I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 119

“…What did you just say?”

“The rumor is already widespread in society that I am His Majesty’s and the Duke’s consort; surely it would not do for me to gain nothing from it.”

“…”

“When you look at me, acting like a dog begging for something, my heart aches, and I cannot remain still.”

Yes, Nox decided to use the Emperor’s emotions. He intended to make the Emperor himself lay the groundwork for the noble faction he would establish. The Emperor likely wouldn’t dare to touch him, no matter what he did, because of what he had taken from Nox. And because of the brand of “slave” that would forever stick to him.

“…I need time to think.”

“Haha, you won’t refuse, will you?”

The Emperor swallowed hard, his throat dry. He knew well that hiding anything from Nox was futile. Hadn’t Nox, even when he was a slave, discovered his habits that no one else knew? He was that sharp and perceptive. The Emperor sighed and covered his eyes with one hand. And when he lowered his hand again, Nox was right in front of him. Nox leaned forward, bracing himself on the sofa, drawing close to the Emperor’s face.

“I’m sorry,” Nox whispered, “but I don’t think I can give you time to think.”

And Nox’s lips touched the Emperor’s. Instantly, the Emperor’s voice was swallowed. There was no refusal. Instead, Nox’s eyelashes fluttered. Seeing this, the Emperor reached out and embraced his waist. Strong arms wrapped around him tightly, as if to ensure he couldn’t escape.

As his lips parted, a tongue pushed in. It roughly pressed and rubbed the center of his tongue, then licked the roof of his mouth. Then, as their tongues met, it sucked with a force that stole his breath. Nox flinched. Sensing his movement, the Emperor lifted his body onto his lap. When Nox trembled, the Emperor stroked his waist as if to soothe him. Nox was on the verge of convulsing from the unbearable revulsion but endured it. He had to endure it now to get what he wanted. A long, drawn-out kiss continued. The Emperor’s hand now slowly descended, fumbling at Nox’s thigh. Nox frowned, shifting his gaze to the side. He saw the door. And it was slightly ajar. And… he met a pair of deep blue eyes.

Seeing that face, Nox wrapped his arms around the Emperor’s neck. The blue eyes flickered, burning like fire, in an instant.

Observing those eyes, Nox pressed his body a little closer to the Emperor. The Emperor, as if delighted, embraced the body that nestled against him. Nox’s body stiffened involuntarily. Feeling his rigidity, the tightly pressed Emperor stroked him from thigh to waist, caressing him as if to calm him. Nox, instead, was covered in goosebumps because of it, but he literally forced himself to endure, maintaining eye contact with the gaze through the crack in the door. The whites of the blue eyes were veined with angry red. Nox wanted to scoff internally, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the luxury to do so at the moment. The Emperor’s hand had slipped his shirt away and was now stroking his bare back.

“Ugh…”

“Nox…, just a little.”

The Emperor pulled his lips away, speaking coaxingly. With a sensation that counted each vertebra as it ascended, Nox straightened his back. He pushed the Emperor’s shoulder abruptly. The Emperor tensed his shoulders, as if refusing to be pushed away. Nox’s face was tinged with a slight surprise. The Emperor lifted Nox’s hips, pushing the tea table with the tea on it away in an instant, and laid Nox down there.

CRASH !

“Your Majesty…!”

“I won’t go all the way, okay?”

My consort, he says. The Emperor’s eyes gleamed with desire. Nox grabbed his shoulders and tried to push him away. But perhaps due to his body, thinned by illness, his strength wasn’t enough to easily push the Emperor off. Finally, Nox glared at the Emperor and said, “Are you going to force yourself on me again?”

At his contemptuous words, the Emperor flinched. Nox seized the moment, pushed him away forcefully, and got off the table. As he frantically straightened his disheveled clothes with trembling hands, the Emperor no longer dared to touch him.

“Nox.”

“…”

Nox quickly adjusted his clothes and looked back at the Emperor. There was faint contempt in Nox’s eyes, and the Emperor was speechless. He had, for a moment, lost his reason and tried to embrace Nox, ignoring his will.

“…I will take my leave now,” Nox said, his back still turned to him. The Emperor then bit his lip and asked, “…You’ll come once a month, won’t you?”

