Chapter 8: The Owner’s Right

“…What on earth is this smell?”

The next day.

That was the first thing the knight who entered the room said when he saw me.

“…”

Unable to answer, I lowered my head, my cheeks flushed red.

‘I didn’t know it would be this bad either.’

When I woke up in the morning.

I was sleeping in water.

The blanket was damp and sticky with something.

To think that everything came from my body.

Feeling a surge of nausea, I quickly did the laundry.

‘Because there’s a stream nearby.’

Thanks to that, I was able to manage the blankets somehow.

But not this smell.

A strange scent, different from the mildew smell of my old room.

Even after opening the window to ventilate, it seemed deeply ingrained and showed no sign of leaving.

“Haa…”

The knight, who had been looking at me twisting my body and staring at the floor, sighed.

Then he turned around abruptly and spoke to me.

“Come with me. Her Majesty the Emperor is calling.”

“Ah, yes!”

I hastily replied and trotted behind him.

But…

My head, which I had lifted to follow the knight, tilted to the side.

‘Why are his ears red?’

Bright red ears visible through the silver helmet.

There was no way that rude knight could feel embarrassed…

Perhaps, the smell had truly irritated him.

‘Why get angry about that?’

Anyway, nothing in this academy was normal.

“Please enter.”

I wondered why he was using polite language, but decided not to think about it deeply.

There was no need to dwell on trivial matters in front of the gates of hell.

The only thing I needed to think about now was one thing.

‘How do I please the Emperor?’

That was all.

But.

‘If I knew how, I would have used it long ago.’

Matching the ever-changing whims of the Emperor was practically impossible.

So I had no choice but to leave it to luck.

Hoping the Emperor was in a good mood today.

[Creak.]

The door opened.

At the same time, the strong scent of coffee tickled my nostrils.

Now it was starting to feel real.

That I had entered hell.

“….”

[Scratch scratch.]

As if deeply immersed in her work, the pen held in her hand kept moving.

It was good news for me.

Her being busy meant I could probably get through the day without much trouble.

“I greet the sun of the Empire.”

Perhaps thanks to the hopeful situation.

The voice that just came out was surprisingly bright, even to me.

“…Today, there is not much I will have you do.”

“…!”

Was this day finally coming?

To think such a small, simple thing could be this happy.

Bowing my head, I secretly smiled on my face, hidden from the Emperor, and waited for her next words.

But then.

“There is a dress over there. Go and change into it.”

At the Emperor’s following words, my face filled with confusion.

Suddenly telling me to wear a dress.

Her words made me feel puzzled, but I turned my head anyway.

Then I saw the dress.

‘Cra**.’

My face was colored with horror.

Understandably so, that dress was literally a women’s dress.

A white blouse decorated with a black sailor collar.

A large black ribbon near the chest area.

Even a large gem embedded in the center of that ribbon.

‘She wants me to wear this?’

It was shocking.

But it didn’t end there.

There was even a skirt.

A black skirt with white frills at the bottom.

‘The rags I usually wear are practically one-piece dresses, though.’

But real women’s clothes are too much!

My pride as a man would not allow this.

I couldn’t wear it.

However.

“Change into it quickly.”

The Emperor pushed me, who was standing precariously at the edge of a cliff.

My back thus pushed, I trudged towards the dress.

“…”

Then, as I reached out for the dress, my fingertips trembled.

‘Really, you f*cking bich…’

My mind, which hadn’t been shaken by most difficult tasks, was shaking wildly.

It felt like the pride I had maintained as a man until now was being completely crushed.

But there was no way to resist.

[Clench.]

Closing my eyes tightly, I quickly picked up the dress.

Just by holding the dress, my face felt hot.

“Ma, Master. Where should I change?”

Clutching the dress tightly in shame, I asked the Emperor.

Then came the shocking reply.

“Change here. We are both women, aren’t we?”

“…”

It felt like being hit hard on the head with a large hammer.

My face began to freeze in shock.

It was at that moment.

“Do not make me wait, Iris.”

The Emperor threw cold water on me, who was unable to regain my composure from the confusion.

[Startle.]

My body, which had come to its senses, trembled.

My white face turned red like a tomato.

The degree was so severe that the redness spread below my collarbone.

“Ugh…”

I desperately held back the tears that were about to burst from terrible shame.

Then I slowly, slowly, removed the rags I was wearing.

It didn’t take long to take them off.

It was something so flimsy it was embarrassing to even call it clothes in the first place.

I instantly returned to my primordial state.

At the same time.

[Plop.]

One or two silent tears fell to the floor.

It was humiliating.

But she wouldn’t know.

Why putting on women’s clothes was so painful.

