Chapter 478 – Camellia (1)

Notable amounts of time had elapsed since their previous encounter. As was her habit, Camellia arrived to tend to her duties once her own work was done.

Ironically, such forceful means were being employed to capture someone’s affections. A novel approach, indeed.

Lowering her gaze, Camellia extended her petite tongue, diligently lapping at the spaces between my fingers.

“Slurp… slurp, hah… slurp. Slurp.”

My hands grew moist under the onslaught of her saliva.

“Ha… hah… It’s coarse and… repugnant.”

Her breath, hot as a blacksmith’s forge, made my skin crawl, akin to the discomfort of a midsummer monsoon. Camellia dislodged my finger from her mouth, her saliva trailing off, reminiscent of a rain-soaked spider web.

-Drip.

Saliva fell. Camellia swallowed her apprehension and once again took my index and middle finger.

The sensation of my fingers penetrating the space between her thin but sensual lips and entering her secretive depths. Camellia’s sweet saliva seeped into my skin.

-Gulp.

Her throat moved as she rolled my finger around her mouth like a sweet delicacy. The soft and slippery saliva mixed with a hot, tingling sensation. After a while, Camellia voiced her thoughts between her persistent suckling.

“Will this… suffice?”

Is it enough now?

Her plea for permission and forgiveness was casually dismissed.

“No.”

The past few days had seen a vertical relationship with physical exchanges. Camellia was even more receptive to submission than anticipated.

I curled my fingers into a hook, probing the roof of her mouth.

“… Gag!?”

Caught off guard, Camellia could not resist.

-Poke, Poke!

My fingers penetrated deep into her throat, swiftly and forceful enough to reach the innermost part.

-Twitch!

Her thighs and forearms shuddered, possibly in pain. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, and her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red. When Camellia’s complexion turned pale, I withdrew my hand.

“… Gasp, Gasp… Cough, Hah!! Cough, Cough!”

Camellia threw her head back, retching. A line of saliva traced its way from the corner of her mouth to her chin.

As if she had experienced lust, her body spasmed intermittently. Her face was oddly flushed.

“… You never said we’d do this.”

Camellia’s energy was significantly diminished as she voiced her grievance. I tapped her lips again with my thumbnail.

Now her body moved reflexively. Her lips slowly opened, her tongue venturing out to greet my fingers. Camellia gently licked my finger.

“Why do you lick it if it pleases you?”
“Because… you commanded it.”
“True, but well…”
“Fine. Tomorrow, let me meet Mary…”
“Agreed.”

The rising stakes involved not only Mary but also Camellia.

Camellia had undergone substantial changes since our first meeting.

Now, she no longer speaks of the World Tree, her gaze fixed on me instead of the Flower.

Even though I find the idea of weighing good and evil distasteful, there are times when such insignificant rituals can have a strangely positive effect. They say they see me favorably, and there’s no profit in denying it.

“…No. What I appreciated about you… it was merely a ritual of being a ruler, not a reflection of your personality as an individual.”
“That’s just it.”
“As an individual, you’re still garbage. Mary, however, sees you as a truly perfect being.”

Actions like making her lick my hand, I just don’t want to admit that because it’s something I do to you.

“That being said,”

I sat down, wiping my hands with a handkerchief.

“Isn’t it time to replace the artificial organs soon?”
“…How so?”

The knowledge I’ve gained while trailing behind the sage has proved quite useful. I gently stroked the pale Camellia’s stomach.

“Why… why are you touching me?”
“To see whether the angle to fix is visible or not. Just checking.”
“You can see that with your eyes… you just want to touch me more.”
“Do I?”
“Yes. Even licking your hand is like that… There’s no need for it, you just gradually increase the stimulation. Like.”
“You know well. Clever.”
“…”

Camellia, having lost her ability to speak, was dumbfounded.

“Why… are you so brazen?”
“If it goes on, I think you’ll succumb.”
“Why are you so honest?”
“Because you’re smart and notice everything.”