“I keep my promises,” Nox said coldly, then looked towards the door. The crack in the door was already closed, and even when he rushed outside, Khalid was nowhere to be seen. Where did he go in that short time? Well, I showed him everything I wanted to, so it doesn’t matter. Nox walked quickly down the corridor. Every part of him the Emperor had touched felt cold. He bit his lip. He just wanted to go back to the mansion and wash himself clean. With that, Nox descended to the first floor, got into his carriage, and disappeared, leaving two figures watching him go.

The Emperor watched Nox disappear in his carriage from the reception room, while Khalid, having descended to the first floor at some point, was also staring at the vanishing carriage. He clenched his fists.

It was natural for Nox to seek out the Emperor instead of him. The Emperor could offer what Khalid couldn’t. That hand the hand that had kissed him, embraced his waist, and stroked his back the very hand Khalid now couldn’t even touch. Yes, that presumptuous behavior.

Khalid began to understand, a little, why Nox had shown him such a display. Yes, it must be disgusting for me to desire you after what I did to you.

Khalid slowly left the first floor and headed to where his carriage was waiting. He closed the door with a thud and vanished.

***

Nox’s Cleansing Ritual

As soon as Nox entered the mansion, he tore off his cravat, returned to his room, and immediately took a bath. The Emperor’s touch still felt as though it was crawling on his skin. Despite washing his body with water, it wasn’t enough; Nox kept scrubbing and scrubbing. Even when he saw red blotches appear on his skin from the continuous friction, Nox didn’t stop scrubbing. His fingertips were still trembling slightly. He emerged without fully drying himself, snatching the gown from a servant’s hand as he said,

“Summon Launder.”

“Understood.”

The waiting servants, sensing Nox’s irritable tone, quickly summoned Launder. Nox donned his gown, swatting away the servants’ hands. At this moment, with the Emperor’s touch still making him shudder, the thought of his own people trying to touch him was horribly repulsive. Soon after, a knock sounded.

Knock, knock 

“Come in.”

Launder opened the door and entered. He paused for a moment at the sight of Nox, still dripping wet and only wearing a shower gown. But he quickly gestured to a nearby servant, took a dry cloth, and sent the servant out. Then, he began to dry Nox’s dripping hair, asking, “Is there something you need me to do?”

“Keep an eye on Duke Khalid Via’s movements. There’s no one trustworthy within the mansion, so go find an external informant. I’ll provide the money.”

“Did something happen at the Imperial Palace?”

At Launder’s question, Nox smiled, almost a grimace. “I poured some oil on the fire.”

“You have a knack for arson, it seems.”

“What?” Nox chuckled faintly at that, his foul mood seemingly lifting a little. He handed Launder a pouch he had taken from the desk while Launder was drying his hair. Launder took the towel, then accepted the pouch. When he opened the mouth, he saw it was filled with gold coins.

“With this much money, I could probably find out the thread count of his bedding,” Launder remarked.

“That’s not necessary. I’ve set a fire, so I just need to know how he reacts.”

“What do you plan to do once you know?”

“Well, I’ll think about it once I see how he moves. I do have one prediction, though…” Nox finished drying his hair and handed the dry cloth back to Launder.

“What is that?”

Nox then raised his index finger to his lips, signaling silence.

“If I tell you beforehand, it won’t be fun.”

Launder’s eyes moved from the raised finger to Nox’s nearby lips. Noticing his gaze, Nox reached out and lightly tapped under Launder’s chin.

“Don’t entertain impudent fantasies.”

“…I d-didn’t. No. I’ll try not to.”

“So honest.”

Nox removed his bath gown, and Launder, accustomed to the task, brought clothes from the dressing room to help him dress, as a valet would. After putting on his trousers and shirt, Nox turned his back to Launder. His shirt had buttons down the back, requiring Launder to fasten them. Launder carefully raised his hands and began to button the shirt from the bottom up, one by one.

“…”

Nox’s white back was covered in whip marks. Some were old, while others appeared to be more recent. Launder unconsciously narrowed his eyes. How could a noble’s body bear such marks? Even if he had been a slave until recently, such treatment was excessively cruel.

“…It’s done.”

“Ah, thank you.”

The shirt Nox wore was a silk shirt with ruffles that gently cinched his neck, then flowed down in a natural curve from below his collar. The sleeves puffed out significantly before tightening at the wrists, shimmering subtly with a pearlescent glow. Launder stared at the sight for a moment, captivated, then cleared his throat and snapped back to attention when his eyes met Nox’s.

“Go to the informant,” Nox instructed.

“Understood.”

“And…” Nox said something else, and Launder nodded, then left the mansion and stepped out onto the street.