He withered day by day. But even with a pale face, he was a beautiful person.
Then one day, Father began to sparkle beautifully again.
It had been 10 years since he married Mother, and finally the date when the marriage could be dissolved had arrived.
Father still loved his lover, and his lover wanted Father. The two counted down the days until they could be together. They were destined partners, and even the power of chains couldn’t overcome fate.
“I’m sorry to you children.”
The night before the divorce, Father apologized. His eyes weren’t the usual contemptuous ones, but neither was his face apologetic. He was immersed in happiness.
Hereis didn’t respond at all to Father who was smiling while apologizing. He ultimately resented Father for abandoning him.
And the next morning, Father passed away.
I don’t know the exact time.
Whether it was an accident, the doing of someone who had been coveting Father who was an omega, or something Mother committed unable to forgive Father who tried to leave after midnight when the marriage ceremony ended. I knew nothing. But it wasn’t suicide. I could be certain of that. Because he had someone he loved.
Hereis went to the underworld. He wanted to find the culprit who killed Father. I don’t know why he did that. There was no father-son affection, but he clung to that matter. He dealt with the count who first kidnapped Father and those who had been coveting him. But he couldn’t find the murderer.
‘So Mother did kill him after all.’
Only after Hereis gained the nickname “Ruler of Darkness” and seized control of all information on the continent did he accept reality.
It was futile.
He tried to let go of everything and leave. But he continued. It wasn’t that he coveted the power of the underworld or was intoxicated by pleasure. He just walked that path. People cursed. They hated pleasure and drugs. But he was indifferent. So he thought it might be his calling.
But only after being drawn to the party where Rosenthal was attending as if possessed, dealing with those who targeted him, and even becoming partners like this did he realize a little.
Perhaps I continued this work to prevent another person like Father from appearing?
With countless blood staining his hands, saying now that it was to protect the existence called “omega” was nothing but a poor sophistry. He didn’t think it was a sense of justice or mission or anything. But even if it wasn’t logical, it couldn’t be helped. Because that was his heart.
That’s why he protected Rosenthal. No, he must have protected him, right?
Mother pleaded. That because she loved Father, she bore all the succubus restrictions they had to endure when performing the marriage ceremony. That she endured all the brainwashing and poison that was originally Father’s share. So please love her.
But it must have been a lie. She ultimately loved herself most. There’s no way she endured the brainwashing and poison. Rather, she would have pushed all her chains and poison onto Father and more.
And Hereis executed what Mother only talked about but couldn’t actually do.
He bore all the chains of oath and poison of covenant that should have originally bound Rosenthal.
When affected by the chains, one comes to love the other person. Hereis took even the portion where Rosenthal should have loved him.
The poison of covenant spreads each time Rosenthal has relations with another. He took that restriction as well.
And the first night ceremony suddenly began. He had been at ease until the wedding, but he was ambushed unexpectedly.
Hereis impulsively embraced Rosenthal. Though it was in a dream, he basely used the meal as an excuse to have a lucid dream. As if that wasn’t enough, his petty true feelings burst out.
‘You’re so bad that you might get abandoned. Rosenthal.’
He erased the dream. He didn’t want to show such an ugly interior to Rosenthal.
In the end, Rosenthal left. Each time the Crown Prince’s essence filled Rosenthal’s inner walls, the poison of covenant attacked Hereis, condemning him for committing infidelity.
The toxicity was stronger than expected. Perhaps because it was the first time, the pain felt more intense. His body hurt and his heart hurt more. Lying in Rosenthal’s bed and smelling his scent, he barely endured the suffering.
Hereis understood Mother. And he regretted it. If only he had shared at least the “chains of oath.” Then he would have liked Rosenthal a little less. He might not have known that Rosenthal would come to like him.
‘I’m different from Mother. I’d rather kill than use the marriage ceremony’s restrictions to keep someone by my side who has no feelings for me.’
He had thought that, but his resolve weakened and weakened again.
Rosenthal came running as soon as he finished his heat cycle. They kissed but it wasn’t enough. He resented this man who cried worrying about him. He hated his partner who returned covered in another’s pheromones. And he was grateful.
Hereis had another lucid dream. And he roughly embraced Rosenthal.
Venting his desire without hiding, using essence as an excuse, he ultimately held him more times than Eldon. And he kissed him. Not knowing his blackened insides, Rosenthal rather worried about him.
How long can I endure? Won’t I go mad with jealousy and ultimately walk the same path as Mother?
