A Golden Leash
Squelch! Squirt! Squelch! Squirt!
Count Timong's children paid no mind to whoever had opened the door and entered, doing nothing but mindlessly thrusting their hips. Every time his shaft plunged into her cleft, the mixture of semen and arousal fluids that already filled her to the brim was forced out, spraying into the air.
"Ah... Ahhh!"
The Count's daughter accepted his length, her eyes rolled back as her entire body trembled violently.
"No different from beasts," the Crown Prince remarked, looking down at Lucrecia, who remained prostrate at his feet.
"Lucia. There is no one else here to watch. How much longer do you intend to crawl like an animal? Though, I do not mind if that is your preference..."
"Ngh..."
At the Crown Prince's words, Lucrecia slowly pushed herself up.
Drip... Drip...
Liquid dripped onto the floor where she stood. The moment I noticed the moisture trickling down her ankle from beneath her long skirt, the rage inside me burned even hotter.
"Damn it... Lucrecia. Are you alright?"
Before I knew it, the Crown Prince had released the leash. He made no further contact with her, as if to claim that leading her around like that had merely been a concession to the mansion's rules and nothing more. Had it not been for the smirk playing on his lips, I might have actually believed him.
"Kael..."
I rushed to her side and examined her body. Her lips were swollen and red, and her neck and collarbones were covered in saliva stains. Her snow-white breasts were flushed crimson, chafed from the Crown Prince's rough handling and from scraping against the floor while she crawled. Her nipples trembled, their pale pink hue darkened to a deep, sensitive red.
"Kael... Please, don't stare so intensely..."
I must have been staring too hard. She quickly crossed her arms to cover her chest. Yet, her breasts were so large that they remained half-exposed, squeezed together by her arms in a way that only made them look more tantalizing.
"What happened...? Right after Eleonoa entered the banquet hall, I went looking for you... What is that red choker? If I remember correctly, the outfit Count Timong gave you had a black choker..."
"You are right. It was definitely a black choker at first... But when I was led to the changing room by the maids standing behind that butler, Edgar, at the front gate, they must have swapped it while changing my clothes."
"I called out to you in the hallway earlier. Did you not hear me?"
Lucrecia shook her head.
"No. There is no way I wouldn't have heard your voice, Kael. After leaving the changing room, I was tasked with tidying up the bedding in the empty rooms, just like the other maids. But once word spread that the banquet had begun, men suddenly appeared from all over the mansion and started dragging the maids away. I was desperately trying to escape when I ran into His Highness at a dead end..."
Damn it. I had taken this request far too lightly. If it were simply a matter of striking down everyone in this mansion, it wouldn't have been difficult. With their abilities and my own, subduing the people here was well within our power. But the problem was not one that could be solved with brute force. Even if we could easily overpower everyone, could we handle the political fallout that would follow? I couldn't answer that so easily.
If the Crown Prince hadn't been there... If she had wandered the mansion alone and ended up caught by those men, Lucrecia would have...
As the horrific scenario flashed through my mind, I pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help you..."
"Kael..."
She placed her hands on my back, gently stroking it.
"It is alright. This much is... if it is for your sake, and for the restoration of House Roenheim..."
"..."
If only I weren't a commoner. If I possessed a status as noble as the Crown Prince, who was currently watching us with amusement, would she—no, would both of them—have had to go to such lengths to restore their families? Perhaps I could have easily rebuilt their houses for them. But I was merely a commoner, and all I could do was offer my meager assistance. In my utter powerlessness, what I had to do right now was...
"Thank you, Your Imperial Highness."
I bowed my head to the Crown Prince. Even though his actions toward Lucrecia were sickening and detestable, it was ultimately thanks to him that she was safe.
"Indeed. You finally show some proper manners, Kael. What do you plan to do now?"
"That is..."
I hesitated, momentarily at a loss for words. We had come here to gather information on Count Timong's missing children. But those children had already lost their minds, reduced to beasts consumed by lust right before our eyes, while Lucrecia and Eleonoa were in constant danger of losing their chastity.
I had already witnessed how Lucrecia was humiliated right before my eyes. Because of that, I was deeply worried about Eleonoa, who was currently alone in the banquet hall. Since she was attending as a guest, her situation might be slightly better than Lucrecia's in her maid uniform, but she still needed to escape this depraved mansion as soon as possible. I had to protect them, no matter what it took.
"Your Highness. You mentioned earlier that you would help us. Could you perhaps help us escape this mansion safely?"
"Does that request include these two as well?"
Squelch! Squirt! Squelch! Squirt!
"Groan... Argh!"
"Ah! Ah! Ahhh!"
The Crown Prince pointed at Count Timong's two children, who were mating like wild beasts. Smuggling two people out of the mansion when they had been reduced to mindless, sex-crazed animals was practically impossible. Even if we knocked them unconscious and carried them, it would inevitably draw unwanted attention.
"Ah... Nnh!"
At that moment, my eyes met the Count's daughter. I had assumed she had completely lost her mind, just like her brother who was mindlessly pulling her leash and thrusting into her. But even as she trembled and groaned with every plunge of his shaft, she was looking directly at me, tears streaming down her face.
