The Deal with Aria

"You say it's a request, but it's nothing too grand. In fact, it should be even easier for someone of the demon race."

"What is it?"

"You must have at least heard that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Rubalu is a kingdom where fish-people and humans coexist?"

I was already aware. I'd heard it from Beatrice. I nodded immediately. "I was suddenly thrust onto the throne, so I have many difficulties to contend with. For example, the friction with Goreudeungeo, the leader of the fish-people."

"So?"

"I want you to kill them. In return, I'll hand over the Precious Jade. How about it? Not a bad deal, is it?"

"So you're planning to eliminate your political enemies through me? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠You're an amusing woman."

"What part of it?"

"The part where you think things will go as smoothly as you imagine."

"Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Sorry to say, but I could wipe Rubalu off the map right now. Do you know why I'm still listening to you?"

"Why?"

Aria's gaze remained sharp. "Simply because you happen to look like my type of woman. So don't get the wrong idea."

"Hah, don't tell me you want me to become your wife or something?"

"Of course not. I have no desire to be tied down. Still, since I've taken quite a liking to you, I'll grant your request."

"...You'll grant it?"

"That's right. I'm not the kind of man to go back on my word. But I have a condition of my own."

"What is it...?"

"While I stay in Rubalu, you will personally attend to me. I consider that a fair enough condition, don't you?"

"Attend to you...?"

"Exactly the kind of attendance you're thinking of. Do I really need to explain?"

Aria's expression turned contemplative for a moment. She was clearly weighing the pros and cons in her mind. Soon enough, she seemed to have finished her calculations and nodded. "If the price for securing my rule over Rubalu is that, then it's an acceptable one."

"Shame, you say? Well, think of it however you like."

It suited me just fine. Aria seemed like a strong-willed woman. And women like that were usually quite difficult to break. Naturally, if negotiations could proceed like this, it was all the better. Just the thought of Aria serving me already had me stirring below the waist. "Tell me right now where that Goreudeungeo bastard lives. I'll erase his existence as soon as tomorrow."

"...Fine. I'll trust you, then."

"When you're attending to me, soften your tone a little. I don't like dealing with headstrong bitches."

"How rude."

"You should know that I'm already tolerating your rudeness by not slaughtering everyone in the palace except you. And just so you know, my subordinates aren't nearly as patient as I am, so don't provoke them. Ah, and prepare a room for me to stay in. Preferably the largest one."

"...Understood."

The negotiations had concluded cleanly. First, that bastard Goreudeungeo. All I had to do was kill him and return.

***

"Who put you up to this?"

"Put me up to it? Why assume someone did?"

"...Hah! If not, then how do you expect me to accept this madness?!"

The mansion of Goreudeungeo, a noble and effectively the Prime Minister of Rubalu, was in complete chaos. When he sensed the disturbance and rose from his chambers, the first thing he saw was none other than corpses. The soldiers guarding his bedroom, the servants who attended to him—all of them were dead. He hastily grabbed his sword, but it was meaningless. Because standing before him was a man. A man drenched in blood, gripping a sword—clearly the culprit. But no matter how he looked at it, he couldn't shake the suffocating bloodlust emanating from him.

"What's there to accept? Just die cleanly, and it'll be over."

"Shut your mouth!"

Swish. The man stood still and swung his sword. At his movement, Goreudeungeo clamped his mouth shut.

The sword wasn't aimed at him. Rather, it was directed at his son standing beside him. "Gaaaah!"

In an instant, one arm went flying, and he could no longer maintain his smile. Goreudeungeo stared at the man. His expression was utterly indifferent, as if what had just transpired was nothing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more than light entertainment. "What do you want? I'll give you anything! Just name it!"

"Can you really give me what I want?"

"Yes, money or whatever—just say the word! I'll give you as much as you want!"

"Then you can bring me the Precious Jade too, right?"

"The Precious Jade...? Don't tell me—you! Did that bitch send you?!"

Only then did Goreudeungeo grasp the situation. In mere minutes after the intrusion, every guard in the mansion had been slaughtered. The intruder had left traces as if deliberately flaunting his work, and now, aside from Goreudeungeo's own family, no one else remained in the room. "That bitch? So you have someone in mind?"

"Of course it's that Christine bitch! She must've hired an assassin because she knows I'm pressuring her for the throne. But the so-called Monarch hired a demon as her assassin?! That bitch deserves to be chewed alive!"

