TOY 2.2

Aires recalled another character from Desires.

Desires was neither an adventure tale nor a romance, nor was it a novel carrying a profound message. To Aires, this novel seemed merely a vehicle for the author to unleash his own desires.

The characters within the story possessed distinct goals and lusts, and they acted based on them.

Yet among them was one supporting character who stood out as somewhat special.

Ludwig von Ferna.

A man with silver hair and red eyes, he was exceptionally strong, both physically and mentally. He was uniquely portrayed as a man whose desires seemed castrated amidst protagonists each driven by their own purposes.

Ludwig was originally the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Ferna and a war hero. However, when the King betrayed him and surrendered in battle, Ludwig was sent to the Empire as a hostage.

The Emperor of the Empire chose Ludwig as a ‘means to subjugate the Kingdom’. He anticipated that, having been abandoned by his own King, Ludwig would undoubtedly harbor resentment.

The Emperor sought to break Ludwig’s spirit and turn him into his pawn. However, Ludwig was different from the other playthings that appeared in the novel. He possessed a stronger physique than any of them, and his spirit was not easily broken.

Thus, the Emperor partially altered his plan.

Having sworn allegiance to the Emperor, Ludwig returned to his kingdom and sparked a revolution. He executed the entire royal family, including the King, and ascended the throne. He later married the Emperor’s second daughter.

Thus, the Emperor seized the Kingdom of Ferna without spilling a single drop of blood. That was the end of Ludwig’s story.

Compared to the fates of other supporting characters, Ludwig did receive a favorable ending.

Though he merely transitioned from being Bellus and Kyle’s plaything to the Emperor’s possession, he did manage to ascend the throne.

It wasn’t bad compared to villains like Aires, who lost everything and fell into ruin.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it was a happy ending either.

Ludwig never gained true freedom until the very end, though he avoided being sold off like Aires.

Ultimately, their situations weren’t that different in the grand scheme. If anything, Aires was slightly better off now. Aires knew the novel’s plot and could at least attempt to escape, but Ludwig would eventually walk into the mire of his own accord.

Ludwig von Ferna was a formidable knight. As the kingdom’s finest knight and a war hero, no one could easily force him to do anything without his consent.

Yet, despite his strength, he possessed a surprisingly naive side.

Despite the title of war hero, somewhere inside him sat an underdeveloped child. That was his greatest weakness.

If only that could be compensated for a little…

The Emperor hadn’t yet extended his claws toward Ludwig. Before that happened, what if Aires befriended Ludwig first and warned him to be cautious?

At this point, he could prevent strange people from pestering Ludwig. Given that Aires was the heir to the Count Clayton family, that much was possible. Ludwig would gain Aires’s information and influence, while Aires would borrow his military strength.

Truthfully, Aires didn’t expect much from Ludwig, who was in a similar situation. He simply wanted the comfort of knowing he had someone to turn to within Arcadia. If he remained caught only between Kyle and Bellus, his heart wouldn’t survive.

‘This should be a reasonably fair deal, right?’

Given Ludwig’s character as seen in the novel, Aires believed he wouldn’t turn him away. As far as Aires knew, Ludwig was almost the only sane person among the novel’s characters.

If possible, Aires wanted to be friends with him.

Throughout the lecture, Aires agonized over how to meet Ludwig. His mind was completely filled with thoughts related to him.

The lecture atmosphere was unusually chaotic today, making it even harder to concentrate. Even the professor, usually so strict, seemed strangely excited.

“As you’ve likely heard, the Holy Knights are soon arriving in the Empire.”

The professor’s words caused the students to murmur among themselves.

The Holy Kingdom’s Knights were figures from heroic tales among the continent’s people, and now they were officially visiting the Empire. This was because traces of Necratos activity had been discovered within the Empire.

Necratos referred to those who served demons and offered their souls to them. In exchange for their pact with the demon, Necratos could obtain whatever they desired most: powerful dark magic, immense wealth, or striking beauty.

