The Snow Queen

Was I getting sick?

I put down the cup and watered the potted plant. Suddenly, I remembered what happened yesterday. I was on my way home after buying the plant when a loud horn blared from behind, followed by someone shouting. I instinctively started to turn my head but froze. Through the window of a clothing store across the street, I could see the road behind me.

A man had extended his upper body out of the driver’s window and was yelling in my direction. I quickly remembered—he was a ‘friend’ of that man. Fortunately, the traffic light had stopped the car.

I acted as if I hadn’t heard and hurriedly walked away. My entire body was covered in goosebumps.

“Pathetic, absolutely pathetic.”

What was the point of scheming behind Lord Manen’s back? When it came to actual violence, I was as helpless as a beetle. A coward, small and weak, and then… and then… There were too many flaws to count, so I gave up. I blamed myself for frequenting gay bars and getting tangled up with men.

Though I hadn’t been out of bed for long, I started to feel chills. I was about to crawl back under the blankets when the thought of that man crossed my mind. Tomorrow would mark the fourth day since I attached doll’s eyes with him.

That day, as he was about to leave, he suddenly approached me, wearing his coat, and kissed me. Then he went straight to the bed. I spent the entire morning enduring him. Although he didn’t do anything too harsh, his strength was overwhelming, and I nearly passed out several times. While I was content with just oral, it seemed he couldn’t be satisfied unless he reached full penetration.

He also enjoyed watching my expression. Every time I was pushed by him and opened my eyes, without fail, he would be staring at me, smiling. Normally, he wasn’t like that, but during sex, he always had that same sly grin. With half-lidded eyes, he would raise the corners of his lips slightly, looking at me as if savoring something.

It had always been that way. Yes, even on the night we first met at Snow White, he had looked down at me with that same smile. At times, it seemed so cruel that even in my disoriented state, I felt a chill. Was it because he was a pervert? He was a strange man. Scary and absurd. He seemed so clean-cut, yet somehow turned into a pervert. If not for his sexual habits, I thought he might even be quite popular with people.

Still, when it was just the two of us, he was somewhat normal (?). When he caressed me gently, he gave me a melting pleasure. As long as he wasn’t too rough, the penetration wasn’t bad either. And when we were entangled together, I often forgot all about the birch trees. Either way, he fully enjoyed himself that day.

But could it be that he’d really come?

I passed out.

The knocking got louder, almost to the point of banging. Reluctantly, I groggily got up. My vision spun as I walked slowly to the door and opened it. As expected, it was him.

Persistent as ever…

I couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated. I had told him to come back in three days, and here he was, exactly three days later. I hadn’t expected him to actually show up. What a man with too much time on his hands.

He looked flustered, his face flushed. He seemed angry after having been ignored for so long.

“You’re home, so why didn’t you open the door?”

His tone was full of frustration. Couldn’t he tell from my just-woken state?

“Can’t you see?”

He placed his hand on my forehead.

“I’m not sick. I was just sleeping.”

When I slapped his hand away, he bit his lip gently. Even in my half-awake daze, his piercing gaze drilled into me. His gray eyes, filled with fury, were sharp like the midday summer sun.

He stepped inside. His demeanor went beyond that of a mere guest—it was as if he was acting like my husband. He was like a gangster. No, not just like one—he was one.

Guiger.

The saying came to mind, “If you know two people, you know someone who’s been beaten by Guiger. Know three, and you know someone who’s been killed by Guiger.” I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall.

What he wanted was obvious.

Just imagining what he was about to do already gave me a headache. Not that I hated it entirely—two-thirds of it was enjoyable. The remaining third was the problem. Looking back, it was almost a miracle how I had endured what he and his friend had done to me. At the time, I had been slightly out of my mind due to illness, so maybe that’s how I survived.

As he removed his coat, he stopped and looked at me. Then, he walked toward me, grabbing my shoulders with both hands. His strength was immense. His shadow loomed over me.

Ah…

I tried to push his arms away. His kiss was as rough as ever. He pressed me back forcefully until my back was flat against the wall. Grabbing my hair, he controlled the angle. The fierce kiss gradually softened, turning into something tender. He pressed his lips against mine as if caressing them, his tongue exploring every inch. The longer it lasted, the deeper and more intense it became. It was almost affectionate, like lovers.

