
different from the other nights and would go on for a long time. Worst case scenario, we
would have at least three hours of time before they return to the castle."

"I'll stay behind in the Royal Palace. Once His Highness and Nasha depart for the
circus, Sigurd can bring along Lady Julieta. And I will guide you to the treasury."

"...What will you do about His Highness' guards? "

"Lutora and the Knight Commander can accompany him. We can say that the Head
Priest was invited along with the orphans by the circus troupe for the performance on
the day of [The Light of the Spirits]."

"Got it. Let’s go with this plan."

Patting Sigurd's shoulder as he nodded, I too began to move to do my 'preparations'.

My aim was to take Jolga along to the special show that would be held once the
program ended.

While I would certainly reach it in time to watch the show, both Jolga and I needed to
prepare.

This time, only Malacia had a different “partner”... How it proceeded was dependent on
Lutora.

[POV Shift to Julieta]

In between her folded hands was a small white envelope that her father, who called her
an 'accomplice', had gifted her.

She was going to entrust the crude wish hidden within the paper to the spirits. It was a
fleeting dream that she had no right to wish for and could only pray for.
In all this time that she had lived.

Julieta thought her days now were the most wonderful.

Her days in the temple were spent giving selfish demands that went unopposed; rather,
no one had loved her enough to oppose them. The only thing she looked forward to was
marrying her beloved Crown Prince, whom she had fallen in love with at first sight
during childhood.

The world that she had impatiently waited for at that time was mercilessly smashed by
the beautiful woman who appeared, led by the Crown Prince.

The one who rescued Julieta, who had fainted in despair, was none other than her
father.

Just as he had taught her, Julieta played the role of an innocent and pure saintess. Ever
since she began acting as such, Julieta realised that it was much more fun than looking
down at people from above. Although her legs had been wounded to prevent her from
escaping hurt, reading, cooking and taking care of small animals made her daily life
bright and fun.

With her slightly shy brother coming to stay by her side, her days became even more
vibrant.

Her heart hurt when she thought of the Crown Prince or Nasha. But at such times,
Sigurd would snuggle up to Julieta, wrapping her up in his arms, and heal her broken
heart. The existence of her brother, even though they were not related by blood,
encouraged Julieta.

"..."

That was why it was a dream.

Because it was simply a dream, she could entrust her wish to the spirits, couldn't she?

On the night the [Light of the Spirits] would be held, Julieta would go to the royal palace
with Sigurd.

The letter addressed to the spirits could be burned any time after night fell.
But she was unsure if she would have the time once she returned from the royal palace.

As Julieta was lost in her thoughts, the envelope was surreptitiously taken out of her
hands.

"! "

As she raised her head in surprise, she saw her brother in front of her eyes.

"Julieta, this is?"

"...! "

"Is it a letter to burn for the Light of the Spirits?"

"Y-Yes, that's right. Brother, please give it back."

Although Julieta held out her hand, the letter wasn't returned.

Sigurd's hazel eyes scrutinized it at leisure.

"I have heard that the most common thing young girls ask the spirits for are love
troubles."

"! "

"Did I hit the mark, Julieta? Who is it?"

As he spoke in a flat tone and prepared to open the envelope, Julieta's eyes grew wide
and she lunged at her brother. When he held the letter high above his head with one
hand, Julieta knew that she had no way to reach it.

"Brother, stop it!"

"Why?"

"Why, you ask...because it’s my wish! It has nothing to do with you, Brother!"

"But I don't think it has nothing to do with me."

"Stop it!"

Julieta's fervent appeals were in vain.

Inside the envelope was a piece of paper folded in half. Sigurd took it out and unfurled
it.

'I want to become Elder Brother's wife in my next life.'

It was a short but sincere wish.

Sigurd froze.

Julieta's legs lost strength as her knees folded. Her slender body collapsed onto the
floor.

Julieta cried as she covered her face with both hands, muttering, "I'm sorry," over and
over again.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Brother."

"..."

"Please forget that you ever saw it. Please forget it."

"..."

"Brother...?"
She timidly looked up with her tearful jade eyes.

Her brother Sigurd, who earnestly gazed down at her, quietly shook his head.

Folding over the paper in half, Sigurd tore it with his hands.

"...!"

Ah, once again.

I was once again rejected by the one I love.

It’s the same gaze the Crown Prince gave me that day, full of disdain.

Dreading the fact that it was from Sigurd, she couldn't raise her head.

At least, at least she could have wished for him to love her as a sibling.

Although her father's love had healed the pain of being sentenced to death by the
Crown Prince she loved, Julieta's heart was still filled with sorrow. When Julieta had
been like that, Sigurd gave her love, as if wrapping her in a cocoon, and treated her like
a treasure. Saying he would protect her from anything that hurt her, he’d kissed her
forehead.

She knew she couldn't misunderstand.

Still, her yearning towards her brother grew in Julieta's heart, little by little.

Bowing her head at Sigurd, Julieta tried to crawl. Unable to give strength to her legs,
she kneeled on the floor.

She had to move away from Sigurd now, however little the distance was.

However, Julieta's petite body was caught in strong arms within a few steps.

"Bro...ther."

"Julieta."
"Please, Brother, I beg of you. Please let go… now… now please."

"I won't let go anymore."

Before he heard Julieta's reply.

Sigurd's lips pressed against Julieta's.

"! "

The lips parted after a simple peck, but the meaning was clear.

"Bro...ther...? "

As Julieta asked in a trembling voice, Sigurd revealed an ecstatic expression, caging

her in his arms.

"My cute Julieta. Julieta...Tell me this isn't a dream, let me kiss you one more time."

"Ngh...! "

The kiss went just a little deeper. Lightly sucking her tongue, Sigurd distanced himself
from Julieta before she could become frightened.

He handed back the torn sheet of paper folded in half to the bewildered Julieta. When
she opened it, she realized that a few words had been removed from the short wish.

'I want to become elder brother's wife'

"...! "

Julieta's shoulders trembled in surprise.

The corner of her eyes, her cheeks, her nape.

Sigurd's lips brushed across them many times, lighting up a sweet fever.

"Julieta… my cute little sister. And my beloved. Please accept my feelings."

"Bro...ther..."

"Call me Sigurd."

"Uh...B-But-"

"Sigurd."

"Brother...Si...gurd..."

Her trembling lips uttered his name with difficulty.

Yet the fact that the name at the tip of her peach-coloured tongue wasn't that of the
master he respected, further stirred Sigurd up.

"Julieta… I love you… from the bottom of my heart."

"Brother Sigurd."

"Let us overcome this. I will find the ‘Dragon Pearl’ and rescue you for sure, that’s
why...."

"..."

"That's why once the Dragon God Festival ends… marry me."

"...! "
"Forget about him...Forget about His Highness, Julieta. That man doesn't know one bit
about your heart, your kindness, or strong-willed feelings. He doesn't have the right to
make you his wife.”

"Brother Sigurd."

It was Sigurd's ardent confession of love.

Delighted, Julieta leaned on Sigurd's arm and softly rubbed her silver hair against his
shoulder.

"Brother… uhm, you see...I"

"Hm? "

"I am not so enamoured that I could continue to love someone who wanted to see me
dead."

"Pfft"

Seeing Julieta puff up her cheeks and look up at him, Sigurd laughed in spite of himself.

"I'll do my best… I'll work hard to be able to return His Grace's pearl back to him… But,
Brother Sigurd."

