Chimera of Batius - Chapter 9

Outside the hallway window through which they were dragging him, snow was falling. He remembered Ruzerolt: his skin pale as snow, his silver hair, and his green irises like the conifers of a winter garden. He was like a man born for winter.

“I’ll let you go, so leave the north.”

What great indulgence. Does he mean he’ll save my life?

Since meeting him in the banquet hall, he could easily understand Ruzerolt.

His eyes, which from the main seat looked emotionlessly at the center, held a subtle contempt. That contempt began to transform into self-loathing when he started caressing Dexler’s body. Among the nobles blinded by pleasure, Ruzerolt’s gaze seemed quite refreshing.

They forcibly detained him. With a bang, the door opened and the guards pushed him into the room.

“You may withdraw.”

Dexler pointed down the hallway to the soldiers. When they left, only Dexler and he remained in the spacious office. When the room fell silent, Dexler began opening the curtains one by one.

“I heard about you from the theater director.”

Chas, chas.

The curtains hid the light one after another.

“At first I wondered how you could seduce my brother, but the director assured me that if I saw you, all my doubts would vanish. He even said he could bet his head. I wondered what kind of person you’d be, but it seems the director wasn’t lying.”

…That Eden. He let himself be bought easily with money.

Dexler, having closed all the curtains, fixed his shadowy gaze on Cheil. In his bright eyes revealed an uncontrollable desire.

That’s right. This is the gaze.

All the nobles Cheil had known until now had the same eyes eager to strip him of his clothes. No matter how noble and pure their bl00d, they were all the same before instinct.

However, Ruzerolt was different. Even facing him, he showed more compassion than lust. Or rather, he must have been seeing his own situation reflected in him: the situation of having to submit to the north.

Dexler approached Cheil.

“Long ago, a friend of mine told me about the dancers of the south. He said they had soft skin, strong muscles, and were so beautiful it was hard to believe they were beta men.”

He was sure Cheil was a beta. Cheil didn’t add anything more.

“At the time I let it pass, but now, after a long time, I can confirm the truth of those words. Are all southern dancers like you?”

“The ordinary holds no value. It seemed that everyone was eager to fall under the spell of a humble dancer. I don’t think what they were seeking was an ordinary night that anyone could enjoy. You know that better than anyone.”

Dexler burst into loud laughter seeing Cheil wink at him.

Suddenly, he extended his arm and grabbed Cheil’s neck.

“You’re incredibly insolent. If it weren’t for the fact that they know how to use sexslust, that statement might have cost the lives of everyone in your company.”

Dexler ran his tongue over his lower lip. His Adam’s apple moved, revealing his desire. Cheil lifted his chin and stretched his neck.

“I’ve received countless threats and intimidations, but as you can see, my neck is intact without a single wound. All forgave my lack of respect. As now.”

Cheil, with his head bowed, extended his bound hands toward Dexler. With the back of his hand, he touched his bulging central part. Seeing his honest reaction, Cheil’s eyes curved a little more in a smile.

Dexler was sure that, no matter the type, alpha, omega, or beta, he could possess him. He thinks he could crush someone of such a low class as a dancer. But Cheil never met his expectations.

“In my domain, even wearing humble cheap cloth, you appear very confident.”

Dexler shoved Cheil against a pillar. Hanging from the pillars of his office were shackles that looked like they’d come straight from a prison. Dexler bound Cheil’s hands to them.

“How far do I have to punish you before it’s worth it?”

Cheil pressed his chest to the pillar and offered his back.

“You may strike me as much as you like.”

Only a sincere punishment would leave a deep wound. And that wound would be perfect bait to awaken Ruzerolt’s compassion.

Dexler tore Cheil’s shirt open. At the sight of his smooth back, he exhaled sharply. Then came the sound of a whip tightening.

Crack!

Cheil furrowed his brow at the sharp noise of skin splitting. Cheek pressed to the pillar, he thought of Ruzerolt.