A scent wafted from him as he pressed his body against mine. The cold air from outside mixed with a faint smell of blood. The muscles under his clothes rippled like hard stone.

A bitter sense of helplessness enveloped me. I couldn’t help it… and I even enjoyed this kind of kiss. Unconsciously, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. He lifted my shirt and began caressing my chest, his hand slowly sweeping across it.

He pulled his lips away and moved lower. A tingling sensation struck my nipples, and I moaned, tilting my head back. After a long, deep kiss, his lips left my chest. He pressed my head down, forcing me to my knees. Through his pants, I could clearly see the outline of his erection. It was unmistakably craving me, and I swallowed. I was momentarily shocked by my own reaction. It was a blatant impulse. I wanted to suck it. I wanted to swallow his bitter, salty semen. I wanted that hard thing to penetrate deep inside me.

“Hurry.”

He pressed his lower abdomen against my lips.

꙳•❅*ִ

 The phone in his coat pocket began vibrating loudly. It went on for over five minutes. I cursed under my breath, thrusting into Ray’s body. I rolled to the side, holding his waist with my penis still inside him. The sensation of my erection turning inside his body throbbed painfully.

“Mmph!”

Ray trembled, his back pressed against my chest, breaking out in goosebumps. Unfazed, I continued thrusting. Reaching one hand off the bed, I dug through my coat and pulled out the phone. It was Leopard. Damn it, why now of all times?

I lifted Ray’s hips and, after a moment, thrust deep and fast. With each squelching sound, the bed springs squeaked violently.

“Aaahhh!”

Ray screamed incoherently, completely overwhelmed. After two ejaculations inside him, his body was filled with semen. Every time my penis went in and out, semen dripped out, soaking my thighs with its slickness.

“What the hell?”

I thrust into him roughly, ensuring he couldn’t focus on anything else. The squelching sound of our bodies echoed vividly, even outside the room. I slapped his ass, tightening his inner walls. Ray screamed again, loud enough for Leopard on the other end of the phone to hear.

“What else? I told you I’d contact you. Check tomorrow’s East Eden morning paper. But what are you up to now, huffing and puffing, Mr. Director?”

“Mind your business.”

What a cocky bastard. I tossed the phone aside and grabbed Ray’s waist. As I pounded into him, I reached around to pleasure his front as well, attacking both ends. Ray moaned, almost sobbing. He must have felt like he was losing his mind from the pleasure. I pulled out and changed positions, letting him suck my cock. He loved that. Even though he felt embarrassed, the way he devoured my cock was something to behold.

I shifted his position again, making him lie on his stomach, raising his ass high. The way he presented himself was utterly obscene. I grabbed his knees, practically lifting his lower half into the air, and thrust in. I stared at the spot where my cock went in and out.

My thick cock slid in and out of his small hole, pulling back just enough to tease before plunging all the way in. A fine thread of semen stretched from deep inside to the tip of my cock, so erotic that Ray’s body shuddered. It was clear what he wanted.

“What do you want me to do?”

I teased him playfully, brushing the head of my cock against his entrance. The wetness of the hole, slick with fluids, stirred me.

“What do you want? Say it yourself, like last time. I want to hear it.”

Ray trembled, barely managing to whisper.

“You… put it in.”

I shoved it in fully at once. His small voice, unable to hide his shame, was thrilling. His tight walls burned with heat as they clenched around me. His hole was incredibly sensitive. I teased his nipples as I sped up, pushing deeper. I’d once jokingly asked Ray how such a small body could take all of my cock.

Ray’s head repeatedly hit the headboard as I pushed into him. It looked painful, so I placed a pillow under his head to cushion it.

“How was it? Did it feel good when I put it in?”

After finishing, I asked. Ray didn’t answer, but I knew. I’d made him come three times today. By the end, he was almost unconscious.

I stroked Ray’s back and played with his hair. This moment, lying together and catching our breath after a bout of wild sex, was one of my favorites. Even the anger I’d felt toward Ray for not opening the door earlier started to fade.

When I was about to break down the door out of frustration, Ray finally opened it. Though he looked incredibly sick, it didn’t calm me right away. If he hadn’t responded to my kiss, today’s sex would have been a nightmare for him. The infamous Snake had really softened up.

I couldn’t help but laugh to myself.

“You should get a full check-up at the hospital.”

I suddenly said, and Ray flinched.

