Little Pink Starfish

The Snake That Swallowed the Pomegranate – Episode 11

“What?”

Nyne, who had just been about to motion for Lan Gwen to sit back down, looked at him in surprise. To anyone’s eyes, the glass orb appeared so valuable it seemed beyond price, and yet Lan Gwen’s words came off as defying Nyne. The attending priests and Leshas stared in stunned silence as Lan Gwen smiled gently and spoke.

“This glass orb incorporates state-of-the-art magical engineering. It’s highly efficient in mana stone consumption and aesthetically pleasing as well. Moreover, it’s a one-of-a-kind artifact made by a master craftsman—so rare it could be priced just by its uniqueness alone. However…”

As Nyne stared with wide eyes, Lan Gwen continued speaking in an overly polite tone.

“Even this, compared to the noble divinity of Sha, is nothing more than a worthless toy. Which is to say, it doesn’t even qualify as something merely decent.”

Nyne was momentarily speechless. No one had ever responded to him in such a slippery, evasive tone. Maybe it was because he came from the North, but his way of speaking sounded subtly deceptive. Nyne parted his lips, then scolded him.

“Don’t talk back to me.”

“My apologies, Sha.”

As Nyne waved his hand irritably, Lan Gwen backed away, saying he would withdraw. Nyne glared at the back of Lan Gwen’s head until it burned, then accepted another offering from a different Lesha. Even then, his gaze occasionally wandered back to the glass orb.

After receiving the tributes, the Leshas began showing the entertainment they’d prepared, chattering like birds. On a small stage, they performed dances, songs, short plays, or showed off tricks by well-trained animals.

Having seen these performances countless times, Nyne sipped his drink with little interest. Glancing at Lan Gwen, who had only just arrived at Yeonhwa Hall, Nyne saw him already chatting familiarly with some of the Leshas. It hadn’t struck Nyne until then, but when their eyes met, Lan Gwen gave him a knowing smile.

“That one dares to…”

Flabbergasted, Nyne pressed his lips together. Every one of Lan Gwen’s actions was arrogant and irritating. Normally, when Leshas met Nyne’s gaze, they reacted in one of two ways: they averted their eyes and bowed in respect, or they smiled shyly.

But the way Lan Gwen had just smiled was nothing like that. It wasn’t that Nyne was imagining it due to a personal grudge—his smile was truly insolent and provocative.

Nyne considered calling Gwen over right away but decided to wait, thinking his dignity had already taken a hit today in front of the Leshas.

When the banquet ended, Nyne returned to his sanctum and immediately ordered that Lesha Lan Gwen be summoned.

Sensing Nyne’s displeasure, Lu gently fanned him, while Popo brought various sweet and tasty treats. The priests clustered around, massaging his hands, feet, neck, and shoulders to soothe his mood. While this was going on, Lesha Lan Gwen entered the sanctum.

Beads of sweat dotted Lan Gwen’s white forehead and neck. Inside the First Tower Gate, only Sha Nyne and Amon were permitted to ride in palanquins, so walking in the blazing sun must have been quite grueling. Yet Lan Gwen, summoned by Nyne, bowed flat on the floor without a trace of fear on his face.

“A true servant answers the call of Sha.”

“Kneel.”

Nyne commanded in a cold voice, and Lan Gwen rose and knelt. His upward gaze shimmered with a striking pink.

“The reason I called you here today is because your behavior was far too insolent.”

“My apologies, Sha.”

Nyne narrowed his eyes, watching Lan Gwen speak obediently. With his head lowered, a few strands of his pink hair had slipped over his forehead.

“I understand I have offended you.”

“So, you do know, do you?”

“Yet I ask you to consider that it was something beyond my control.”

Nyne’s jaw dropped. Even now, he dared to talk back so arrogantly. With his handsome face, Lan Gwen shamelessly began to speak.

“It was not my intention to draw the attention of Sha Amon at the banquet, Sha.”

“…What.”

Nyne was so stunned he questioned whether he had heard correctly. Lu, who had been fanning, stopped mid-motion. Apparently shocked, Lu—normally the grave and composed attendant of the Sha—muttered absentmindedly, “Has he lost his mind?”

Nyne, who had only ever dealt with carefully chosen priests, slaves, and obedient Leshas, had never encountered anything like this.