“Once the Necratos are captured, their execution will be held soon.”
“Wow…”
“As you all know, no one who serves demons can escape punishment.”

The professor, seemingly pleased with the timing, began explaining how terrible a contract with demons truly was.

“You’ve already learned why one must fear a contract with demons. Can you tell us why, Kind?”
“You gradually become more evil without even realizing it. You forget how to exercise patience and can no longer suppress momentary impulses.”

A student sitting in the front row of the lecture hall answered loudly.

“Correct. Once you make a contract with a demon, you gradually begin to be consumed by dark magic. No matter how strong your will was before, you inevitably become a villain. If you lose your humanity, what meaning is there in becoming stronger?”

The professor recounted the story of a once-promising mage who fell from grace. Driven by a lust for power, he made a pact with a demon, only to become a criminal and be executed by the Holy Inquisition.

Intrigued by the story, Aires set aside his worries for a moment and focused on the lecture.

In the latter part of Desires, there was a description of Bellus becoming a Necratos. At the time, he had read it without much thought, but now that he thought about it, it was chilling.

Even now, just imagining how the already ill-tempered Bellus might change under the influence of black magic was terrifying.

“Making a pact with a demon allows you to grow strong quickly in the short term. But ultimately, there are limits. The higher the realm you reach, the deeper insight and patience are required – and dark magic makes that impossible.”

The professor’s expression grew serious.

“That’s not the only terrifying part. Necratos are created through pacts with demons. What does that ultimately mean? It means your soul becomes subservient to the demon.”

Demons? To Aires, it felt utterly unreal. He hadn’t even seen a monster in person yet.

“Everyone, remember this. Demons never give gifts without a price. If you become entangled with a demon, you won’t be free even in death.”

The professor uttered an eerily chilling remark. Of course, most students were simply thrilled at the prospect of seeing the Holy Knights.

The area outside the lecture hall was unusually noisy. As Aires slowly made his way out, avoiding the crowd, he turned his head toward the source of the sound.

He’d had a bad feeling about this, and sure enough, it was Kyle.

Kyle was as imposing today as he had been yesterday. Standing amidst the slender mages, he resembled a carnivore trapped among sheep. Aires wanted to pretend not to notice and walk past, but Kyle’s presence was impossible to ignore.

Kyle, who had been looking bored, spotted Aires and strode toward him with long strides. Thanks to that, Aires found himself facing Kyle under everyone’s gaze.

“Res, did class wrap up okay?”
“Yes. What brings Your Highness here…?”

Few dared look directly at him, knowing Kyle’s notoriously capricious nature, but Aires could feel every nearby ear prick up.

“You don’t seem too thrilled to see me.”
“Huh? No. I was just asking because I was glad to see you…”
“Well, that’s a relief.”

Kyle hooked his arm over Aires’s shoulder. Thanks to that, Aires learned for the first time just how heavy a human forearm could be.

Unlike Aires, who cringed under the excessive attention, Kyle seemed completely unfazed, as if this situation was familiar to him.

In the natural light, Kyle’s irises appeared a brighter, whiter gold. The jet-black pupils, perfectly centered, stood out sharply. How to describe it? They were eyes that seemed to pierce right through a person.

Staring into them too long felt like he might see right through him, so Aires quietly averted his gaze.

Naturally, Kyle paid no mind to that awkward evasion and continued to stare down at Aires. The cheek Kyle’s gaze touched felt hot.

Kyle whispered softly into Aires’s ear.

“Haven’t eaten since last night, so I’m famished. How about you?”
“…”

Aires lowered his gaze, struggling to find a reply. Eating with Kyle now would surely make him sick, yet he couldn’t bring himself to speak. Only after swallowing hard did he manage to open his mouth.

“… Then shall we go eat together?”

Aires had no other choice anyway. Since things had come to this, it was better to get away from here quickly. Lingering inside the Arcane Hall might lead to running into Bellus.