“Stop meddling in my life.”

His tone was tinged with irritation. Ignoring it, I continued.

“You’re worried about STDs, but not other illnesses? Every time I see you, you’ve visibly lost weight.”

“Of course. You wear me out every few days.”

I had anticipated that response.

“Oh, it’s my fault then. In that case, I’ll pay for your medical expenses. Since it’s because of me, I should take responsibility.”

I spoke nonchalantly, and Ray snapped his head to glare at me.

What good was glaring at me going to do? His increasingly sickly appearance bothered me. Even in my anger, I couldn’t ignore how pale he looked. I was determined to get him to the hospital, no matter what.

I had plenty of ways to make it happen. The easiest would be to deliberately hurt him down there, forcing him to walk into the hospital on his own. I didn’t want to go that far. It would be less humiliating for him to just listen to me. Of course, I didn’t mention this.

In any case, I’d already taken care of my needs. Now I planned to enjoy the rest of the evening leisurely.

“You haven’t had dinner, so let’s go out. I’ll treat you.”

“I’m going to sleep. You go ahead and leave.”

So stubborn.

I slipped my fingers between his legs. Ray froze. His insides were still wet. A sense of satisfaction washed over me.

“It’s not good to sleep with that inside you. I’ll clean you up. All you need to do is stay still.”

I dragged Ray to the bathroom despite his protests. I had no self-control. As I washed him, I got aroused again and ended up doing it once more.

“Unbelievable,” Ray muttered, drying his dripping hair with a towel, sighing deeply. I just smiled.

Ray pulled clothes from the closet and put them on.

“Aren’t you going to dry your hair?”

“I’m not drying it.”

“You’ll catch a cold if you go out like that.”

“I’ll just wear a hat. Besides, drying this takes too long.”

It was absurd. Ray was just so indifferent. In a way, though, it was a good thing. I liked touching that thick, wavy hair.

“Then I’ll dry your hair for you. Just sit back and relax.”

I forcibly sat Ray down, despite his protests, and dried his hair with a hair dryer. It was fun. Something I’d always wanted to try. Once I set my mind on something, I couldn’t rest until it was done.

After I finished drying his hair, Ray slipped into the same old worn-out coat. There was no way I was going to walk down the street looking like a scene out of a Munch painting. I rummaged through his closet and dressed him in the brightest coat I could find. I also snatched away his hat.

“What’s the point of drying your hair if you’re just going to wear a hat? Let’s just go like this.”

“…Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.”

Ray sighed deeply as he buttoned up the coat. I gave a gentle smile.

We went outside together. The heavy snowfall that had dotted the black sky had ceased. But the remnants of snow were still everywhere. The thin, black outlines of bare tree branches sagged under the weight of the snow. Every house on the street had snow piled high on their roofs and fences, and long, transparent icicles hung from the eaves like melted candles. Even the cars crawled along, burdened with thick layers of snow. It was 42nd Street, blanketed in silence and snow. It felt like heaven had descended.

We walked in silence down the street. I liked the atmosphere, wrapped in this quiet.

It had been a decent day. Interrogating the spy revealed that Manen’s objective was simple reconnaissance. I couldn’t fully enjoy myself because of Ray’s pale condition, but the sex, thanks to his eager response, ended up being reasonably satisfying. And in two days, it would be Lord Wolfscott’s world.

Haha, this is fantastic.

I casually wrapped my arm around Ray’s waist, and he glanced over at me. His wavy hair brushed against his blue eyes. I couldn’t resist giving him a light kiss on the lips.

I wondered how Leopard, who would likely be pulling an all-nighter at the East Eden newspaper office, would react if he saw us now. The idea of sharing Ray with Leopard was out of the question at this point. I had been finding these secret rendezvous with Ray to be quite enjoyable lately. At my age, keeping a lover or two wasn’t such a bad idea. The process of picking and choosing new partners was starting to feel tedious.

Ray’s body was the best of any I’d ever had. While he might not realize it yet, from my observations, he was adapting well to anal sex. With a little more teaching, he had the potential to become an excellent partner in bed. I also liked how, as long as I treated him well at the beginning, he would readily comply with my demands and put in the effort.

