TTQI 9

Attempts to meet the prince continued to fail repeatedly. It was unclear when he had become so perceptive, but whenever the queen tried to approach, the prince would swiftly leave the scene or had already long stopped showing up. On the rare occasions they nearly crossed paths, he would hurriedly depart upon spotting the queen from a distance. The queen had seen him turn and flee several times from afar. It didn’t particularly anger him. He knew that if he wanted to meet, they would eventually cross paths.

Finally, a few days later, he succeeded in catching the prince as he exited a public hearing. Aion quickly approached the prince, who was leaving the room without suspicion. At the call of “Prince,” Zizlon turned instinctively, only to pale upon seeing the queen. He looked as if he wanted to bolt, but the crowded surroundings made him mindful of appearances, preventing him from fleeing. To the hesitating prince, Aion suggested they move to a private place, and Zizlon nodded.

They slipped into an empty room to avoid prying eyes. As soon as they entered, the prince anxiously confronted him.

“What if someone saw you stopping me in a place like that?”

Aion responded confidently, undaunted.

“What if someone did?”

“We’re, well…”

Zizlon faltered, his words trailing off. He seemed flustered by the queen’s unabashed demeanor. Aion pressed further.

“Then why haven’t you met with me?”

The prince’s wavering gaze turned somber as he replied.

“I’m… sorry about that. I just couldn’t face you… But this is for the best, for both of us.”

“What are you saying? Didn’t we confirm our feelings for each other that night?”

“…No! Queen, that night I…!”

Aion feigned indignation, sharply retorting. Zizlon, visibly distressed, looked up abruptly. Clasping his hands, he pleaded earnestly.

“Queen, I’m truly sorry. I really… I don’t want to say this, but that night… I didn’t embrace you out of love.”

“What do you mean?”

Aion put on a shocked expression. That alone made Zizlon shrink with guilt. Though both had sinned, the prince acted as if he alone were the culprit.

“…I don’t know how I did such a thing. All I can say is I wasn’t in my right mind, drunk. That night was a mistake. I’m truly… sorry.”

“A mistake? How can you say that? I’ve already given you my body and heart. I was ready to throw everything away for you.”

At Aion’s fierce reproach, Zizlon hung his head. Guilt weighed heavily on his heart. Even if he sincerely regretted his actions, there was no way to make amends. Responding to the queen’s feelings was something he could never do. No matter how much it hurt the queen, that was a line he couldn’t cross.

He fidgeted restlessly, gripping his forehead, then placing a hand on his hip, shifting positions several times in his turmoil. Finally, the prince tried to persuade the queen.

“Queen, you know, don’t you? This isn’t something that can be resolved by me accepting you. You know we can never be together. What would people say if they found out? How would His Majesty, who loves you so much, feel?”

But Aion didn’t flinch.

“I don’t care. I prepared myself for everything after that night.”

“Please… I’ll do anything else.”

The prince pleaded, almost in tears. But Aion cut him off sharply.

“No. I want nothing else.”

“Queen…”

Zizlon groaned, shaking his head. His chest felt tight, as if it were burning. He desperately wanted to atone, but if the queen’s only desire was love, he had nothing to give. Not only did he not love the queen, but as a prince and someone’s son, it was something he could never do.

Yet, having committed the sin, he couldn’t be as resolute as before. The prince racked his brain for a compromise. Still, the queen dismissed every attempt at persuasion.

Zizlon felt his heart grow heavier. The queen wouldn’t relent, and he couldn’t back down either, so negotiations broke down. The only option left was for him to play the villain.

In a solemn voice, the prince spoke.

“…Queen, I’m sorry, but there will never, ever be anything between us. No matter how much you try to persuade me, my mind won’t change. I’m truly sorry, but my loyalty to my father and my people is more important than you. And to begin with, I don’t love you. That night’s intimacy was driven by drunken desire, not love for you. It would have happened with anyone that night. I’m sorry. It pains me to say this.”

“…”

“But… I’m genuinely sorry for the mistake. It’s all my fault. I can’t return your feelings, but if you change your mind, I’m willing to make amends in any other way. Whatever you ask, as long as it doesn’t betray my father or the kingdom, I’ll do my best to fulfill it. Even if you demand I confess my sin and pay the price… if that’s what it takes to ease your anger.”

Zizlon finished humbly. Aion, seemingly stunned, lowered his head in silence. Seeing his forlorn state, Zizlon felt pained. But this was the moment to firmly make him give up. Time, he thought, was the answer. He hoped time would heal the queen’s wounds and change his heart. Zizlon gently placed a hand on the queen’s shoulder and whispered kindly.

