Her memories were hazy, fragmented and jumbled – a chaotic mess she didn’t want to hold onto. As Cyrene stammered, struggling to answer, his lips fell to her br*ast.

Areos teeth sank into her pale skin, over the faint mark left by another man, as if to overwrite it.

“Ah…!”

Cyrene winced at the sharp, stinging pain, her expression twisting slightly. He parted her legs naturally, his fingers tracing the now slightly wet v*gina between them.

Noticing the slight swelling, more pronounced than usual, Areos clicked his tongue softly. Cyrene’s heart sank with fear as she saw the discontent flicker across his face. She didn’t know what to do, confusion and fear welling up inside her.

Should she have enjoyed it with the other man? Or should she have hated it? Her blue eyes darted nervously, searching for some hint of what he wanted her to say, but Areos remained silent.

“Spread.”

He spoke briefly, then lowered his head. Cyrene spread her legs wider and stuck out her tongue. A shiver ran down her spine at the firmness of the one gently biting her small tongue.

“Huh, ahh…”

A finger slid slowly into the swollen entrance. Her thighs trembled slightly. Perhaps from the friction, there was a slight pain, and each time it throbbed, Cyrene moved her hips more against his hand.

“Ah, ugh…”

Areos bit down hard enough on the tip of her tongue to cause pain, his face contorting into a slight frown. A short sigh escaped, and his finger slipped from between her slightly damp thighs.

He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. Fear filled the air. The only thought in Cyrene’s head was that the situation was not good. She lowered her head to his hand, which was damp with moisture.

Then slowly she began to lick his fingers. Parting her lips as if to take a bite, she wrapped her mouth around his long fingers, her tongue gliding over them as if to envelop them completely.

“Huh…”

She felt a hand gently stroke her hair.

“Ugh, yeah…”

Cyrene moved lower and lower, kneeling between his legs. The already firm shape of his p*nis was clearly outlined by the fabric of his clothing.

She skilfully opened the front of his trousers and took the large p*nis into her mouth. It was different to the other man’s. The weight that filled her mouth, the way her jaw ached from how far it was stretched – it was all etched deep into her body, familiar yet different.

“Huah…”

Cyrene licked it from base to tip with her tongue. She teased the pearly drops of sticky liquid at the tip with the tip of her tongue before taking it deep into her mouth, all the way to her throat.

Her insides tightened to the point of pain. It was a sensation she had never felt from the p*nis of a man whose name she didn’t even know. Gasping for breath, Cyrene lifted her head.

The look that looked down at her was ambiguous. It carried a mixture of the usual satisfaction and a hint of displeasure. Cyrene bit her lips softly. Then she lifted her skirt and spread her legs.

The blunt tip pressed against her dripping wet entrance, already soaked from sucking him. The tightness of her inner walls brought a wave of pleasure. The slight twitch made it clear what she wanted.

“Ugh…!”

Cyrene placed her hands on Areo’s shoulders and slowly lowered her hips. A mixture of aching pain and pleasure coursed through her. The sensation of him pressing deep into her all at once sent tremors through her entire body.

“Cyrene.”

Big hands gripped her hips tightly. Her body moved instinctively, finding a familiar rhythm, swaying in time.

The pleasure points aligned with Areo’s considerable presence, intensifying the sensation. The feel of the thick head scraping against her smooth, wet walls sent shivers deep into her core, causing her hips to tremble uncontrollably.

“Ha, yea, ah…”

The wet, lascivious sounds filled the air. Despite taking in something larger than the other man, there was no painful friction. Her soft, excited entrance accommodated him smoothly.

“Hu, uh, ahh…!”

With her eyes half closed, Cyrene moved her hips. She despised obeying the orders of that other man, but with Areos it was different. Maybe it was because she had gotten used to him, or maybe because he had become everything to her – she wasn’t quite sure. What mattered was that it felt right.

“Ah, ugh…”

With a sticky sound accompanying his movements, Areos thrust deep into her several times before pushing her down onto the bed. Her legs spread even wider and Cyrene wrapped her arms around him. His hands cupped her br*asts tightly – similar to before, but far more pleasurable this time.

