Feigned Submission and the Looming Betrayal
“Nnghhaaah!!! Hnngghh!!!!”
Aero cried out in a voice stained with agony and ecstasy. In the past, she had somehow tried to resist this pleasure, but now she simply surrendered her body to the sensations reverberating deep inside her, mindlessly shaking her hips on her own.
“Khhaaa! Haaah~ Hnngh! Go… good… so good…!”
Each movement brought a vivid rush of sensation. The hot, rigid shaft stimulating her depths so clearly. Captivated by the overwhelming 'bliss' that lashed through her entire body, she endlessly savored the feeling of having become a body more lascivious than even the young courtesan she had been during her days as one of the Three Great Gisaeng... no, even more depraved.
Since that day of her 'defeat,' Aero had lost all will to resist pleasure. Above all, since ending her relationship with this man would require a long time anyway, she had resolved not to provoke him with any more meaningless actions.
Or so she thought.
'W-well... pretending to hate it here would just upset him anyway. Better to play along sincerely and lure him into complacency.'
This was a time to keep her head low for the sake of a future counterattack. Surrendering to pleasure and striving to satisfy him was just a stepping stone for that, she told herself. With such excuses...
Aero stuck out her tongue, drool dripping freely as she threw herself into fully savoring this moment with all her might.
'I can go back... just a little longer... if I endure just a bit, I'll return to my husband's side... this is... just acting, all fake. A strategy to restore everything...! Ahh... th-there... n-no... haaahh!!!'
Even as she flailed amid waves of ecstasy, Aero desperately reminded herself that she hadn't truly submitted. But in this moment, as she struggled to cling to her sanity, the conversation from moments ago... this man's proposal... kept circling relentlessly in her mind.
It was precisely...
“Hah!”
“Nnghaaah! Khhiiiiiing~~!!!”
Hot semen flooded her pussy, filling it completely. Along with the sticky sensation coating her already drenched folds, Aero felt her strength drain from her body, collapsing limply from Han Taeyang's embrace onto the floor.
“Haa... haa... haa...”
With ragged breaths, sweat-soaked Aero lay there. Amid the lingering afterglow of pleasure, a smile crept unconsciously onto her lips as her head spun, her body surrendering to the crashing wave of fatigue.
At that moment.
“So, have you given it any thought?”
“...!”
His question rang in her ear. Realizing it wasn't time to let her mind wander, Aero forced her heavy eyelids open and struggled to sit up.
“Let me say it again: you have nowhere left to return to anyway. And if the truth comes out like this, your future holds nothing but ruin. Wouldn't it be better to become completely mine... to come under our Han family instead?”
“...”
Aero remained silent in response to Han Taeyang's words. And rightly so—this man was proposing she completely sever ties with her husband, Baek Man-hwan.
Of course, a concubine in a prestigious yangban household outranked a merchant's consort and seemed more stable in some ways. No matter how much money one had, this was Joseon, ruled by the yangban nobility.
But that wasn't what mattered to Aero right now. No matter how important worldly riches and power were, how could she abandon her beloved husband for another man? Especially this vile Han Taeyang who had subdued her through despicable means.
Yet, regardless of her thoughts, Aero wasn't in a position to reject it outright.
“I need... a bit more time to think. It's true my situation isn't good, but deciding something this big requires time. I have to consider Myeonghwa Pavilion's affairs too.”
Naturally, Myeonghwa Pavilion held a significant stake from the Baek Man Merchant Group. If she, practically the pavilion's owner, turned against them now, things would get messy—especially with tensions high over trade with the Central Plains. Aero emphasized the need to play it safe.
“We can cover losses like that easily enough.”
“It's not just about money. This involves trust above all. Even roadside peddlers value credit—how can people like us break a stamped contract lightly?”
“Contracts like that won't matter soon anyway.”
“...Pardon?”
“...Never mind. So, how much more time do you need?”
“Probably after the trade with the Central Plains wraps up. I'll sort things out by then and give you a firm answer.”
By delaying without outright refusing, Aero subtly left room for 'acceptance.' In truth, from her position preparing a counterattack, it was just to avoid foolishly poking her head into this man's mouth.
Damaging her ties with Baek Man-hwan here would mean true, irreversible ruin.
With quiet worry that her true intentions might slip, Aero watched Han Taeyang rise, never fully relaxing her guard.
“Then, until next time.”
“...Safe travels.”
With those words, Han Taeyang left the room.
Immediately after.
“Haaah... haaah... heuk...”
Aero exhaled roughly as the pent-up tension released. Before, she hadn't been this on edge. Lying to that man had given her no particular thrill; she could even handle it leisurely.
But when had it started? Her body now seized with instinctive fear the moment she stood before him. As if resisting an unstoppable being... an eerie sensation rising even from her instincts.
This alone showed how deeply terrified she was of him... how thoroughly her mind had submitted.
Aero steadied her emotions with effort and reaffirmed her resolve.
'Stay calm... As the old saying goes, even in a tiger's den, keep your wits and you'll live. Somehow... I have to seize the chance and crush that man completely.'
The silver lining: he trusted her enough to make such a proposal. And that raised the success odds of her plans considerably.
Clutching that one positive, Aero gripped her trembling hand tightly, gently caressing the jade ring on her finger... the token from her husband.
'Just wait a little longer... my lord... I will... I swear, I'll return to your side...'
Imagining his face more desperately than ever today, Aero soothed her heart. She was still her husband's woman... her body might have yielded, but her heart remained unbroken...
*
“Come on! Stack the remaining goods over here!”
“We're departing soon! Final check—no items left behind!”
The north gate entrance of the capital teemed with people, merchants, and laden carts—a sight that even awed me, from the modern world.
'Didn't expect this many... but then, the Joseon empire's top merchant group isn't just for show.'
Seeing in person what the original story glossed over in a few lines felt profoundly different. Considering the value in those bundles, it was like an entire conglomerate on the move.
As the caravan began departing amid the bustle, a sly smile curved my lips.
“Worry not. It will go well.”
Lee So-young spoke in a calm voice. It was still awkward to bring Im Jeong-ok openly, so she accompanied me as the household's 'lady of the house.'
For the jealous Lee So-young, this must have been a delight. Watching her munch a rice cake, tail wagging like a dog, I inwardly found her cute... but separately, a chill laced my words.
“We'll see... whether it really will.”
“...? What's wrong? Is there a problem?”
“...No. Let's head back. It's a long way—we'll stay at a post station tonight. I have a gift for Mother too.”
“Ah...”
Lee So-young's expression softened moistly again at my words. But separate from her reaction, a cold sneer settled in my heart... in the heart of one who knew the 'original story's' future.