“Queen… take some time. It’s painful now, but you’ll soon forget. Come to me when you’ve sorted your feelings. Until then, it’s best we don’t meet. For my sake, and for yours.”

With those final words, the prince bid farewell. Though he wanted to comfort the queen more, he left hurriedly, as if afraid of others’ gazes. After he closed the door, Aion, who had been standing still, finally looked up. His expression, which had seemed steeped in sorrow, was surprisingly composed.

He stared blankly in the direction the prince had gone. The prince’s resolve was slightly unexpected. But the methods used so far were merely the gentlest of means.

‘If you hate seeing me that much, there are other ways.’

Soon after, rumors spread across the kingdom that the queen had fallen ill.

It wasn’t just any illness, but an incurable one. Stricken with a mysterious disease no one could name, the queen lay in bed, suffering, unable to move for days. Countless physicians were summoned to the castle to diagnose him, but none could identify the illness. As the young, beautiful queen withered, the king’s worry was immense.

The king tirelessly sought renowned healers. But even the supposed experts tilted their heads in confusion at the queen’s condition. The patient complained of pain, but the symptoms were peculiar, and the cause elusive.

The king’s concern deepened daily, spreading throughout the kingdom. A stream of well-wishers visited the quiet palace, and commoners and children prayed for the beautiful queen. They didn’t know that another person was slowly being strangled by this ordeal.

Amid the kingdom’s pity for the queen, one person suffered silently: Prince Zizlon. The only one with a suspicion about the illness, Zizlon felt increasingly cornered as the castle was enveloped in grief.

He secretly suspected that a disease with no visible cause but clear symptoms might be a matter of the heart, perhaps lovesickness. He tried to dismiss it, but each time people whispered the queen might die, or the king wore a worried expression, his heart ached as if pricked by needles.

For the prince, who had resolved to firmly cut ties with the queen, this was a great trial. He swore not to be swayed by personal feelings, yet his resolve wavered multiple times a day. Torn between concern and the inability to visit, Zizlon spent each day restless on a bed of thorns called conscience.

Among those unaware, some quietly criticized Zizlon. They found it heartless that the prince, once so close to the queen, didn’t visit now that he was ill. Some avoided the queen, fearing his illness might be contagious. Zizlon, though wronged, could only keep his mouth shut. His standing was narrowing by the moment.

Still, he clung to the hope that it had nothing to do with him. But then, a note from an anonymous sender appeared on his desk while he was away. Likely, a servant cleaning his room, under the queen’s orders, had left it. The note read:

[Prince, I won’t tell anyone, so please visit me just once. I want to see you one last time before I die.]

Though unsigned, it was obvious who sent it. Zizlon’s face paled as he read it, hurriedly crumpling the note. Glancing around to ensure no one saw, he threw it into the fire. Watching it burn by the fireplace, Zizlon felt a surge of self-loathing, seeing himself as a cowardly scoundrel. What was he to do? His vision darkened, and he wanted to sob aloud.

To make matters worse, ominous rumors spread that the queen might soon die. Zizlon didn’t want to hear it, but whispers from nearby servants kept reaching him. They said the queen’s condition worsened daily, that he might waste away.

Zizlon listened intently, fearing the queen might mention his name publicly. Yet, the queen never spoke of their secret, nor did he ask anyone to summon Zizlon. When the king sat by him, asking if he wanted anything, he only shook his head. This made Zizlon’s heart heavier. His firm resolve to never see the queen again began to weaken.

The decisive moment came when he met his friend Ade. At that time, Zizlon’s turmoil was at its peak. Seeking some relief, he visited Ade, who abruptly mentioned visiting the queen.

“I saw the queen yesterday.”

Zizlon’s heart sank, but his concern for the queen’s condition made him ask subtly.

“Oh? How is he?”

“Not good. He’s lost weight, his face is gaunt, and his skin is ashen, like a corpse. He’s always lying in bed, barely rousing when spoken to.”

Since Ade wasn’t one to exaggerate a patient’s condition, Zizlon was secretly shocked. He had suspected the queen might be feigning illness.

As Zizlon grew serious, Ade asked.

“Haven’t you visited the queen?”

“I… it hurts to see him so sick.”

Zizlon offered an awkward excuse. Ade clicked his tongue.

“Don’t be like that. Go see him. I think he’s hoping you’ll come.”

Startled, Zizlon immediately asked.

“What? Why do you think that?”

“Well… he didn’t say it directly, but…”

Ade narrowed his eyes, recalling the scene as if looking at a distant mountain.

“He always seems to be waiting for someone. His eyes light up with hope when a visitor arrives, but he sinks back into despair upon seeing their face. If he’s waiting for someone, it can only be you.”

