No Entry Except for the Master

The door, which should have been firmly shut, was left ajar by about a hand’s width—as if it were waiting for someone. Teia paused in front of the door, where a sliver of light spilled out into the dark hallway. Heated moans flowing from inside the room trickled down the ray of light and pooled at her feet.

“Ah! Mmh…”

Expressionless, Teia listened to the crescendoing moans with detached interest before flinging the door wide open and stepping inside. His unhurried gaze swept across the room. The closer he got to the bed, the more stifling the thick air clung to his body.

“Teia Himeros. I greet His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince Ludvio, the Empire’s brilliant morning star.”

At the composed voice, the previously frenzied movements came to a sudden halt. But only for a moment. With the resumed sound of flesh meeting flesh, the curtains around the bed were drawn back.

The one who drew the curtains back, his face flushed red, thrust his lower body into the woman’s as if to show it off. With each forceful thrust of his hips, the woman’s body trembled in short, quick jolts.

“Ha! I—Huu—I forgot… you were coming, ngh.”

His eyes, clouded with pleasure, fixed on Teia, and his glistening lips continued speaking. Even as they carried on their calm conversation, the moans of the woman beneath the Crown Prince grew louder.

“Ahhng, hng! Aahng!”

“Kh…!”

Teia gazed at the scene of carnal pleasure unfolding before him with indifferent eyes. Whether the two entangled bodies shuddered in climax or not, it left no impression on him. Just as at the beginning, he slightly bowed his head in courtesy, avoiding the Crown Prince’s eyes, and silently awaited the rest of his words.

“Huu… I’ve shown you something unsightly. This is rather embarrassing.”

Catching his breath, the Crown Prince pulled his member out from inside the woman. Having just e********d, it dangled weakly. After pulling up his half-lowered pants properly, he carefully straightened the crumpled blankets to cover the woman’s body. Considering how shamelessly he had shown her off moments ago, the way he now covered her up was surprisingly tender.

“Te-Teia. I…”

“Shh. Er, I’ll explain everything.”

As the woman, wearing a faint expression of guilt mixed with an odd sense of anticipation, tried to speak, the Crown Prince silenced her with a soft kiss on the lips. He patted her chest comfortingly. The woman, who had been tearfully watching Teia for some time, eventually nodded and buried her face in the blanket.

As if hiding something precious, the Crown Prince drew the curtains around the bed once more, then guided Teia to a sofa on one side of the room.

“I should’ve told you beforehand. I’m sorry.”

Looking awkward, the Crown Prince hesitated for a moment before letting out a deep sigh and launching into his solemn confession.

“I know I shouldn’t be doing this to you, brother, but… the truth is, Er and I are lovers.”

“…”

“Because Er is your fiancée, both she and I tried many times to end things, believing it was wrong. But… I couldn’t give her up. So, despite her protests, I clung to her out of guilt for you. She tried repeatedly to abandon her love, but I begged her not to.”

It was an endless stream of nonsense. While it sounded like he was shouldering all the blame, the use of Eris’s nickname made it clear: they were painting themselves as tragic lovers in a grand romance.

“I wanted to come clean and set things right from the start… but I didn’t expect you to see us like this first.”

He was the one having fun with someone else’s fiancée, yet he acted as if the engagement was the mistake, and his love with her was the righteous path. And yet, the Crown Prince looked utterly confident. To him, the shame was merely from showing her that kind of scene, not from the act itself.

‘What a laughable farce.’

Teia had to suppress the chuckle bubbling in his throat at this tiresome performance. He had always known the Crown Prince was a fool, but he hadn’t imagined he would flaunt such a blatant move with so little finesse.

Did he truly think he didn’t realize he had approached Eris the moment their engagement was announced two weeks ago? Even her presence here now was due to his summons—did he really forget that?

Teia now found the Crown Prince, eagerly awaiting his response to this pitifully staged drama, almost pitiable. He was completely unaware that this entire scene was part of a plan he himself had concocted.

“I can’t even begin to imagine how hurt you must be, brother—”

“It’s fine.”

“…Pardon?”

“Your Highness’s happiness is the Empire’s joy. Naturally, it is my honor as well.”

The Crown Prince gaped in stunned silence. Under the chandelier’s brilliant light, a radiant smile bloomed across Teia’s face. His gaze, as gentle and warm as always, held no trace of pain—it was exactly as usual, directed kindly at the Crown Prince.

“I simply wish the two of you everlasting love.”

At the sweet blessing of their love, the Crown Prince’s face twisted into a grimace.