The Dialectic of Master and Slave - Chapter 17
“Huu…”
Jaha rubbed her body against the rough blanket, writhing in agony. Her head felt hazy, as if the heat had risen to her brain.
When would she ever be free from this heat?
What if the Emperor forgot about her and left her like this?
It wasn’t entirely impossible. To the Emperor, Jaha was nothing more than one of the countless slaves scattered throughout the palace. A toy that wasn’t even particularly valuable—something that could easily be erased from his mind if a new interest arose.
If that happened, would she have to live like this forever?
“Ah, ugh…”
No. She didn’t want that. She couldn’t endure it. Maybe she should wait for a while, and if it seemed like the Emperor wouldn’t call for her, she could just remove the slime herself. But would that be allowed? What if the Emperor suddenly remembered and summoned her to check?
No, what if there was a spell on it that would alert the Emperor if she touched it? If that were the case, it would mean defying the Emperor’s orders, and in the worst-case scenario, she could be executed on the spot.
What should she do?
What could she do?
The Emperor summoned Jaha again five days later.
When the head attendant appeared in the library, she knew the time had come. Even though she knew exactly what would happen if she followed, the sight of the attendant somehow made her feel a strange sense of relief. Her body and mind were both exhausted to the point where even this twisted anticipation felt like a reprieve.
This would be the third time.
Rationalizing that two or three times made no difference gave her a strangely comforting feeling.
If I just keep staring at the ceiling, it’ll eventually end, right? The pain is unavoidable, but maybe if I focus on something else, it won’t feel as bad. Maybe I can count numbers in my head.
Lost in these pointless thoughts as the maids washed her like laundry, she soon found herself before the Emperor. Jaha avoided eye contact and immediately prostrated herself on the floor. Once again, she didn’t get a proper look at him. All she registered was his blindingly radiant golden hair and his amethyst-like, inorganic purple eyes.
“Come onto the bed.”
The Emperor commanded. Jaha obeyed without resistance. They say if you can’t avoid something, you should try to enjoy it. She hadn’t reached the point of enjoyment, but she had certainly reached a state of resignation.
The Emperor was both a ruler and a mage. There was no way to oppose him, whether in status or physical power. Jaha’s will had no influence over the situation.
She knelt on the bed, not lying down because no such order had been given. It was cautious, perhaps, or a small, timid act of rebellion in its own way.
The Emperor let out a soft chuckle at her reaction and gave her a light push, causing her to topple onto the bed. Despite the seemingly effortless touch, the sheer ease with which her body yielded made her acutely aware of the difference in their strength. At that moment, a low voice whispered in her ear.
“From now on, don’t wait for me to tell you. Come onto the bed and spread your legs on your own. After all, that’s the only reason I ever call for you.”
The overly close proximity made Jaha flinch. His voice was surprisingly sweet, a stark contrast to the words it carried.
Having finished speaking, the Emperor straightened his upper body, which had been leaning toward her. The faint scent that had been lingering drifted away. It was a cool, clean fragrance, reminiscent of a winter dawn. This was the first time she had noticed it, as the Emperor had never been this close to her upper body before.
The pleasant scent coming from such a ruthless plunderer left Jaha feeling strangely unsettled. It was unsettling that someone who didn’t even treat her as a person could smell so good. She almost wished it had been a foul odor instead.
The Emperor, having spread Jaha’s legs without hesitation, reached toward her lower abdomen. He tried to pull out the slime inside her, but it didn’t budge.
“It’s holding on tight and won’t let go,” he muttered absentmindedly, simply describing the situation as it was.
But the slave flinched. The slime’s movements inside her caused her body to tremble. Watching her closely, the Emperor deliberately twisted the slime and added,
“It seems to have taken quite a liking to you.”
