Chapter 15.12

With each strike, grotesque marks appeared on Boris’s body, as if a serpent had slithered across his skin. The sound of the whip slicing through the air was followed by the sickening sound of flesh tearing.  

Boris endured it all without so much as biting his lip.  

“…As expected of a monster, you’re remarkably resilient.”  

Thud.  

The King dropped the whip to the ground. Despite being the one administering the punishment, it was Andros who was left panting for breath.  

“…Livie.”  

Boris spoke in a detached tone as he watched the King discard the whip.  

“Shouldn’t you be worrying about yourself rather than your wife?”  

“Where is she?”  

“Hah, it seems monsters don’t feel pain from something like this. If I think about all the sleepless nights I spent in unease while searching for you…”  

The King stepped closer to Boris, his expression twisted in irritation.  

“All that nonsense about a legendary crow—it’s nothing but fabricated drivel. Anything that threatens the Kingdom’s stability must be eradicated.”  

“…”  

“Just like my sister, you see.”  

King Andros let out a chilling laugh, his lips curling into a sinister grin.  

“Still, I’m a merciful King, am I not? My sister, you, none of you shall die by my hand.”  

The King’s voice droned on, but Boris remained silent. Andros continued his monologue, rambling about the bright future that awaited the Kingdom of Sesher.  

“Thanks to your efforts in reviving that barren northern land, I’ll be able to pass down a much more prosperous territory to my son. For that, I must commend your contributions.”  

Andros’s tone was almost cheerful as he spoke.  

“Do you know how much anxiety I endured after you began amassing power in the North? I knew you intended to march southward eventually. I was well aware of your ambitions.”  

The King’s scowl softened as he continued.  

“Your wife will return to her original husband—a new husband, if you will. Everything will return to its rightful place, and I’ll govern the North you’ve so diligently developed. You should be grateful.”  

Andros leaned in close, whispering into Boris’s ear with a sickeningly sweet tone.  

“Let’s enjoy our time together, Duke of Edrach.”  

“…”  

“This place is specially prepared just for you. You’ll entertain me whenever I please. Look, I’ve even had these exquisite devices made for you.”  

The King gestured to a collection of t*rture devices, each more terrifying than the last.  

Among them was an iron maiden lined with sharp spikes, a rack designed to stretch its victim’s body, and countless other implements of pain, each exuding a menacing aura.  

“With your rapid healing and high tolerance for pain, there’s so much to experiment with.”  

Andros chuckled gleefully, as though merely imagining the torment he would inflict brought him joy.  

“By now, your wife is surely on her way to a safe and happy haven. The Duke of Resette will cherish her for the rest of his life.”  

Clang.  

For the first time, Boris reacted. He strained against his chains, pulling them taut as his piercing gaze locked onto the King. Startled, Andros took a step back.  

“It’s pointless. These chains are made of iron ten times stronger than normal.”  

Andros retreated cautiously as Boris continued to glare at him with unyielding ferocity.  

“So, take your rest. Tomorrow, the fun won’t end with just this little whip.”  

With a sinister laugh, the King left the chamber.  

Boom.  

The heavy iron door slammed shut, plunging the room into silence once more.  

Creak.  

The sound of Boris’s chains echoed in the stillness.  

Slowly, Boris raised his bloodied face. Through the iron bars of the window, the white moon had shifted slightly further westward.  

Taking a deep breath, Boris gripped the shackles binding his wrists.  

Creak, creak.  

The thick iron chains groaned under the strain before snapping with a loud crack.  

“…”  

He then broke the chains around his ankles without hesitation and approached the barred window.  

Creak.  

Grasping the iron bars, Boris bent them as though they were made of soft clay. Tossing the broken bars to the floor, he stepped back.  

Flap.  

Moments later, large black wings unfurled from his back.  

Under the pale moonlight, Boris spread his wings and took flight.  

***

Clatter. 

“Ah…”  

The carriage jolted violently, jolting Livie awake.  

“You’re finally awake, I see.”  

A chilling voice greeted her from directly in front of her. Livie froze, her body stiffening at the sound.  

Where am I? And that voice…  

“Rest assured, you’re not dead.”  

The voice, grating like nails on a chalkboard, belonged to the Duke of Resette.  

“Why… why am I…”  

Livie tried to sit up but collapsed with a groan.  

“Ugh…”  

Pain laced her muffled groans.  