"Ahh."

"But promise me one thing. Just one thing. If I, by any chance, fail at the [Pearl
Choosing] and become food for His Grace,"

"..."

"You must continue to live the rest of your life happily and never give up."

"Julieta."

"If you promise that… I will… after the Dragon God Festival ends… become Brother
Sigurd's wife… you can marry me then."
The sister's desire to protect her brother's heart, to protect his future, was higher than
the mountains and deeper than the sea.

That's why Sigurd hid his real intention to die along with her if that happened and gently
smiled.

"I promise you. I'll definitely make the 'Pearl Choosing' a success. Live on with me."

"Yes..."

They exchanged their promises.

Pressing their foreheads against each other and smiling intimately, close enough to
touch.

"I love you… My Julieta."

"I love you… My big brother… Sigurd."

The day his sister became his wife.

The day her brother, not by blood, became her husband.

They eagerly awaited it.

Chapter 35: Clergymen
We’re not good enough.

Those sorrowful whispers wouldn’t leave his mind.

The Temple Knights had confronted the men, who under orders from the Dragon
Priestess Melia attacked the Shrine, to rescue Malacia. In the end they were no match
for them, but despite being seriously wounded, under the care of the infirmary staff, they
were all recovering well. With the Temple Knights short-staffed, the Shrine’s security
was taken up by Lutora’s colleagues, the Royal Knights. Under the authorization of the
Knight Captain Jolga and the Crown Prince, they assisted the Shrine in shifts.

Even though the shrine belonged to the national religion of the Dragon God Faith, it was
widely known as a place with many secrets and had a firm grasp on its internal affairs.
As such, the Royal Knights were doubtful that the shrine would accept their help.
However, the Priests and ladies-in-waiting who worked at the shrine had welcomed the
Royal Knights with surprising ease.

This was, of course, largely due to Lutora’s influence.

In the eyes of the Temple Knights and the Priests, several of whom had been orphans
themselves,the Royal Knights, composed primarily of aristocrats, were akin to knights of
a foreign land.

However, Lutora, introduced by Malacia, overturned that impression. Contrary to his

noble upbringing, he had a friendly and caring disposition. Even his playfulness with the
children whilst uttering complaints was quite endearing.

Additionally, he wouldn’t hesitate to listen to the Temple Knights, was courteous towards
the women, and took the initiative to handle the menial labor.

A Knight of the Royal Order.

He was unlike them; an existence far above.

Yet he was just like them; a human who laughed and cried.

Seeing the Priests and ladies-in-waiting honestly hold him in high esteem, the Knights
of the Royal Order, too, held goodwill all the same.

The members of the Royal Knights were mostly of noble birth. As children, they were
given special education, with the natural expectation they would one day become
someone who could support the country. The daily life of aristocrats was filled with
politics, and it was only when they were swinging their swords with their friends that
they could have time to rest.

However, the Priests and Nuns had absolutely no wish for such matters.

The daily life of Head Priest Malacia, who had up till now been regarded as a
“dangerous person” amongst the castles’ residents, boosted the respect the knights felt
towards him.

He was so busy that it bewildered Lutora, who once accompanied him daily. He spent
his days devoting himself to the citizens of the Kingdom of Palcemith, as well as the
Ancient Dragon they regarded as god. When going to the Royal Castle, Malacia
appeared wearing a comfortable dalmatic made of loose cloth. His white hair that had
been tied up would be crammed into a mitre, making him appear taciturn. But now that
he had a head injury, he skipped the mitre and full formal wear. He’d often appeared in
the residential areas of the Shrine, wearing a comfortable and light tunic.

If you met his gaze, he would smile and gracefully offer his thanks. The Royal Knights
soon became his admirers.

Inversely, Lutora’s mood got worse as he attended to the preparations for [The Light of
the Spirits] and had been unable to accompany Malacia. Whenever Lutora heard his
fellow knights praise Malacia, he would nod with pride saying, “Right?” But at the same
time, he would whisper, “It would be better if I was the only one who knew,” with a
gloomy feeling simmering in his gut.

Malacia had recently become comfortable with Lutora and completely let down his
guard around him. At the end of the day, he would stop by Lutora’s room to chat, and
then saying, “It’s too troublesome to go back,” would sleep unreservedly in his bed. In
the darkness, Malacia's translucent skin and pale white hair blended into the white folds
of the sheets he was wrapped up in. When Lutora reached out a hand and gently held
him close, the body hidden under the cloth was so delicate one would not think it
belonged to a grown man.

Despite Malacia himself not realising it at all, everyone else was well attuned to Lutora's
feelings. Conspiring to leave Malacia and Lutora alone together, however, would end
with Malacia roughly trampling all over their plans and effectively ruin the mood they set
up.

And so, a few days before the [Light of the Spirits], on a certain afternoon.
Lutora was summoned by Amy, who was still in the infirmary.

Being called upon by Amy, who he considered to be like a sister to him, he wondered
what was wrong and visited the infirmary and was told something.

To [protect] the Shrine and the children.

The tragic devotion that Malacia had dedicated himself to a long time ago.

“...We’re not good enough, Sir Lutora.”

She couldn't even move from her bed yet.

Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she sorrowfully mumbled.

“We are children of the Shrine. We are protected… by Lord Malacia. It is by the grace of
Lord Malacia that we have lived this long."”

When they found out how they were [allowed to survive].

It was only after they were old enough to understand the meaning of it.

“Up until ten years ago; the relationship between the royals, the nobility, and the Shrine
were not great. If they did not interfere, it would still be fine. But they had meddled too
much. With the Shrine, that is. The royalty and nobility kept making unreasonable
demands of them.”

At that time, Malacia was eighteen. Exactly the same age as Lutora was now.

To those children, Malacia, who was also an orphan like them but had already become
the Head Priest at eighteen, was a presence they looked up to.

The smile he aimed at the orphans was always kind and gentle.
“Sir Lutora… Lord Malacia is beautiful, isn’t he?”

Amy looked up at Lutora while smiling through her tears.

“But humans, you see… want to crush something, the more beautiful it is.”

“...!”

“Lord Malacia would, Lord Malacia would… to prevent us, to prevent the children from
falling prey to those [unreasonable demands]...”

“Amy…”

“Always, always, by himself. He would be summoned by a group of nobles, alone. Ever

since he was younger, much younger. Much earlier than we knew the truth. Until he
came to the former Prime Minister’s attention, due to Lady Julieta becoming the Dragon
Priestess.”

“...”

“Sir Lutora. I think that Lord Malacia is probably quite fond of you.”

To the children of the Shrine, Malacia was their father, their brother, their savior.

Because they had been together for so long, there were things they understood. There
were also things that they could guess.

The relaxedness that Malacia deliberately showed Lutora, felt like the result of his faint
feelings.

“But someday… Someday, should Sir Lutora find out about that, about his past. That’s
why, I’m sure.”

“...”
Maybe that’s why, from the start, he pretended not to notice. So as not to… hurt Sir
Lutora.

So that Lutora would not continue harboring feelings for him.

The words that Amy said, sobbing with her eyes closed.

Resonated deeply with Lutora.

Chapter 36: Choices
"My past is exactly what everyone at the Shrine believes it to be."

He carefully ran his brush along the rim of my eyelids.

I kept my eyes closed as he drew a beautiful design from the corner of my eyes to my
cheeks, using the indigo jagua ink1 with gold dust mixed in.

