A Lewd Scheme of Hidden Intent
The sky was heavily blanketed with dark clouds, casting a gloomy shadow over the morning. Though the rain had not yet started, the air hung heavy, threatening to unleash a downpour at any moment.
It was then. Along with a flash of lightning tearing through the clouds, a deafening roar of thunder reverberated sharply in Su-ryeon's ears as she offered her morning prayers.
"Rumble— crash—!"
"Ah!"
Startled by the sudden thunder, Su-ryeon took a step back. The heel of her sandal caught on an uneven stone in the floor, sending her off balance and teetering on the verge of a nasty fall.
"Oh—! Oh—!"
As she flailed her arms in a desperate bid to stay upright, a pair of hands gently caught her by the waist, steadying her and pulling her back to her feet.
Relieved to have escaped a fall, Su-ryeon turned her head to thank her savior. The moment she saw Eun-hye's reassuring face, the lingering panic in her chest began to melt away.
"Whew... Eun-hye! Thank you so much."
"You must be careful."
Eun-hye gently released her hold on Su-ryeon's waist and patted her hair affectionately. Then, she looked up at the darkening sky, her expression clouding with unease.
"The weather is terrible today. It looks like it's going to pour any second..."
"Yes... I think so too."
The gloomy morning cast an ominous shadow over both of their hearts. Just then, the quiet door creaked open, and Ok-hui entered, carrying their breakfast with an unreadable expression.
"Breakfast is ready, everyone!"
At those words, Hajin, who had been fast asleep, bolted upright as she always did and scrambled to the table, claiming the first seat.
"Food!!"
Hajin's antics were a familiar sight to Su-ryeon by now. Watching her with fond, affectionate eyes, Su-ryeon approached the table to join them for breakfast.
After serving the food, Ok-hui stood in silence, watching the girls eat. Finally, she turned to Su-ryeon, her voice carrying a heavy, significant weight.
"Su-ryeon, after you finish breakfast, there is somewhere you need to go with me."
Su-ryeon froze, a piece of bread halfway to her mouth. She looked up at Ok-hui with trembling eyes, desperate to confirm the terrifying thought that had instantly flashed through her mind. She asked in a shaky voice:
"...Is it... a punishment?"
Seeing the sheer terror in Su-ryeon's eyes, Ok-hui shook her head gently, offering a warm, reassuring smile to soothe her fears.
"No, it's nothing like that. You don't need to worry."
Su-ryeon let out a sigh of relief, clutching her chest, but the vague sense of dread lingering in her heart did not fade. Sensing that something was amiss, Eun-hye chimed in, pressing Ok-hui for details.
"Then where are you taking her so early in the morning? Is there something scheduled for today?"
In truth, Ok-hui had no idea what was planned either. However, Duke Baek Kang-ho had given her explicit instructions, and she could at least share that much with them.
"I don't know the details myself, but the Duke... he ordered me to bathe Su-ryeon and prepare her to go out."
"...Ah..."
The word 'out' sent a cold shiver of anxiety through Su-ryeon. Whenever a sex slave was taken outside, they had to wear a collar and leash like a dog... Her hand instinctively drifted to the leather band around her neck, a wave of intense humiliation washing over her.
Yet, an even greater terror than the humiliation was the absolute unknown—the fear of where Baek Kang-ho intended to take her.
"Going out? You don't even know where?"
Eun-hye pressed further on behalf of the anxious Su-ryeon, but Ok-hui could only offer a helpless look.
"I'm afraid I don't know that either..."
With Ok-hui's final answer, a heavy silence fell over the room. A suffocating dread hung over the dining table, turning what should have been a quiet breakfast into a tense, agonizing ordeal.
After breakfast, Su-ryeon quietly followed Ok-hui to bathe. However, the path they took was entirely different from the one she walked every day.
As they turned down an unfamiliar corridor, her steps naturally slowed, fueled by growing suspicion. The slave bathhouse lay in the exact opposite direction. Su-ryeon's anxiety began to spike.
"Lady Ok-hui... this path... it doesn't lead to the bathhouse, does it?"
Hearing the tremor of fear in her voice, Ok-hui turned back and offered a gentle, reassuring look.
"The Duke gave special orders today. You are to be bathed in the Noble-only Bathhouse."
"What???"
Su-ryeon's mind spun. Why on earth would he do that? An ominous question mark loomed over her, but with no answers in sight, she had no choice but to follow Ok-hui in silence.
After navigating a maze of long, unfamiliar hallways, they finally arrived in front of the grand doors of the Noble-only Bathhouse.
Waiting for them was a middle-aged man with sharp, piercing eyes and a neatly trimmed mustache. The moment his cold, critical gaze landed on Su-ryeon, she instinctively shrank back.
As if he had been expecting her, the man stepped forward, his face devoid of any warmth or smile.
"Cheon Su-ryeon?"
His low, heavy voice cut through the air, sending a sudden chill down Su-ryeon's spine. His sharp eyes scrutinized her thoroughly, as if testing her very worth.
"Yes..."
Once she confirmed her identity, the middle-aged man pushed up his spectacles with a single finger and introduced himself in a stiff, formal tone.
