Chapter 4: Library (1)
The next day.
Yurian woke up to the dazzling sunlight streaming through the curtains. It was truly the first time she had ever greeted such a comfortable morning. She had always gotten up early to help with chores like washing dishes or doing laundry at wealthy households, taking on the work of a maid. Today, waking up without such busyness, she felt like she wanted to stay in bed even longer.
Where did Camil go?
Second brother Camil, who had lain beside her in bed the night before, was nowhere to be seen. Of course, it would be stranger if he had stayed by her side. Yurian got up, washed her face, and ate the breakfast the maid had prepared. The palace food was worlds apart from what Yurian had eaten in her wooden house outside the palace. There were fruits and meats she had never seen before, and Yurian, not knowing where to start, ate slowly.
After finishing her meal, Yurian decided to tour the palace, something she hadn't managed to do the day before. Camil had promised to show her around, but instead took her to the dressing room and did other things, so Yurian still had no sense of the palace's layout. She walked down the long corridors of the main palace, looking around here and there. Passing through a space surrounded by rare plants, a large, high-ceilinged room appeared before her eyes.
A library?
Yurian entered the space, which was stacked with books from the entrance. The ceiling was so high that books were lined up to great heights, with ladders placed to reach the upper shelves. Perhaps there wasn't enough space for all the books, as there was even a second-floor gallery accessible by stairs, where books could also be read. It seemed as if all the books in the world had been brought to the palace and placed here. Yurian liked this space. For some reason, it was a place that brought peace to her heart. Surrounded by books, the space was cozy and so quiet she could almost hear ants crawling.
Yurian went up to the second-floor stacks. Warm sunlight streamed in through the wide arched glass windows. Yurian gazed at the view of palace people walking outside the library, then turned to look at the titles of books on the shelves. A book titled
Yurian was interested in drawing, but her circumstances had never allowed her to have such a hobby; she hadn't even had money to buy a brush, let alone draw. Yurian reached for the book
"Ah!"
Yurian dropped the book and fell from the ladder. Just as she thought she'd crash to the floor, a rough hand caught her by the waist. It was a man with very sharp eyes and red pupils. Looking at the man's frightening expression, Yurian shivered with fear rather than relief that she hadn't hit the ground.
"Who are you? Who let you into my library?"
My... library? Wasn't this a public library?
"I-I'm sorry... My name is Yurian. I just entered the palace yesterday and didn't know the layout. The door was open, so I came in without knowing. I'm sorry."
Yurian escaped from the man's arms, knelt before him, and bowed her head. The fabric of his clothes was clearly of the royal family. If he owned such a large library, he was surely of a much higher rank than Yurian so who was this man?
"You really do look like you don't know. I'll tell you who I am. I'm Blair, the first prince of this empire. Seeing as you just entered yesterday, I can guess who you are. Father's illegitimate child, right?"
"Yes."
Yurian thought she'd gotten herself into trouble. The first prince of the empire was known for being scary and ruthless, even outside the palace. His red eyes were frightening, as if painted with blood, he was two hands taller than Yurian, and he wore a sword at his waist. She had thought someone skilled in martial arts would be far from libraries, but he owned such a vast private collection.
"To dare set foot here. You've got some nerve."
Blair looked Yurian up and down with his red eyes. Yurian shivered at his gaze.
"I'm sorry. I really didn't know."
Yurian shrank back, fearing Blair might draw his sword and cut her throat at any moment.
"If you've done wrong, you must be punished."
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll accept any punishment. Please, forgive me."
Yurian bowed her head and begged Blair for forgiveness. But Yurian didn't know that her words would actually bring her harm.
"Then take off your clothes."
Even hearing Blair's words, Yurian couldn't believe her ears. Standing in front of the wide window where sunlight poured in, Yurian froze in place.
"B-but, Your Highness..."
"You said you'd be punished, didn't you? Take off your clothes."
"But... here..."
Shing
Blair drew his sword and pressed it to Yurian's slender neck in threat. If she took off her clothes here, people passing by outside might see her.
"Hurry up and take them off."
Blair brought the blade even closer to Yurian's neck, as if he wouldn't hesitate to cut her. Yurian, hands trembling, untied the waist ribbon of her dress. Swish her white dress fell to the floor, revealing her white body in only her underwear.
"Take off all your underwear, too."
Blair's gaze lingered for a moment on the bra covering Yurian's large chest. Yurian glanced at the large glass window behind her. At this distance, she really might be seen. But Blair's red eyes were far more frightening than the gaze of people outside. Yurian unfastened her bra. Her bouncing chest was exposed before Blair. He did not remove the sword from Yurian's neck. He must mean for her to take off her panties, too. Yurian, with trembling hands, took off her white panties and placed them on the floor. Only then did Blair withdraw the sword from her neck and return it to its sheath. Blair sat on the ladder, looking at Yurian, who stood with her back to the window, as if admiring her.
"Sit by the window."
"B-by the window?"
"Don't make me say it twice."
Yurian was flustered. The thought that someone might see her naked back made her skin crawl. But Yurian had no choice but to do as Blair said he had his hand on his sword hilt. Yurian sat by the window as Blair instructed.
"Spread your legs."
"Yes..."
Yurian, as ordered, spread her white legs wide in front of him. Between her two white legs, the rose-shaped genitalia and even the inner membranes were exposed to Blair. Yurian was so embarrassed she couldn't lift her face, but Blair stared at her insides without changing expression.
"Do it yourself in front of me."
"Pardon?"
"Masturbate."
"I... I don't know how..."
"Put your fingers inside your vagina and move them back and forth. If you say you don't know after I've explained it this much, you might as well die."
Yurian hesitated at Blair's command. The library door was open, so anyone could come in at any time. Masturbate in such a quiet place? Before Yurian could think further, Blair drew his sword again from its sheath. Yurian brought her hand to her vulva.
Swoosh The foreign sensation she'd felt from Camil yesterday invaded Yurian again. She couldn't reach deep inside with just her index finger. It felt strange to put her own finger into her vagina by herself.
"Are you kidding? Use two fingers. If you don't put them in deep enough, you'll regret it."
At Blair's threat, Yurian pushed both her index and middle fingers into her vagina. With a moan, Yurian had no choice but to push her fingers deep inside. Even though they were her own fingers, she was embarrassed to do such a thing.
"Your fingers are too thin. That's not enough punishment."
Thunk
Blair threw his sword sheath in front of Yurian. Yurian looked at Blair with wide eyes, wondering why he had thrown it.
"Use this."
Put something thicker than an adult man's wrist inside? Yurian was a bit flustered.
"P-please forgive me... Blair..."
Tears welled up in Yurian's eyes. But Blair, with an expressionless face, slowly repeated,
"Put it in."