"I don't remember the face of my mother who sold me when I was five. But I do
remember the person I had my first time with. Because of this needlessly good-looking
face and pale body, men always got on top of me, spread my legs wide open, and thrust
their dirty penis inside. That was why I was allowed to live."

Malacia placed the slender brush down. Prompted, I slowly opened my eyes.

A transparent butterfly, flapping its wings out of my jade eyes, gracefully flew in the
mirror.

"But Lord Anderheim, there is one thing that everyone is still mistaken about."

This time, it was I who grabbed the brush and drew the motif of a sacred lotus in
between his eyebrows, as Malacia gently closed his scarlet eyes. It was a pure flower
that bloomed amidst the mud. The sacred lotus represented 'Purity', 'Sanctity', 'Calm',
and finally, 'Chastity'.

"I don't particularly 'hate' the deed itself. I don't have a body that can sleep with women,
and I am feeble. Although I may be such, I am nevertheless a man, and won't get

1
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pregnant. The men who felt excitement sleeping with me, being like this, were indeed
pitifully comical. I'm very good at faking orgasms."

"I see."

"Everyone said that my early life was pitiful. I was fucked by men, without ever having
my first ejaculation. Just as I got used to my reality, next, it was my body being
tampered with, as I became a plaything for the nobles. Where was my happiness, my
peace? Don't you think it was none of their business?"

He expected me to chime in agreement, but I could do nothing but shrug.

"Will you not be telling this to Lutora? He might cry."

"I won't. I am reflecting on my sleeping around already being bad enough as it is."

"Oh? You don't want to be eaten by him in the end?"

Despite appearances, Lutora was a person with considerable influence amongst the
Knights. In addition, he was born in a distinguished family, and his father was the
present Knight Commander. If the one he showed favour to were, say, the daughter of a
nobleman, she would happily offer her body and have sexual relations with him.

"I wonder what to do. I don't like my lover being a child after all. Looking at the Knight
Commander and Sigurd, you can see that the Oswein family has some strong
attachment. Being restrained doesn't suit my personality."

"Sigh… You have to give that show of courage no matter what, don’t you?"

He expressed, not realising that in itself was "Special Treatment". I laughed in my heart
at his ignorance. Done painting the lotus, I placed the brush down on the table.

I twirled his white hair with my fingers. Bringing my face close to Malacia, who thinly
opened his eyes, I lightly sucked on his lips.
"!"

He had a look of surprise on realising that I had come closer. I felt pleased. Meeting his
lips with mine a second time, I pushed my tongue inside through the slightly parted lips
that seemed to usher me in. Malacia's saliva that I tasted for the first time tasted wildly
different from Jolga's. As I finally released Malacia's head after devouring his soft lips
and warm mouth for a long time, he eyed me with a look of suspicion.

"Is that you showing me affection or something? "

"Don't kid around… that's nothing but a quick parting gift. Depending on what that
(Jolga) chooses, I might not return."

"Lord Anderheim."

"Even if I were killed by Jolga, it shouldn't affect you or Julieta. Once the heat dies
down, you can escape to another country. I would recommend our neighbour to the
south. As for Julieta, Sigurd will protect her.”

Taking off the clothes I wore, I took in hand another set of clothes prepared beforehand.

On top of a sleeveless upper garment, I wore a silk shawl large enough to cover my
whole body. I wore harem pants that had a slit near my butthole and a hip scarf with a
fringe. The instep that I wore the Panja anklet on was still red, freshly scarred with the
traces of the Oswein family's branding iron. As expected, this was the result of the skills
I had learned in my past life. I had created scar makeup in my past life using wood glue
and paint. As I did not have them now, I substituted them with starch and animal glue. It
turned out much better than expected. It was something you couldn't discern as being
fake at a glance.

I had prepared it by myself, but still... when I thought about how I would die in this
skimpy raqs sharki, a belly dancing dress, I despised it a little.

Today was the day [The Light of the Spirits] would be held.
Sigurd and Julieta were already hiding in the Oswein Mansion close to the Royal
Palace, waiting for the moment the Crown Prince and Nasha went to watch the circus.

I had already reserved a seat in the gallery for the night's performance in the main tent
stage. I had planned for Jolga and me to be hidden by a thin curtain and observe the
Crown Prince and Nasha from there. Well, my real aim was what would happen after
the main performance, but I might as well enjoy it from the beginning.

Before I left for the circus tents, I borrowed Malacia's hand, dressing up like a favoured
concubine preferred by nobility, waiting upon them. Just for tonight, I could not let the
others find out that the one escorted by Jolga is the former Prime Minister, Anderheim
Yucht Asbal. Listening to Malacia, there seemed to be many nobles who liked to dress
in this manner, regardless of gender. No matter what the time or place, men's tastes do
not change much, do they? I confirmed by looking at the mirror. Seeing how I looked
now, I didn't think anyone could figure out that I was Anderheim. It was a good disguise,
if I say so myself.

Wearing a dark justaucorps and a long gilet2, Jolga, who visited the mansion, seemed
like the very figure of a nobleman on his day off. But I modified his hair and dress a little.
I deliberately ruffled up his neat hair, making the black hair tinged with red fall his
forehead and ears, making it seem messy on purpose. The blouse had a few frills, but
was lustrous, the cloth closely following the contours of his muscles. I changed the gilet
into something comparatively shorter, one that barely reached the waist.

With just that, Jolga's outward appearance as he wore a sword on his waist, seemed to
be tinged with a never seen before air of roughness. He was celebrated as a dashing
man to begin with. But he now seemed like someone wealthy and leisurely madames
would cling to.

I wrapped the shawl around my head.

With a sacred lotus drawn on his forehead, Malacia seemed unchanged from his usual
demeanour of a priest. He quietly muttered.

"I still do not understand. Why would someone of your calibre come so far, only to
entrust your fate to the likes of the Knight Commander?"

2
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What Malacia wanted to say was that I could easily manipulate the Knight Commander
to my whims if I wished to, yet I did not.

Malacia had followed me quite closely these past four months.

He acted like my hands and feet, discerning what I wanted before I even said it out loud,
and then taking actions to fulfil my wishes. He had been of considerable help.

Even that Malacia found it difficult to understand my actions. But what I wanted from
Jolga was neither subordination nor compulsion.

I simply curled up the corners of my lips, laughing at the question he threw at me.

"Malacia, remember. Choices, you see, are a curse."

I fear this will be the last trap I set.

If I win this gamble, I could then move the pawns at will, automatically cornering my
opponents.

In the rare chance that I failed, they would still be unable to stop the tides that had
already been set into motion.

The world was a stage, and this simply meant I would be leaving it.

"I received a curse from the choice Jolga made. I fear I cannot be freed from it for a
lifetime. Yet, I need Jolga's help in fulfilling my purpose. For that sake, I will let him use
my body as much as he wishes."

"It sure is difficult."

"Is that so? I think it is quite simple. Perhaps that puppy will teach you the answer."

"No way… that's definitely not going to happen."

This time, it was Malacia's chance to shrug.

Eventually, Thomas knocked on the door of the room where Malacia and I were
changing our clothes.

It seemed like the carriage had come for us.

"Malacia, you're going to visit the circus with the children first, am I right? "

"Yeah, I received an invitation from the leader of the troupe. I'm sure it is the suggestion
of that fellow who's escorting me to the circus."