“…”

“I hate to say this, but what if something really happens to him? Won’t you regret not seeing him even once?”

As a close friend who knew Zizlon well, Ade’s advice shook him profoundly. Returning to his room, troubled, he found another note waiting:

𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮, 𝓘’𝓿𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓾𝓹 𝓶𝔂 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓟𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮. 𝓘 𝔀𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓹𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷. 𝓢𝓮𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓹 𝓶𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓸𝓷, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓶𝔂 𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓵 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓵𝔂.

At the height of his turmoil, the note solidified Zizlon’s decision. After much hesitation, he resolved to visit the queen. Clutching the note, he steeled himself once more. This was solely to help the queen recover and to fully end their relationship.

.8

In hindsight, it had been a long time since Zizlon visited the queen’s room.

Climbing the tower’s spiral staircase, he was greeted by a familiar servant waiting outside the queen’s door, as if expecting him. The servant, noting Zizlon’s tense expression, opened the door courteously without questions.

Inside, the familiar room held an empty chair where the queen used to sit. This time, the queen was not there but lying in bed. Under the wall adorned with a white bow from the hunting tournament, the queen lay weakly, his white hair spilling over.

Even bedridden, the queen exuded a unique beauty. With his eyes closed and face paler than usual, he seemed frozen in time or like a statue. As Zizlon approached, a maid wiping the queen’s sweat recognized him and left. Bowing respectfully, she exited, and another servant, who had opened the door, entered and closed it, leaning against it as if to guard.

Zizlon looked down at the queen. As Ade had said, his cheeks were gaunt from weight loss, and his complexion was slightly off. Zizlon pulled up a chair with a heavy heart. Wondering how to wake him, the queen stirred.

“Prince.”

Opening his eyes, the queen smiled upon seeing Zizlon. The sight of his sad smile pained Zizlon’s heart, but he maintained a stern expression, resolved not to give false hope. Hiding his concern, he asked coolly.

“…Queen, how are you feeling?”

At his coldness, the queen’s expression turned slightly sad, and he turned to face the wall.

“…I’m fine.”

“Be honest.”

“You came to see me, so now I’m fine.”

“…”

Zizlon, momentarily speechless, rubbed his hands to steady himself. He forced himself to speak harshly.

“If you’re fine, I’ll leave now.”

“Already? Won’t you stay a bit longer…?”

“You said seeing me would help you recover. I don’t want to stay longer.”

As Zizlon moved to stand, the queen grabbed his sleeve. Zizlon paused, staring at the pale hand reaching from the blankets, then sat back down silently. Aion blinked sadly.

“I’m sorry, but… I don’t want to part so soon…”

“Didn’t you say you’d moved on?”

“That’s true, but maybe a little feeling remains.”

“…”

“No, I misspoke. I’ve moved on. Really.”

Zizlon furrowed his brow slightly. Something felt off. Before coming, he’d only wanted to check on the queen’s condition, but now an uneasy feeling made him want to leave immediately.

Clasping his hands, Zizlon spoke gravely.

“Queen… stop saying confusing things. It confuses me too. You shouldn’t do this to me when I came trusting you.”

“I’m sorry. I must be confused from being ill. Would you mind wiping my sweat?”

Looking around, Zizlon noticed a basin with water and a cloth at the foot of the bed. He hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate, but couldn’t be harsh to a sick person. The beads of sweat on the queen’s forehead had been bothering him, so he decided to grant the request.

Unaware he kept justifying ‘this much is fine,’ Zizlon leaned down to wring the cloth. The water, freshly drawn, was cool.

Carefully rolling the cloth, he placed it on the queen’s forehead, wiping the sweat with delicate care, as if handling fragile glass. Aion thanked him softly. Unbeknownst to Zizlon, Aion recalled the prince’s gentle touch from the night he was captivated.

Silence fell, and in the calm atmosphere, Aion spoke.

“After meeting you that day… I thought a lot.”

“…”

“I was very sick afterward. I think the illness came from letting go of love. But now that I’ve sorted my feelings, I’ll recover.”

Zizlon set the cloth in the basin. More at ease, he said calmly.

“I’m relieved you don’t seem as ill as I feared. I heard you were at death’s door…”

“Were you worried?”

“…Honestly, yes. Especially thinking it was because of me, I couldn’t sleep…”

Zizlon trailed off, and the queen smiled faintly. Glancing at the smile, Zizlon muttered somberly.

“Queen, please don’t take it too hard. It’s not that I dislike you. I’m just saying your feelings are misguided. I believe you’ll understand. Know that I’m sorry.”

“I already understand. I know it’s a reasonable choice.”

“Queen…”

The queen’s mature response touched Zizlon slightly. The atmosphere between them slowly eased. Both the prince and the queen smiled faintly.

