Little Pink Starfish

“Humans are beings easily swayed by desire.”

That was a line Ishar had once read in a book. And something he had come to realize firsthand through his dealings with the nobility.

Even so, Ishar had vowed he would never be like them—those who fell to sin or shameful behavior due to their desires.

He had long since moved past any desperate craving for material wealth, and his thirst for magical knowledge had mostly subsided after ascending the throne.

As for lust, it existed on a plane beyond his comprehension. Never once in his life had Ishar succumbed to or even yearned for sexual desire.

He couldn’t understand the nobles who let themselves become animals—falling to lust, leaving behind humiliating records, indulging in night-long escapades even while important matters went ignored.

Now, Ishar realized he was no longer in a position to scorn them.

Ah… he too, was just an animal.

The moment he returned to his bedchamber after the audience, he had given in and shared a bed with Veloan.

At first, he had no intention—truly, he swore it—that anything physical would happen between them.

He just wanted to have a serious conversation, ask about Glen’s testimony, and satisfy his curiosity. He had even planned out how to open the discussion in a calm and rational tone.

After the conversation, he had fully intended to send Veloan back to his room “without incident.”

‘Ishar, do you know how long my heart has ached for you while I waited here for your return?’

‘I’m sorry. The nobles requesting an audience were rambling nonsense, not just about Glen, and it took longer than expected. Now let go of my waist—wait, why are you excited again? Are you in heat or something?’

‘Your breath is too sweet… How could I not be aroused? May I kiss you?’

‘No, don’t—hngh…’

‘Ishar, I love you. That’s why I want to touch you more, feel you more. Please, let me. You don’t know how badly I wanted to touch you all day, breathing in your scent and warmth.’

Veloan knew just how to use his charms. And he was intimately aware of Ishar’s weak spots. He skillfully teased Ishar’s body, drawing him into arousal.

Ishar, still sensitive from Veloan’s earlier teasing in the private room, was quick to recall those sensations—and quick to be stirred again.

So he gave in. So easily. Overwhelmed by desire, he let his body be taken.

“I’m a slave to desire.”

He covered his face with a hand in shame. His cheeks were already flushed from the steam in the bathroom, and the residual heat from his hand only worsened it. Still, he didn’t remove his hand.

He knew Veloan couldn’t see his face from behind—but he was more afraid of seeing his own reflection in the water, reddened from shame and self-loathing.

“Ishar, why are you covering your face?”

With a splash, Veloan gently grasped his wrist from behind.

He brushed his fingers across Ishar’s hand, then tried to slide his fingers between his. Ishar instinctively closed his fingers tightly.

“It’s… nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing. You’re blushing quite a lot.”

“…Hhngh!”

Veloan’s tongue slowly licked the shell of Ishar’s ear. The damp breath wrapped around him, making all his nerves rush to that single point.

As Ishar flinched, Veloan traced his ear again, flicking with his tongue—his hand also starting to roam across Ishar’s chest.

“Nnh…”

Still sensitive from just earlier, the stimulation took immediate effect.

Veloan gently squeezed his chest, then pinched a hardened nipple between his fingers.

In the beginning, no matter how much he was touched, Ishar had felt nothing. But the persistent teasing had awakened something, and now his body responded with heat.

Ishar felt danger creeping in. He couldn’t let himself fall again. He didn’t want to waste any more time on lust.

Fighting to ignore his body’s heat, he grabbed Veloan’s wrist with both hands and growled.

“Stop, Veloan. I’m not doing this with you again tonight.”

“Does that mean… you will tomorrow?”

“Why must you twist my words like that?”

Veloan didn’t answer.

Instead, he grabbed Ishar’s waist—who had been slowly inching away—and pulled him close.

Ishar’s eyes flew open as he felt the clear, firm press of something obscene between his hips.

“As you can see… this is why.”

“Deal with it yourself.”

“Ishar…”

Just hearing his name, in that warmed, dazed state, made Veloan’s voice sound dangerously seductive.

Ishar’s resolve wavered—he wanted to give him whatever he asked for.

“It’s not like I’m unaffected, either…”

“Ishar, I want you.”

His strong arms pulled Ishar close, the weight and heat of his arousal pressing lower.

And Ishar remembered all too well what kind of pleasure that had brought him before. Anticipation pooled low in his belly.

As shame welled up again—shame at how easily he gave in—Ishar finally surrendered.

“We talk first… then I’ll consider it.”

“Thank you, Ishar.”

Before he even finished speaking, Veloan closed the distance, pressing his lips softly against Ishar’s.

Ishar turned his face and welcomed the kiss. Their wet lips met, and Veloan slipped his tongue inside with ease.

Unlike the heat of the bed, this kiss was gentle and sweet. Ishar found himself lost in it before he realized.

He even felt disappointed when Veloan was the first to pull away.

“So, what was it you were so eager to talk about? If it’s about those women the nobles proposed as empress candidates, then I’m afraid we’ll need to ‘discuss’ it in other ways.”

“…”

Hearing Veloan directly reference a conversation that had occurred inside the audience chamber—protected by every soundproofing and barrier spell—made Ishar’s mind whirl.

‘Did he use magic to eavesdrop? But I didn’t sense any spell from him at all during the audience. Even if he’s stronger than me now, I’d still detect it… Did the nobles tell him beforehand? No… could it be…?’

“Let me ask you something, just in case.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Veloan reached beneath the water and laced his fingers with Ishar’s playfully. When their eyes met, he tilted his head with a smile so charming that Ishar found himself at a loss for words.

He looked away quickly, fearing he wouldn’t be able to say anything otherwise. Veloan chuckled low and planted a kiss on Ishar’s cheek.

“Why won’t you say anything?”

He brought Ishar’s hand to his lips, placing playful, wet kisses on his fingers.

“…Forget it. I misspoke.”

“Did you?”

“Yes.”

It wasn’t exactly a mistake. But the theory he had formed felt too absurd now to speak aloud.

All the nobles he had met today had brought up different candidates for empress—each from separate factions.

It might seem like they had all agreed in advance, but each of them had more urgent, house-related matters to discuss. It was hard to believe they had all suddenly rallied behind the empress issue.

‘So I wondered… could Veloan have pressured them? …No, that can’t be.’

If it were true, it would mean Veloan held nearly every noble faction in the empire under his thumb.

“The reason I called you to my chambers—like I’ve said many times—was because of Glen. There are things I want to ask you.”

“I’ll answer anything.”

“Why did you teach Glen the invisibility spell? Was there a reason?”

Leaning against Veloan’s steady frame, submerged in warm water, Ishar was glad he wasn’t facing him.

But now, as Veloan suddenly froze mid-kiss, Ishar regretted not being able to see his expression.

“Veloan?”

“I believe… there’s another question you really want to ask.”

“That was what I wanted to ask.”

“Ishar, you can be honest with me. I’m your one and only consort—your future empress. There’s no need to test me. I’ll answer sincerely. Because I love you.”

Hearing that serious voice right beside his ear, Ishar immediately changed his mind.

He was glad they weren’t face-to-face. But Veloan could still see his profile if he tilted his head—so Ishar pretended to study his submerged hair, lowering his gaze deeply.

Veloan kissed the nape of his neck with a soft smack, but Ishar made sure not to flinch.

His face, which had barely cooled, grew hot again—though perhaps it was just the steam in the bath.

He even cast a slight cooling spell on his cheeks to bring down the temperature before finally speaking.

“Veloan. I haven’t accepted you as empress yet.”

“Yes, I remember. You said you’re not sure if you love me. And?”