Aires briefly imagined himself caught between Kyle and Bellus. His heart suddenly grew anxious.

“Isn’t it a bit early for a meal?”

Just moments ago, he’d been complaining about being hungry, and now this. How fickle he was.

Aires held back the urge to snap back and looked up at him.

“… I’m hungry. Could you please come with me?”
“Oh? Well… if you insist.”

Kyle reluctantly agreed, as if he had no choice but to go along with it, given how clingy Aires was being.

The ears of those nearby perked up. It was certain that rumors of ‘Aires Clayton clinging to Prince Kyle’ would soon spread throughout Arcadia.

Aires quickly resigned himself. Adding one more bad reputation to his name wouldn’t even make a dent.

Kyle looked at Aires, who seemed to have reached a state of detachment, and wore a satisfied expression. He usually watched with a sneer, but occasionally flashed a normal smile, looking just like a mischievous boy.

In those moments, he could somewhat understand why the toys in the novel would beg and cling just to catch a glimpse of his smile.

Was it the feeling of being acknowledged by royalty who had ignored them all along?

Of course, in reality, it was merely laughter at the sight of a suffering Aires.

“Hurry up and go.”

Kyle took Aires’s hand as if it were the most natural thing. Startled, Aires tried to pull away, but upon noticing the golden eyes staring intently at him, he meekly relinquished ownership of his hand.

Kyle held the hand Aires had abandoned and strolled through Arcadia. He didn’t care whether anyone was watching. It was only natural that Kyle’s followers, witnessing this scene, were furious.

And not long after, a golden glint shimmered in the distance. He hoped it wasn’t him, but sure enough…

“…”

It was Bellus.

The moment he saw Aires, he beamed and approached.

“Res.”
“…”

Ah… Aires wanted to become invisible and vanish right now. That dazzling beauty was the last person he wanted to see at this moment.

Bellus was radiant as ever today. Yet unlike his hair, which shimmered like gold thread in the sunlight, his violet eyes seemed more subdued than usual.

Aires’s shoulders slumped.

The dark look in Bellus’s eyes as he gazed at their clasped hands made Aires glance at him nervously. He tried to slip his hand away from Kyle’s, but it wouldn’t budge, as if glued in place.

“Res, I was worried when you suddenly disappeared yesterday.”

Bellus swept a glance over the two of them. He treated Kyle like he wasn’t there, speaking only to Aires.

“I wasn’t feeling well yesterday… I’m sorry.”

Regardless of how increasingly awkward the atmosphere became, Aires, a mere shrimp caught between two whales, could only stammer out excuses.

“I see.”

Bellus swept back Aires’s bangs and placed his palm on his forehead as if taking his temperature.

“You have a slight fever.”
“Ah, I’m fine now.”

At Aires’s words, Bellus smiled gently, as if understanding completely. It was the perfect attitude of a nobleman, yet somehow it sent a chill down his spine.

Aires stammered out excuses as if caught in the act of doing something wrong.

“Well, I met his Highness yesterday…”
“I see.”
“… Yes.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, why are you two holding hands?”

When Bellus asked, Aires turned pale and replied haltingly, “I’m sorry. It’s just… it somehow happened…”

“Do you think we stopped at just holding hands?” Kyle, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly interjected.

He wrapped his arms around Aires’s waist and pulled him into his embrace.

And that wasn’t even the end of it.

“Ugh.”

Kyle planted a kiss on Aires’s forehead, where Bellus’s hand had been placed. Aires couldn’t bring himself to push him away, only sweating profusely.

“Res, you’re cute. The way you look around like you’re scared is all squashed up like a bean.”

Kyle was looking at Aires as if he truly thought he was adorable. His lips touched Aires’s face again. As those handsome features came right up close, Aires’s heart naturally started pounding.

Even though he wanted to act nonchalant and brush it off, why did he react like this every single time? Aires seemed weak to handsome men – no, to any kind of stimulation. He’d fallen for Bellus’s good looks time and again, and even felt pleasure when Kyle forcibly touched him.

