Swallowing Humiliation
"Open your mouth."
I blankly looked up at her still-expressionless face. Shame burned across my cheeks, but there was no choice. My lifeline was right there in her hands. Rationalizing it like that, I slowly parted my lips.
The moment I opened wide, the red liquid poured mercilessly into my mouth.
"Mmph..."
Head tilted back, face pressed tight against the bars, I caught the dripping potion. Like a baby bird taking food from its mother. Or closer to a pet snatching treats tossed by its owner.
"Hng, gulp..."
The liquid slid down my throat. But as she tilted the vial steeper, the excess potion I couldn't contain spilled from my lips. Red trails ran down my chin, soaking my pale neck and slipping inside my dress.
"Haa..."
My body shuddered at the cold slickness. I felt Esilla's gaze shift from my lips to my chin, then to my stained throat.
She didn't stop. Not even as I gasped for air, not even as my clothes turned into a mess—she tilted the bottle faster and faster.
"Don't spill any."
Esilla whispered low.
"I wouldn't want to make you lick the floor."
I instinctively wondered why I'd have to lick up anything that hit the ground, but...
'Ah. Whatever.'
To catch every last drop, I desperately stuck out my tongue.
Once she'd emptied the final drop into my mouth, Esilla...
"Good girl."
...said, stroking my wet chin with her hand. Still utterly expressionless.
[HP: 50/50]
Inside the prison after Esilla left.
"Ughhh..."
I curled up on the cold stone floor. If there had been a blanket—no, if there had been even a bit more straw...
I would've kicked it, shredded it to pieces.
The sticky potion residue on my lips. The chill of the liquid trailing down my throat. And the sight of me stretching my tongue through the bars, desperately lapping it up.
Even to me, it was straight-up pet level.
'I'm insane. Insane. INSANE!!!'
It was for survival, sure, but it felt like I'd flushed human dignity down the sewer.
"I wanna die... No, I wanna live, but I wanna die..."
Worried the princess across from me might've seen that mess again, I stealthily lifted my head.
"...Snooore..."
In the pitch-black darkness, only steady breathing echoed faintly now and then. She must've fallen into a deep sleep.
"Phew..."
A little relieved, I checked my status window for HP.
'Filled right up in one go.'
High-grade potions were on another level, no doubt.
Gurgle.
The moment my tension eased, hunger hit like a truck. Come to think of it, since possessing this body, I hadn't had a proper meal once. The bread Lilliana left wasn't much either.
"So hungry..."
If someone offered anything, I'd scarf it down gratefully. But that Adrian bitch had threatened not even a sip of water, so no point hoping.
Then, my hand brushed something inside my dress pocket.
"Huh?"
A crinkling sensation. Cautiously, I pulled out the contents: a fancy pouch with a few cookie pieces and a small muffin.
'How'd this get here?'
I stared blankly at the snack bundle in my hand. My pocket had been empty on the way to the audience chamber. And things were too chaotic there anyway.
Hmm...
'...No clue.'
Survival instinct must've made me pocket a few on the sly. Eat first, questions later.
Grabbing a cookie, a rich buttery aroma wafted up. A sweet scent totally out of place in this dank, moldy underground prison.
Crunch.
One bite, and sugar-butter bliss filled my mouth. Tears almost came to my eyes.
"..."
Then, I felt an intense gaze from the darkness. Red eyes glimmered faintly in the black.
"You there."
Leoness, now awake, called to me.
"Does it taste good, abandoning this lady to eat alone?"
"..."
"Yesterday too—you're truly stingy."
I heard her swallow hard from over there.
"Th-there's still some bread left from yesterday..."
"No."
Sharp as a blade.
"What this lady craves now looks far tastier on your side."
After a moment's thought, I grabbed the whole pouch with the remaining cookies and muffin.
"Wanna have some?"
"You're truly giving it?"
I stood, tossed the pouch through the bars. Rustling, munching sounds followed—must've landed right.
"...Delicious."
"Right? Tastes even better in prison."
"Hmph. Compared to our royal confectionery, it's lacking... but not bad."
Her words said one thing, but the nonstop chomping told another.
"You."
"Yeah."
"Remember this. This lady will repay the grace of sharing such precious food—once the kingdom is rebuilt."
Still clinging to that coup dream, huh.
"Sure, sure. I'll hold you to it."
"Then carry on."
"Yes, sir! Not even a rat'll get near!"
Leaving the oddly fired-up guard behind, I stepped out of the prison.
Clank.
The door shut, trading dank air for warm spring breeze wrapping my body.