“You see? That’s what happens when you move suddenly.”  

The Duke of Resette clicked his tongue in feigned sympathy, his foot tapping idly.  

“You’d best behave. Otherwise, things will get much worse.”  

“What… what did you do to me?”  

Livie’s voice was fierce, but her body betrayed her, weak and trembling. It felt as though an immense weight was pressing down on her, rendering her powerless.  

She struggled to move, her efforts observed by the Duke with an unsettling amusement.  

“Ugh…”  

Livie’s body twisted in pain as she glared at the Duke, who returned her gaze with a sinister smile.  

“Ah!”  

She let out a startled cry as she fell from the carriage seat, landing heavily on the floor. The dull thud echoed in the confined space.  

“Ugh…”  

Livie groaned in pain, her view of the Duke now from below. His expression was even more grotesque as he looked down at her, relishing her suffering.  

“What… what did you do to me?”  

Livie demanded, her voice trembling as she lay crumpled on the floor.  

“Nothing much. Just gave you a little something to help you relax. It might make it hard to move for a while.”  

As the Duke had said, her entire body felt limp, as though soaked in water. Her limbs were numb, and it seemed she wouldn’t even feel pain if she were dragged through a field of thorns.  

“As long as you behave, you won’t get hurt. Just sleep for now. When you wake up, a whole new world will await you.”  

“…”  

Livie struggled to make sense of her situation. Her mind was sluggish, her thoughts clouded, but one thing was clear: this was a nightmare.  

“Where… where are you taking me?”  

She fought to sit up, her movements weak and clumsy. The Duke watched her struggle with a twisted sense of amusement, his snake-like eyes gleaming.  

“Don’t worry. I’ll take you safely to my estate without so much as a scratch.”  

“Your estate…?”  

Livie’s eyes widened in shock.  

“You mean… we’re going to the Resette estate?”  

The Duke’s grin widened at her reaction.  

“Yes. Once we’re there, I’ll pamper you to your heart’s content. Everything is prepared—better than the capital, better than that wretched Edrach Territory. I guarantee it.”  

“Don’t be ridiculous! Who would go to such a disgusting place? Stop this carriage right now! Stop—ah!”  

Livie’s protest was cut short by a scream of pain as the Duke’s boot pressed mercilessly against her chest.  

Livie let out a scream of pain mid-sentence.

The Duke of Resette’s boot mercilessly pressed down on her chest.  

“Even with the drug in your system, this must hurt. It seems you’re still untrained… But once we reach Resette, you’ll learn to obey your master. I’ll make sure of it.”  

The man’s face twisted into a grotesque smile, his yellowed teeth on full display. A deep sense of joy radiated from him as he toyed with her. Under the relentless pressure of his boot, Livie bit her lips hard, enduring the pain without making a sound.  

“Ho, you’ve got some spirit. That makes it all the more fun to break you.”  

Thud. Thud.  

The force of his stomps grew stronger. Livie’s body twisted in agony, but she continued to bite her lips until they bled, refusing to cry out.  

‘The feeling is returning.’  

Just as the Duke had said, the pain was becoming more vivid compared to before. It was better this way—if she could just shake off the effects of the drug…  

Bang!  

The carriage, which had been moving smoothly, suddenly came to a jarring halt as though it had collided with something.  

“…”  

The violent shake left Livie startled as she frantically looked around.  

The abrupt stop caused the Duke of Resette, who had been seated, to lose his balance and crash into the opposite seat.  

“What is the meaning of this!”  

The Duke, now sprawled ungracefully across the seat, quickly stood up, shouting angrily. His neatly combed hair was disheveled, and his nose was red from slamming into the cushioned seat.  

“Can’t you even drive a carriage properly? When we return, I’ll have all your heads—”  

He was mid-rant, yelling at the coachman, when it happened.  

Thud.  

The carriage shook even more violently than before. The sound and vibrations came from above, undoubtedly from the roof of the carriage.  

“What in the world…”  

The Duke looked up, his face filled with disbelief.  

“Aaaah!”  

The commotion outside grew louder. The Duke hastily opened the window shutters to look outside.  

What he saw made his face twist with rage—the knights escorting the carriage were aiming their bows at the roof.  

“Have they gone mad…”  

“Your Grace! The roof, the roof!”  

The knights’ gazes were fixed on the top of the carriage.  

“A m-monster!”  

Every knight’s face was pale with terror.