The handle of the whip, pressed beneath her chin, was forced so hard it caused pain. Just like Areos would, the long fingers, gloved in leather, twisted Cyrene’s face this way and that. Was this something all members of the royal family did? Or was it because Areos and the princess were siblings? Each time she blinked, an expression of dissatisfaction slowly spread across the princess’s face.

“As I heard, you’re quite beautiful.”

“T-thank you.”

Her voice carried a tone of mockery.

“Beautiful, yet useless.”

The sound of a tongue clicking lightly made Cyrene shrink her shoulders. When her chin was released abruptly, as if discarded, she stumbled, and Ilion quickly caught her.

“Well, I suppose that’s why His Highness keeps you around.”

What was she supposed to say to that?

She could feel the people standing behind the princess glancing at her. The only one smiling was the princess herself. Her gaze shifted to Ilion.

“You’re doing something pointless.”

“…We can’t just leave her, can we?”

“If you had just left her alone, she would have been loved for her whole life.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Well, when has His Highness the Crown Prince ever done anything that made sense?”

The princess let out a loud laugh, clearly amused, but no one else joined in. Cyrene stared at her blankly. Sensing her gaze, the princess lowered her head and stepped closer. It felt as if the red eyes were pressing down on her, huge and suffocating.
“How pitiful.”
But despite her words, the faint smile on her lips seemed to show that she didn’t care if Cyrene felt pity or not.

She turned and walked briskly back to the Crown Prince’s palace. Cyrene watched her black hair sway in the wind before turning her attention to Ilion.
“It’s fine.”
What did he mean? Was he saying that she wasn’t pitiful, or that it was acceptable to be useless?

Cyrene couldn’t answer. She just watched as the princess entered the building.

Suddenly, Ilion pulled her into a tight embrace, only to release her just as quickly. Cyrene stood still, staring silently at the door through which the princess had passed.

***

Cyrene looked into Areos’ face, tilting her head slightly. No matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t find any trace of an affair.

“What’s going on?”

Areos raised an eyebrow. He shook his head with the same expression.

Aren’t you sleeping with the princess?

Isn’t she his younger sister? Or is it because she’s a ‘bastard’?

Cyrene nestled comfortably in his arms.

“I saw Her Highness, the Princess.”

“……”

There was no particular response. Cyrene stared blankly at the hand pulling the string.

“Your Highness.”

This time, instead of an answer, the hem of her dress parted. Her protruding br*ast was exposed. Areos, pulling down the loose chemise, lowered his head over her br*ast.

“Are you having s*x with Her Highness, the Princess?”

“What?”

“A look of disbelief filled Areos’ face.

“Earlier.”

Cyrene mumbled, trailing off her words.

Wasn’t that why she came?

Nothing else came to mind. There was only one purpose for those who always came here.

Ah, but Ilion is different.

“Ah…!”

“Who said such nonsense?”

“N-no one did.”

Areo’s hand slid under her dress, brushing teasingly against her soft thigh. As he let out a soft chuckle, his tongue flicked over her hardened n*pple.

“Why? Did it bother you?”

“No, it didn’t. Ah!”

Apparently dissatisfied with her answer, he bit down hard on her tender skin again.

“Ah, it hurts…”

Cyrene whimpered, catching her breath as her face contorted in pain. Areos, gripping the inside of her thigh with a firm squeeze, raised his head. His golden eyes were as cold and unyielding as the princess’s had been earlier that day.

“At times like this, you should cry and say stop.”

He whispered softly, biting down hard on the side of her ear.

“Ah…!”

Her thighs and ears throbbed with pain. The hand gripping her leg felt as if it might break through her skin, while the sharp sensation of his teeth biting into her ear sent uncontrollable tremors through her shoulders. 

“Your Highness, ah, Your Highness…”

Even when she tried to push him away, Areos didn’t move. Instead, his bite on her ear grew harder. Something heavy brushed against her p*ssy, and even through the fabric of her underwear, the intense heat was unmistakable.

“What are you supposed to say?”

“Ah, stop it, please.”

Shaking and unsure of what she was even saying no to, she stammered out her answer. Something hot pressed against her p*ssy.

“And you should behave yourself too.”

The hand that had been pressing down on her spread legs relaxed slightly. Cyrene glanced at Areos’ face and noticed that his expression had softened a little. Hesitantly, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. 

What exactly was he thinking?

She had said no, but she couldn’t quite understand what she was refusing. Should she tell him not to sleep with the princess? But hadn’t the princess already shared her bed with countless men? All except Ilion – they were all nobles. 

