Kaelid lowered his sword, then grabbed hold of Reina’s ankle.

“Stop… stop, please…”

The harder she struggled, the more unyielding his grip became. Her body was dragged downward, her clothes disheveled, the fabric twisting as she tried desperately to cover herself.

“No…”

Her trembling voice broke the air. She could feel Zephion’s golden eyes fixed on her, heavy with helplessness. Unable to meet his gaze, she squeezed her eyes shut.

Kaelid’s hands tore away what little barrier remained between her and his cruelty. The sudden chill against her skin made her body flinch violently. She tried to pull her legs together, but his weight left her powerless to move.

“Please… stop.”

Her lips trembled as she bit down hard. There had been a time before, when Kaelid had humiliated her in front of Zephion—but this was worse. Far worse. At least back then, Zephion had been able to run.

Now, bound and helpless, he could only watch.

Reina gasped for air, clutching her chest as she tried to twist free. But each time she managed the slightest movement, Kaelid dragged her back down.

“Reina…”

Zephion’s voice cracked low with anguish. She turned her head away, unable to bear the sight of his face.

Seeing it, Kaelid’s cruel smile widened as he gripped her chin, forcing her to look.

“Don’t turn away. Show him everything, Reina.”

Her eyes met Zephion’s golden gaze, trembling with torment. A broken sound escaped her throat as she shut her eyes again, tears slipping free.

She didn’t know what face to wear, what emotion to show. Should she be apologetic? Should she weep? Or should she let his hatred burn hotter, to protect him even at the cost of her own heart?

“Ah—”

Her cry slipped out as Kaelid’s cruelty deepened, leaving her gasping for breath. Zephion’s voice, filled with pain, called her name again, but she could no longer bring herself to answer

The man, already overcome with feverish desire, let out a low groan as he forced himself upon her. Reina bit her lip hard as her body was pried open against her will, a sharp pain replacing any trace of warmth. Her fingers trembled, curling helplessly.

“Ah—ugh…”

Once, she had grown numb to such acts, her body conditioned to endure. But after only three months of knowing love, every touch from him felt unbearable, nothing but pain.

Her small whimper escaped as she pushed weakly against Kaelid’s chest. He easily pinned her slender wrist, his other hand gripping her thigh with ruthless strength.

The moment he entered her fully, pain tore through her body.

“Hhhn—!”

Her waist jerked upward involuntarily. She tried desperately to recall how she used to endure, but her memories had been wiped away, erased by the tenderness she had once known with Zephion.

Her legs writhed in protest, but Kaelid gave her no reprieve. Only when he withdrew did she release the breath she had been holding, chest heaving.

“Haa… haa—ahh!”

Before she could catch her breath, he forced himself inside her again, the pain of his roughness scraping cruelly against her unprepared body.

Reina’s vision blurred as her body shuddered under the *ssault.

His weight pressed her down as his movements grew slower, deliberate, twisting deeper inside. Reina’s fingers, trapped in his unyielding grip, trembled violently.

“No… I don’t want this…”

Her body jolted with each harsh thr*st, the rhythm relentless. Pain spread through her like fire, yet beneath it, a faint and unwanted sensation began to stir—one that horrified her even more than the agony.

‘No… not this…’

She shook her head desperately, refusing to accept what her body was betraying her with. But no matter how much she denied it, she couldn’t stop the heat rising from within, the ragged breaths spilling past her lips.

“Ahh… ngh…”

Kaelid moved with practiced ease, each motion stripping away her resistance. She told herself it was only her body’s instinct to shield itself, to lessen the pain. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t just that.

Her eyes squeezed shut, tears slipping free as her body betrayed her further. Every time he forced her to yield, the shame and despair cut deeper.

“Uhh… ahh…”

She clenched her mouth shut with all her strength, but she couldn’t stop every broken sound from escaping. She wanted desperately to cover her lips, to silence herself—but the harder she twisted her wrist, the tighter Kaelid’s grip became, the pain in his hold burning into her skin.

Her body trembled as waves of sickening sensation seeped into her. He knew exactly how to break her defenses, every cruel touch forcing her to react against her will. Biting down so hard that blood filled her mouth, she fought not to give in.

“Ngh… nn…”

“Open your mouth.”

She shook her head violently.

Kaelid looked down at her with a rigid expression, then raised his hand. She braced herself, knowing what was coming—yet refused to yield.

“Agh!”

His palm struck her already swollen cheek, the sting tearing through her. The faint taste of iron flooded her mouth again, the impact making her vision blur.

A cough burst from her lips, flecked with blood. With her bruised wrist, she brushed at her mouth, smearing the warmth across her face.

His hand forced her legs apart again, his movements growing rougher, more merciless.

“Hhhk… ahh—”

Her body jolted with every thr*st, muffled cries slipping past the hand pressed over her mouth. Kaelid’s hand clamped hard over her br*ast, twisting cruelly.

Reina squeezed her eyes shut, the sharp edge of pain blurring into something she could no longer name. Every nerve in her body throbbed with agony. Was it the blows to her face? The violence of his touch after so long? Or simply the unbearable shame of being forced to endure it while Zephion watched?

“Stop… please, stop—ahh…!”

Her voice broke as her body curled in on itself, shuddering. She tried to rise, tried to resist, but the fear and pain pulled her back down, suffocating her resolve.

Her chest ached, her body recoiling with every cruel movement, until even her own heartbeat felt like betrayal.

Tears spilled from the corners of her tightly shut eyes.

“Hhh… ahhh…”

Her breath came in ragged sobs as she pressed her palms against the floor, struggling to lift her trembling frame.

The pain only grew sharper, the shame unbearable.

Kaelid let out a low, satisfied sound. Pulling back as if savoring the moment, he smirked, the cruel curve of his lips mocking her.

“It seems you haven’t loosened at all, Reina.”

“St… stop…”

Tears spilled down her cheeks, dripping onto the floor. From beside her came the sharp sound of teeth grinding. She didn’t dare look at Zephion. The truth was, she was terrified to see his face. She could imagine it—and yet, she couldn’t.

The instant Kaelid released his merciless grip on her, Reina gasped out a sobbing breath, wrapping her arms tightly over her br*ast. Her body ached, pain spreading from the places he had touched most cruelly.

“Haa… hh…”

Kaelid forced her legs wider, his expression twisted in satisfaction. Each of his deliberate movements made her shudder, the violation cutting deeper, her breath hitching with broken sounds she couldn’t suppress.

She turned her head away, toward the opposite side of Zephion, biting her lip until it bled as she tried desperately to smother her cries. Yet the longer it went on, the harder it became to silence the sounds of her body’s betrayal.

“Ahn… ngh…”

The faint, humiliating noises filled the room, making her shoulders curl in shame. Kaelid leaned over her, his eyes glinting with malice as if intent on forcing Zephion to witness every moment.

“So… was she r*ped, Zephion?”

“……”

“She’s the kind of woman who trembles no matter how roughly she’s taken.”

His low chuckle burned with cruelty.

“Did you really think you were the one who made Reina shiver with desire?”

Reina pressed her lips tightly shut, refusing to answer.

“Hah. Don’t fool yourself. I’m the one who spent all that time breaking her in. Did you actually believe she was responding to you?”

Her heart twisted painfully. She couldn’t stop wondering what Zephion must be thinking. Did he regret ever touching her? Did he believe her responses—all her trembling, all her cries—had belonged to Kaelid all along?

She wanted to cry out that it wasn’t the same. Yes, it was true she had been broken by her stepbrother for so long that her body would respond no matter what he did—but with Zephion, it had been different. Truly different. He had shown her that an act once nothing more than s*x could become love.