His sense of fashion was atrocious, and he had a bit of a miserly streak, but at his core, he had a quiet personality. Being with him felt comfortable. I was sick of loud, cocky bastards. Superiors, colleagues, subordinates, enemies—they were all loud and arrogant. There was no reason for me to choose a loud, arrogant lover as well. Plus, when I played with his amber-colored hair while plotting my twisted schemes, I could focus better. No wonder aristocrats kept lovers despite the scandal it might bring.

Maybe I should bring it up after the Manen situation is wrapped up.

I kissed Ray again and smiled. We entered a restaurant and ordered from the menu. It was a humble diner with the TV on in the background. I would have preferred to take him somewhere nicer, but there weren’t many options nearby. Freshly grilled shashlik was served. It wasn’t bad.

I casually glanced at Ray as I ate the shashlik. I thought about striking up a conversation. Lately, we’d been so focused on each other’s bodies that we hadn’t really talked.

Ray ate slowly, clearly exhausted.

Hmm…

As I brought my vodka glass to my lips, I pondered what to talk about. Suddenly, the volume on the TV increased. It was a bed scene between a man and a woman. Not exactly the ideal thing to watch during a meal. Cheesy lines, moaning—what a mess.

“What’s your name? I want to know. Why did you run away? I love you.”

“My king! Please, you mustn’t… Ah!”

“Please, tell me your name… I… I love you…!”

Ray, who had been drinking water, choked and started coughing. His face turned bright red as he continued to cough. I nearly burst out laughing at the sight.

Haha, so old-fashioned.

“Are you alright?”

I handed Ray a napkin, still smiling. He replied, “Ah, yes,” and wiped his mouth. The bed scene dragged on, with quite a high level of intensity. I had no interest in watching a hetero sex scene either. I called a waiter and asked them to change the channel.

A moment later, the channel switched. Lord Wolfscott was shown shaking hands with some of the Release members. It was footage from the royal party two days ago. Ray, who had been wiping his mouth, fixed his gaze on the TV.

I watched Ray carefully as I sipped my vodka.

“You seem to have quite an interest in Lord Wolfscott.”

“Pardon?” Ray looked startled. I smiled.

“I mean, you seem to have an interest in politics and history.”

“…How do you know that?”

“I saw the books on your shelf. It was pretty obvious.”

“Well, yes. Those books are long, so they’re perfect for getting through the winter.”

Ray muttered as he took a sip of water. I spoke casually.

“I’m curious. What’s your opinion on Lord Wolfscott?”

“Well…”

Ray fumbled for words.

“If I were you, I’d quit my job as soon as possible.”

“Excuse me?”

I swallowed a bite of shashlik and continued.

“Why would you? The pay is decent, it’s notorious but popular, and many people apply for it. What does that have to do with Lord Wolfscott? Is it a moral issue? Hahaha.”

“There’s no future in it.”

“Hmm. That’s true. Jobs that rely on physical strength usually end badly once your body weakens. And if you get seriously injured, the insurance coverage isn’t great either.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Are you implying that Lord Wolfscott won’t last long?”

Ray didn’t answer. I shrugged and took another sip of vodka.

“That assessment seems a bit off. Most predict that Lord Manen’s downfall is just a matter of time, given Lord Wolfscott’s overwhelming influence.”

“What’s visible on the surface isn’t always the whole story, is it?”

Hmm…?

I paused, setting down my vodka glass. Suddenly, I was intrigued. Initially, I had only mentioned Lord Wolfscott to make small talk. But now, the remarks coming from this person were starting to dispel my nonchalant attitude.

“That’s not enough of an explanation. What do you mean?”

Ray’s gaze shifted back to the TV. His earlier startled reaction had eased a bit. Slowly, he wiped his lips with a napkin and spoke.

“Most people would see it that way. After all, the visible figure is Lord Wolfscott, controlling the streets and capturing people. But if you look at history, Lord Wolfscott’s accomplishments are pretty unimpressive. He’s been in power through his in-laws for 30 years, but he’s barely maintained a balance with his rivals. It took him 28 years to get rid of Ekdal, Edelma, and Suominen. Even with a group like Guiger under his control, he still took that long—hardly efficient. I bet the budget he spends on Guiger each year is immense. Meanwhile, Lord Manen has been reaping all the real benefits without spending much. Lord Wolfscott does all the dirty work, while Lord Manen maintains his image. Who do you think is smarter—the student who studies for 10 hours to get first place, or the one who only needs to study for one hour to achieve the same result? We don’t know what will happen in the end, but Lord Wolfscott won’t be able to easily eliminate Lord Manen. Besides, Lord Wolfscott is already in his mid-sixties, so it’s a dead-end job.”

