SLDS 60

The marquis’s mansion was not as far away as he had thought. After crossing a bridge and arriving at the upstream of the river, a magnificent and splendid mansion revealed itself.

The marquis was counted among the wealthiest of the high nobility. Befitting the reputation of the Valery family, which had held the position of finance minister for several generations, his grand mansion boasted a magnificent appearance right from the entrance.

“Please come in. Masha! A precious guest has arrived, so hurry and prepare to welcome him!”

At the master’s thunderous command, all the servants of the marquisate came running out to greet the guest.

Looking around at the dozens of people who had suddenly rushed out, Cecil noticed something strange. Despite there being so many people, not a single person who appeared to be a family member of the marquis was in sight.

“Master, what shall I prepare?”

“Hmm, right. First, a hot bath. Mister Cecil. You were caught in a lot of rain, so please have a bath first. In the meantime, I will have a comfortable room prepared for you to stay in.”

“Alright, I will do that.”

His sticky body had been bothering him anyway. Cecil gladly accepted the marquis’s offer.

The marquisate’s servants filled the bathtub with hot water. They even added a generous amount of expensive fragrant oil, filling the air with a rose scent so strong it was almost pungent.

Cecil submerged his entire body in the bathwater and stretched out languidly. Enveloped in the warm heat, his thoughts grew hazy, and sleepiness washed over him. So many things had happened today, and his body, which had been suffering all day, was naturally demanding rest.

Cecil straightened his head, which had tilted back as he dozed off, and pushed back his wet hair.

‘I’ll impose on the marquis for tonight, and I must leave as soon as morning breaks. I’ll need to borrow some money, too.’

He hadn’t decided what he would do exactly, but he couldn’t just rely on Marquis Valery indefinitely.

Judging by the marquis’s reaction, it seemed the news of Cecil’s running away from home had not yet spread widely. The imperial palace would be coming to look for him soon anyway, so he thought he would just wander around as he pleased until then.

Cecil scooped up hot water, splashed it on his face, and finished his bath. The consideration of Marquis Valery, who had even prepared a change of clothes for him, was quite appreciated.

When he came out, Marquis Valery was standing there as if guarding the door. He, too, seemed to have just washed, as his hair was slightly damp, and he had changed into comfortable clothes.

“I have prepared a simple dinner. Would you care to join me?”

“Hmm, it is late, but out of respect for the marquis’s sincerity, I will join you.”

In truth, he was so hungry that he felt as if his stomach was sticking to his back. Cecil accepted elegantly with a tone dripping with dignity.

They then proceeded to the dining room together. A splendid dinner was set on the long table.

There was so much food it was hard to believe it was a meal for just two people, and the candlesticks and fresh flowers decorated here and there boasted a splendor that was almost burdensome. It was to the extent that the word ‘banquet’ would have been more fitting than a ‘simple dinner.’

Cecil naturally sat at the head of the table, and the marquis took a seat not far from him. While the servants bustled back and forth, attending to their meal, Cecil carefully observed the spacious mansion.

“The house is… very quiet. Are the other family members all asleep?”

“There are no other members of the marquisate in this house besides me. I was divorced.”

Marquis Valery replied as he put a large piece of meat into his mouth in one bite. Something, whether blood or meat juice, smeared his lips, making them shine.

“Hasn’t my secret hobby spread all over the capital? My wife was a person who tolerated my unusual tastes, but it seems that it being known to others was a separate matter. She said she was too embarrassed to live with me. Right after the divorce, she immediately took our child and went back down to her family’s hometown.”

“Ah… I see.”

Cecil almost choked for a moment. The one who had exposed the marquis’s secret was none other than himself. Well, who told him to act like a pervert?

Marquis Valery was destined to be divorced anyway. The time had just come a little sooner.

“I don’t understand why liking men is something to be ashamed of. I am sorry about the divorce, but don’t take it too much to heart.”

Still, feeling a little sorry for some reason, he defended the marquis.

“Yes, I am not bothered at all. Thanks to you, Mister Cecil, wasn’t sodomy also permitted?”

“……”

“Rather, shall I say I enjoy being able to release my lust to my heart’s content? There haven’t been days as peaceful as these recently. Hahahat!”

The marquis’s hearty laughter spread widely over the dining table. Cecil, feeling a strange sense of dread, could no longer touch the food. He put down his cutlery and just gulped down water.

It felt as if he had set foot in a place he should not have come to.

After the meal, the marquis personally guided Cecil to the room where he would be staying. The spacious mansion was like a maze, and it was disquietingly silent.

When they reached the guest room on the second floor, the marquis looked at Cecil before opening the door and smiled that strange smile again.

“Are you very tired?”

“I am.”

“Oh dear, but I was hoping you would enjoy what I’ve prepared before you sleep.”

Then the marquis threw the door wide open and pushed Cecil on the back.