Zizlon spoke with a hopeful tone.

“We can’t be as close as before, but we can still get along well.”

“Of course. I want to maintain a good relationship with you.”

“Get well soon. Honestly, I’ve been so worried I couldn’t focus on work.”

“You were that worried? The talk of a deadly illness was just ignorant servants’ chatter.”

“I… I didn’t know.”

The prince’s cheeks flushed slightly. In hindsight, fearing the queen would die from lovesickness felt a bit foolish. Seeing the prince blush like a boy, the queen burst into laughter.

“Still, it feels good to have your concern. I might use this method again.”

“Please don’t. My heart couldn’t take it.”

“So I worried you that much. You really can’t be cruel. It almost makes me worry about you.”

“I hear that a lot.”

“Then even if you draw a firm line, if I said I’d die, you’d come running again, wouldn’t you?”

“Well…”

Zizlon faltered, mouth agape. The queen’s meaningful words and gentle smile felt strange. Come to think of it, the conversation seemed to run in parallel, never aligning. As a sense of something being wrong crept in, the queen spoke.

“Your Highness Zizlon. You said last time you’d do anything as an apology, right?”

Zizlon snapped to attention.

“Oh, yes. That’s right. If it’s something I can do.”

“I’ve been thinking about what to ask while bedridden. I decided last night.”

Pleased by the prospect, Zizlon teased lightly.

“You thought that long? I hope it’s not too difficult.”

“…It’s not that difficult.”

Zizlon looked at him, urging him to speak. The queen’s cheeks flushed as he shyly glanced at him. But for some reason, despite saying it wasn’t difficult, the queen hesitated. After a long pause, he finally blurted out.

“…A kiss would do.”

“What?”

Prince Zizlon’s smiling face froze. The queen gave him a sly smile.

“If you kiss me just once, I’ll completely give up.”

“…”

Zizlon was so shocked that he froze, as if malfunctioning. His first thought was that he must have misheard. The next moment, the queen shyly turned his head, and a beat later, Zizlon’s face flushed with embarrassment as he grasped the meaning.

“…Th-that! I can’t do that.”

“You said you’d do anything.”

“How could I kiss someone I don’t even love…”

“Then? You won’t do it? It’s my final wish.”

The queen suddenly asked in a sharp tone. Zizlon was speechless. Seeing this, the queen, who had been smiling moments ago, now looked deeply hurt. His pale face and sorrowful expression were pitiable, making Zizlon feel as if he were doing something cruel. As always, his conscience throbbed.

“…Is there really nothing else you want?”

“Nothing at all.”

“But…”

“If you don’t want to, fine. I won’t be able to move on, and I’ll waste away like this until I die.”

“…”

Zizlon’s eyes wavered. Aion stubbornly turned his head away.

Reluctantly, Zizlon asked.

“Really… if I do this, you’ll let go completely?”

“Yes. And I’ll keep what happened between us a secret forever.”

“…”

Aion answered as if he’d been waiting. While Zizlon wrestled seriously with his decision, Aion, head turned, suppressed a smile in the shadows.

“Then…”

Finally, Zizlon steeled himself. He nodded gravely.

“Alright, then.”

“…Thank you.”

“But just this once. I won’t accept requests like this again.”

“Of course.”

Aion replied meekly, and the negotiation dramatically concluded. Turning back as if he’d never been upset, Aion smiled brightly. In contrast, Zizlon’s eyebrows drooped, his face crestfallen.

“…”

“…”

Their lips drew closer. Zizlon hesitated, his eyelashes trembling as he slowly brought his lips near. His tension was palpable. Aion, smiling, waited for the prince to approach, never moving first.

Their lips finally met. Zizlon, eyes closed, furrowed his brow, pressing his rigid lips against Aion’s. The moment their moist lips touched, goosebumps rose. As he hurriedly tried to pull away after the brief kiss, a hand suddenly grabbed his head.

“Mmph…!”

Caught off guard, a tongue slipped between his parted lips. Zizlon instinctively tried to push the queen away, but Aion’s hand firmly held the back of his head, refusing to let go. A sticky, far-from-shy kiss ensued. Enduring the chilling sensation, Zizlon clenched his eyes shut and balled his fists.

As he began to run out of breath, the tongue that had greedily explored his mouth slowly withdrew. Zizlon hastily pulled back, gasping for air and wiping his wet lips. His face was flushed from the lack of air. Aion still clung to his neck. Seeing the queen’s red lips, fresh from the kiss, Zizlon’s face burned hotter. The queen’s ecstatic smile was far too close.

“…This is…!”