“I see.”

I felt like I had been caught off guard.

“Hahaha, I agree with you that Lord Manen has been underestimated. But your evaluation of Lord Wolfscott seems a bit harsh. Nonetheless, that’s definitely something to keep in mind. I should reconsider my own job as well. Let’s have another drink.”

I smiled generously and reached for the vodka bottle, but Ray declined, saying, “I can’t drink.” I shrugged and put the bottle back down.

That’s quite an interesting view.

Honestly, I had always assumed Ray was rather dumb. His indifferent personality and his appearance, which exuded a kind of vacant charm, certainly didn’t help. But it was surprising to discover he had such thoughts. To be honest, I was more shocked by the fact that he even had such insights than by the opinions themselves. If he had received a proper education, he might have thrived and shown his talents somewhere. But now, Ray was merely a pauper. An extreme pauper, even among the poor. He was so weak that even accommodating me physically seemed to exhaust him.

Suddenly, the image of a man with sideburns flashed before my eyes—Leopard’s mocking expression overlapped with Ray’s face as he sat there drinking water. I felt a surge of uncontrollable anger bubbling inside me.

Ray reached for the shashlik, then paused.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

I quickly smiled and averted my gaze, realizing I had forgotten that Ray disliked being stared at. We continued eating and talking, and I found myself enjoying the conversation.

Ray didn’t speak much. He either quietly smiled or calmly shared his thoughts. It was refreshing compared to the loud, boastful jerks I had always been surrounded by. His opinion on Lord Wolfscott had shown that he was more thoughtful than he appeared. I had hoped he might ask me for my name at some point during our conversation, but Ray never did.

That ruined my mood completely. Isn’t it ridiculous? After all the times we had slept together, he hadn’t even bothered to ask my name. It was deeply annoying.

Careless as always…

After dropping Ray off and driving back home, I reflected on what he had said. I chuckled softly to myself.

Sharp observations, indeed.

But in two days, I suspect he’ll need to revise that opinion.

The next morning, after arriving at work, a subordinate handed me a package. It was a fancy box with a red ribbon. Every piece of mail entering the office was checked for explosives. Assuming it was a bribe, I started to open it but froze. A chill ran down my spine.

Inside the box was a severed human head, a laptop, and a video CD. I recognized the face immediately—it was the accountant.

꙳•❅*ִ

By now, the gift must have arrived. From the moment I saw the accountants, I knew they were planning to flee soon. Their destination was Hawaii.

I instructed Lord Manen to dispatch agents to Hawaii. The professionals Lord Manen had hired were highly skilled. First, they confined the accountants in their hotel, beating them to a pulp. Then, they recorded a video where one of them confessed that they had falsified the books because they couldn’t withstand Guiger’s torture.

After that, they decapitated one of the accountants and sent the head, along with the video, back here. The other two were kept alive to fool Guiger, who kept making calls to check on them. But by now, those two were probably already crossing the river to the afterlife.

Tonight, Lord Manen was scheduled to meet with Snake. As promised, Lord Manen had called this morning, informing me that Guiger had sent word about an urgent meeting that evening. I advised Lord Manen to make sure to shake Snake’s hand at the meeting. Now all I had to do was trust Lord Manen’s negotiation skills and wait.

Today, I reopened the secondhand bookstore for the first time in a while. Business was still sluggish, but staying cooped up at home was getting unbearable. As I sipped some pear juice and glanced out the window, a birch tree stood motionless, staring back at me. The street beyond was desolate, like a barren wasteland.

I pondered deeply. The victory we had achieved was only a partial one. If Snake had moved the timeline forward by even a day, we would have been finished.

Guiger’s director… Snake.

Even the sinister sound of his name made me uneasy. I fervently hoped there was a new faction backing Snake. If that were the case, the situation would be easier to resolve. We could either assassinate the new faction or sow discord between Wolfscott and Snake.

But if Snake was acting on his own, it would be a whole different problem. A figure shrouded in secrecy, whose identity we couldn’t even guess, let alone approach. As someone who had always schemed through information gathered via Lord Manen, it was unsettling to face such an unknown.

