Chapter 97. So that you may never leave me
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From that day forward, Ihedia was no longer in the slave quarters, but in the West Palace.
The story of the emperor's visit to her, of him personally picking her up as she lay dying, and carrying her to the springs of Apeso, had the whole palace abuzz.
The slave had become the favorite of the emperor overnight.
The old emperor and the new emperor both fell head over heels for her.
It was not surprising that a man would lust after a beautiful woman, but this was a woman who had given birth to the previous emperor's child.
The ministers, who wanted their own daughter as empress, as well as others who had a grudge against Hashad, viewed Ihedia as a lowly courtesan.
Naturally, the people's resentment grew.
But the emperor was not swayed by such things.
Ihedia was under his ironclad protection.
Anyone who showed the slightest sign of displeasure at the mention of the woman would be ruthlessly removed from the court.
In the rush to prove their loyalty to the new emperor, no one dared to speak of killing her anymore.
Instead, those who wanted to rise in the emperor's favor were tongue in cheek about making her an official concubine.
The ministers were fed up with seeing the emperor, who was meticulous in everything he did, but was particularly dull when it came to matters involving the woman.
With so many eyes on her, Kayan never allowed her to leave the palace.
Her situation was not much different from her time as Hashad's concubine, but she was no longer miserable in the absence of his affection.
Kayan's frequent trips to the West Palace were no different.
He had only just been crowned, and while he might have been tempted to restrain himself for fear of being seen as a womanizing emperor, he always made his way to the West Palace at night.
Although Ihedia had not yet become an official concubine, it was clear that she was the next best thing.
The emperor had no intention of having another concubine, let alone an empress.
He was only looking for Ihedia.
Some had speculated that the emperor's confinement of Ihedia to the West Palace was to protect her from harm by a special group of people.
Some had even though that the emperor treated her like a bird in a cage, afraid that Ihedia, who longed for her homeland, would abandon him and leave him.
Whatever the reason, it was clear that the emperor cared deeply for her.
But there was one thing that remained unresolved between them.
Hashad's only bloodline.
Even if he had claimed her as his own, it would be absurd for Kayan to raise another man's child as his own.
"No matter how much the Emperor favors her, he can't let Hashad's daughter live."
“But she’s still a child who can’t even speak. Do we really have to kill her?”
"It doesn't matter, she's the blood of the traitor who killed Emperor Rakil, and even if we don't kill her, it won't stop her from being sold into slavery."
Kayan didn't have much of an answer to that, either.
Everyone could only assume that they would soon be publicly executed or enslaved and sold somewhere.
Doa strode to Adeline's chambers, trying to ignore the bowing of the courtiers.
He opened the door to find a small child blinking in her nanny's arms.
"Welcome, Sir Doa."
Garel greeted Doa, holding the child in her arms.
She had been caring for Adeline here at Doa's behest.
She had nearly suffered greatly during the war, but the new emperor's mercy had spared the courtiers in the palace from execution, and she had been spared herself.
Later, when Doa realized that Garel had been Adeline's nanny, she took her aside and entrusted her with the child.
"Is there anything else the child needs?"
"You've already provided so much for her, there's nothing more I can ask."
Doa would occasionally stop by and look into Adeline's face.
Her mind kept wandering to the newborn, whose life or death might be decided in the future.
Kayan tolerated this, even though he knew Doa had left Adeline somewhere in the palace to be cared for.
If Kayan had wanted to kill the small, weak child, he would have done anything to stop him, even if it meant giving up his position as the Emperor's aide.
Doa touched the child's palm with his index finger.
Adeline grasped it tightly and wouldn't let go.
A small smile tugged at the corners of Doa's mouth.
"Does she hurt anywhere?"
Though she had already been examined by the palace physician, Doa never failed to ask the question whenever he met with the nanny.
"Of course not, she’s lucky to be this healthy after being locked up in the tower for so long, but......."
"Is something wrong?"
"Once, during a severe blizzard, her temperature was unusually high. If she was sick, she would have cried, but she was fine as usual, so I called the doctor just in case, but they didn't find anything wrong."
If it was a day with a heavy snowstorm… … … … … … .
Was she talking about that time when a sudden heavy snowfall and bitter cold came?
It was normally a very cold northern land, but there had been times when it had been unusually cold.
Even Doa, who was immune to the cold, kept shivering that day, abandoning his dignity and his work.
"Keep an eye on her for now, but if anything else happens, report it immediately."
"Yes, sir Doa."