“…”

[Scratch scratch.]

The sound of a pencil was heard.

Complete indifference.

The Emperor would not understand what kind of humiliation I was going through by wearing this dress.

Because she hadn’t lived as a man.

“Are you done changing?”

That’s why she said something so indifferent.

[Grind.]

My teeth ground together.

“…”

“Seeing as there is no answer, I suppose you are done changing.”

Along with those words, the Emperor lifted her head.

At that, I quickly wiped away the tears near my eyes.

My long eyelashes were still wet, but if she didn’t look closely, she might not know I had cried.

“Hmm…”

As expected, the Emperor didn’t notice.

The Emperor, who had lifted her head, slowly began to examine my body.

Then, soon.

She twitched her eyebrows.

As if something was bothering her, she stared intensely at my face.

‘Did she perhaps notice?’

That I had cried.

‘No, there’s no way.’

The Emperor wasn’t a delicate person enough to notice such subtle changes.

There must be another reason.

“As I was thinking, you are more foolish than you appear. Come here.”

She beckoned me with her finger.

At that, I quickly approached her.

Then she let out a deep sigh.

“Are you foolish? Or have you become foolish?”

She hurled insults without hesitation.

‘You f*cking bich.’

Following that, unfiltered curses repeatedly played in my head like a broken radio.

So sensitive that I reacted sharply even to words I would normally ignore.

I was in a psychologically cornered state.

“Turn around and take off your dress.”

“…Why take off the dress?”

Therefore, I asked back in a slightly sharp tone.

It was at that moment.

[Snort.]

The Emperor let out a derisive laugh.

“Your language is becoming shorter, Iris.”

“…!”

[Thump—.]

At the same time, boundless killing intent poured down on me.

It was only for a moment.

But that thick fear was strongly ingrained in my brain.

[Hic, k..!]

[Trembling.]

My flushed face turned pale.

“Be careful. You are no longer a s*ave now that you are a professor, but do not forget that you are still in a contractual relationship with me.”

She growled softly.

At that, a single tear, which I had desperately held back, rolled down my cheek.

Seeing that, the Emperor’s face, which had been coldly hardened, softened.

Then she reached out and wiped away the tear flowing down my cheek.

“I have told you countless times. If you listen to me well and follow my orders, nothing will happen.”

“…”

“So turn around and take off your dress.”

I could no longer resist.

Biting my lower lip tightly with my upper teeth, I turned my back as she said and took off the dress I was wearing.

There was no particular meaning to telling her to change clothes.

She just wanted to see Iris revealing her naked body in front of her, trembling with shame.

That was all.

“…”

Pretending to doodle with the pencil in her hand, she watched Iris changing clothes.

Every time her body trembled with shame, an unknown pleasure surged.

‘Older sister.’

That excellent older sister, I have broken her down.

She was now an existence who revealed her naked body in front of me.

Like a refreshing carbonated drink that broke through her stifled chest, her brain writhed in catharsis.

But.

That was only for a very short time.

“…”

Red eyes filled with tears.

Cleavage and face flushed red.

And the corners of her eyes, drooping with shame.

The vitality in those eyes gradually disappeared.

‘…!’

At that, Ragrasha was inwardly horrified.

Iris, who had never been broken no matter what she did until now.

She had been broken by being subjected to this humiliation.

A sense of empty powerlessness rushed in like a tidal wave.

Had that wave perhaps carried away the sand from the beach?

Ragrasha’s chest ached fiercely.

It felt as if she had done something wrong.

She kept having the feeling that she needed to take care of something.

That feeling was unpleasant.

Because the words she had heard from Serina yesterday kept coming to mind.

‘Love.’

Yes.

It felt like the emotion was love.

‘I do not love a s*ave.’

It was impossible.

Ragrasha denied the emotion.

But right at that moment.

Something caught Ragrasha’s eye.

Two points protruding through the pure white clothes.

It was strange.

She was sure she had given her underwear too.

Looking at the hanger in confusion, indeed.

Iris was not wearing underwear.

At that, Ragrasha smiled faintly.

‘Iris is a toy.’

A toy to satisfy her pleasure.

‘It is also the owner’s job to take care of such a toy.’

Therefore, this was not love.

Denying the emotion once again, Ragrasha beckoned with her hand.

At that, Iris trudged towards her.

That much was good.

“…Why take off the dress?”

A thorny voice was heard before that.

At that voice, Ragrasha’s heart pounded.

Iris was entirely justified in being angry.

Because she had provoked her like that.

Having been together for three years, this kind of defiance was common.

That’s why Ragrasha usually brushed it off lightly.

But then.

After seeing Iris smiling at Ariella, it wasn’t easy.

‘Why is she getting angry at me?’