He tried to protest weakly, suspecting the queen might be playing a cruel prank. At that moment, a locking sound came from the door. Zizlon turned reflexively, only to see, to his horror, the servant locking the door. As he jolted to stand, startled, it happened.

“Ugh!”

The queen yanked him back with the arms around his neck. With surprising strength, Aion pulled, causing Zizlon’s body to lurch. Realizing things were going wrong, Zizlon grabbed Aion’s arms, struggling. Aion clung tenaciously, refusing to let go. As they grappled, Aion’s captivating smile filled Zizlon’s vision. His eyes shook uncontrollably.

“You fool. Who grants a request like that?”

“This… what…!”

“You’re just too cute.”

Meanwhile, the servant, Pym, who had locked the door, rushed toward them with a frightened expression. Unseen by Zizlon, Pym pulled something glinting from his clothes and ambushed the distracted prince. Staring wide-eyed at the queen, Zizlon felt a sharp “prick” of pain and passed out, unaware of what had happened.

*

When he came to, it was pitch dark. Still groggy, Zizlon instinctively tried to sit up, only to notice something binding his wrists. The sensation snapped him awake, and everything flooded back. The next moment, he realized someone was sitting beside him.

“You’re awake?”

Zizlon flinched, trembling. The queen sat by the bed, propped on his elbow, stroking Zizlon’s arm. This was the queen’s room. Where Aion had lain before, Zizlon now lay, and where Zizlon had sat, Aion now sat. The darkness was due to someone drawing the curtains over the windows.

Realizing he’d been knocked out, Zizlon moved, forgetting he was bound. The rough force made the bedpost, tied to the cloth around his wrists, rattle. Unable to move freely, Zizlon looked up at the queen with trembling eyes.

“Queen… why, why are you doing this to me?”

“I’m the one who wants to ask.”

Aion’s expression was different now—languid, utterly relaxed, even sinister. He smirked at Zizlon’s question, almost mocking, making Zizlon’s face flush with embarrassment.

“You said you’d never see me again, so why did you come?”

“How… how can you say that? Didn’t you send notes, saying you’d moved on, begging me to visit?”

Aion smiled slyly.

“Oh? I don’t know who wrote those. And when I said I’d moved on, I meant I’d decided to go all the way with you. I wonder what you thought I meant.”

“That’s…!”

Feeling betrayed, Zizlon trembled with rage. Aion giggled.

“I decided to fulfill my love, and you broke your promise not to see me by coming here. Doesn’t that mean you’ve accepted my feelings?”

“That’s absurd!”

The prince twisted his arms again, making the bed shake violently. Aion merely smiled calmly.

“Why, why are you doing this? Wait, no… you can’t!”

As Aion began to move his hands, Zizlon writhed in panic. The fingers hovering over his arms slid up to his collarbone, then down, stopping at his waist. Aion playfully tapped the belt, as if savoring the moment. Terrified, Zizlon called out urgently.

“Wait! Please stop!”

“Stop? Stop what?”

“…You’ll regret this. Untie me now. If you stop, I’ll pretend this never happened.”

“Ha. The one who wants to pretend it never happened is you, Prince. I have no intention of turning back.”

Zizlon’s face paled. Aion sneered and moved his hands again. With a snap, the trousers’ fastening came undone. Zizlon swallowed hard. Overwhelmed with betrayal, he muttered in a hollow voice.

“Was it… all a lie? Was the illness just a trick to lure me?”

“There was no other way. I wanted to see you, but you’d rather die than come. I needed something to push you over the edge.”

“Push me? That’s not what that means! Queen, think again. Forcing me like this won’t make me return your love.”

“Oh? What’s that? Haha!”

Instead of heeding the prince’s advice, the queen burst into a meaningful laugh and began crawling onto the bed. He grabbed Zizlon’s thrashing legs, forcing them apart and sitting between them.

“Ah…!”

Zizlon gasped as a cold hand touched his skin. Aion’s hand slipped under his clothes. As Aion caressed his skin, Zizlon stopped resisting and stiffened. Aion stroked his tense abdominal muscles, their contours dizzyingly sharp from strain.

As his shirt was rolled up to his neck, Zizlon’s muscular chest and stomach were fully exposed. Feeling the chill, he shivered. Aion gazed at Zizlon’s broad chest, unusually large for a man. His nipples stood erect from tension and cold. “Hoo…” Aion playfully blew on them. Zizlon trembled.

Frozen stiff, unable to move, the prince was like a mouse before a cat, a helpless prey feigning death before a predator. Aion’s soft silver hair tickled his skin.

Aion pressed his lips to Zizlon’s skin, feeling the subtle vibrations of his muscles. He kissed, rubbed, and licked where the neck met the shoulder. Slow, persistent “chup, chup” sounds followed. Zizlon, in disbelief, froze like stone.