"Oho, scary. Seems like you two really don't get along, huh?"

"So it was her command after all. I'll pay you double what she gave you. No—you said you wanted the Precious Jade, right? Once I ascend to the throne, I'll hand over every treasure in the kingdom. So why not join forces with me?"

"Oh-ho?"

Thinking his strategy was working, Goreudeungeo pressed on. "What do you say? Doesn't that sound like a much better deal?"

"Not really?"

Swish. "Gaaaah!"

This time, it was his own arm that flew off. Goreudeungeo's face darkened—not just from the pain. "Why... whyyy?!!"

"First, I hate the smell of fish. And second, you've been rolling your eyes around this whole time—hard to trust someone like that."

"You're doing this for that?! So you're a racist too, huh?!"

"Third, if I side with you, I won't get to taste the Monarch's cunt."

"Wha—what...?!"

"Well then, that's it."

The dagger Jin-woo threw embedded itself squarely in Goreudeungeo's chest—right where his heart was. His body crumpled forward. Whether from sheer resentment or not, his eyes refused to close. "F-Father!!"

A desperate cry for his father escaped Goreudeungeo's son—just before a sword pierced his throat. Silence fell. "Tch, what a shame. If only his wife were still alive, I could've sampled some fish pussy."

Unfortunately, Goreudeungeo's wife was already long gone. "Shall we clean up without a trace?"

It was Zagan who spoke. Jin-woo shook his head. "No need. It's better to leave it as a show."

"Understood."

***

The next day dawned, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and Rubalu was thrown into chaos. Rumors had spread like wildfire that Goreudeungeo—the second most powerful figure in Rubalu after the Monarch—had been assassinated. Conspiracy theories ran rampant: some claimed rival nobles with grudges had orchestrated it, others blamed invading pirates, and still others insisted the Monarch herself had done it to keep Goreudeungeo in check. "Seems things moved quite fast."

"Shouldn't work be done thoroughly and swiftly?"

Brushing aside the rumors, I met with Aria. Though she tried to hide it, she was smiling. "Impressive. I'll hand over the Precious Jade."

"No, that can wait. I plan to rest here for a few days. No rush."

"You're not leaving right away?"

"No. I still have to receive your service—you're not thinking of backing out now, are you?"

Crash. With just a light squeeze, the table before me shattered into pieces. Aria let out a sigh at the sight.

"At the very least, I don't speak with a forked tongue. Especially not to someone who could bring Rubalu to ruin overnight."

"Wise choice. Then shall I fetch you some water first? Ah, and clean the room as well."

"...What did you say?"

"You're my attendant, aren't you? After cleaning the room, I'd like you to bring me a meal. I'm quite hungry."

"...Very well."

"Ah, come to think of it, since you're an attendant, I'd really like you to wear a maid's uniform."

"So that's your taste...?"

I nodded. I had no intention of denying it. After all, what man could dislike a woman in a maid's outfit? "You could say that."

Aria stepped out with a thoroughly bewildered expression. I sank into the plush bed. "Is this the Monarch's bed?"

The softness was exceptional. It would be perfect to enjoy this for a while before the meal arrived. I immediately called for Beatrice. She was staying in the adjacent room. "You called?"

"Yeah, spread your legs. Let me use that pussy."

"Ha... I knew it."

As if she had anticipated this, Beatrice entered without a single stitch of clothing. By now, standing naked before me seemed to have become second nature to her. "Lift your hips and get on all fours."

I gave her plump ass a firm slap as I spoke. Beatrice immediately sprawled onto the bed, her hips swaying slightly—as if urging me to plunge inside. "Should I just put it in right away?"

"Yes...!"

Beatrice answered with flushed cheeks. With one hand teasing her nipple, I slowly pushed my cock inside. Sluurp. "Haaah! It's still too big..."

"And isn't that a good thing?"

"You don't have to say it out loud... I already know..."

The slight roughness of her pubic hair irritated me. I made a mental note to pluck every last strand of it today. Squelch! Squelch! I began moving my hips slowly. Beatrice let out a practiced moan. And at that very moment—a voice filled with shock rang out. Crash!

"W-what in the world are you doing?!"

Aria, who had obediently changed into a maid's outfit and was bringing in the meal as instructed, dropped the tray. The floor was now littered with shattered dishware.

"Exactly what it looks like?"