Flustered, Aires looked up at Bellus.

“Lu, actually, yesterday… “
”Yesterday, Res confessed to me. Apparently, he’s liked me for a while.“

Before Aires could make any excuses, Kyle’s voice cut in. Bellus’s eyebrow twitched.

”… Res confessed to Your Highness?“
”No, that’s not… “

”Everyone said he’d forgotten about other people, but he recognized me at first glance. That sincerity was so touching, I decided to consider it.“

‘You said you wouldn’t talk about it!’

It hadn’t even been a day since he promised…

Aires swallowed his tears, thinking he was a fool for trusting Kyle even a little.

“No. How could someone like me dare to harbor feelings for Your Highness…”

“… What?” Kyle asked back, clearly baffled.

The warmth in his eyes just moments ago instantly turned cold and hard.

“So you’ve been toying with me this whole time? Didn’t you say you still had feelings?”

At his words, Aires could only hurriedly stammer out another excuse.

“Well, it’s true I liked you before… but… as you know, I have no memory now… so…“

Aires, who had been stammering out excuses, stopped mid-sentence and shut his mouth.

A peculiar light lingered in Kyle and Bellus’s eyes. It was impossible to tell if they were amused or annoyed.

Since Bellus liked bad-tempered people, his interest must have completely waned by now. A timid man like Aires wasn’t his type.

After exchanging that indecipherable look for a moment, Kyle tilted his head slightly and spoke.

“So, Res, does that mean any guy will do?”
“… Huh?”
“You practically melted under my touch. And it wasn’t even someone you liked touching you. Drooling like that…”

His choice of words left Aires momentarily speechless. He couldn’t think of a rebuttal to that illogical argument.

“So it wasn’t because you liked me? You were just horny?”

Kyle, who was holding Aires, suddenly pressed his thumb hard against one of his nipples. Aires’s body trembled reflexively.

“Ugh, what…!”
“Huh? Is that it?”

Startled, Aires grabbed his arm, but of course, it was useless. Kyle didn’t stop there; he pressed down on the nipple and began tracing slow circles over it.

“Ah…!”

A desperate moan escaped on its own. His body, already aroused by the slightest touch, was utterly helpless against this direct, pressing stimulation.

As he twisted his body to escape, his chest was stimulated even more, and a strange pleasure welled up from below.

“Look at this. You say you don’t like me, but why does this part like it so much?”

Kyle lowered the hand pressing his chest and gripped Aires’s genitals tightly, as if squeezing them.

‘It hurts…!’

Another moan escaped involuntarily.

“Huh? Res, answer me.”

The agonizingly low voice echoed in his ear, clouding Aires’s mind. But he couldn’t let himself be swept away like this – he didn’t know what might happen. Aires answered with great effort.

“… It’s not that, it’s my body… my body…“
”Yeah. Tell me.“

Urged on by the prompting words, Aires barely managed to utter a denial.

”My body… feels strange… It’s not my mind… I’m not like that…”

His eyes welled up with frustration. Why did he have to make excuses for this? He hadn’t even asked to be touched… .

“…What did I do wrong… Since yesterday, it’s been like this…”

‘All I did was read a novel out of curiosity. If I’d known I’d end up in a world like this, I never would have read it in the first place.’

His body began to tremble, then tears gushed forth. He tried desperately to hold them back, but couldn’t stop the bitter flood rising up.

“… I’m not. I’m not like that. I’m not…“

The words wouldn’t come out right. He wanted to speak calmly, but all that came out was a choked sob.

Ashamed to cry in front of others, he covered his face with one hand, but even that was stopped as his wrist was grabbed firmly.

It was Bellus, who had been standing by silently.

“Oh dear, isn’t Res crying? Your Highness was too harsh.”
“I only stated the facts.”
“Res wasn’t trying to mock Your Highness. It was just his body remembering you. Right, Res?”