“Are you perhaps implying that Lord Wolfscott won’t last long?”

Ray didn’t respond. I shrugged and took a sip of my vodka.

“That observation seems a bit off. Most people predict that with Lord Wolfscott’s overwhelming power, Lord Manen’s downfall is only a matter of time.”

“What’s visible on the surface isn’t always the whole story.”

Hmm…?

I raised my vodka glass to my lips but then put it down. Finally, I was interested. The reason I brought up Lord Wolfscott in conversation was simply to make small talk. But the few words this man threw out so casually erased all of my indifferent intentions.

“You’re not explaining enough. What do you mean?”

Ray’s eyes drifted toward the television. His previously startled demeanor had now relaxed a bit. He wiped his lips with a napkin and spoke slowly.

“That’s how most people would see it. After all, what everyone sees is Lord Wolfscott controlling the streets and capturing people. But when you reflect on the tyrants who have ruled the world, the achievements Lord Wolfscott has gained are pitifully small. It’s been thirty years since he began to rise to power through his external alliances, but he’s always been on equal footing with his political opponents. It took him twenty-eight years just to eliminate Ekdal, Edelma, and Suomi. Despite commanding a group like Guiger, it took him that long. Hardly efficient. I bet Lord Wolfscott’s annual budget just for Guiger is enormous. But Lord Manen? He hasn’t spent much money at all and has gained all the real benefits. Using the excuse of an alliance, he’s let Lord Wolfscott handle all the dirty work while maintaining his own reputation. Now, between a student who studies ten hours a day to get top marks and a student who only studies for one hour but gets the same results, who would you say is smarter? The outcome is uncertain, but Lord Wolfscott won’t be able to eliminate Lord Manen easily. And don’t forget, Lord Wolfscott is already in his mid-sixties. It’s a dead-end job.”

“I see.”

I felt like I’d been outwitted.

“Haha. I do agree with you that Lord Manen has been underestimated. But your assessment of Lord Wolfscott is quite harsh. Still, it’s something worth noting. I think I’ll have to reconsider my own career as well. Let’s drink to that.”

I chuckled and lifted the bottle of vodka, but Ray declined, saying, “I don’t drink.” I shrugged and put the bottle down.

Not a bad perspective.

Honestly, I had always thought Ray was stupid. His indifferent nature, coupled with his somewhat dim-witted appearance, led me to that conclusion. Yet, here he was, showing that he had a brain capable of thinking in such ways. Frankly, what surprised me more than his perspective was the mere fact that he had a brain at all. I’d been so fixated on his body that I hadn’t noticed it before. If he had received formal education, I bet he would’ve been successful somewhere. But right now, Ray was nothing more than a pauper. A pauper among paupers. He was so weak that even handling my physical needs drained him of his strength.

Suddenly, the sideburns of a man with the same name flashed in front of me. Leopard’s sneering face overlapped with Ray, who was sipping water across from me. A sudden surge of heat boiled up inside me, so intense it was uncontrollable.

Ray reached for a shashlik but hesitated.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Oh. It’s nothing.”

I quickly smiled and averted my gaze. I had momentarily forgotten that Ray hated being stared at directly. We continued eating, chatting now and then. It was rather enjoyable.

Ray didn’t talk much. He either smiled quietly or calmly shared his thoughts. Having spent so much time around people who cackled ominously, laughed nervously, or blustered boastfully, it was refreshing to encounter someone like him. As he demonstrated earlier in his opinions on Lord Wolfscott, he was a much deeper thinker than his appearance suggested. I had hoped he would ask for my name as we continued to converse, but Ray never asked.

It soured my mood. How ridiculous, really. After all the times we had been intimate, he still hadn’t asked for my name. It left a bad taste in my mouth.

So careless…

After dropping Ray off, I drove home, lost in thought. I mulled over Ray’s words. A quiet chuckle escaped me.

He was sharp, no doubt.

But in two days, he’d have to change his tune…

The next morning, a staff member handed me a package at work. It was a lavish box adorned with a red ribbon. All mail coming into the office was screened for explosives. Assuming it was some sort of bribe, I started to open it but then froze. A chill ran down my spine.

Inside the box was a severed human head, a laptop, and a video CD. I recognized it instantly—it was the accountant.

꙳•❅*ִ

By now, the gift should have arrived. From the moment I first laid eyes on the accountants, I knew they were planning to escape soon. Their destination was Hawaii.