A gentle face, sharp features. He endured the lashes without a single groan, imagining how good that face would look if it were turned downward.

***

Ruzerolt’s footsteps quickened as he strode through the castle. The edges of his fluttering cloak couldn’t keep up.

“I thought Lord Dexler had allowed it… that this dancer would be like the others.”

“That’s right! …I only wanted to take off his mask…!”

The mask. Ruzerolt now understood the meaning of that object he never removed, even when he fell into the water.

“But I don’t think Dexler would have allowed him to be raped.”

“I tried to embrace him when we met near the stables, and I thought it would be fine, since Lord Dexler had allowed it too.”

The soldiers’ excuses didn’t stray one bit from what he had already expected.

He had spent a full hour simply confirming that the soldiers were also guilty in this incident. Not just Cheil. During that time, Cheil had surely been whipped without pause. Ruzerolt didn’t know why he felt so anxious, but he only hoped the man was still alive and unharmed.

Ruzerolt’s steps halted in front of Dexler’s office.

“Sir Ruzerolt.”

The startled guards bowed their heads.

“Open the door.”

“Lord Dexler said no one was to enter.”

“Open it before I tear it down myself.”

The guards exchanged bewildered glances.

Crack!

At that moment, a loud sound of something breaking came from inside the room. Before the guards could stop him, Ruzerolt flung the office door open.

Creak.

“Brother?”

Dexler, his forehead slick with sweat, looked toward the open door. His whip and the carpet were soaked in red bl00d.

“I apologize. He said not to let anyone in, but still…”

The nervous guards began to apologize. Dexler paid them no mind and smiled at Ruzerolt.

“Ah, don’t worry. Everyone, leave.”

The guards bowed cautiously and closed the door. Dexler switched the whip to his other hand and extended his arm.

“What brings you here?”

Dexler’s clothes were dotted with dark red stains. Ruzerolt’s gaze moved from the bloodstains to the carpet, then to Cheil’s back. His bare back was covered in whip marks. Cheil hung from the pillar, hands bound above his head.

Drip, drip.

Bl00d flowed from his shredded back.

“I’ve come to confirm the facts from the soldiers’ side. The soldiers also made a mistake in this matter, so how about we stop looking for someone to blame?”

Ruzerolt spoke in a cold voice.

“Hahaha.”

Dexler let out a loud laugh. Then, his face hardening, he looked at Ruzerolt.

“My property has harmed my brother’s soldiers. The responsibility lies with me, as his owner. Wouldn’t it be right to whip him again and again so he never repeats it? Ah, of course, if this method isn’t to your liking…”

Dexler suddenly threw down the whip and stepped up to Cheil. When the front edge of Dexler’s ornate clothing brushed the wounds on Cheil’s back, a faint groan slipped from Cheil’s lips. Dexler paid no heed to the sound, raised his arm, and seized Cheil’s bound wrist in a tight grip.

“…Perhaps I should cut off your wrists as punishment?”

“That’s enough.”

“Enough?”

Dexler took a few steps back as he answered. He wiped the bl00d staining his clothes and studied Cheil’s back.

“Hmm. Sorry, brother. I’m still not satisfied.”

Dexler picked up the whip that had fallen to the floor.

“How dare you harm my dear brother’s soldiers and disobey my orders?”

Dexler raised his arm.

“Dexler!”

Chash!

Before anyone could stop him, another lash struck Cheil.

“Trash!”

“Stop!”

The second whip froze mid-air. The raised lash had wrapped around the scabbard of Ruzerolt’s sword.

“Didn’t you say he was a dancer you brought here with great effort? If you don’t intend to kill him, show mercy.”

At Ruzerolt’s more-than-suggestion, Dexler eased the tension in his arm. Ruzerolt then sheathed his sword again.

“And if I do intend to kill him, may I continue?”