"He's greedy for you as always. He has quite the tenacity."

"He paid for it, so I don't mind. I'd only hate it if I were taken out of the country."

"Well, it should be nice to meet the [Shrine-Raised] after a long time. I'll see you later
then."

I said my goodbyes to Malacia and went to Jolga, who had already gotten ready and
was waiting in the reception room.

On seeing me, Jolga's jaw seemed to have dropped as he sat on the sofa. As I
snuggled up to him, he quickly regained his bearings and came closer, intending to tear
off my shawl. Realising his intentions, I pinched the tip of his nose hard.

"...Hurts."

"Are you an idiot? Don't forget the goal, our goal. Just for whose sake did I dress up like
this, you think?"

"...To entertain me"

"Screw you, bastard."

I slapped away the hand that came close. Jolga seemed especially pleased by the fake
brand stuck on my instep. As he caressed it, he made an expression of great delight.
Caving into his demands, I was carried in Jolga's arms into the carriage in the end.
As the carriage came close to the main tent of the circus, a knight riding a horse caught
up to the carriage and reported through the window— "The Crown Prince and Lady
Nasha have left the castle."

At last.

"...Jolga."

"Ahh."

Nodding at my words, Jolga squeezed my hand as if to placate me.

As I gripped his hand tightly in return, I looked up at the gigantic circus tent, covered in
red and white stripes.

Well then, let us raise the curtains.

The act that decides Jolga’s and my fate begins now.

Chapter 37: Circus
The travelling circus troupe—Abyss Ring, was a large one, employing hundreds of
people.

Putting together many performances such as animal acrobatics, mid-air acrobatics,

acrobatics on the ground and clown performances, the rows of caravans went around
the continent, holding events in each nation.

The last time the troupe had visited Palcemith was two years ago. It was a performance
celebrating the Crown Prince Vikram reaching adulthood. Crown Prince Vikram was
greatly impressed by the artistic performances unfolding in front of his eyes and
personally bestowed a medal to the leader of the troupe, Ducali Druid. The leader
expressed his deep gratitude and promised the Crown Prince that the Abyss Ring circus
troupe would visit Palcemith whenever he requested of them.

They had come this time on the occasion of [The Light of the Spirits], which could be
called an opening act to the Dragon God Festival, and would stay till the Crown Prince's
enthronement ceremony. That would be accompanied by his marriage to his fiancée.
With all that, their stay in Palcemith would last two months. They would easily make a
killing.

Escorted by Jolga, I entered a single balcony seat prepared for us, a shawl wrapped
around my head.

The balcony seats were partitioned by thin curtains of different colours, in a manner that
made it difficult to peep into the happenings inside. Behind the curtains, one could
snuggle up to their partner on the rattan round sofa that had fine pillows on top and
enjoy the performance while comfortably relaxing. The side table had chilled glasses
and a bottle of champagne, in addition to an assortment of fruits prepared.

As I rushed to lean into the back of the sofa, Jolga looked around the balcony seat,
deeply interested, and devoted his attention to the stage beyond the curtains.

"It's a lot more luxurious than I imagined."

"Jolga. Is this your first time at a circus?"

Jolga tilted his head in confusion at my question, lost in thought. In the end, he gave a
vague nod and took off his coat and shoes. Climbing onto the sofa, he embraced me.

"I have seen it many times as His Highness' guard. ...But this is my first time
appreciating it as a guest. I don't remember it much."

"Hm, it seems like a tedious job."

"Being a personal guard is like that. At any rate, I won't get tired. Tonight, it is Lutora
who is serving my role."

...Is it fine for him to be preoccupied with the other?

As Jolga and I were engrossed in conversation, I sensed someone waiting for us

outside the canopy. As they requested to enter the room, I fixed up my shawl tightly
over my head and calmly leaned on Jolga's arms, crossing my legs.

The moment Jolga gave his permission to enter the room, a plump middle-aged man
stooped down to access the canopy. He wore a frock coat1 with a gaudy design,
accessorised with a chain and monocle, and held an equally garish top hat in one hand.
Twirling the moustache of his Van Dyke2 style beard with his finger, the man bowed to
Jolga and subsequently glanced at me in his arms, his expression revealing his utter
disbelief.

"I'm Jolga Von Oswein. I'm glad tonight's feast was successful."

"I'm grateful for your words. Knight Commander Jolga Von Oswein. Thank you for
gracing us with your presence. I am the troupe leader of Abyss Ring Circus, Ducali
Druid. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Troupe leader Ducali, I see. I appreciate the invitation."

"Don't mention it! ...Please, call me Duke. It will be my honour for the renowned Knight
Commander to appreciate the wonderful performance of our troupe."

"I see, I'm looking forward to it."

1
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2
[Link]
"Please do. Also, your companion is...?"

"Ahh...this is Anri. My apologies, but please spare him a self-introduction. ...He's a little
shy."

Jolga gently crept his palm along my back and shoulders as I hid my face. He turned to
face Ducali and gave a smile.

"Anri said he wanted to see the circus, so I arranged for a seat… It'll be a little
embarrassing if His Highness got wind of this. Please do not let him find out."

"I understand. Please be at ease. The seats His Highness Vikram and his fiancée
Nasha will view the performance from are special seats prepared at the front, close to
the stage. They should not be able to see into the balcony seats."

"That's reassuring to know... By the way, Du—"

Jolga called out troupe leader Ducali's nickname, uttering the words I had taught him.

"I happened to hear that after the main program ends... a [Dog Show] will be held."

"My, my...!"

Ducali's eyes grew wide behind his monocle, and he exclaimed.

He must have never imagined those words coming out of Jolga's mouth. He asked
Jolga, his voice laced with wariness.

"Sir Jolga, pardon my presumptuousness, but whom did you hear it from?"

"From the Former Prime Minister. I have quite a few opportunities to chat with him
lately."
At Jolga's reply, Ducali nodded in understanding.

"I see. I had certainly heard on the grapevine that you two were eagerly networking…
but for the Former Prime Minister to trust you to the point of telling you of this, it truly is
a strange twist of fate."

"Well… once we had a heart-to-heart chat, I came to know that we had a lot of
chemistry3."

Hey, you mongrel. Don't insinuate our relationship! Well, that definitely would make it
more interesting though.

"What!? Ohoho, this is excellent. Goodness gracious, we can hold no candle to His
Excellency's astuteness… I was worried after seeing him experience a fall from grace...
But it seems like he already had an authority such as you in his pocket. As expected of
him."

His moustache seemed to perk up as he made an expression of satisfaction. Ducali

took out a ribbon with red and white stripes from his coat pocket. Handing out the ribbon
that exactly matched the colour scheme of the tent to Jolga, he once again bowed.

"Please pin it to your body. It is proof that you are a ‘visitor’ to the [Dog Show] that will
be held after the main event. Please do not tell this to others."

"Thank you."

"Then, see you later."

3
This definitely was an innuendo. The literal translation for heart-to-heart is spreading the knees and
talking, and chemistry could also be taken in a sexual sense.
The moment Ducali slipped out through the gaps of the curtain, the outside grew noisy.
As the cheers and applause drew close, the imposing figures of guards within the tent
grew in number at the same time.

It seemed like it was time for the Crown Prince and his fiancée Nasha's arrival.

I took the ribbon from Jolga's hand and wrapped it around my wrist.

If this is the only pass, I should take care of it.

"It really is there, the [Dog Show]..."

