The Imperial Party
Shhhhhh… The faint sound of running water stirred her consciousness.
“Mmm…”
Scadia, who had been lost in a deep sleep, barely managed to open her eyes through the hazy sensation. Beyond her blurry vision, an unfamiliar ceiling came into view.
“Where… am I?”
Though she hadn’t slept for long, her voice was hoarse. It felt as though something was wrong with her vocal cords, making even speaking difficult. Her entire body was devoid of strength, as if all her muscles had vanished. With great effort, she forced herself upright and took in the ordinary guest room. It was a space built on the third floor of the party venue for resting—though in truth, it was a place where men and women who had locked eyes at the party came for a night of indulgence.
‘Why am I here…’
Scadia frowned at the inexplicable situation and tried to recall her memories before losing consciousness. Most of them were vague, but she at least remembered locking eyes with Luan, getting annoyed, and downing the wine he had persistently offered. After that, her mind had strangely loosened, and she’d drunk more wine before falling asleep.
Just as she grasped the rough outline of events, the sound of water abruptly stopped. The shower room door opened, and a man in a robe stepped out. Spotting Scadia, he grinned.
“Oh, Lady Scadia. You’re already awake?”
“…Lord Rubio. What is going on here?”
“What do you mean? Can’t you tell? You collapsed after drinking, so I personally brought you to this room.”
“You know that’s not what I’m asking.”
Scadia’s eyes gleamed sharply. If she had woken up alone, she might have believed Rubio had acted out of goodwill. But she wasn’t alone. A half-naked man wearing only a robe stood right in front of her. His intentions were obvious even without deep thought.
Rubio shrugged. “What are you saying now? You gave your consent as well, didn’t you?”
“I consented?”
“Yes. When I suggested coming to the room, you agreed. A man and a woman alone in a room? What man wouldn’t misunderstand that?”
Scadia frantically searched her memories, but no matter how hard she tried, the fog clouding her mind showed no signs of clearing.
“…That must have been a slip of the tongue. I’m sorry, but would you please leave now?”
“Ha, seriously! Are you joking right now? You’re looking down on me too much. What will you do if I refuse to leave?”
Rubio let out a disbelieving breath and approached her. Scadia tried to move quickly, but her legs were stuck to the bed as if glued in place.
“Don’t come any closer. If you do, I’ll use magic.”
“Go ahead and try. If you can.”
Rubio’s face twisted with a sinister smile. Sensing danger, Scadia hurriedly tried to channel her mana, but for some reason, it wouldn’t leave her body. It merely swirled inside before vanishing futilely. Without that, she couldn’t cast magic. As she repeatedly attempted to cast spells in confusion, Rubio burst into laughter.
“Puhahahaha! What’s wrong? Having trouble?”
“…What did you do to me?”
“Who knows. I have no idea what you’re talking about. Maybe your head’s just not working because you drank too much?”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Tell me the truth. What did you do?”
Scadia was firm. She refused to entertain the possibility that she had made a mistake. She had no doubts about herself whatsoever. That arrogant and haughty demeanor only fueled the man’s desire. Rubio admitted the truth.
“I didn’t do much. I just slipped in a little sleeping pill.”
“…A sleeping pill?”
“Ah, and it also has the side effect of hindering mana flow and relaxing muscles.”
“So that was your plan from the beginning. You trash.”
What Scadia hated most was being unable to control even her own desires. The events of her childhood had left a kind of trauma. She glared at Rubio with contempt and berated him.
“Hahaha! Trash, you say. Your words are excessive.”
“Excessive? No, even calling you trash is too generous. How many times have you done this?”
Scadia kept the conversation going—not because she was interested in his crimes, but simply to buy time. She had arranged with her maid to meet early and return home, so by now the maid should have sensed something was wrong and called for help. If she was lucky, she might be rescued before Rubio could violate her.
The problem was that Rubio had no intention of playing along. He wanted to take Scadia as quickly as possible.
“How many? Hmm… I don’t remember. But don’t worry. This is my first time touching a noble. Anyway, enough pointless talk. Shall we get to the main event? The effects should be kicking in about now.”
“Effects? What do you—”
Scadia, who had been voicing her question, suddenly moaned as a sensation rose from her lower abdomen. Her womb throbbed. A spark ignited deep within her uterus and spread through her entire body in an instant. The burning heat brought her a single impulse.
‘I need a man.’
Though she had never even masturbated in her life, a pure and untouched woman, her body now craved pleasure. Realizing that Rubio had drugged her with an aphrodisiac, Scadia sharpened her vigilance and struggled to maintain her sanity. Meanwhile, Rubio, who had approached, stroked her shoulder.
“Finally, the effects are showing. You woke up too early, so the timing was off.”
“Haa… You. Do you think you’ll get away with this? The Maryland Count family won’t forgive you.”
Rubio’s family was the Hermes Viscount household. Compared to the Maryland Count family, a prestigious magical lineage, their standing was worlds apart. The moment Scadia reported this, not only he but his entire family would be destroyed. Yet in that situation, Rubio laughed.
“Euhahaha! That would be true. But it won’t happen.”
“…What?”
“Look over there.”
Rubio pointed to one side. There sat a transparent crystal orb, faintly emitting mana light as if it were still active. Its meaning was all too clear.
“You’re going to record this?”