"I am Alex, the head butler of this estate. From this moment on, I will be overseeing your preparations for the outing."
Having introduced himself, Alex pushed open the massive doors to the bathhouse. He scanned Su-ryeon's face once more with an indifferent gaze before speaking flatly.
"Go on. Enter."
"Yes..."
Giving a quiet nod, Su-ryeon cast a fleeting, anxious glance back at Ok-hui before stepping through the threshold.
Ok-hui read the silent plea in the girl's eyes. Yet, powerless to explain the situation, she could only offer a gentle nod and a warm smile, trying her best to offer some small comfort.
Steeling her resolve, Su-ryeon stepped inside. Ok-hui watched her retreating figure, her eyes filled with a silent prayer that no harm would come to the girl today.
As soon as Su-ryeon was inside, Alex quietly shut the heavy doors and stepped toward Ok-hui, clearly having further instructions.
"Go to Park Eun-hye. Tell her to change into her punishment outfit and wait to go out. It is the Duke's command."
"What???"
Ok-hui's eyes widened in shock. She couldn't begin to fathom what depraved scheme Baek Kang-ho was plotting today.
Yet, the Duke's word was absolute law. Though a cold dread gripped her heart, defiance was out of the question. In the end, she had no choice but to obey.
"Understood."
Ok-hui forced out the response despite her reluctance, then turned and walked away, her footsteps heavy with worry as she headed back to find Eun-hye.
Meanwhile, inside the bathhouse, Su-ryeon looked around, her eyes wide with astonishment at the sheer opulence of the interior.
Even back when she was a high-ranking noble, her family's estate had never possessed a bathhouse this magnificent. The sheer decadence of the space felt almost overwhelming.
Standing in the serene silence, she closed her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath. But before she could fully calm her racing heart, two maidservants materialized before her, moving as silently as ghosts.
Without a word, they approached and began to deftly unbutton her clothes with practiced, delicate fingers. Startled by their sudden touch, Su-ryeon took a hasty step back, her voice trembling.
"I-I can do it myself."
But Su-ryeon's wishes meant nothing to them. The maids continued their work in absolute silence, their movements perfectly synchronized. Swallowing her discomfort, Su-ryeon had no choice but to stand still and surrender her body to their touch.
As her clothes fell away and exposed her naked flesh, a deep blush rushed to her cheeks, and she instinctively tried to cover herself with her hands. At that moment, one of the maids casually draped a soft silk robe over her shoulders and gently guided her toward the steaming pool.
As Su-ryeon sank into the warm, soothing water, the maids began to wash her with meticulous care. Every unfamiliar touch sent a jolt through her heightened senses, but she did her best to maintain a calm, stoic expression, refusing to let her discomfort show.
Once the awkward bath was over, Su-ryeon was escorted to a grand vanity and seated before a large mirror.
An elaborate makeup session began immediately. Smooth foundation was swept across her skin, her eyebrows were meticulously shaped, her eyes were shaded to add depth, and her lips were painted a striking, vivid red. With every touch of the brush, her already breathtaking beauty was elevated to a dazzling, ethereal level.
Staring at her stunning reflection in the glass, Su-ryeon felt a profound sense of confusion. She was a mere sex slave—why were they going to such lengths to adorn her?
When the makeup was finally complete, the dress prepared for her was brought forward.
Adorned with intricate embroidery and shimmering jewels, the gown was a masterpiece of elegance and grace. The moment Su-ryeon laid eyes on it, her breath caught in her throat.
Yet, the maids paid no heed to her bewilderment. Giving her no time to process her shock, they quickly stepped forward and began to drape the magnificent gown over her body.
As the fine silk and glittering ornaments embraced her figure, Su-ryeon looked more regal and enchanting than ever. But the more beautiful she became, the deeper her dread grew.
Why... why are they dressing me in something so magnificent?
When she had first heard they were going out, she had envisioned being dragged through the streets like a dog, bound by a heavy leather collar and leash.
Yet here she was, stripped of the collar that marked her as a sex slave, dressed in a gown fit for royalty. The stark contrast only fueled her growing apprehension about their destination.
It makes no sense... Where on earth are they taking me today?
When the preparations were finally complete, Su-ryeon's beauty shone with a radiant, goddess-like luster. The maids stood in stunned silence, exchanging glances of sheer awe as they gazed upon her.
It was then.
Alex, the head butler, opened the door and stepped into the room. The moment his eyes fell upon Su-ryeon's breathtaking form, he lost his words, a rare murmur of admiration escaping his lips.
"Oh...!"
Though she looked absolutely radiant, Su-ryeon felt only a cold, suffocating dread. The mystery of why they had transformed her into such a vision weighed heavily on her mind, offering no comfort.
As she struggled to suppress her mounting panic, Alex quietly stepped closer. At last, he began to reveal the purpose behind it all.
As Alex's explanation unfolded, Su-ryeon felt her entire body turn to ice. He spoke with absolute nonchalance, delivering a horrific, unfathomable truth that she could scarcely believe—and desperately wished was nothing but a nightmare.
[AI-Generated Illustration]