While caressing Zizlon’s upper body, Aion’s hand moved downward. Zizlon was acutely aware of where it was headed. Aion, biting his neck, felt the prince’s Adam’s apple rise and fall. Sliding his palm fully against the skin, Aion slipped it into the gap of the open trousers.

“Ah, Que—…!”

Zizlon, previously rigid, finally reacted. As he jolted to sit up, Aion grabbed his wrist to stop him. Zizlon tried to shout, but Aion silenced him with a kiss. The prince clenched his eyes shut, trying to turn away, but Aion forced his tongue in. Interlocking their fingers, Aion felt Zizlon’s hand, slick with cold sweat.

Aion forcibly parted Zizlon’s clenching thighs and caressed his groin. Whether due to the rough handling or tension, Zizlon’s penis remained limp, unresponsive.

Feeling displeasure rather than arousal at the mechanical attempt to stimulate him, Zizlon was certain the queen wouldn’t succeed. But Aion didn’t give up.

With his free hand, Aion removed Zizlon’s trousers. Zizlon struggled to keep them, but it was futile. With almost savage strength, Aion tore them off and tossed them aside. As he reached for the underwear, Zizlon, unable to endure, tried to kick his stomach. But Aion, with his characteristic brute force, pinned Zizlon’s legs, rendering him immobile.

“…”

Zizlon, eyes tightly shut, turned his red face away. Naked, with arms bound and legs held, he couldn’t cover himself. His clenched jaw trembled. Aion, heedless of his humiliation, savored the sight of his bare body. Finally, he murmured in an ecstatic voice.

“I’ve always wanted to touch this body.”

“…”

“I imagined touching you every night.”

“Ugh…!”

Zizlon squirmed in shame. Desperate to escape, he kept struggling, his wrists already red from rubbing against the ties. Seeing his humiliated expression, Aion felt not regret but growing arousal.

“Pym.”

Aion suddenly called his servant. From the shadows, Pym appeared, holding a prepared bottle. Zizlon, unaware of his presence, flinched. He tried to cover himself, but Aion’s hand blocked him.

Then, Zizlon’s eyes caught a glimmer of hope. Unlike the queen, Pym looked anxious. Zizlon urgently called out.

“Wait! You, the queen’s servant? Pym, right?”

Pym paused mid-step, approaching the queen. Zizlon pleaded desperately.

“Help me. Helping me helps your master. If this happens, no one will be safe. Before your master makes a mistake…!”

Pym’s eyes wavered visibly. But Aion didn’t let it slide. With a sharp shout, he broke Pym’s hesitation.

“Pym!”

Pym flinched, trembling. Aion barked in a cold voice.

“No foolish thoughts. Hand over the oil!”

Seeing his master’s fierce glare, Pym snapped to his senses. What was he thinking? He must be mad. Compared to the queen’s ruthlessness, the prince’s pleas were laughable. Pym approached, handed the oil to Aion, and quickly vanished. Zizlon’s face crumpled as he watched Pym flee.

All he could do was beg.

“Queen… please stop.”

As Aion opened the bottle, Zizlon pleaded in a desperate voice.

“You’re only making things worse. Even if we do this, I won’t love you.”

Aion tilted the bottle over Zizlon’s body.

“Just untie me and let’s talk—… ugh.”

Zizlon groaned softly as cold oil dripped onto his skin, cooler than his body temperature. The oil trickled down his chest, following the contours of his body, pooling near his navel. To Aion, the glistening, oil-soaked skin was the most delectable sight.

Enthralled, Aion rubbed oil onto his hands and spread it widely over Zizlon’s skin. The muscular body, slick with oil, gleamed sensually.

“Ugh… ugh.”

Zizlon grimaced, groaning softly.

Aion grasped Zizlon’s limp penis again. Thanks to the oil warmed by body heat, the hot, slick hand enveloped it. This time, the sensation was different. The queen’s rough palm, now lubricated, felt smoother.

Zizlon clenched his teeth. No matter how he tried to ignore it, the hot temperature and sticky sounds were blatant. The dizzying rose scent at his nose further clouded his mind.

When Zizlon’s penis still didn’t respond satisfactorily, the queen briefly seemed to give up, releasing it. But before Zizlon could relax, Aion changed course. He rubbed oil onto the thick perineum below the testicles. The unexpected touch made Zizlon so ashamed he bit his tongue. Each time Aion pressed there, an indescribable, strange sensation surged.

Zizlon shut his eyes tightly, stubbornly ignoring it. Meanwhile, the oil on Aion’s hand pooled at the perineum, slowly trickling down to the hidden crevice. The unsettling sensation made Zizlon’s eyes snap open.