Camellia lowered her head. Unable to wipe her moistened lips with the back of her hand, she licked them, her eyebrows furrowing multiple times.

“I don’t understand. I’ve been here for quite a while… I know that if you wanted to, you could dominate me.”
“Yes.”
“So what? You just want to possess me? My heart?”
“In a broad sense, yes.”

Despite being able to use the power of a king’s dominion, I’m reluctant to do so, for fear of becoming dependent on it. However,

‘That’s not the only reason.’

A person under dominion is deprived of their free will. Thanks to this, they can utilize up to 100% of their individual talents… But there’s no unpredictability in certain areas. It’s about passing the realm of judgment and estimation onto me.

Without dominion, it could be 120%. Perhaps even 200%. It’s entirely possible. This is just one reason among many.

“I won’t fall for you.”

Will that really happen? I tilted my eyes, looking at Camellia. She’s putting on a brave face, but for how long?

“But-“

Since she can’t see, is she unaware of herself?

“…Why aren’t you trying to convince me?”

Having already crossed a certain line. Is today the day to shatter that meager heart of hers? I carefully observed the situation.

“I’ve heard about your lands from Mary. I understand. I comprehend the difficulties, the scarcity of funds. Also, the attempt to mend my body with that scant money.”

Camellia lent strength to her words.

“If you have any expectations from me… I wish you had laid them bare, here, now. Much would have altered.”

A countenance of genuine regret. Perhaps I should apply a stimulus. I cracked my knuckles, the air in the joints escaping with a resonant sound.

– Snap.

“Aah.”

The sound of bone startled Camellia. I responded to her.

“Firstly, there’s a flaw in your assertion.”
“…What is it?”

That’s probably her current train of thought.
When she first entered this space, she would’ve certainly neither believed nor heeded my words.

“The World Tree or whatever, you’re akin to a fanatic. You even got to the point of being excited, let alone being prejudiced. Could you have understood had I tried to persuade you in that state?”
“…Is it my mistake?”
“No.”
“What do you mean, ‘no’? Your words suggest otherwise. I’ve been merely tending to my domain. I’ve exhausted all my energy to save as many people as possible.”
“You’re correct. That’s what you did.”

She’s noble. Even if the World Tree were to advocate death, she would accept it to that extent. I drew my dagger from its sheath at my waist and honed the blade with my magic.

“If only a single prophecy had been different, none of this would’ve happened. Perhaps, in some other place, we might’ve formed a novel relationship.”
“…Are you implying it’s the prophecy’s fault? Whom are you suggesting to blame?”

To blame.
A term Camellia, in her original nature, would’ve never conceived.
She was gentle, neither prone to jealousy nor anger.

“There’s no need to blame anyone.”
“…Then what is it? Was my life destined to be this way?”
“Did you just realize it now? You’re more naive than I thought.”
“Aah.”

Camellia, angered, furrowed her brow. She was getting heated. She was gradually rousing her scant defensive instincts.

“It was destined to be this way. Imprisoned. Incapable of anything.”

That’s right. I’ve been there too.
No matter how desperately I flailed, I eventually had to don the crown.
I can offer advice from a position of prior experience.

“Now, you must focus on the present. I’ve abducted you, and there’s nothing you can do. What’s the best outcome you can choose now?”

I examined the finely honed blade under the ceiling light. It’s sufficient. I returned the dagger to its sheath at my waist.

Camellia, vexed, vented her frustration.

“So. Are you suggesting I submit to your rule? That’s… selfish.”

I extended my hand and tapped Camellia on the forehead.

“Ouch!”
Thud-

Camellia, her head lolling, lay on the blanket. The creases of the blanket spread towards the edges.

“The choice is yours.”
“…”
“Whether to bite your tongue and die, or to submit quietly. Or to confront with a readiness to die.”
“…The opponent is the king. I can’t even die.”