His fingertips pressed firmly against her hardened n*pples. The sensation of his tongue running down her throat. The grip on her hips holding her tight as he thrust deep inside her, reaching her very core.

“Ugh, ah…… ”

Cyrene let out a breathless gasp, her hips moving instinctively to the familiar pleasure. Her legs wrapped around his waist, holding him tight. Her hands moved down his shirt, clutching the fabric tightly.

“Ah, ugh…!”

For the first time that day, Cyrene reached her climax. With the man she’d been with countless times, she’d never experienced anything like it. Her whole body shook as she tightened around him.

“Ha…”

Areos bit down hard on his lip and ran a hand roughly through his hair. His p*nis, which had been twitching as if to press against her inner walls, pushed deep inside her for a moment before slowly beginning to move.

“Ah, Your Highness, haah… ugh…”

Her entire body trembled with the lingering waves of pleasure. As his p*nis moved again, scraping along her inner walls, Cyrene gasped for breath.

“Uh, ugh… ah…!”

His movements were even more relentless than usual, hitting and rubbing against her most sensitive spot again and again. Overwhelmed by the mind-numbing pleasure, she clung desperately to Areos.

“Ha… ah, ahhh…!”

The raw, violent pleasure spread through her body, reaching even her fingertips and toes. She felt so completely filled that even breathing became difficult. It was impossible to fully absorb the overwhelming sensations Areos was giving her.

“Haaaa, hmmm…”

Her vision blurred. Even after countless climaxes, he wouldn’t let her go. Her body, drained of all strength, shook with each thrust as Areos moved her as he pleased.

Not even a moan escaped her lips amidst the creaking sounds of the bed. With misty eyes, Cyrene looked up at him.

Why?

Why did he look so angry? She was the one who should be crying and clinging to him. Why was it that Areos was the one with the twisted face?

Without thinking. Cyrene put her hand on his cheek.

His golden eyes widened slightly in surprise. Then she closed her own. She did not have the strength to open them.

When she awoke the next day, Areos was still there, although she had expected him to be gone. In fact, he was sitting on the sofa, watching her. Cyrene went about her routine as usual, drinking tea, washing up and dressing.

Areos, who had been watching her in silence, seemed to want to say something. His lips moved slightly, but then he closed his eyes tightly before opening them again.

“Your Highness…?”

Cyrene approached him cautiously.

“Ah.”

His grip on her arm was so tight it hurt. His golden eyes, unlike the day before, were once again fearful, sharp and dangerous.

“You are nothing but my possession.”

He pressed his lips together, his mouth twisting into a crooked smile.

“Letting you caress my words is something like that, isn’t it?”

What was he going to say?

Cyrene lowered her eyes. The pain in her arm was unbearable, as if it would snap. She bit back a groan, fighting to stifle the sound that threatened to escape.

“You’re like my little puppy, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

She nodded slowly.

“Ah…”

A groan finally escaped her lips as his grip on her arm tightened painfully. Cyrene glanced sideways at his golden eyes. Slowly, his hand released her. She rubbed her aching arm, certain it would bruise.

“Right. That’s it.”

Areos stood abruptly and stormed out, kicking the door open as he went. Cyrene watched his retreating figure in silence, her teeth biting hard on her lip.

Was this his way of dismissing her? Or did it mean something else entirely?

Either way, unease gripped her.

***

For the first time, Cyrene watched a stream of carriages arrive. It was the first time so many guests had come to the Crown Prince’s palace, and the first time everything had been so elaborately decorated to welcome them.

Was it a party?

The word ‘party’ was exciting to her, something she had only ever heard of. She knew it meant beautiful music, elegant clothes and dancing. Areos always got annoyed at the mention of parties, but since Cyrene had never been to one, she couldn’t help but envy him for the experience.

The carriages continued to arrive and depart.

Who might be in them?

From her room, she couldn’t see the people entering through the main hall, and her mind was racing with all sorts of ideas.

Were the other women she had glimpsed through the bars or from the window of the carriage with Areos there? She had heard that special food was prepared for parties, and she was curious about that too. Despite her excitement and anxiety, the maids around her remained calm and untroubled.

“Is there a party today?”