“Yes, exactly. The moment you report this to your family, I’ll release the video. Then the world will pity you while also looking down on you. Men will wish they could violate you someday, and women will whisper that you’re dirty. Isn’t that too harsh a price to pay just to punish someone like me?”
“……”
Scadia bit her lip hard. His words weren’t wrong. People would indeed react that way if this became known. She would instantly become a filthy whore.
As Scadia fell silent, Rubio, wearing a satisfied smile, lowered his gaze.
“Anyway, we’ve talked too long. I can’t hold back anymore. Shall we begin?”
His hand, which had been sticky as it stroked her shoulder, grabbed the hem of her dress. Scadia kicked her legs wildly.
“Don’t touch me! Get away!”
“Stay still. The outcome won’t change anyway. If you behave, I’ll be gentle.”
“Don’t make me laugh! Do you think I’d allow someone like you?”
Her body screamed for her to surrender to the man before her, but Scadia ignored it all and rejected Rubio. Even with her muscles relaxed and her mana sealed, her resistance was fierce. Finally, Rubio’s patience ran out, and he struck her cheek hard.
Smack!
“Aah!”
Scadia’s head snapped to the side. Already dazed, the impact left her unable to keep her balance. She collapsed weakly onto the bed.
“This fucking bitch is so damn annoying! What’s the harm in just giving it up nicely?”
Rubio spat out his anger and overpowered Scadia. She could no longer resist actively.
“N-no. Get away…”
“Yeah. Just keep doing that. It’s more fun to fuck when you’re like this.”
Rip!
Rubio violently tore her dress. Scadia tried to buy even a little more time, but it crumbled with a single gesture from Rubio. Just as her skin was about to be exposed—
BOOM!
With a tremendous crash, the door flew off its hinges and smashed into the wall, shattering. In the doorway stood a man. Though his face was shadowed and unidentifiable, Scadia felt she knew his identity. A man she hated, yet also longed for. Someone she didn’t want to see, yet wanted to see; someone she couldn’t trust, yet trusted more than anyone. The man who had become the object of her love and hate.
‘Luan…’
Now the lover of another woman, he had come to save her.
“Get away from that woman right now.”
In the pitch-black darkness, silver eyes burned with fury.
*
Honestly, I thought I wouldn’t care. After all, she was a woman who had always hurled harsh words at me and hadn’t hesitated to use other men to provoke my jealousy. So I should have been fine, but seeing Scadia collapsed like that made me angry. The red handprint on her cheek only fanned the flames of my rage.
I threw the man I was holding to the side.
“Guh!”
He was the one who had guided me here. The guy who had come out of the bathroom with the bastard inside. Ignoring the man clutching his neck and coughing, I stepped into the room.
“W-what the hell are you? Can’t you see we’re in the middle of something good? Get out right now!”
The man who had been trying to rape Scadia, flustered by my appearance, spouted nonsense. The woman was clearly not in her right mind, her dress was torn to shreds, and there was a mark on her cheek—anyone could tell this wasn’t a normal situation. I let out a twisted laugh in disbelief and approached, slapping his cheek.
Smack!
The moment I struck him, the mana I infused shattered his jawbone and knocked out all his teeth.
“Aaaagh!”
In agony, the man rolled on the floor clutching his face. Frowning at the unpleasant scream, I raised my foot and crushed his groin.
Crunch!
The man bid farewell to his life as a male, unable to even scream, only gurgling before foaming at the mouth and passing out.
Only then did I approach Scadia.
“Scadia. Are you okay?”
“A… aaah—”
Scadia, who had been letting out small moans as if sensing my presence, lifted her head. Her eyes were clouded. The aphrodisiac had dulled her reason. But the moment she saw me, her eyes instantly filled with desire.
“Luan!!”
Scadia cried out my name desperately and threw herself into my arms.
“Haa… haa!”
She pressed her body against mine, breathing hot air into my ear. It was an explicit appeal.
‘She’s completely addicted to the drug.’
Whatever powerful substance he had used, even Scadia, who had hated me so much, had cast aside her pride and clung to me. I placed my hand on her back. Activating Hwasin-hwa, I awakened the Phoenix’s power and purified the aphrodisiac with the Pure Flame. Scadia’s breathing gradually calmed. Once all the drug’s effects were cleansed, she lost consciousness.
I draped my jacket over Scadia’s shoulders. As I carried her out of the room, Isis, who had been waiting, rushed over.
“Luan, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine. More importantly, could you handle things here? I’ll take Scadia to the carriage.”
“Yes, do that. I’ll take care of this person.”
“Thanks.”
Leaving the rest to Isis, I headed straight out of the party venue toward the carriage. Her maid, Lenny, followed.
“I’m so relieved! If it hadn’t been for you, Lord Luan, something terrible could have happened.”
“…Tell Scadia to be more careful next time. Not to eat or drink anything given by others so carelessly.”
“Of course! I’ll make sure to tell her. I don’t know why someone as cautious as her ended up like this. If you had been by her side, Lord Luan, this wouldn’t have happened… Ah! I-I’m sorry. I didn’t say that for you to hear.”
“I know. Don’t worry about it.”
Stopping Lenny, who kept bowing, I quickened my pace. Finally reaching the carriage, I carefully laid her down on the seat. Moonlight streaming through the window illuminated her brilliant silver hair. I gently stroked it.
“Still as soft as ever.”
When was the last time I had touched her hair? I couldn’t quite remember. Lost in memories for a moment, I soon came to my senses and stepped out of the carriage.