Ir blinked while lying down.

‘Is this that villa?’

After leaving Lagash, she had asked Nergal where she would be staying when they reached the capital.

“I have a villa on the outskirts of the capital. You’ll stay there preparing until we enter the palace.”

Ir knew about Nergal’s villa from rumors.

‘The place called Your Highness’s only mistake.’

It was the villa that Nergal reportedly bought for three times the market price without knowing its proper value. Though she had passed by its vicinity while on guard duty at other villas, she had never properly seen it as the entrance was hidden by forest. She had only thought about how incredibly vast it was.

While passing by, she had thought she would never have a reason to enter that place in her lifetime, yet here she was lying in its bedroom.

‘Life really is unpredictable.’

After that thought, Ir suddenly sat up.

Perhaps it was because she slept in a good bed rather than a shaking carriage? Her body felt light for the first time in a while, and she wasn’t sleepy anymore. Then she turned her gaze to the side. Seeing the empty space beside her, she understood why she had woken up so refreshed.

‘He didn’t torment me yesterday.’

During the 5 days coming here, Nergal hadn’t left Ir alone, whether in the carriage or at lodgings. Saying nonsense like she should relax since he wouldn’t put it in.

How could she relax when he was sucking and touching her entire body as if he might devour her whole?

Every night, Nergal carefully examined her body like someone looking for changes from the previous day. He probably knew the number of moles on her body better than she did herself.

In fact, on the first night after departing, Ir had reflected.

‘I shouldn’t have taken his desire for my body lightly.’

She knew very well what copulation between men and women was. Among the royalty, there were those who would make her stand and watch while they enjoyed their lovemaking. Saying it was thrilling to do it in front of a monster? In any case, thanks to that, Ir got to see sights she hadn’t been curious about.

While they got excited having Ir stand there, Ir felt bored watching them mate.

They would touch a bit, kiss, then soon pant while thrusting below. And shortly after, collapse with dramatic moans.

The women moaning beneath the royalty pretended it was difficult, but Ir could tell they were faking their cries and breaths.

Even besides them, she naturally ended up seeing copulating scenes here and there. So she had confidence that she could endure that much without issue. Women much smaller and weaker than her seemed bored by it, so what could be so hard about it?

But on the first night, Ir realized there was something she hadn’t considered.

‘I didn’t know Your Highness would be so perverted.’

As if his dignified appearance at the palace had all been a mask, Nergal spoke shamelessly like someone who knew no shame. Telling her to open her mouth wider, saying that since she could now take two well, it wouldn’t hurt to put in something bigger…

Ir’s mind would go blank at his vulgar and lewd words. It wasn’t that she didn’t know them at all. Those who had thrust their hips in front of her had said such things too.

But back then, those words were intimate conversations between others. So Ir had always let those words go in one ear and out the other.

However, when she became the subject of those words, they took on an entirely different weight.

She had completely erased her interest in that area, thinking no one would ever desire her in her lifetime. In that situation, Nergal’s sudden desire was too overwhelming for Ir to handle.

‘And his stamina is good too…’

Clearly, those she had seen before were busy cleaning up their limp members after ej*culating once or twice. But Nergal’s showed little sign of weakening even after spraying his seed on her multiple times. Tired of it, Ir had muttered to him.

“Even a ram couldn’t match Your Highness.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

It wasn’t meant as a compliment…

Anyway, she had thought too lightly of offering her body, and Nergal was more persistent, perverted, and vigorous than she had expected.

Though she knew she had thought wrong, the situation wasn’t entirely bleak. They had reached the capital, and Nergal would openly show her favor by placing her in this villa, and most importantly…

Ir lightly grabbed the nightgown she was wearing. Under the flowing thin fabric, she could see her body that had now become somewhat familiar. Looking at her br*asts that still bore reddish marks, she could almost feel the lingering sensation. And Ir didn’t dislike all these sensations. No, perhaps even…

‘It might have been good.’

The moans she let out while with Nergal weren’t forced. They were sounds she couldn’t make even if ordered to. But whenever Nergal touched her, those sounds flowed out readily.