Jolga, who didn't quite understand, must be thinking that the so-called [Dog Show]
would be dogs balancing on a ball, crossing obstacles, and leaping through rings of fire.
If that were true, this would have a very happy conclusion. But that wasn't the case.

"...Jolga."

I held out my wrist that had the ribbon wrapped around it. Jolga stretched his hands and
tied the ends of the ribbon so that it didn't easily come undone.

At long last, the tent erupted in applause as Crown Prince Vikram held his fiancée
Nasha's hand as they entered the tent together, waving their hands at the audience.

Wow, even though her sister just had that horrible fate befall her, she had a bright smile
on her face.

Maybe Nasha would say something along the lines of, "I have to be happy for my sister,
Melia's sake too."

Although the two were surrounded by guard knights, they still happily held their hands
interlocked as they reached their special seats and sat down. ...Are you still showing off
your fake closeness? Or was it simply that some strange bug had hatched in their
brains?

Even Jolga cringed a little. It certainly felt visually damaging.

But for everyone planning on watching the Dog Show, it was very important to carefully
observe Nasha's face.

Keep this in mind.

"Pft... can't wait to see what happens ahead of this."

I couldn't see where they were from here, but I was sure that the orphans from the
Shrine and Malacia too were somewhere inside the tent.

Malacia had a few men he had to contact once the main program was sorted, and I too
had to make Jolga watch the [Dog Show]. Our actions were different, but I might be the
only one betting on my life.

"Then... let us begin."

The lights turned off, and the tent was plunged into darkness. The next moment, light
returned to the tent.

Inside the ring in the centre of the stage were entertainers suited up in glamorous stage
outfits.

Standing in front of them, Ducali stretched both his arms wide and said the words that
signalled the curtain-raising.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! It’s Showtime!"

※ There are depictions of violent and sexual nature at the end. Please proceed
with caution.

Chapter 38: Dog Show

The performance of the Abyss Ring Circus could be summed up in one word—
Magnificent. Young girls danced through the air like petals, swinging from a trapeze
while the trained beasts of the circus put on an impressive display below. With elegant
movements, girls in sheer costumes traversed tight ropes like they were walking on air,
and young men made a spectacle of balancing towers of glasses on a single
outstretched finger. As I bit into the apple from the basket, I admired the display of tricks
while resting my head on Jolga’s arm. Even in my past life, the number of times I had
visited the circus could be counted on both hands. With such a rare opportunity to enjoy
the show before me, I wasn’t going to waste it.

Nasha and the Crown Prince sat in the VIP seating, and the nail-biting tension of the
acts left her cowering in the Prince’s arms. Her shrill, repetitive shrieks surely grated on
the ears of the nearby audience, but there wasn't a soul among them who could
complain to the Crown Prince, and they were left to suffer in silence.

At long last, the planned program came to a close, and the entertainers lined up on
stage to receive the thunderous applause of the audience.

The Crown Prince stood, giving a standing ovation with a beaming smile, Nasha stood
at his side, her expression drowsy and her applause half-hearted.

After they left their seats, led away by the Royal Knights, the stage was plunged into
darkness. The audience began to rise from their seats, but the guests in the balcony
seats showed no signs of stirring. It would seem everyone in the balcony seats was a
"Participant" this time. There were many nobles who visited incognito and would take
their time to leave their seats in order to avoid the crowds. It was hardly unusual, and so
none of the spectators found it strange.

As the crowd departed, their chattering and the music that followed them grew softer.
The lights outside went out, and the tent became even darker.

"...Jolga."
As Jolga relaxed on the sofa, his legs spread, I gave his knee a pat. I let go of the arm I
was using as a pillow and took a seat between his outrageously long legs. I leaned
back, resting against his chest. His heartbeat echoed across my back, beating even
through his beautiful, tempered muscles that were as perfect as a sculpture.

"Jolga, I have something to tell you."

I spoke without looking back. Jolga gave a faint stir.

"Your impression of me has changed completely from what it once was, right?
Considering how much you hated me back then from the bottom of your heart. It's
remarkable."

"..."

His arms wrapped around me in silent acceptance.

His lips pressed against my neck and then moved to suck behind my ears. A hand crept
in through the slit in my harem pants, wantonly playing with the insides of my
buttcheeks. As I raised my waist to receive it all, his unrestrained fingers rubbed in the
vicinity of my perineum, drawing circles as if trying to tease where there was no hole to
get wet.

"Mm..."

My voice wasn’t the only one to be heard leaking out in the darkness. Within the
shadowy tent, curtains of the remaining balcony seats all seemed to flutter. The rustling
of clothing played as a backdrop to the soft whispering spreading through the darkness.
Beyond the curtains were the cloying voices and creaking of sofas of those who had
remained behind.
"...It was nothing but a lie—a fantasy— Jolga..."

His hands burned with passion, but even so, I had to give Jolga a warning.

"I am exactly the man you once believed me to be. From here on out… I'll prove it to
you."

Confused, Jolga opened his mouth, but just then, there was a pop and the dark circus
ring blazed to life, illuminated by dazzling lights.

Standing at the center of the ring, clad in a coat with red and white stripes, was the
troupe leader himself, Ducali.

"Dear Guests, I have kept you waiting! The moon is already high up in the sky, the stars
twinkling, and the birds all asleep. The bad children who are out on the streets at this
late hour, please be sure to bring them to the Circus. Now then, for all those of you who
have remained for our next event, we shall begin the [Dog Show] specially prepared for
you!"

A woman who had been standing beside Ducali held a top hat upside down and walked
along the gallery. I tossed in the small bag of gold coins prepared for just this into the
top hat. The woman smiled, bowed in a graceful manner, and left the stage, returning
once again with several clothed-covered iron cages in tow.

"Tonight, we have brought along eight [Dogs]. The guest who manages to predict which
dog will last till the end, wins the right to be presented with the [Puppies]. Then, please
inspect them!"

At the troupe leader's words, the cloth covering the cages was removed.
"...! "

Jolga's body grew taut with nervous tensions. I pressed my back against his chest,
gently restraining him, so he didn’t impulsively grab his sword.

"Those are..."

"As you can see, they’re magical beasts."

Underneath the cloth were four-legged beasts pacing about within their cages.
Momentarily stunned by the bright lights on them, they quickly snapped out of it and
began snarling at the audience. The creatures could easily be mistaken for a large dog
or wolf at first glance, but their foreheads had a third eye, and their eerily sharp and
large fangs jutted out from cavernous mouths. They were carnivorous magical beasts,
solitary hunters that lived deep within the dense woods and caves.

"The magical beast Gigandi is, as you know, an extraordinarily ferocious beast, and that
particular time of the year is just about upon them."

Gigandis did not usually invade each other's territories, but there was one season when
they disregarded that rule. They would roam the forest, and if two males crossed paths,
a confrontation would occur, leading to a gruesome battle.

"That's right, it's the mating season! Let us enjoy their passionate struggle for a female
right on this stage! "

Cheers and applause poured out from behind every curtain, the anticipation thick.

Each cage that held a Gigandi had a numbered tag hanging from it. The number on the
tag identified the beasts for the purpose of the betting. After a moment of thought, I
chose a Gigandi with a good physique and black fur and handed my selection to the
woman who came around a second time.

"Is this the [Dog Show]?"

After seeing the Gigandis enter, Jolga had grown excited at the prospect of the
upcoming battles.

