Volume 3
NSFW!!!
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It was undoubtedly a dream. Otherwise, there was no way his son could be drenched and crying like this. The boy’s hands, clutching the mat now stained a pale gray, were clearly those of a man. His trembling fingers intertwined with the emperor’s as if compelled. The veins on the back of his son’s hand pressed against the emperor’s pale, wax-like palm. The son, who had been crying with his eyes closed and head tilted back, slowly opened his tear-filled eyes at the touch of his father’s hand. His tear-streaked lashes framed a beautiful face, and Kang, lips flushed red, bit down as he let out a soft sob.
Don’t cry.
With that thought, the emperor pressed a soft kiss to his son’s trembling lips. Their hands remained intertwined, sticky with sweat, refusing to part. He clung to his lips, panting like a starved man, and thrust his tongue in. The lips that were sucked became swollen, and worried that he might hurt him, he did not bite.
“Your Majesty.”
But the break of dawn would not allow the emperor to remain lost in this fleeting dream. A voice broke through, sharp yet restrained, as one of the court attendants stepped into the room after opening the twelve doors. The emperor, lying in bed with his silver hair falling loosely over his face, raised a languid gaze toward the door but gave no permission to enter. Slowly, he lowered his hand, brushing it against his own chest as if lost in lingering fragments of the dream.
“What is it?”
The emperor’s voice was low and calm, though tinged with the faint remnants of his interrupted dreams. The attendant, waiting dutifully outside, bowed his head and spoke with careful formality.
“Your Majesty, the former Emperor has passed away.”
The announcement lingered in the air, heavy and final. The emperor let out a slow, quiet breath, his silver hair flowing, and looked at the door. He did not give permission to enter. The emperor reached down, and grasp his erect penis and stuck out his tongue to lick his lips.
“I will go now.”
The emperor spoke in a low, composed voice, his tone pressing yet restrained, while stroking his cock. His penis that had penetrated his son’s inside in his dreams was eager to enter again. From the age of thirteen until now, he had experienced countless encounters with beautiful individuals, but none had left an impression as profound or perplexing as the one haunting him now. This organ that had only pursued pleasure as his duty to produce an heir finally experience true pleasure and affection. His thoughts spiraled, his emotions a mix of disarray and yearning, moaning, interrupted only by the steady voice of his attendant outside.
The emperor draped a vibrant red dragon robe over his fine white silk sleeping attire like a funeral shroud. He didn’t bother to fasten it properly, so the robe gaped open with every movement, exposing his muscular chest. His exhaustion was evident in his sluggish steps and the faint scowl on his face as he was surrounded by eunuchs, attendants, and guards, making his way to the Cheonggeum Palace, where the late emperor and empress dowager resided.
As he entered, the gathered officials and servants immediately prostrated themselves, offering formal greetings. The emperor didn’t so much as glance at them, his gaze fixed solely on the bed where the late emperor lay. He approached, pulling back the multiple layers of curtains that veiled the chamber. The thick smell of medicine filled the air, causing him to grimace.
He didn’t instruct the empress dowager, who knelt by the bed, to rise. Instead, his eyes fell on the lifeless body of the late emperor. Once-bright silver hair had faded to a brittle white, resembling dried roots, and the deep lines of age carved into his face rendered him utterly insignificant, like the waning light of a setting sun. The emperor’s lips curled slightly in mockery as his gaze swept over the frail and sickly figure. Lowering his head to the late emperor’s chest, he listened. There was no heartbeat.
To be certain, he placed two fingers on the cold wrist to feel for a pulse. Nothing. The emperor’s faint smile grew as he straightened. As planned, the late emperor was unquestionably dead. Much like the way he had once eliminated King Jinyeong, this death had been quiet, deliberate, and thorough.
“He has returned to the heavens,” the emperor murmured, his voice low and almost amused as he stared at the unresponsive form.
The empress dowager remained kneeling, her submission to her son-turned-sovereign absolute and without resistance. The emperor found this newfound obedience fitting. With a faint laugh, he placed his hand on his hip and massaged the back of his neck. His half-lidded eyes and the way he moved betrayed his lingering drowsiness and fatigue.
Standing by the bedside, the emperor pulled a coin from his sleeve. He looked down at the serene face of the deceased and chuckled quietly as he placed the coin on the late emperor’s lips. It was fare for the passage from this world to the next. Before rigor mortis set in, the emperor carefully lifted the late emperor’s hands and folded them neatly over his chest. He leaned forward, gazing steadily at the lifeless face.