The same went for her body. It was a bit overwhelming at first. Actually, it was still a bit difficult now. But as he said, her body was steadily becoming accustomed to him.

‘Whatever it is, it’s a good thing.’

Ir stretched widely as she got out of bed.

It was fortunate that Nergal liked this body, and that she didn’t feel as much resistance to their acts as expected. If not, it would have been difficult to receive his help.

‘When I kill the culprit, will I die too?’

If she found all the attackers from the cave and their accomplices, she would kill them without hesitation. Anywhere, regardless of who was watching. The aftermath wasn’t something she needed to worry about.

‘Won’t His Highness Nergal manage to get out of it well enough?’

Wasn’t Nergal the one whom no one dared to touch carelessly? Even if the woman he took in suddenly went on a killing spree, if Nergal said he truly didn’t know, that he too had been deceived, the other royals might turn a blind eye and let it slide.

Still, she wasn’t without feelings of guilt. So she wanted to let him take her as much as he wanted now, since it was a body he couldn’t have anymore after death anyway.

Ir put on the slippers beneath the bed. The soft, cushy things…

‘Can’t run in these.’

She didn’t like them.

She immediately surveyed the room. Two doors, five windows, attached bathroom and a room for storing things like clothes.

While examining various spots, Ir found clothes more suitable for movement than her current nightgown and changed into them.

“Pretty.”

She muttered while touching the flowing lace. Everything looked expensive.

‘This much would be necessary.’

Though she missed her rough shirt and the tight-fitting knight’s pants that were easy to move in, she couldn’t wear such things anymore. Just as Ir was recalling the royal partners she had seen until now.

Knock. Knock.

Along with the knocking sound, an unfamiliar voice was heard.

“May I come in?”

It was a calm woman’s voice.

“Please come i… Come in.”

Ir changed her manner of speech from her usual way. She couldn’t be clumsy about this. Now she had to deal with many others, not just Nergal.

The door opened and a middle-aged woman entered. The woman wearing simple black clothes knelt before Ir and bowed her head. It was the posture of serving someone noble.

“I am Seviti. It is an honor to serve Lady Ishtar.”

When another person took such an extreme attitude of bowing their head to her, Ir was about to extend her hand. But she quickly withdrew it and spoke with downcast eyes.

“I’m pleased to meet you.”

Even to her own ears, it was an appropriately haughty voice. The kind of voice someone who had received a noble’s favor might make while feeling elated.

“Please understand that there are many lacking aspects due to the hasty preparations. However, everything will soon be perfectly prepared, so please do not worry.”

After saying this, Seviti pressed her forehead to the ground again. Ir quickly said to her.

“I understand. You may rise.”

Without the command to rise, these people would remain prostrated until that order came. In some royal’s separate palace, there was even someone who died of starvation while remaining prostrated without receiving that command. After Nergal imposed a six-month confinement punishment by royal law, there were no more who took out their anger in such ways.

Seviti rose from her place and spoke respectfully.

“Is there anything you are curious about or wish for?”

At those words, Ir spoke what she had been thinking about.

“I’d like to have a meal.”

And quickly added.

“A very large one.”

***

After leaving the bedroom, Seviti walked quickly down the corridor. Ishin was standing in front of the stairs leading to the first floor. As soon as he saw Seviti, he asked.

“What kind of person is she?”

At his question, Seviti answered with an unusually bright smile.

“She is a kind person.”

As she said this, she recalled Ir’s voice immediately ordering her to rise when she was prostrated. Seviti had experience serving various royals. Naturally, she had also served their lovers. They all enjoyed the moment when Seviti pressed her forehead to the ground. They were enjoying their suddenly changed position.

But the lady Nergal brought didn’t do that. Though she kept her head lowered, Seviti could tell even better. That the person standing before her wasn’t someone who wanted to oppress others.

“Now, please excuse me. I must hurry to the kitchen.”

Seviti said as she went down the stairs with light steps.

“The lady ordered me to bring enough food for four people.”