Though every country had its own colosseums where betting on fights were normal,
those fights typically were between gladiators. Fights featuring magical beasts were
rare, as the risk of managing carnivorous beasts like the Gigandi was simply too great.
In particular, the males in heat weren’t something just anyone could handle. The Abyss
Ring Circus was quite large, and it could be said that this was proof that they had
spread their reach even to the black market.

"Certainly this is a part of the show, but the actual performance is afterwards."

"...After...wards? "

"That's right. Look… it’s time for the opening act.."

The first cage brought onto the stage was the one containing the black-furred Gigandi I
chose and a gigandi with a grey coat.

The moment they met each other at the centre of the stage, they bared their fangs and
clashed.

"Oooh...! "

Cheers from behind the curtains accompanied the roars resounding from the stage and
the splattering of blood.

At last, the beast I chose sank its fangs into its opponent ending the first battle.
In the following fights, he seized victory through fierce fighting, and in the final battle, he
bit through his opponent's throat whilst tearing through one of his eyes, at last reigning
supreme on stage as the last one standing.

"Awwwwooooo!! '

His proud howl stretched towards the skies and was received by the audience with
applause, blessings, and cheers of admiration.

Apparently, we had been the only ones to choose the black-furred Gigandi. The troupe
leader gave Jolga a key as he complimented us on our wise selection. If a “puppy” was
born later, the puppy would be delivered in a cage that could only be opened with that
key.

"Then, let us move on to the final show!"

Bowing his head, the troupe leader chained the black Gigandi to the edge of the stage.
The troupe members quickly mopped up the bloodstains on the stage and then laid out
a spacious mattress on the stage. It was all in preparation for the final show.

"...It was quite fun."

I grabbed Jolga’s chin, meeting his delighted gaze, and gave a soft chuckle.

"Hey, Jolga."

"...Anri? "

"I told you before. I’m exactly the man you once believed me to be."

Cunning, cruel and sadistic.

If it was for the sake of my desires, I would pay no mind to the misfortunes of others.

That was the evil Prime Minister Anderheim.

"Did you really think I would just let it go?"

My beautiful daughter and the position I had built up.

For the woman who destroyed everything I cared about, what would be the most fitting
punishment?

"People, you see, Jolga, abandon their reason in moments of pain and suffering."

It was because that person did that at that time—.

It was because of that, that things ended up like this.

"Should I tell you about it? About the pathetic comedy of a family living in a countryside
village."

To save themselves from poverty, they sold off their daughter to the country.

The daughter, unaware of this, survived by deceiving the Crown Prince.

The fools soon had to pay the price and, with the exception of the daughter they sold,
fell into a living hell.

All the while blaming that very same daughter.

"Nasha's family had already squandered the payment given to the family in exchange
for the Sacrificial Priestess. Even if we had requested they repay it, they wouldn’t have
the money to do so. That was why they had no choice but to sell something, and that
something was their own family aside from the daughter who went searching for her
twin.”

Two smaller cages were brought out onto the same stage the Gigandi was chained to.

Creatures on all fours were dragged out from within the cage.

"...!! "

Jolga's eyes trembled in shock.

A beautiful, young, black-haired girl and a chestnut-haired girl with a sensual body rolled
onto the mattress, both naked.

It was their faces.

Those faces that closely resembled that of the Crown Prince's fiancée, Nasha Laturi.

Their limbs were bound by a thin band that was connected to a wide belt wrapped
around their arms and legs, restraining their movements. Bound like that, their hands
and feet forced to meet their elbows and knees respectively, the only way they could
move was by crawling using their elbows and knees. With their private parts exposed,
they cut a humiliating figure. But for the girls, trembling in fear, their embarrassment was
the least of their worries.

"...The family's debt was to the point where they had no choice but to sell their two
daughters to a brothel, and that’s exactly what they did."

Yes, it was all because of that.

"They had no choice but to sell those girls to an organization that dealt with the black
market."

"Wha—? "
I chuckled once again, with my hand still on Jolga’s chin, forcing him to face those two
girls. Behind the crawling girls, the black Gigandi continued to let out low guttural
sounds. The red-black genitals beneath its belly kept slipping in and out of view,
seeming to have found a suitable female target.

"Gigandi are magical beasts that find it quite hard to reproduce, incapable of becoming
erect outside of the mating season. That is why they have an excellent disposition… Not
only can they impregnate females of their own kind, canines, they can also impregnate
human females."

"!!"

Right before Jolga, who had grown stiff at my words, the Gigandi plunged forward, the
chains no longer restraining him.
Chapter 39: Freaks
The money that Nasha's parents earned by selling her was by no means a meager sum.

For a family living in a countryside village, it was enough to last them a few years, even
if they indulged in luxury and stopped working.

After spending a fortune on their son’s surgery, they managed to repay all the debts
they carried and had enough left over to purchase land in the nearby town, as well as
build a splendid mansion upon it.

They boasted to the nearby children that their "business was going well".

After the twins had left the village, Nasha’s parents moved into the new residence with
their two eldest daughters. They had planned on living a comfortable life after their son’s
convalescence at the hospital was over, watching over him as he matured.

However, their plans crumbled thanks to the [Family Rights] I had requested.

Since Morino had never met the Ancient Dragon Kharis, the thought of the documents
being forged never crossed his mind. After all, the current Prime Minister held me, the
former Prime Minister, in high regard. He was striving to become someone worthy of
succeeding the [Prime Minister's post].

He couldn’t find out that I had ordered the Temple Knights, using the contract between
Nasha's parents and Malacia as my basis, to demand that they return the payment they
had received as the Sacrificial Priestess' family immediately.

At first, her parents were surprised to know that Nasha had become the Crown Prince's
fiancée, and made merry, believing that they had become members of the Royal Family.
In due course, they became aware that they had to immediately repay the amount they
had received, as Nasha had failed to become the Sacrificial Priestess, and blanched at
the prospect. The parents shouted, "Give us some time," and, "Now that Nasha is the
Crown Prince's fiancée let her pay up," while the sisters were paralyzed with shock.
Without waiting for a trial, they were imprisoned to be used as bonded labour.

"The parents couldn't be sold for a good price, you see. They were entrusted to a
foreign slave trader, so even I don't know what happened afterwards. When thinking of
ways to sell their two attractive daughters for a high price, the best option they had was
the black market."

The sounds carried from the stage were no longer limited to just screams.

The bodily fluids released by the magical beast aroused females, promoted ovulation,
and had the effect of transforming the body into one that greatly favoured fertilization.

"It isn't a bad outcome for those girls either. Magical beasts like that treasure the female
that gives birth to its offspring."

Just like my words had conveyed, the black-haired Gigandi in the centre of the stage
that had devoted itself to mating with the two females was now done releasing its
semen. It gently licked the bodies of the females that were powerlessly unconscious on
the mattress.

"Moreover, the puppies born will be sold for a high price. After giving birth a few times, it
might be possible for them to pay off their debts."

Leaving aside the question of it being an extremely savage way to achieve it.

"......"

Silence was all I received as an answer.

I had completed my explanation without a hitch. The sturdy body of the man who hung
his head did not even quiver.

His hand firmly held on to the handle of [Quistacis: He Who Controls Dragons].

Silently.
I continued to wait.

For Jolga's choice.

Before the dice I had tossed began rolling.

"How was it, Sir Jolga? Did you have fun?"

Before I knew it.