Dexler spoke softly and reached for Cheil once more.

“If I beat him again and again until his bones show… well, he’ll have to die someday anyway. But it doesn’t matter. He’ll bear my mark and be buried in my land.”

Dexler began to rake his fingertips down Cheil’s back. With a clank, Cheil shifted his wrist and the chain scraped. His body trembled, and a painful moan escaped his lips.

Ruzerolt didn’t know what to say or how to stop his brother. But before he could think, his body moved.

Ruzerolt strode forward and pushed Dexler’s hand aside.

“Brother?”

Dexler raised an eyebrow, glancing from his hand to Ruzerolt. But Ruzerolt ignored him and unfastened the chain that bound Cheil to the pillar.

“I’ll take him.”

“You? Why?”

Cheil tried to hide his grimace of pain.

“Since you’ve punished him, I have the right to punish him as well. Have you forgotten he tangled with my soldiers?”

Ruzerolt kept supporting Cheil as he spoke. Once the chain was fully undone, Cheil collapsed into Ruzerolt’s arms.

“Cheil.”

Ruzerolt called Cheil’s name softly. But Cheil only trembled, unmoving.

Dexler walked to the window. Slowly, he flicked the curtain aside and watched the two with interest.

“Did you like that dancer?”

“I’m leaving.”

Dexler burst into laughter as Ruzerolt walked away with Cheil slung over his shoulder.

“If you like him, just say so. I can give you that dancer if that’s what you want. After all, I’m your brother.”

***

Cheil’s condition was worse than he had imagined. His back was so lacerated that he couldn’t even touch it, and bl00d flowed nonstop. It was so bad it was difficult to carry him.

With the bloodied Cheil on his shoulders, Ruzerolt headed to his area, the castle tower. Upon entering, his servant, River, was surprised to see him.

“My God! Sir Ruzerolt, that…”

“Go get the doctor immediately. And prepare clean clothes and things to clean the wounds.”

“Y-yes, right away.”

Leaving behind River, who ran off, Ruzerolt went to the room he had prepared. As he walked carrying Cheil, drops of bl00d fell to the floor. Soon, both the hallway and the bedroom floor were soiled. However, he didn’t notice the mess.

Why did I bring this person here?

Ruzerolt sat Cheil on the bed. Then, his hand touched the wound on his back. He could feel the depth of the wounds in the palm of his hand.

“Ugh…”

He didn’t understand why he couldn’t pretend he hadn’t seen that simple dancer. Was this behavior the hypocrisy Dexler spoke of?

But what he understood least was the dancer before him. What kind of conviction was it that led him to endure all this? And that, despite having a profession where he sold his body and his smile.

It was as if he had been born in the north but refused to be of the north.

“Ugh…”

As if he couldn’t hold it in anymore, Cheil cried and moaned in pain.

“Cheil.”

Ruzerolt sat on the edge of the bed and called him by name. Cheil opened his eyes and looked at Ruzerolt.

“The doctor will be here soon. Hold on a little longer.”

Cheil blinked slowly. His golden eyes appeared and hid among his long lashes.

Is he trying to maintain his chastity?

A dancer.

Who for one night…

Ruzerolt clenched his fists and tried to calm his confused mind. Then, Cheil extended his hand and gently touched the sheets.

“Thank you…”

His forehead contorted, revealing deeper and deeper pain. Ruzerolt loosened his fist and covered the back of Cheil’s hand. Then, Cheil opened his eyes with difficulty and looked at Ruzerolt.

When he met those exotic eyes, so different from those of the north, Ruzerolt again perceived the scent of lavender.

“Thank you… thank you so much…”

Cheil’s words of gratitude grew weaker and weaker.

“Cheil.”

Ruzerolt called his name again. But Cheil seemed not to hear and didn’t respond. His trembling body began to lose strength. Ruzerolt held him in his arms before he fell. Cheil lost consciousness in his embrace.