For the briefest of moments, Doa thought of Kayan's body temperature, so distinctly different from the others, but then it was gone.
"Uh, Sir Doa."
Doa turned to leave, but Garel's voice followed him.
When he turned around again, Garel spoke hesitantly.
"How is Lady Ihedia?"
"Don't worry."
"Still, I thought I should show the child to Lady Ihedia at least once before the disposition comes down.................."
Garel had been on edge ever since she heard the rumors circulating in the palace.
The child's fate was in the Emperor's hands, but she wanted to make sure the child would see her her birth mother one last time.
Doa understood Garel's sentiments, but Ihedia was forbidden by imperial decree to have any contact with outsiders, save for a few courtiers.
Sadly, that included Adeline.
So there was only one answer he could give Garel.
"I'll make a separate request to the emperor, but don't hold your breath."
***
Kayan visited Ihedia every night.
He coveted her like a maniac.
When Ihedia became overwhelmed, he would take her body again and again, using every ounce of his power.
The sounds of flesh slapping against flesh and the woman's cries of pleasure filled the palace bedroom.
There was no hesitation in Kayan's every move.
When he entered Ihedia's bedroom, as he always did, she sat like a doll. With a look that was neither alive nor dead. It was the image of the abandoned Princess in the North Palace of Elmir.
She glanced up at Kayan with an impassive expression, then lowered her eyes. It was as if he was nothing to her. She'd rather be the object of resentment or hatred. She had brought this on herself, but she couldn't help but feel bitter.
Kayan knew what Ihedia wanted most, but he pretended not to know.
Perhaps her mind was filled with the child, and perhaps with memories of the child’s father.
For Kayan to speak of the child's existence would be to touch a sore spot. So when he was in the palace, instead of conversing with her, he focused on making love to her.
It broke his heart to realize that the only time he felt she was completely his was when they were having sexual intercourse, but he didn't stop. Ihedia would leave him any day now, unless she carried his child.
At some point, she must have thought that he wouldn't listen to her in his current state, so she gave up on everything.
Kayan was disgusted with her attitude. He knew that if Ihedia continued to act like this, he would eventually be the one to raise the white flag.
That made him even angrier. The anger was directed at no one but herself.
Kayan pushed Ihedia down, his tongue roughly probing the inside of her mouth.
His hands squeezed her breasts, hard.
"Ugh."
Ihedia let out a short scream, but it was muffled by his lips, unable to escape.
He set his teeth and nibbled at her lips.
Then he slipped his hands around the back of her head and grabbed her hair, forcing her chin up toward the sky.
He sucked hard on her neck, breathing furiously.
"Argh!"
Ihedia fought to keep the groan from escaping, but it was no use.
Kayan didn't care, and he drove her harder.
He nipped at her heaving breasts.
It was a violent gesture, like a hungry beast tearing at its prey.
Kayan ferociously tore at the cloth covering Ihedia's lower half and yanked down her undergarments.
Reflexively, she strained to close her legs, but Kayan opened them forcefully.
At the same time, he removed his own clothes, one by one.
He climbed on top of her and said.
"Carry my child. Until then, you can't take a step out of here."
I will create a solid bond that will bind us forever.
So that you can never leave me.
Ihedia looked up at Kayan, her eyes filled with mixed emotions. She didn't stop him, but she didn't openly accept his actions either.
A dull pain appeared in her private parts, and Ihedia's back arched on its own accord.
"Ha, ha."
Kayan thrust hard, letting out a weak moan.
Her slender body swayed in time to his ferocious beat.
The dizzying sensations he gave her made Ihedia's entire body burn hot.
Their bodies were covered in sweat.
The heavy heat from below grew stronger and stronger.
Ihedia bit her lip, clutching at the bedspread to stifle the moans that threatened to escape.
Kayan thrust harder at the oddly arousing sight.
"Ah!"
Ihedia let out a piercing scream as she reached her limit.
The sound that finally broke out gave Kayan a strange sense of satisfaction.
The sight of Ihedia panting beneath him was incredibly erotic.
Looking down at her, Kayan's brow tightened slightly.
Suddenly, his movements became noticeably faster.
It was almost like the gesture of a wild beast.
"Aaah!"
A groan of ecstasy followed at short intervals.
For a long time afterward, Ihedia was forced to take Kayan's raging lust with her whole body.
From the beginning to the end, the uncontrollable lust in Kayan's eyes shaped her own.
Finally, drained of all energy, he collapsed on top of her.
Kayan gently kissed Ihedia's sweaty forehead.
***
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