The obscene [Dog Show] that unfolded on the stage had ended.

Breaking the silence in the gallery, the one who parted the curtains and stepped in was
the troupe leader Ducali, who triumphantly stroked his beard. With an unnatural smile
plastered on his face, Ducali awaited Jolga's reply.

"......"

It was none other than [I] who pushed the sisters into hell.

Jolga must have understood that by now.

I had taught him its significance myself after all.

Jolga Von Oswein.

The noble Knight Commander protecting Palcemith.

A noble warrior loved by the war gods, whom all knights look up to.

If Jorga felt like it.

It wouldn’t be a challenge for him to crush the circus alone.

Now Jolga.

Choose.
"...In the Show—"

Words left Jolga's mouth sluggishly.

He licked his dry lips over and over with his tongue, hesitating repeatedly to speak his
mind.

Jolga finally voiced his desires.

"—In the Show, just now, I liked the restraints the 'females' used. I want to try it out with
Anri."

At his monotonous and plain words.

As I held myself back, a shawl wrapped on my head, beside Jolga, my heart trembled in
delight.

"My, my! Did Sir Jolga like it? Let me get it as a souvenir for you at once! Our whole
troupe looks forward to seeing you again, Sir Jolga and Mr. Anri."

"Thank you for your hospitality. ...Anri, let us head back."

He grabbed my wrists tight enough to cause pain.

I was dragged off the gallery sofa into a half-embrace by Jolga and was pulled from the
main circus tent. Jolga collected the souvenir as we stepped outside the tent. Climbing
into the carriage that had come to bring us home, Jolga instructed the coachman to take
us to a destination that was neither my mansion, nor the Oswein estate.

It was deep into the night in the capital, and a new day had long begun.

Close to the circus tent, near the South Gate of the capital, were rows of luxurious
lodgings secretly lined up. Often used by noble guests who needed to remain unseen,
or by those travelling incognito— a Hospitalis. Our carriage stopped in front of one such
inn. Clutching my wrists, Jolga reserved a room on the topmost floor. Taking the key, he
carried me under his arm to the room.

"...Fufu"

A chuckle escaped me. Grinding his teeth, Jolga climbed the spiral staircase.

In the room on the topmost floor, an Arab carpet was laid out, goatskin stretching across
the room, making a faux beit al-sha’ar1. The interior was vibrant, pretty, and gave off an
Eastern feel.

I couldn’t even so much as look at the decorations before I was thrown roughly onto a
low bed in the centre of the room.

"Kuhahahahahahaha!!"

Unable to hold back, I laughed, clutching my stomach on top of the queen-sized bed.

"...Shit!"

Throwing [Quistacis: He who Controls Dragons] and his coat on the floor, Jolga grabbed
my hair roughly. Forcibly uttering accusations, he climbed atop the bed, grabbing my
legs as I laughed and pulled me under him. His thick fingers gripped my throat. Shaking,
my voice grew hoarse as I wheezed with laughter.

"How...dare...you...! "

"Ku...fu...u...!" "

"Was this… your motive!? Right from the beginning...!? "

1
Also called House of Hair, this is a kind of Bedouin tent
The sight I saw when I looked up.

Was of his bloodshot hazel eyes.

A beast who had been forced to reveal his true nature.

The noble Knight Commander was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

A cute monster, a freak who had lost himself to rage.

My consciousness grew hazy. Even as my throat was being crushed, I gave Jolga a
bewitching smile.

"...!"

The moment Jolga's grip on my throat slackened, I used the sole of my foot bearing the
fake brand and kneaded his swollen groin.

"Urk!"

Shaking off Jolga's faltering hands, this time it was I who pushed Jolga down on the
bed.

He struggled to break free, but when I licked my lips and pressed my palm squarely on
his chest, his body lost all strength.

Straddling his waist, I gripped him tightly with my thighs. As I rubbed myself on the
abdominal muscles beneath my buttocks to stir him up, he weakly appealed to me,
saying, "Stop". But contrary to his words, the mass inside his breeches only grew larger.

"Jolga."

"Don't call me...!"

"That's not possible, Jolga. You've already made your choice."

My thoughts were filled with ecstasy.

I cupped Jolga's face and held it as he desperately tried to turn away. Greedily, I
devoured his bitten lips. Inserting my tongue through the gap between his lips, I
plundered the hot insides of his mouth to my heart's content. At long last, Jolga's tongue
entwined with mine.

"Hn...huff..."

"Hah..."

"Jolga...hn..."

We sought each other's saliva as if we were parched travellers in the desert.

Parting from the lips that were now dyed red, in a low tone, I rebuked him declaring,
"You're mine." His dull hazel eyes blinked sluggishly in response.

Placing my palm on Jolga's cheek as he panted roughly, I gently whispered, as if

instructing a child that did not know right from wrong.

"You realised, right, Jolga?"

"..."

"That's the kind of man you are."

"...!"

"The family of the fiancée, a family that loved the Crown Prince like a son. My innocent
young daughter."

"...Urk."

"Insulted in front of my eyes, her dignity trampled upon."

"..."

"Jolga. Rather than holding up justice or saving the weak, you chose to fall for me!"

If it had been the old Jolga, he would’ve definitely thrown me away then and there.

But it was different now.

This man had fallen.

He had exposed the shameful desires hidden deep within him.

He slowly closed his blank eyes

The lips that had sworn loyalty to the kingdom affirmed, "That's right."

"Good Boy, Jolga...!"

My body trembled in excitement.

This was exactly what I wished for.

He was a beast I wanted to make mine, even if that meant offering my whole body.

Morino wasn't possibly enough.

If one wanted to eat away at this kingdom that had basked in glory for so long,
half-hearted fangs wouldn’t reach.

What I sought was a firm hand guiding Palcemith to ruin.

The nobler their facade was, the deeper the abyss within them went.

Tricked into believing that his initial judgement of my true nature had been a lie, he
loved me with all his heart.

And now when faced once again with my 'true nature', someone whom he had come to
deeply trust, he still chose me.

He was now mine.

He was perfect for me.

A victim to desire, my one and only cute monster, my freak.

"Come here, my Jolga. You are my husband, the pair only I can love. I wanna mate…
We can't lose to that Gigandi, can we?"

"Anri...

"Screw me with your huge penis... hey, tonight, mate with me to your fill."
Chapter 40: Mating (NSFW)
Loving him from the beginning, the childhood friend gave him a gentle kiss on the
cheeks and whispered, “I love your sincerity.”

Supporting him through the hardest of times, the king gave him a solemn kiss on the
forehead and declared, “You are a model of chivalry.”

Guiding him from the very start, the lady knight gave him a noble kiss atop his head and
prayed, “May the light always be with you.”

But the one kissing Jolga now, was an alluring demon. His lips left a burning trail down
Jolga’s nose, around his Adam’s apple, and over his chest. The demon’s tongue snaked
forth, and he nipped at Jolga’s skin like a kitten.

"...Suck them."

Sitting directly above Jolga’s stomach, Anderheim had already pulled his top up,
revealing his pale chest.

Jolga sucked at the coral-colored nipples exposed before him. His tongue explored
them, playing with the small peaks, and then sucking and pulling on them with his lips.
He used his palm to roll them back and forth, pressing down as if trying to press them
into Anderheim’s chest. Jolga’s fingers pinched and played with them, as if they were
the keys that could unlock Anderheim’s body. As Anderheim writhed from the pleasure,
Jolga snuck a hand down his lover’s revealing pants and slipped both pants and
underwear down the man’s slender legs. With a careless motion, he tossed them to the
side.