A deep fear from his bones washed over him.
Then the door opened and Jackin entered. Father despised Hereis and Prision who were forcibly conceived, and Mother paid no attention to those brothers who couldn’t earn Father’s love. And while their parents neglected them, Jackin raised Hereis and Prision.
“Master, do you know how worried I was when I couldn’t contact you for three days?”
“I enjoyed the nights.”
“With your partner?”
“No. When I awakened, various pleasures caught my eye.”
“Haha. You’ve become a true incubus.”
Jackin burst into hearty laughter. He didn’t care at all that Hereis had intermingled with others less than two weeks after performing the marriage ceremony.
He worried that Jackin might suspect and discover the truth, but it was needless anxiety.
If Jackin learned that the poison of covenant attacked Hereis each time Rosenthal had relations, he would forcibly kidnap or kill Rosenthal. That’s why he couldn’t return to the guild during Rosenthal’s heat cycle. If Jackin saw Hereis continuously coughing up blood, he would notice the truth.
“So I need an antidote.”
Mother threatened Father, saying the poison of covenant was a fatal deadly poison. Of course, it’s fatal to humans. Though incubi are also in danger with long-term exposure, they don’t lose their lives in the short term like humans. Moreover, incubi had their own way to overcome it.
Dream demons are lewd. Even with restrictions, their lewd and greedy nature couldn’t be stopped. Rather than fearing the poison and continuing a love that had ended half-heartedly, they chose the method of making an antidote.
“An antidote? Understood. But it will take about half a year, is that all right?”
“Half a year?”
Wrinkles formed on Hereis’s beautiful brow.
“It’s illegal so reservations are backed up, and most of all it’s customized for each individual. No matter how fast, it will take half a year for the medicine to be manufactured. Of course, that’s only the first time, it won’t take that long from the next time.”
He knew it was illegal, but it was customized. He didn’t know because he thought he’d never have to take it in his lifetime.
“A faster method?”
He could endure about half a year. But if he kept coughing up blood, Rosenthal would worry. Hereis wanted to stay by his side until the marriage ceremony ended.
He wanted to stay by his side in a good way, without causing worry, without using the poison as an excuse for physical contact.
“Then go see the second young master.”
“That guy?”
“Yes. If it’s the second young master, he must have stocked up an enormous amount. Of course, it will be different from personalized medicine, but since you’re twins, there won’t be a big difference.”
Prision. Hereis bit his lips thinking of his twin brother who looked exactly like him.
He didn’t want to meet that guy during the marriage period with Rosenthal.
If Prision learned of Rosenthal’s existence, probably, no, definitely he would try to kill him.
***
Warm warmth and sweet fragrance. Soft texture. I rubbed my face while hugging the fragrant pillow.
“Mmm, so nice.”
The slipping silk texture felt so good. But the pillow is a bit firm? I opened my eyes feeling puzzled. And discovering the silk pillow I was hugging, no, the person wearing silk pajamas, I quickly retreated backward.
“Your Highness!”
Eldon was lying on his side with his chin propped up, looking at me. Why the hell are you here! You went to work as soon as you brought me to the Crown Princess’s room yesterday!
“Do you like me that much?”
You crawled into someone else’s bed without permission and what are you so pleased about!
“How is Your Highness… This is my room.”
“You are mine, so this room is also mine.”
What kind of bullshit logic is that?
“…You should get permission when entering. Isn’t that imperial etiquette?”
As I timidly objected and sneakily moved to the edge of the bed, Eldon swiftly grabbed my arm.
“I’m about to copulate from now, will you permit me? Crown Princess.”
His face approached close. His ashen eyes were filled with lust. I stared blankly at his face then lightly pushed his chest.
“It’s morning. You should attend to state affairs.”
It was an important time when he had to execute Grand Duke Curtis and completely crush Arleigh’s power. In fact, it wasn’t even a situation to hold something like a first night ceremony.
In reality, Eldon went to his adjacent room as soon as I fell asleep and attended to state affairs. He hadn’t slept a wink for three whole days. It seems he endured with potions that are said to be stronger than caffeine, and perhaps because of that, his complexion wasn’t good.
Both Hereis and Eldon, everyone’s becoming haggard.
“Are you worried about state affairs? Or do you want to send me away?”
Eldon’s hand moved toward my lips, then rubbed persistently along the line of my lips. Sexual desire is abundant from morning. As expected, he’s an insatiable stud.