"Your Highness. It seems the Young Lady is still capable of rational thought."
"Oh?"
Intrigued, the Crown Prince approached her. Kneeling on the bed and being taken from behind by her brother, the Young Lady blinked desperately as the Crown Prince drew near. But as if to crush her lingering hope, he reached out and pinched her small, bouncing nipple, pulling it hard.
"Ah?! Ahhh!!!"
The Young Lady gasped, her entire body shuddering violently before she collapsed onto the bed. Yet, the Young Lord behind her didn't even seem to notice his sister had fainted, continuing to thrust his hips mindlessly.
"Your Highness?"
"Kael. If you keep calling me 'Your Highness,' you will blow my cover. Shh. Stop addressing me like that and call me Sir Conrad."
"...Understood, Sir Conrad."
"Lucia. Freeze the Young Lord's body as much as possible. Do not kill him, but dull his senses so he feels the effects of the aphrodisiac less."
Lucrecia extended her hand toward the Young Lord, releasing a wave of freezing frost. The various fluids coating his body froze instantly, and frost coated his hair. His relentless thrusting gradually slowed to a crawl.
With a light nudge from the Crown Prince, the Young Lord toppled backward, collapsing onto the bed.
Squelch!
The moment his shaft slipped out of her cleft, the hot fluids pooled inside her inner walls poured out all at once. It was impossible to tell how much had accumulated; the mixture of fluids gushed from her narrow opening like a waterfall, showing no signs of stopping. With wet, bubbling sounds, her twitching folds continuously disgorged the combined semen and arousal fluids, looking like a bottle of wine turned upside down.
"Ugh..."
The Young Lady let out a faint groan and slowly opened her eyes. Her half-lidded gaze, completely out of focus, drifted blankly toward me.
"Ah..."
She barely managed to part her lips, but the sound that escaped was unintelligible. She tried to speak a few more times, but her tongue refused to cooperate, leaving only broken syllables.
Drip...
A tear rolled down the corner of her eye, soaking into the pillow. Though she couldn't speak, those tears spoke volumes about the despair she was feeling.
"Are you alright, Young Lady? We were sent by your father. We originally came to investigate the banquet, but fortunately, we found both of you here."
"Ugh..."
The Young Lady groaned, nodding weakly.
I looked around the room. Perhaps because most of the guests here were nobles, the room was well-stocked with various amenities. Among them, I spotted a pitcher of water.
"Here, drink some water."
I brought the pitcher over and carefully poured a small stream into her mouth. At first, the water spilled past her lips, wetting her chin and neck. But as I kept offering it, she instinctively began to swallow. Gulp by gulp, moisture returned to her parched throat, and her ragged breathing gradually stabilized. Her vacant, wandering gaze slowly began to focus.
"Hmm. Lucia, your lover is quite gentle with other women as well."
"...Your Highness."
I let the Crown Prince's remark slide. The moment I asked for his help, I knew the best course of action was to ignore whatever he did—as long as it didn't involve violating Lucrecia.
"Ah... You are... sent by my father?"
Having recovered some of her strength, the Young Lady spoke slowly but clearly.
"Yes. We are Imperial Knights commissioned by your father to investigate your disappearance."
"Imperial Knights..."
"I am Max. This is Sir Conrad, and..."
"And this is Dame Lucia, Young Lady," the Crown Prince interjected, introducing Lucrecia by the alias he preferred.
I had been hesitating on how to introduce her alias, but the Crown Prince had beaten me to it, using the nickname only he called her. Lucrecia glared at him briefly, but ultimately nodded in resignation.
"All three of you are Imperial Knights... First... Ah."
The Young Lady tried to sit up, but suddenly clutched her lower abdomen and collapsed back onto the bed. Having been subjected to relentless abuse against her will, her private area was swollen and raw. Even the slightest movement seemed to cause a tearing pain.
"Haa..."
She glared at her unconscious brother. Her gaze held no familial affection, only the utter disgust one would reserve for a piece of irredeemable trash.
"Sir Conrad. How can we escape this place?"
"Hmm..."
I turned to the Crown Prince, asking for his plan.
"Normally, taking a woman out of this mansion is virtually impossible. The creators and managers of this place strictly ensure that no rumors leak to the outside world. Thus, removing any of the women is strictly forbidden."
If that was the case, smuggling anyone out was practically impossible. Should we steal a horse and carriage from the stables under the cover of night? But this place was surrounded by a barren wasteland. It had taken days just to reach this mansion by carriage. On top of that, Sir Jamal, who had driven us here, wasn't scheduled to return for several days.
"However..."
"However?"
"A select few are exceptions. There are those with special status even within this mansion. They can take women out whenever they please—though, of course, they are expected to return them eventually."
"Does that mean... Sir Conrad, you are capable of doing so?"
The Crown Prince, who had been wearing a genial smile just moments ago, let his facade slip, revealing a leisurely, calculated smirk. It was as if having such absolute authority and power was only natural for him.