“This is all your doing, Father.”
The former emperor had grown suspicious of the current emperor. On more than one occasion, he subtly inquired why a crown prince had not yet been officially designated. Each time, the emperor would deflect with a vague assurance: "When the time comes, the crown prince will naturally emerge." However, such ambiguous responses were insufficient to deceive the crafty and distrustful former ruler. His suspicions quickly took root, and his sharp gaze landed squarely on Kang.
The assassins he sent to eliminate Kang met their end at Damyeong's hand. In retaliation, the emperor used the empress dowager to poison him. Despite distrusting his son, the former emperor placed unwavering trust in the empress dowager, and that trust led to his demise. Baseless faith, as fragile as it is, crumbled with ease.
Even in death, he remained unaware of the true cause of his end. Watching the lifeless former emperor, the emperor let out a cold, mirthless laugh before turning his attention to the empress dowager, who remained unmoving, prostrated before the body.
" Please, rise," the emperor said.
The emperor draped a vibrant red dragon robe over his fine white silk sleeping attire like a funeral shroud. He didn’t bother to fasten it properly, so the robe gaped open with every movement, exposing his muscular chest. His exhaustion was evident in his sluggish steps and the faint scowl on his face as he made his way through the eunuchs, attendants, and guards to the Cheonggeum Palace, where the late emperor and empress dowager resided.
As he entered, the gathered officials and servants immediately prostrated themselves, offering formal greetings. The emperor didn’t so much as glance at them, his gaze fixed solely on the bed where the late emperor lay. He approached, pulling back the multiple layers of curtains that veiled the chamber. The thick smell of medicine filled the air, causing him to grimace.
He didn’t instruct the empress dowager, who knelt by the bed, to rise. Instead, his eyes fell on the lifeless body of the late emperor. Once-bright silver hair had faded to a brittle white, resembling dried roots, and the deep lines of age carved into his face rendered him utterly insignificant, like the waning light of a setting sun. The emperor’s lips curled slightly in mockery as his gaze swept over the frail and sickly figure. Lowering his head to the late emperor’s chest, he listened. There was no heartbeat.
To be certain, he placed two fingers on the cold wrist to feel for a pulse. Nothing. The emperor’s faint smile grew as he straightened. As planned, the late emperor was unquestionably dead. Much like the way he had once eliminated King Jinyeong, this death had been quiet, deliberate, and thorough.
“He has returned to the heavens,” the emperor murmured, his voice low and almost amused as he stared at the unresponsive form.
The empress dowager remained kneeling, her submission to her son-turned-sovereign absolute and without resistance. The emperor found this newfound obedience fitting. With a faint laugh, he placed his hand on his hip and massaged the back of his neck. His half-lidded eyes and the way he moved betrayed his lingering drowsiness and fatigue.
Standing by the bedside, the emperor pulled a coin from his sleeve. He looked down at the serene face of the deceased and chuckled quietly as he placed the coin on the late emperor’s lips. It was fare for the passage from this world to the next. Before rigor mortis set in, the emperor carefully lifted the late emperor’s hands and folded them neatly over his chest. He leaned forward, gazing steadily at the lifeless face.
“This is all your doing, Father.”
The former emperor had grown suspicious of the current emperor. On more than one occasion, he subtly inquired why a crown prince had not yet been officially designated. Each time, the emperor would deflect with a vague assurance: "When the time comes, the crown prince will naturally emerge." However, such ambiguous responses were insufficient to deceive the crafty and distrustful former ruler. His suspicions quickly took root, and his sharp gaze landed squarely on Kang.
The assassins he sent to eliminate Kang met their end at Damyeong's hand. In retaliation, the emperor used the empress dowager to poison him. Despite distrusting his son, the former emperor placed unwavering trust in the empress dowager, and that trust led to his demise. Baseless faith, as fragile as it is, crumbled with ease.
Even in death, he remained unaware of the true cause of his end. Watching the lifeless former emperor, the emperor let out a cold, mirthless laugh before turning his attention to the empress dowager, who remained unmoving, prostrated before the body.
"Please, rise," the emperor said.
The empress dowager slowly lifted her head. Though her one and only husband had passed away, there was neither guilt nor sorrow in her eyes. She parted her carefully painted lips to speak, but the emperor silenced her with a raised finger against his own lips. Obediently, she sealed her lips and remained quiet.
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Currrently configuring my kofi. If it works, then you can head out there. I'll post updates and any announcements there.