Bellus looked at Aires, seeking agreement. Aires merely nodded at the help he had condescendingly granted.

They hadn’t even let him cover his face, and now they stared intently at his crying. Closing his eyes, tears streamed down his face.

The area around his eyes and his cheeks burned hot. He felt wronged and ashamed.

A hand, he couldn’t tell whose, wiped away the wetness from his eyes.

“So, the body still likes me, then?”
“Ugh, yes…”

He wanted to deny it, but as the weaker party, Aires had no choice but to nod.

His body was held by Kyle, his cheeks and eyes were burning hot, and his lower body throbbed. Bellus’s grip on his wrist, lacking any restraint, grew increasingly painful.

Everything was a mess.

“Then shall we return to the dorm together? Let’s start by eating until we’re full.”
“Well, that…”

Somehow, Kyle’s mention of a meal didn’t seem to mean eating food with one’s mouth. Aires couldn’t answer easily.

Right now, Aires had nowhere to turn for help. Though he was the son of a Count, his status meant little in front of these two. Moreover, his so-called family was too cold to seem likely to help.

So, ultimately, there was only one person Aires could turn to for help right now. Bellus.

‘Please…’

Aires kept sending signals to Bellus, begging for help. He’d been trying to behave nicely to keep Bellus interested, but ironically, now that he couldn’t get Bellus’s attention, he found himself in a situation where escaping Kyle would be difficult.

He knew Bellus was just a pretty-faced pervert, but he was still better than Kyle. At least he wouldn’t force anything on him right away.

Capricious Kyle was the kind of person who would toy with Aires as he pleased. When he felt like it, he’d pretend to be kind, but when his mood soured, he’d torment him as if tearing off the wings of a dragonfly he’d been playing with.

He’d be affectionate, then cruel, and when he felt like it, he’d lick the wounds he’d inflicted. This was Kyle’s way of taming his toys.

Whether enchanted by the fleeting sweetness he offered, or brainwashing themselves to survive, those who grew accustomed to the process soon found themselves hooked on Kyle, even finding the pain exhilarating.

Once body and soul were completely enslaved to him, the toy was discarded. It was like a law. If one clung to him then, throwing away even their own self, they would be discarded, stripped of everything.

‘Kyle is the one I absolutely must avoid…’

Aires fixed his gaze solely on Bellus. Bellus’s eyes sparkled, seemingly satisfied by the sight of him staring at only him with sorrowful eyes. Though he couldn’t know what Bellus was thinking, that exterior still shone brilliantly.

Should he help?

In the story, Bellus enjoyed seeing his toy blindly depend on him. Aires clung to Bellus, trusting only that. There was no need for clumsy acting. Since he genuinely wanted his help, his face naturally became pleading.

Bellus, who had been staring down at Aires, finally spoke, “Your Highness, Res is confused. It would be best to stop.”

Aires nearly burst into tears again from relief.

“Is that so?”

Amidst this strange standoff, Kyle’s gaze held a hint of amusement. His strangely subdued eyes and smirking lips remained captivating, yet equally terrifying.

The thought of being left alone with Kyle in that state was unbearable. Whatever might happen, it certainly wouldn’t be pleasant.

Aires clutched Bellus’s sleeve tightly, trying to look as pitiful as possible.

Kyle asked indifferently, “Res, are you having a hard time?”

“… Yes…”
“Then I suppose there’s nothing to be done.”

When Aires answered tremulously, Kyle unexpectedly let go of him without resistance.

Judging by Kyle’s sudden change in attitude, it seemed the two had briefly communicated using magic. Even in the novel, Bellus and Kyle often communicated in ways inaudible to others. eluslus

Whatever they had discussed, Kyle’s abrupt shift in demeanor felt suspicious.

“We’d better postpone the meal for now.”
“Yes…”
“What a pity. You feel the same, don’t you?”
“Yes…”

Aires nodded like a fool. Whatever they’d discussed, at least the immediate crisis had been averted.