Because I torment her.

‘Still, she should smile at me.’

Because she is my s*ave.

‘She smiles at Ariella and gets angry at me?’

[Grind.]

A vein popped out on Ragrasha’s forehead.

At the same time, killing intent scattered in all directions.

‘Oh, no.’

It was a mistake.

The difference in power between Iris and herself was vast.

If Iris were hit by such strong killing intent at this distance, she would lose consciousness.

Ragrasha’s judgment was fast.

She quickly stopped the killing intent.

Then she observed Iris’s state.

[Thump thump.]

Her heart, which was calm even on the battlefield, pounded fiercely at this moment.

“…”

Iris’s eyes, when she looked, were filled with tears.

But those red eyes were burning fiercely, unlike a moment ago.

They sparkled with vitality, just like when she first bought Iris.

Elation appeared on Ragrasha’s face.

‘That expression, only I can see it. An expression that Ariella and no one else can see, only I can see.’

Ragrasha trembled with exhilaration.

She kept smiling.

She felt like she might get caught showing this face.

Therefore, she quickly said.

“Turn around.”

At that, Iris, who had been looking at her with eyes full of defiance, turned her back.

‘—-!’

A terribly vast sense of conquest surged into Ragrasha’s chest.

[Rustle rustle.]

Iris’s clothes were removed.

Her pure white back, without a single blemish, came into view.

Holding the underwear, Ragrasha helped Iris put on the bra.

“…”

Iris’s back gradually began to turn bright red.

This too was a magnificent sight that only she could behold.

Ragrasha, intoxicated by the sweet pleasure, helped Iris put on all the rest of her clothes like that.

Her body flinched every time her hand touched it.

The slight sensation of her soft chest.

‘She’s mine. I can do as I please with her.’

It was satisfying.

Infinitely satisfying.

That’s why she didn’t want to give her to anyone else.

“Turn around.”

Then Iris turned around.

Perhaps she had cried again, as the corners of her eyes were wet.

‘Is she pretending not to have cried?’

Did she not know that everything was obvious?

She was a toy, but so incredibly adorable.

She wanted to play with her more.

But now was the time to let her go.

“Entrance ceremony begins next week. From then on, you will officially become the professor of divine power operation. So, prepare yourself.”

Ragrasha stopped speaking and swallowed.

She cleared her throat, calming her voice which was trembling with excitement.

“I will give you one week’s time. Study divine power operation enough to teach others.”

This was also Ragrasha’s strategy.

If she did this, Iris wouldn’t be able to meet anyone for nearly a week.

Because she would be busy studying.

‘My toy cannot be given to anyone.’

Thinking that, Ragrasha raised her hand.

There was underwear in that hand.

“…?”

At that, Iris’s face was filled with confusion.

Ragrasha snorted and said.

“What are you staring at blankly? Are you expecting me to put it on for you?”

“Ah, no..!”

“Then put it on quickly and go.”

Cherish it dearly.

For your body is mine.

I decline to show it to anyone else.

Ragrasha swallowed the words that followed.

“…”

Iris snatched the underwear as if snatching something.

Then she put on the underwear precariously, as if about to fall.

Watching that was quite amusing.

Perhaps she felt the gaze.

Iris, her cheeks flushed red, rushed out of the room as soon as she put on her underwear, as if fleeing.

[Thud–!]

The door closed with a small sound.

It was right at that moment.

[Feather fluttering.]

A single feather flew in through the door from which Iris had exited.

“Hmm…”

Ragrasha had obsessions.

If she didn’t remove that feather, she wouldn’t be able to work.

She considered calling out to Iris who had left and scolding her, but she held back.

She didn’t want to be hated—.

No.

‘What am I thinking.’

Ragrasha got up from her seat irritably.

Then she walked deliberately and picked up the feather that had fallen on the floor.

“…”

Ragrasha looked around.

The room was empty.

The surroundings were quiet.

Confirming that, Ragrasha slowly approached the trash can.

Then she slowly reached out her hand.

[Scrape!]

Towards the small box next to the trash can.

“Hehehe.”

Ragrasha smiled faintly.

Then she placed the feather inside the box.

Inside the box, many white feathers just like it were gathered.

An angel’s feather is different from a common beast’s feather.

It is much more beautiful and pure white.

In that regard, the feathers in that box…

‘They are all Iris’s.’

From her room.

From the path she walked.

She had collected all the feathers that had fallen out accidentally.

‘This is not love.’

Refusing to give anything of her toy to anyone else.

The owner’s rightful.

‘Right.’

Ragrasha, having brainwashed herself once again, returned to her seat.

After deeply inhaling the scent from the box containing the feathers, that is.