I don’t understand. 

She couldn’t even understand why she shouldn’t like it. Brushing her fingers lightly over his shoulder, Cyrene leaned in and licked his lips softly.

“Hmm…”

As their lips met, Areos let out a languid sigh. He cupped her cheek as he always did and returned the kiss with an intensity that felt as if it could consume her completely. 

The underwear that had held back the firm pressure between her legs was slipped off.

“Haa…”

The searing heat made her shiver. Areos size and strength were incomparable to anyone else’s. The almost scalding temperature made Cyrene’s legs tremble involuntarily. As she let out a shuddering breath, his tongue slipped in. His golden eyes, shadowed by dark lashes, watched her intently, as if studying her expression.

The slick, wet tip of his p*nis pressed firmly against her p*ssy. The slightly moist hole began to open slowly. The familiar warmth, the familiar shape, the familiar sensation spread through her body to her fingertips. Gasping for breath, Cyrene gripped the collar of Areos shirt tightly.

“Ah… ung…”

Her body, already familiar with the pleasure to come, responded instinctively. Her inner walls tightened as if pulling him deeper. Heat spread through her p*ssy and the n*pple, faintly marked by teeth, grew firm and sensitive.

“Ha…”

A short moan escaped from Areos. Pulling Cyrene forcefully into his arms, he began to gently stroke her exposed back. Even the gliding motion of his hand down her spine sent chills coursing through her.

The moment she trembled and wrapped her arms around his neck, the hand stroking her back suddenly stopped.

“…What is this?”

“…Huh? What?”

Cyrene lifted her head. Areos’s fingers pressed into the wound, aggravating it painfully.

“Ah!”

The throbbing pain intensified. A faint residue of sticky medicine lingered on his fingertips.

“What is this?”

“…Medicine.”

He didn’t seem to ask because he didn’t know. Still, she couldn’t tell what kind of answer he was expecting.
Areos’s grip on her tightened, and she could feel the weight of him twitching inside her, filling her completely.
A breathless groan slipped from her lips. As Cyrene blinked, Areos, who had been gently stroking her hair moments before, suddenly pulled it roughly.
“Ah!”
Her whole body stiffened. With a sharp clatter, Areos stood up and pinned her to the desk. Each violent thrust of his hips made the clatter louder, the tension in her hair pulling painfully.

“Ah, ah… ugh!”

As she tilted her head back, his lips pressed against the exposed nape of her neck. The rough breath against her skin and the cold sensation made her forget the pain for a moment.

“Do you like Marquis Laska that much?”

“Ah… ha…”

“Why? Has his kindness made you forget who you belong to?”

Why is he so angry? Cyrene’s eyes quickly turned red with tears. As they gathered on her lashes, Areos tongue traced the line of her tear-stained cheeks.

“Who gave you permission?”

With a wet, crunching sound, he thrust deep into her. Her whole body shook violently. Knowing exactly where her most sensitive spots were, he pressed and rubbed against the deepest parts of her.

The constriction inside her tightened, as if her body took the shape of him deep inside. Cyrene gasped for breath, her nails raking down Areos back again and again.

“Ah… Your Highness… ugh!”

Areos showed no concern for her condition as he persistently guided her towards the climax. Her body, attuned to his touch, responded instinctively, trembling and moving in anticipation of pleasure. Cyrene’s toes curled and her legs thrashed in the air.

“Ah… haah!”

Her mind went completely blank for a moment. That all too familiar state where nothing existed but the overwhelming sensation. Her breath caught as she clung to Areos’ back, her inner walls trembling and tightening as his *jaculation filled her.

With a languid sigh, he planted a kiss on her sweat-soaked forehead, his tongue tracing her damp skin.

“Cyrene.”

His voice was deep and slightly raspy. Inside her, his p*nis swelled again, hardened. The faint scent of his sperm lingered in the air.

“Did you enjoy being treated kindly by someone else?”

“Ugh…”

The hand gripping her br*ast made it hard to breathe. The now swollen p*nis slid out, then pushed back in deeply. Sticky fluid dripped onto the floor with a faint splashing sound. Cyrene struggled desperately to free herself.

“What did Marquis Laska say?”

“Ah, nothing… ah! It hurts…”

She gasped, tears streaming down her face. Red marks blossomed on her pale chest, marked by his hand. Areos spread her legs and thrust into her slick v*gina again and again, relentlessly. He gripped Cyrene’s tear streaked face as she half sobbed.