“Ah…!?”

Startled, Zizlon tried to sit up but was stopped by the ties and collapsed. Aion, with a playful expression, continued stroking the crevice. Zizlon’s face burned with pure shame. He couldn’t fathom why Aion was touching there. The urge to beg him to stop the filthy act rose to his throat.

Unable to voice it, Zizlon squirmed, trying to pull his hips back to avoid the hand. But Aion followed mockingly, continuing to caress. Zizlon’s vision blurred with humiliation.

“Why… why are you touching there…”

Unable to endure, Zizlon stammered. Aion, pleased by his naive reaction, sighed languidly as blood rushed to his lower body.

“Prince, what are you saying? I’m a man too. You didn’t think that just because I’m pretty, I’d only want to be on the receiving end, did you?”

Zizlon watched in confusion as Aion moved his hand to his groin. With a predatory gaze, Aion began kneading himself between his legs. Zizlon’s mind reeled at the sight, thrashing blindly without fully understanding what was happening.

“Let go…! No! Don’t…!”

“Shh… calm down. I’ll be gentle.”

But with his hands bound, resistance was futile. Aion easily pinned his legs, stopping his movements.

“Hnng…!”

Zizlon’s eyes widened as if they’d burst. A finger, previously stroking the crevice, began pressing harder, parting the entrance. Zizlon gasped, eyes wide. Even one slender finger felt overwhelmingly invasive. The forceful parting of his tight entrance and pressing against the dry inner walls was shockingly painful. Clang! Clang! The bedpost shook violently with his fierce struggles, different from before.

“Ugh… hah…! Stop…!”

Despite the prince’s desperate pleas, Aion moved mechanically. Pressing Zizlon’s convulsing legs with his calves, he used his oil-soaked middle finger to press firmly around the entrance, softening it for penetration. For Zizlon, who had never used that part for anything but excretion, the resistance was immense. He clenched his teeth, sweating profusely, wrists straining white against the ties.

“Ugh… ugh…!”

“Just endure a little. It always hurts the first time. But with a few repetitions, you’ll soon find pleasure.”

Aion whispered, moving his hand freely below. Zizlon was stunned by the shameless words but, given the situation, had no strength to retort. Unchecked, Aion kept prattling.

“Seeing how tightly closed this is, I must be the first to use it. What a relief. With a body so desirable, I worried someone might have beaten me to it. If it had been used, I’d have been furious. As expected of you, Prince—no one else could touch you.”

“Ugh… pull…! N-now…!”

“Pull out? No way. It’s just starting to loosen…”

Aion feigned sadness, spreading his fingers like scissors inside Zizlon’s entrance. A wet “smack” sounded as the flesh parted. Hearing an unimaginable sound from his body, Zizlon felt his mind blur.

“Hn… ugh…”

Soon after, Aion withdrew his finger. The pain eased, but the empty, stretched sensation was awful. Exhausted, Zizlon lay limp, panting heavily. He barely noticed Aion shifting positions with a rustle. Moments later, Aion pinched his nipple unexpectedly. Zizlon flinched, snapping back to awareness.

“Ugh!”

“Heh. You don’t feel much from your chest, do you?”

“It’s fine. We have plenty of time…” the queen muttered. Zizlon didn’t understand, nor did he care. His attention was seized by something more shocking: the queen had opened his robe, revealing a red penis.

“…”

Zizlon stared, stunned. At first, he thought it wasn’t a penis but something else entirely. It was hard to imagine such a large, menacing organ on the delicate, refined queen. Shamelessly erect, it was as long as Aion’s forearm, thick, and striking. Its bright red hue might be considered pretty for a penis, but the prominent veins made it grotesque.

“Ah… ah…!”

Realizing what Aion intended, Zizlon shook his head, pale. Surely not, surely he didn’t mean it? A robust man like him, raped? He’d never imagined it. Nausea surged.

Pushing against the bed with his toes, he tried to escape, but he was still on the bed. Aion grabbed his hips, pulling him back with a slide. As Zizlon thrashed in fear, the queen whispered languidly.

“It’s not fully loosened yet, but I’m tired of waiting. It might bleed a bit, but please understand.”

“No…! Let go! I said let go!”

Aion secured one of Zizlon’s thighs against his waist, holding it firmly. With his other hand, he grasped his own member and aimed it at the prince’s entrance. Zizlon, staring at the unbelievable scene, resisted with all his strength. His bound wrists felt warm, as if blood had burst from them.

“…!!”

As it began to force its way into his entrance, Zizlon’s mouth opened wide. He stiffened, screaming silently. An intense pain surged from an unimaginable place. His pelvis twisted, and it felt as though his body was being split in two. Even just the tip entering created an overwhelming pressure. Zizlon’s eyes were bloodshot.