Jolga seized Anderheim’s seductive ankles and forced them up around his shoulders.
The sudden movement made Anderheim fall backwards, landing atop Jolga’s knees.
Aroused, Jolga admired the view of Anderheim lying prone, his legs spread wide. Jolga
leaned forward to bury himself in that sight, and Anderheim trembled as Jolga’s tongue
began to moisten his asshole. The heavy scent of immorality filled the air around them.

"Ah...ahh..."
"Nn..."

"That… is… ugh… ah...! "

With Anderheim’s ankles resting above Jolga’s shoulders, Jolga was able to take full
advantage of the situation. He held Anderheim, his tongue working at the man’s soft
hole, and Jolga’s fingers brushed along the shaft of Anderheim’s penis. It was an
unblemished pink, so pure Jolga had to question if Anderheim really had experience
sleeping with women. It stood in sharp contrast to his own— the red and black
semen-stained monstrosity that loomed above his loins as it throbbed with desire.
Anderheim managed to pull Jolga’s breeches down to his knees and then turned over.
Facing Jolga’s cock, so stiff it almost touched his own abdomen, Anderheim licked it
along the base, his tongue following the bulging veins.

"Hnnn...! "

Anderheim’s pleasure swelled at the sight of Jolga being taken by surprise by his
sudden attack.

His mouth caressed the taut skin of Jolga’s testicles, heavy and swollen with the semen
within. He sucked at Jolga’s glans, savoring the precum like it was candy. His body,
recalling the pleasurable sensation of Jolga’s stiff rod thrusting into him, began to ache
for it once more. There was nothing more he wanted than to feast on Jolga’s precious
manhood. His expectations growing with every moment, Anderheim shimmied his hips
and then laid down on the bed, his gaze upwards.

Jolga finished removing his clothing, tossing them into a pile on the floor and settled
himself atop Anderheim. Looking down at the lover he had finally found after all this
time, he thrust his penis into Anderheim’s ass.

"Ah...ahh..." "

Anderheim let out a gasp as his back arched in a beautiful show of pleasure, and he
clutched at the sheets beneath them. Jolga’s thrust penetrated deep inside, and the
walls of Anderheim’s intestines parted to allow the thick cock entry. Jolga grabbed
Anderheim’s waist with his hands and pulled him up, towards himself. Trapped between
both their stomachs, Anderheim’s cock rubbed up against Jolda’s chiseled abs. With
each rhythmic thrust, the testicles of the man Anderheim had accepted into himself
slapped his ass.

"Jolga… Jolga… ahh… it feels... good...! "

"Ahh... Anri. You’re mine... only mine... Anri...! "

"Hah… hah...! Mm… more...! Mo...re, even deeper...! "

"Yes...! "

Jolga’s penis forced its way into Anderheim, deep as it could go, with an untamed
passion.

"Ah...ahhh...!! "

Anderheim wrapped his legs around Jolga’s broad waist, and his penis began to leak a
cloudy liquid, proof he had climaxed.

"Uhn...! "

As Anderheim's insides clenched tight around him, Jolga’s hips trembled and he
released his hot semen deep inside Anderheim.

In the past, Jolga had always been conscious of the burden ejaculating inside would put
on Anderheim, but there was no longer any reason to hold back. Anderheim was his—
his partner. They were a pair, and there was no doubt Jolga was the husband here. And
it was well known that providing the wife with sufficient seed was the most important
duty of the husband.
"Ah...uhn..."

Receiving Jolga’s semen with his body for the first time, Anderheim trembled. Every
movement of Jolga’s penis was accompanied by a wet squelch and a moan from
Anderheim.

"Jol...ga..."

"...Anri."

"Jolga..."

Anderheim’s simple words that he spoke while his legs clung to Jolga’s waist, told Jolga
everything he needed to know.

Jolga took hold of Anderheim’s left leg and raised it up as he forced himself deep into
Anderheim once again as Anderheim lay sideways. His penis was drawn in, ever
deeper by the lewd sounds that emanated from Anderheim’s hole, and Jolga pressed
on.

"Ah...ahhh...!"

"Anri..."

Jolga pressed his wide palm against Anderheim’s abdomen, and then ran his hand
along the skin as if searching for something. He moved up from Anderheim’s silver
thicket, along the thin, pale skin, to the narrow crevice amidst Anderheim’s stomach
muscles. Jolga pressed down against it with his fingers.

"Ow...!! "
The sharp jab seemed strong enough to reach Anderheim’s organs, and the pleasure
was shattered, leaving Anderheim stiff and uncomfortable. As if trying to sooth him,
Jolga began to kiss his face, caressing his cheeks and forehead with gentle pecks. As
he did so, he pressed his waist up against the spot he had jabbed with his finger,
reaching up beyond Anderheim’s rectum walls. The tip of his penis dug in deeper as he
pushed inwards with extra care.

"Ah...ah… no. No… don’t… ah...ahh...ugh...! "

So deep within Anderheim’s body, it wasn’t a place that could be reached with ease.
Jolga’s manhood had pushed all the way to the boundary of Anderheim’s colon, the
massive cock reshaping Anderheim’s insides as it pleased. Jolga rested at the entrance
for a moment, as if waiting for the intestinal walls to adjust and relax enough to welcome
the invader, and then in a sudden, vigorous movement, he pushed forward, penetrating
the as of yet, undefiled hole.

"No… stop. It hurts… hu-hurts...! "

"Huff..."

"Jol...ga… ah… d-deep. Ahh… this... is..."

"Anri..."

"This… is...! I don’t… know… ah… ahhh… ah… ahh—!"

The tip, which had burrowed itself deep beyond the boundary, once again released
Jolga’s semen. It flooded into Anderheim, the heat filling that place that had never been
touched before.

"Hah... Anri uh."

His long climax finally reached its end and he pulled his penis free. Anderheim’s ass
was soaked with viscous semen seeping out from his depths. It was far more than Jolga
had anticipated.

It was all because he had poured his seed beyond the barrier of that was the rectum.

"S-so scary… hic… Jolga… th-that…”.

Although it had been Anderheim’s decision to allow Jolga to fill him with Jolga’s seed
this time, Anderheim hadn’t anticipated the knight would push in so deep the very first
time.

A twinge of regret pricked at his heart as Anderheim wondered if mating right after
revealing his true intentions had been a poor decision.

It wasn’t as if he hadn’t enjoyed it, rather, Jolga coming inside him was a pleasurable
experience, but if it was going to be as intense every time as it had been this time,
Anderheim’s stamina would run out before long.

"Anri..."

"...Mm"

"My Anri… I love you."

"...Hehe."

But even so—

This darling monster— this freakish creature he had given rise to was simply too
adorable to deny.

They were like a pair of newly-weds, enjoying their bridal-night together. During that first
night, giving in to the selfish desires of the groom’s lust was a sign of the bride’s
generosity.

In which case, there was only one course of Anderheim to take.

"...Come… Jolga… quickly… fill me up!"

Cradling Jolga’s head in his hands as the knight entered him a second time, Anderheim
slowly closed his eyes.

Author’s Note:

Wolfsbane in the Language of Flowers:

"Chivalry", "Misanthropy", "Revenge"

“You will be the death of me.”