"Ugh..."
"Did I not tell you, Sir Max? I shall personally show mercy and assist you with your request."
Could it really be resolved this easily? The Crown Prince, whom we had met by pure chance, had saved Lucrecia from a crisis where she might have been violated by others—though I hated to admit it—and was now offering us a way to escape safely. Was this truly just a coincidence?
Just then, as if reading my innermost thoughts, the Crown Prince spoke in a relaxed tone.
"Sir Max. Do not overvalue yourself. Unbelievable things do happen in this world. But do not mistake yourself for the protagonist of this story. There are very few in this world who can truly claim that title."
He meant that he, the heir to the Empire, was the only true protagonist. He undoubtedly believed that. Yet, there was no trace of petty arrogance in his words or actions. He had no need to boast to others, nor did he need to derive a sense of superiority from it. To him, such dominance was as natural as breathing.
"Then... what must we do?"
"It is simple, Sir Max... I shall lead these two out just as I brought them in. Of course, it might be a bit humiliating for them... but if it is to ensure a safe escape, surely they can endure that much?"
Grit.
I ground my teeth involuntarily. But since I had no better alternative, I couldn't oppose his plan. Lucrecia seemed to feel the same; she glared at the Crown Prince but ultimately had no choice but to nod in agreement. Only the Young Lady accepted the impending humiliation with calm resignation.
"Then what do you plan to do with this irredeemable trash? Can we take him as well?"
She asked, ruthlessly disparaging her own brother. The Crown Prince shook his head slightly.
"I am afraid taking a man would arouse too much suspicion. Furthermore, it is far too dangerous to move someone so heavily drugged that he cannot even think straight. While Count Timong undoubtedly wishes to save both of his children... for now, he would want his clever daughter saved first. Even if the Young Lord remains here, the Count can easily retrieve him later once he takes direct action."
"Very well. I would rather endure a brief moment of shame than stay here and be violated by that piece of trash until I die."
A heavy silence fell over the room. No one could deny that the Crown Prince's assessment was correct.
"Now, Sir Max. There is only one thing left for you to do. Do you not have another companion? Go and fetch her before anything happens to her at the banquet, and meet us at the back gate of the mansion. I shall have my carriage waiting there."
"Understood."
Had there been even a single flaw in his logic, I would have pointed it out, but everything he said was entirely reasonable. In the end, I could only nod. Just as he said, I was deeply worried about Eleonoa. At a banquet held in a place like this, she was in danger, regardless of her disguise as the daughter of Count Bern.
"Sir Conrad. Could you tell me what usually happens at the banquet hall?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary. It is simply that the sort of things that occur at noble banquets happen with a bit more frequency here."
The Crown Prince gave a vague answer. He offered no details about what actually transpired at these noble gatherings, deliberately keeping me in the dark because he knew I was a commoner.
"Is your companion in the banquet hall?"
"Ah... Yes, Young Lady."
"The banquet hall should be relatively safer. Since they are all nobles, they still maintain a thin facade of decorum. However, that facade is incredibly fragile, and you never know when things might escalate. You had better hurry."
"Thank you for the warning."
The Young Lady offered a brief, grim warning.
"Shall we begin, then?"
Conrad said, grasping the two leashes.
The gold leash around the Young Lady's neck.
The red leash around Lucrecia's neck.
As he took hold of the two straps, the Young Lady knelt on the floor without hesitation. Seeing this, Lucrecia cast one last look at me, gave a firm nod, and lowered herself back into her previous posture.
The sight of the two beautiful women crawling on all fours, their breasts hanging down as they followed behind the Crown Prince, was utterly shocking. To make matters worse, a slow trickle of semen and arousal fluids was still leaking from the Young Lady's private parts.
"Sir Max. Move quickly."
"Understood, Sir Conrad."
I took one final look at Lucrecia before turning away. As I made my way back, the depraved nature of the mansion was on full display, with couples engaging in explicit acts in almost every corner as the banquet reached its peak. Passing through the crowds of men indulging in pleasure with maids wearing black or red chokers, I finally returned to the banquet hall.
"Oh! Sir Max. You are quite late. It seems you had a very enjoyable time?"
Herman greeted me as I entered. He was the first one who had welcomed me in the knights' waiting room and had explained the rules of this mansion.
"Sir Herman. Have you happened to see my lady?"
I asked, scanning the banquet hall. Through the gaps between the pillars, I could see the nobles still dancing. However, the atmosphere had shifted drastically from before.
Some women had pulled down the bodices of their dresses while dancing, letting their partners suckle on their breasts, while others were openly engaging in intercourse against the walls in the darker corners. The music echoing through the hall had grown slow, heavy, and thick with suggestive undertones, designed to stoke the flames of lust. Yet, Eleonoa was nowhere to be seen.
"I am not sure. I only just arrived myself... If she is not in the hall, she might be out in the garden. Some ladies find the hall too stuffy and step out for some fresh air."
"Thank you, Sir Herman."
I quickly took my leave and rushed out of the banquet hall.