Camellia cannot perish.
Even if she elects suicide or attempts to battle me, her destiny isn’t to die.

“Therefore, you see.”

The choice is yours to make.

-Gulp-

The sound of swallowing is audible.
The delicate girl clamps her mouth shut, her eyes tightly closed, even though her vision is obscured.

“…I’ve felt your brutality in full. It appears the choice is singular.”

Camellia remains still, tears spilling down her face.

“I understand now. No persuasion or such is necessary for you. It’s inevitable that I’ll break if we persist on this path. My sight restoration, considering I’m already… on the verge of breaking to you.”

The moment to choose is imminent. If no one else comes to her aid, Camellia is condemned to endless deliberation.

I told her,

“No, it doesn’t necessarily have to be so.”
“Then what is it….”
“Just endure. You’re not yet acquainted with the ways of the world.”

These words struck true.

“There’s a chance that the World Tree might save you someday.”

Camellia’s words falter, her jaw trembling as if her throat is constricting. Her pessimism wanes, her resignation amplifies.
I told Camellia she has no one to blame, but in reality, there are many around her worthy of blame. Her faith. Its object. I, too, have harbored much resentment.

“The World Tree…?”

Camellia’s face contorts in torment.

“Now… you come and say… such a thing… ah, uh.”

The silence stretches. For a while, Camellia says nothing. Only the sound of sobbing reverberates within the room.

The girl seems to be ruminating internally. Instinctively, I sense that the time has arrived.

I observe her, feet trembling. The sun is setting, the moon is rising.

Her voice suddenly pierces the dark room.

“Do you… remember what you said before?”

Camellia murmurs,

“Prepare your heart… allow me.”

Precariously, a taut thread stretches.
Snap.
It breaks.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Camellia vacantly gazes at her passport.

“…Miss.”

She must search for a means of salvation. If she receives assistance from the World Tree, and amasses strength… Despite the despair, a glimmer of possibility emerges.

‘The World Tree contemplates an assault on the King’s power. The Flower also seeks to check the King.’

If she can only endure… she can make it.
Now, she must collect her obligations while traversing foreign dungeons.

‘No matter the cost, Miss. I will rescue you.’

Rescue is the only option.
Camellia, gripping her passport with resolved intent, lifts her head to absorb the sight of the airport.

‘…!’

In her vision, a man attired in black robes appears.

– Clang, clang.

The noise of an ascending escalator, the babble of the bustling crowd. Amidst the throng of people, undulating like waves, there stood a man, seemingly alone.

His attire was peculiar enough to draw attention, yet no one seemed to notice him. Perhaps he had conjured a spell to make himself visible only to a select few.

Melia murmured a name under her breath.

‘…King Mokryeong.’

Not the visage of the departed, but a living, breathing monstrosity. Melia, paralyzed with fear, was unable to even contemplate escape, her body stiffened in place.

– Thump.

His footsteps echoed. The king, moving slowly towards her, bent down to lock eyes with Melia. She almost collapsed, her heart pounding as if about to explode.

“Has it been a while?” he asked.
“…My lord.”
“Your mistress calls for you.”
“My mistress…?”

His face was stone-cold, devoid of emotion. He spoke with a duplicitous countenance, malevolent when malevolent, benign when benign.

“I must conclude what I’ve backed.”

Melia gave a nod. She felt she would die if she didn’t. After all, even revenge needed a survival instinct to fuel it.

If she were to serve her mistress, the path to espionage would reveal itself. For now, she needed to respond with poise — slowly, calmly.

– Boom!

In that instant, Melia’s heart pounded fiercely.

‘Huh.’

A heavy feeling settled in her chest. Why, she wondered? It felt as though following this path would lead her to confront a truth far too immense.

‘But I must proceed….’

Melia gripped her necktie tightly. Her mouth sealed shut, she glared at the king with wide, defiant eyes.