“Sha Nyne reveres and loves Sha Amon deeply. So naturally, my presence must have been offensive to you.”

Even his voice, soft and petal-colored, was enough to momentarily disorient Nyne. As Lan Gwen continued speaking—

“Due to the nature of my position as a Lesha, I have no choice but to serve Sha Amon. While I understand your anger is justified, I too am troubled by having unintentionally drawn Sha Amon’s attention…”

Did I really just hear that? Then, as Nyne met Lan Gwen’s faintly smiling pink eyes, confusion and shock quickly turned into rage. That smiling face, those audacious words—claiming to be troubled by Amon’s attention in front of Amon’s consort—it was nothing short of mockery.

“I tried to teach you with words, but your lowly and arrogant nature makes that impossible!”

Enraged, Nyne slammed the armrest of the chair and jumped to his feet. Seeing this, a brief flicker of surprise crossed Lan Gwen’s eyes—but only briefly. He quickly returned to his calm, composed expression.

“Bring the rod, now!”

Nyne shouted, his face flushed with fury. Compared to others in Amon’s sanctum, where even a minor offense by a noble could lead to whipping, mutilation, or death, Nyne was known for being unusually lenient. Disliking blood and screams, he rarely punished even clumsy slaves.

So when Nyne demanded the rod, the priests moved with heightened urgency. One stopped massaging and knelt quietly in place, while another hurried to fetch a rod tucked away in the corner.

“What shall we do, Sha Nyne?”

Popo asked in a sweet voice, handing a rod to two sturdy priests. As Nyne glared with blazing eyes, Lan Gwen met his gaze and smiled.

“The punishment given to me by Sha—I will gladly accept.”

“You…”

That defiant attitude, as if he would never submit, made sparks fly in Nyne’s golden eyes. Seeing Nyne’s expression, Popo’s face hardened and gave the order instead.

“Punish Lesha Lan Gwen until Sha’s anger is appeased.”

At her words, the priests laid down thick linen on the floor, made Lan Gwen kneel on it, and raised his upper body. They lifted the long hem of his kalasiris to expose his calves, then placed a chair in front of him and pressed him down with it. For Leshas and nobles, punishment was never delivered to the back or chest—that was reserved for slaves. They were usually whipped on their buttocks, thighs, or calves.

Two priests held Lan Gwen’s arms, while two others held his ankles. Of the two wielding rods, the one on the right raised it high and brought it down. Thwack! A red welt immediately swelled on his calf. Then the priest on the left struck in turn.

Despite the pain, Lan Gwen didn’t let out a single scream or moan. But it was clear he was in pain—he clenched his teeth tight. Nyne watched intently as Gwen’s pink lashes trembled, his smooth brow furrowed, and sweat on his forehead slowly rolled down his temples.

Seeing him quietly endure the punishment somewhat calmed Nyne’s seething anger. When the once-pale calves were covered in dozens of red welts and the skin began to split, oozing blood, Nyne finally raised his hand.

The priest put down the rod and brought a cloth soaked in sharp-smelling herbal juice to disinfect the wounds. Only then did a moan escape Gwen’s lips. Whether intentional or not, his grimace and the sigh-like groan sounded oddly provocative, causing Nyne to frown in disgust.

“Lesha Lan Gwen, express your gratitude to Sha Nyne.”

Popo commanded coldly. Slightly limping, Lan Gwen stood and slowly knelt again. Though the floor must have stung his injured legs, he didn’t flinch. Bowing low, he spoke firmly.

“Thank you for administering punishment, Sha.”

Watching him made Nyne’s head throb, and he gave an irritated order.

“Lesha Lan Gwen, you may leave.”

“Yes, Sha.”

As he replied, Lan Gwen lifted his head and met Nyne’s eyes. Intense emotions flickered in his beautiful pink irises—but he quickly masked them with a smile. As Gwen limped backward out of the room, Nyne bit his lip and turned his gaze away.

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Pinky says: Whoopsie daisies. I need to be more suspicious of women appearing in my translations, these are BL novels, women only belong in the shadows, drooling from afar. Also Nine just isn’t namey enough for a character who isn’t a slave or spy or whatever so it’s Nyne now.