“Let… let go…!!!”

As Zizlon desperately thrashed his hands, a sudden ‘clunk’ sounded, and his hands, previously restrained by the ties, shot toward Aion. In that fleeting moment, both their eyes widened. The ties had snapped from his violent struggles. Quickly assessing the situation, Zizlon grabbed Aion’s neck. At that very moment, Aion, with a resolute expression, shouted in one breath.

“Prince Zizlon! If you resist, I’ll run out of this room right now and tell everyone what happened between us! How you, drunk, embraced me that night, and how you just willingly kissed me moments ago!”

In that instant, Zizlon froze, all movement ceasing. The strength drained from the hand gripping Aion’s neck, as if a spell of incapacitation had been cast. Aion seized the moment, smiling wickedly.

Seeing that smile, Zizlon realized the mistake he’d made and fell into despair. Yes, he had exposed his weakness. He didn’t yet know that this would be the mistake of a lifetime.

The next moment, Pym rushed in from somewhere and swiftly grabbed the loosened ties. Before Zizlon could react, Pym tightly bound the ends to the bedpost. Stunned and captured, Zizlon stared at Aion with dilated pupils. Aion, his cheeks flushed, trembled with exhilarating joy. Yes, it was the thrill of holding the prince’s leash.

“Ah! Prince! Acting all righteous, were you? What? Confess your sins and pay the price? How laughable. It was all empty bravado! In the end, you’re just a weak hypocrite! Poor prince, you’ll regret this moment for the rest of your life. You shouldn’t have let your guard down. You should’ve kept up the shameless act…!”

Despair clouded the prince’s face. But it was too late. Aion had seen through what he feared most and had the malice to wield that weakness willingly. Aion, too delighted, let out a chuckle unconsciously. Now, there was nothing left but to enjoy himself.

Aion began pressing himself against Zizlon so roughly that the prince forgot even his despair. The member, barely lodged at the entrance, thrust halfway in with one motion. An intense, searing pain struck, followed by the sensation of something warm flowing. The entrance had finally torn. Zizlon’s eyes bulged as he screamed.

“Agh! Aaagh…!!”

Sure enough, red stains began dotting the once-white bedsheet. Blood trickled down his thighs, dripping drop by drop, staining the fabric. Zizlon, trembling with fear, shed tears. But Aion, with an expression of utter ecstasy, shuddered with joy, heedless of the prince’s pain.

“Ah…! Finally, we’re one. It’s hot! Zizlon, inside you, it’s warm enough to melt me!”

Zizlon wanted to kneel and beg for it to be removed. But even the slightest movement from Aion caused his breath to catch in agony. The terror of yielding his most vulnerable part was overwhelming. Zizlon, unable to even breathe properly, let tears fall drop by drop.

“Haa… haa… I dreamed of this moment every day… it’s tighter than I imagined… Relax more, Prince. Let me in. You might really get hurt like this.”

Of course, Aion found it challenging to penetrate the dry, unyielding entrance that had never been used before. As expected, Zizlon’s insides gripped him painfully. But even that delighted Aion. To him, the pressure was a reward for conquering the prince for the first time.

Aion gently stroked Zizlon’s cheek, ordering him to take deep breaths. Dropping tears in despair, Zizlon obeyed, if only to lessen the pain. He parted his lips slightly, struggling to breathe deeply.

As the entrance relaxed slightly, Aion didn’t miss the chance to resume his thrusts. Even he didn’t recklessly force his monstrous member fully into the newly opened entrance. He repeated shallow insertions and withdrawals, which was no easy task.

Each time Aion thrust upward, strained groans of “ugh, ugh” spilled from Zizlon’s lips. There was no hint of pleasure—just pure pain. Beads of cold sweat soon dotted Zizlon’s forehead.

“Hk… ugh! Hnng, hgh, ngh!… Khrgh!”

“Haa… haa… It feels good… so good…”

Drunk on pleasure, Aion whispered moans into his ear. For Zizlon, trapped in a nightmare, all he could hope was for time to pass quickly. The thick member rubbing against his already burning entrance delivered excruciating pain.

As the thrusts quickened, Aion suddenly shouted irritably.

“Zizlon…! You’re mine now! I’ll never let you go!”

And he devoured Zizlon’s trembling lips.

A gulping sensation followed as hot liquid poured out. A whitish-pink fluid slid down between Zizlon’s rigid legs. With Aion’s tongue blocking his already breathless mouth, Zizlon felt his consciousness fading. His vision blurred, and the last thing he saw was his own legs dangling limply behind Aion’s back.