Ever since Mari had taken control of Rowan's body, every movement and every decision still felt somewhat constrained—but at least now, Mari would not allow anyone to trample him anymore. The helplessness that had haunted Rowan for so long had begun to fade, replaced by a quiet, simmering determination. And, as if the fates had finally aligned in his favor, there was Magnus, the Grand Duke of the Kingdom himself—standing firmly on his side.
From what Mari had gathered, tonight would mark the beginning of his escape.
And Magnus had promised more than just tonight's help. Once he dealt with all the chaos in his own family, he said he'd come with Rowan to the Evadene Kingdom. His family situation was messy—his mother and even his grandfather were both obsessed with power, which left Magnus pretty powerless even though he was technically the heir after his father died. But somehow, in the middle of all that scheming and backstabbing, he'd found Rowan. And for the prince Mari was now inhabited, all he could offer was a chance at freedom. A shaky, risky chance—but one Mari was ready to grab with everything he had.
"Your Majesty, here's your medicine for tonight. It's chamomile tea, so that you may sleep properly…"
A soft voice interrupted Mari's thoughts when a manservant gently set a steaming cup on the bedside table, bowed and exited, leaving the faint scent of herbs lingering in the air.
Mari's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the cup as though it might spring to life and strike. What if it's poisoned again? The thought coiled around him like a serpent, tightening with every passing second. I really can't trust anyone…
He shifted a little in bed, feeling Rowan's body beneath him. It was a reminder of just how much was at stake—how dangerous tonight could be and how much he needed to grab his freedom. Every heartbeat thumped in his chest and every breath careful. Tonight, one wrong move could ruin everything but Mari wasn't about to let Rowan—his body and his mind get hurt by anyone else ever again.
The tea sat there, untouched, like it could be hiding some kind of trap. Mari leaned back against the pillows and his mind was racing while already planning the next move. If everything went right tonight, he'd finally get a taste of the freedom he'd been waiting for—and no one, not some poisoned cup or greedy noble, was going to stop him.
Mary, oh my god! Mary, how are you even there? Are you okay? How's Mom and Dad? And me, ugh, me! I'm stuck here and it's awful and fuck that manhwa, it literally dragged me here against my will, like hello, consent much?! And Mary, listen, I already have a dick now, and I lost my boobs. My boobs! My big boobs! Is this… is this some kind of karma? For not listening? For always choosing BL over everything? For reading the smut scenes while ignoring you guys when you wanted to go outside?! Ahem, well, sometimes I skip the smuts though but even so, what the hell am I even supposed to do here?! And that damn manhwa, it's slipping out of my memory every damn day and I can't even, I don't know what to do, Mary, I just… please, please, get me out of here!
That was all running through his head as he rolled around on his king-size bed. And the knights outside probably noticed, but they didn't bother saying anything like he wasn't even worth their attention.
Meanwhile, in the Evadene Kingdom, the Treasurer's son had been handed over to Zalyric as payment for his father's crimes. Zalyric, twenty-six, only child of the deceased imperial family, was an alpha who lived for pleasure—and he didn't care about titles, names, or ownership. To him, every omega was just a body, a hole to be used, nothing more.
"Y-your Majesty… p-please… g-go slower…" Cielo gasped, but Zalyric didn't even flinch. He held onto Cielo's hips, thrusting hard and fast, and roughly crushed his lips against his in a demanding kiss that left no room to pull away. His hands were everywhere, keeping him pinned while forcing him to bend, open up, and submit. Each thrust drove deep, painfully stretching him, every move meant to break down his resistance.
Cielo's back arched on its own and his spine was trembling while his muscles tight as heat and overwhelming pain collided. Sweat slicked his skin while tears stung his eyes as Zalyric's pheromones rolled over him, heavy and consuming.
He tried to fight it, tried to hold back the fire coiling in his belly but his body wouldn't listen. He just shamelessly shuddered with every hard thrust, hips jerking up while his back was bending without control and gasping between agony and shameful pleasure. Every involuntary arch, every tremor screamed yes that even as his mind screamed no.
"Hngh, Your Majesty… please! N-no more, I c-can't anymore…" he whimpered, trying to pull away but Zalyric grabbed him again while holding him tight. Slowly, deliberately, he loosened Cielo and breaking down every shred of his resistance, leaving him trembling and helpless under his control.
Cielo's cries were muffled and desperate while trembling through every punishing thrust and rough kiss, until sensation completely took over his body. There's pain, fear and twisted desire tangled together like a storm inside him, leaving him helpless and entirely under the alpha's control.
As for the Treasurer, meanwhile, would be stripped of his title but spared from execution. A punishment harsh enough to ruin him but lenient enough to keep him alive. His son, however, had been handed over without choice, a living reminder of his father's failure.
"Dylan…" Zalyric called Dylan, a beta who didn't react to his pheromones.
"You called me, Your Majesty?" he asked, bowing after stepping in quietly. His eyes stayed away from the pitiful omega sprawled beneath the king which one leg kicked up, back pressed into the bed while his king was still on top, thrusting and panting that every movement sent shivers and muffled sobs through the room.
"Bring that bastard here," Zalyric commanded. "Tie him to a chair and gag his mouth but make sure he can see everything. This is his punishment, seeing his omega son being used like this."
"Hngh…"
"What, you like that?" Zalyric's voice was sharp and cruelly teasing him as he grabbed both of Cielo's legs and lifted them higher, keeping his thrusts hard and unrelenting.
"Do you even realize how many hours I've been cumming inside you? Almost half a day and you still want me to stop? You little slut… it's not like this is your first time, right?"
"P-please… Your Majesty… I'm p-pregnant…" Cielo's voice cracked while trembling with fear and panic. Tears blurred his vision and his chest was heaving as dread and shame washed over him. Every thrust sent a mix of pain and unwanted pleasure through his body, and the weight of Zalyric's dominance pressed down on him like a storm he couldn't escape.
But the physical pain didn't compare to the blow of his king's words.
"And what does that have to do with me?" Zalyric snapped, leaning closer to Cielo with that sharp grin and cold eyes. "You have no right to resent me and no right to be angry at me. If anyone deserves your curses, it's that father of yours because he's the one who made you like this…"