As he entered the room, a thick fragrance spread, so strong that it made his head spin, and Cecil hurriedly covered his nose with the back of his hand. And the moment he witnessed the scene unfolding before his eyes, he was so dumbfounded that he could only let out a gasp.

The bedroom was entirely wallpapered in red. The only piece of furniture was a bed, and someone was already occupying it.

Upon seeing the marquis and Cecil, the two beautiful young men lying on the bed expertly struck a pose. Their naked bodies, without a single thread on them, were wide open, revealing a seductive posture.

“These are my most cherished bed slaves. For you, Mister Cecil, I can gladly lend them to you.”

“You’re insane. I don’t need this.”

“Why not? Mister Cecil, you clearly asked me to provide you with a bed.”

The marquis chuckled, seeming pleased with his own wordplay.

Cecil clenched his jaw tightly. Suppressing his surging anger, he forced out each and every word.

“Do you dare to trifle with me?”

“Trifle with you? How preposterous. I am simply honored to be hosting someone who shares the same tastes as me. Please consider it my repayment.”

“Repayment?”

“One cannot play so vulgarly in the imperial palace. How suffocated you must have been all this time? I intend to show you some new fun today.”

“Marquis!”

Cecil, finally realizing the marquis’s intention, shouted loudly. The first thought that came to his mind was that he had to get out of this place immediately.

But the marquis, standing guard in front of the door, seemed to have no intention of moving aside. No matter how much he pushed, Cecil’s strength was no match for Marquis Valery’s massive frame.

“Move while I’m asking nicely.”

“What is the problem?”

“If you want to retaliate against me, you’d better give up. Have you forgotten? I am Cecil Adrian. A person you should not touch carelessly.”

At that, the marquis burst out with a loud laugh, puhat.

“What are you going to do? Are you perhaps planning to go back to the imperial palace and make a fuss about being forced to provide sexual services by the finance minister?”

“…Let’s stop here. If you let me go, I won’t mention this to anyone.”

“I can’t do that. Aren’t we people who share the same tastes? People who get along should comfort each other and live together.”

As the marquis moved closer, Cecil unconsciously took a step back. After taking a few steps to avoid him, the back of his knees soon hit the edge of the bed.

“You’re not being honest. Didn’t you already expect something like this from the moment you asked me to let you sleep over?”

“It seems you really want to die.”

“Keep squawking like that. I actually get excited by such things.”

Marquis Valery gave Cecil’s shoulder a shove. He was so strong that Cecil was thrown onto the bed in an instant. The bed slaves approached the fallen Cecil.

When a shadow fell over his face, Cecil was horrified and tried to get up. But the bed slaves pressed down on his shoulders and held his limbs.

“Handle him with care. He is a precious body, so you must not injure him at all.”

“Yes, master.”

“Let go! I said, let go of me!”

“Shh, calm your excitement. Since you dislike it this much, I can’t leave you to these lowly things. I will teach you specially.”

“Valery! Do you think I’ll let you get away with this! Don’t touch me! No! Let go!”

Cecil screamed at the top of his lungs. But despite his screams, no one in the mansion came running.

Because this was something that always happened in the marquis’s mansion. Recently, Marquis Valery enjoyed having intercourse with inexperienced men more than with jaded male prostitutes, and he felt the utmost satisfaction whenever he saw them resist and eventually become soaked in pleasure.

“I may look fat and lazy, but my skills in bed are top-notch. They all scream no, no, but after I pound them a few times, they pass out from pleasure.”

Marquis Valery licked his lips and placed one knee on the bed. To think the day would come when he would have Cecil Adrian in his bed—he was already so aroused that his cock was hard.

At that moment, the lights in the office of the Saint Palace still showed no sign of being extinguished. Alexis, who seemed to have been concentrating on his work for a long time, casually called the head attendant and asked.

“Cecil?”

When the crown prince, who he had thought had no interest, asked about Cecil’s well-being, the head attendant, not wanting the interest to wane, answered promptly.

“Not yet, Your Highness.”

“……”

Alexis could no longer read a single letter in the documents. He let out a sigh that could have shaken the ground and pressed his hands to his eyes. He tried to stop thinking, but his mind was already filled with nothing but worry for Cecil.

“How long has it been?”

“It has already been 14 hours.”

“……”

Alexis, leaning back at an angle, just stared at the flickering candlelight. He said nothing, but from his tightly clenched fists and the way he was chewing his lip, it was clear that he was deep in thought.

“Your Highness, the representative of the Themion delegation, Johannes Albrecht IV, is urgently requesting an audience.”

“What is it about?”

“He says he has something to tell you in private.”

Alexis immediately shot up from his seat.

“Tell him I’ll hear it later. And head attendant, bring Claude here at once.”

“Your Highness.”

“I’m going to find Cecil.”