Esilla lingered, hand on the doorknob. The damp sensation still clung to her fingertips.
Esilla hated villains. Those who forgot the weight of power and swung it selfishly. Seeing them always boiled her blood.
In that sense, she deeply respected the crown prince. He had power yet used it for the weak.
And again—in that sense, Esilla despised Elise de Bellaph.
That was why she skipped the honorific "nim."
Noble blood, stunning beauty, enviable background—yet she wielded it all only to crush and torment others.
The epitome of what she scorned most.
But that villain had craved her touch.
She recalled the scene.
Face mashed against the bars, mouth agape like a baby bird for survival. Red potion trickling down her pale chin and neck. Trembling with shame yet desperate not to waste a single drop from her hand.
She hadn't enjoyed it. No sadistic thrill.
Just... utterly immersed in the sight of the infamous villain entrusting her life to Esilla's touch, mouth vulnerably open.
And her thoughts finally reached the snacks she'd secretly slipped into the pocket on the way down.
Shoved deep while pretending to support her.
Not out of pity.
Simply...
'Can't have you dying too soon.'
She needed to live long.
So Esilla could... punish her again.
The crown prince's private office at the academy.
"You're late."
Mid-review of the paperwork mountain, I set down my pen and said so.
Esilla entered, face as stoic as ever.
"My apologies, Your Highness. Escorting the lady took longer than expected."
"What, did she resist?"
"No. She was too weakened; movement was slow."
Esilla bowed her head in reply.
I clicked my tongue. Light price for black magic.
"More importantly, Esilla."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Lock the door quick. I'm suffocating."
At my order, she swiftly bolted the office door.
I ripped open my uniform buttons like they offended me. Heavy jacket with epaulets and medals hit the floor.
But still not enough.
"Haa..."
Only after loosening the binding bandages squeezing my chest under the shirt did air finally flow right.
"Tighter than usual today. Think my chest grew again."
"I'll arrange larger sizes next time."
I stood before the mirror. Brushed back golden hair, revealing delicate features. Soft blue eyes that screamed fragility.
The reflection wasn't Imperial Crown Prince Adrian.
It was Adoriana de Theodor.
My true name.
"When the hell does Father plan to end this charade?"
"His Majesty worries for your safety too. Just endure a bit longer."
"How much longer is 'a bit'? Ah, thanks."
Esilla brought warm tea, consoling me.
Only Father, my nursemaid, and Esilla knew this secret.
I sank deep into the chair, tea in hand.
Years already playing Adrian, living as a man in disguise.
'Sick of this damn play.'
But I couldn't stop. If my gender leaked, succession crisis meant civil war for sure.
"So, Elise?"
I shook off gloom, changing topics.
"She went quietly. But..."
"But?"
"Her reason for refusing annulment... bothers me."
Esilla's words recalled the audience chamber. Those eyes as she tore the pledge.
"Ha, unbelievable."
I fiddled with my teacup.
Lilliana. Amid my lie-filled life, she was one pure light.
During an incognito outing.
'She helped me, wallet lost and desperate—no strings attached.'
Not for my title or looks—just genuine worry. That's why I felt drawn to her.
Not lust, but pure admiration and protectiveness.
And Elise dared torment that Lilliana? Spouting such nonsense?
Disgust surged.
Lilliana was an excuse; she had ulterior motives, no doubt.
"Esilla. Who's in the underground prison now?"
"Leoness von Austria."
"...Ha."
I pinched my brow.
Fallen princess and taboo-breaking noble lady. God knows what happens if they mix.
"Lilliana spotted the danger early, but Leoness's noble faction lingers. If Elise joins..."
Worst case, the whole Bellaph house turns enemy.
Headache incoming.
"Tighten surveillance."
I ordered Esilla.
"Report every contact she makes, every word exchanged. Nothing missed."
"Understood."
Esilla bowed. A faint smile ghosted her lips? Nah, seeing things.
"Elise de Bellaph..."
Once suspicious, every move screamed plot. Unhurt Lilliana despite black magic? No annulment signature?
"What the hell are you scheming?"
Elise.
Deep underground prison, no light penetrating.
"This lady places a black stone at row four, column three."
"..."
"Heh heh heh. What say you? This lady's secret ultimate move, the trump card killer."
"..."
"Now, where will you place? Row three, column two? Or row three, column three? Wherever, this lady's next stone blocks it all. If you don't place while counting rows, this lady wins again..."
"Arghhh!!!!!!!"
Final score against Her Highness in Omok: total record, 2 wins, 43 losses.