I had ordered Lord Manen to send people to Hawaii immediately. The enforcers hired by Lord Manen were skilled. First, they confined the accountants in a hotel and beat them black and blue. Then, they recorded a video where the accountants confessed, saying, “We fabricated the books because we couldn’t withstand Guiger’s torture.”

Afterward, they beheaded one of the accountants and swiftly sent the video CD along with the head to us. The other two were kept alive for a while to deceive Guiger’s constant surveillance calls. Of course, by now, they too must have crossed the River Jordan.

Tonight, Lord Manen was set to meet Snake. As promised, Lord Manen called this morning, saying, “Guiger sent word that they want an urgent meeting tonight.” I had instructed him to make sure to shake hands with Snake during the meeting. All I had to do now was trust in Lord Manen’s negotiation skills and wait.

I opened my secondhand bookstore today after a long time. The recession hadn’t let up, but I was sick of being cooped up at home. I sipped on pear juice and looked out the window. A birch tree stood there, staring blankly at me. The street beyond stretched out like a desolate wasteland.

I fell deep into thought. Our victory was, at best, a half-victory. If Snake had changed the date by just one day, we would’ve been finished.

Guiger’s head…

Snake…

Even the sinister ring of his name was unsettling. I desperately hoped there was a rising faction behind Snake. If my assumption was right, things would be easy. We could simply assassinate the rising faction or sow discord between Wolfscott and Snake.

But if Snake was acting on his own, that was a different problem altogether. A shadowy figure, veiled in secrecy, impossible to approach or even know by name. For someone like me, who had always strategized by gathering intel on the thoughts of my opponents through Lord Manen, this was a highly troublesome adversary.”

“Stay quiet. Yes, keep to yourself. For a commoner to rise to the rank of Wolfscott’s shepherd is already quite an achievement. Naturally, you should know your place and live accordingly—stick to your role as a shepherd. And as for those prosecutors you hired, they’re likely already resting beneath the waters of Lake Tamarin, enjoying an eternal sleep.”

Murderous rage surged to the top of my head, but now was the time to exercise the greatest patience of my life.

“Tell me, what should I do?”

“Accept it.”

The moment I said that, Manen hesitated. His stillness made him look like a paused screen. Only the red wine in his hand gently swirled. Manen stared at me with an enraged gaze.

Ignoring his reaction, I turned abruptly. If I stayed even a second longer, I feared I’d strangle Manen with the whip in my hand. The fury consuming me felt like a blazing fire.

“Wait right there.”

Manen spoke from behind.

“Let’s shake hands. After all, this makes us business partners of sorts now. Let’s put everything behind us and start fresh.”

I took a deep breath. Every word and gesture from Manen fueled my rising anger.

A handshake?

Was he trying to show magnanimity as the victor?

Ha, how ridiculous.

Slowly, I turned around. Manen extended his hand towards me, a faint smile on his face. His arm, exposed from beneath his blue robe, was thin as a spider’s leg. I stared at his frail hand for a long moment before speaking.

“You’d better take back that shitty hand of yours. Unless you’re okay with never holding a pen again. Go ahead, keep it out, and I’ll break every muscle in your arm.”

My voice was like the sound of metal scraping against metal. It was terrifying, even to me. Without hesitation, I turned and left the restaurant. Whether the great Lotus was angered or not didn’t concern me anymore. The Snow Queen stitched snowflakes across the dark sky like a painting on canvas. It was a night as foul as any.

Back at headquarters, I ripped off my cursed mask and uniform coat and stormed out. Driving, I pounded the steering wheel repeatedly. I pushed the accelerator harder, uncaring of the icy roads. My whole body was seething with violent rage, growing stronger rather than fading. I lit a cigarette, clenching it between my teeth, and struck the wheel again.

“Damn it!”

It was defeat. Undeniably, I had failed. The only saving grace was that I had kept this operation top-secret. If Lord Wolfscott had caught wind of this, I would’ve been forced to resign immediately. Was I lucky? My gut feeling had been neither good nor bad, and in the end, it pointed to this pathetic conclusion.

“Damn it all!”

I hit the steering wheel again. Only one thought came to mind to calm my fury: head to Ray’s place.

It was past 2 AM. After driving for over an hour, I arrived at Ray’s apartment. I dashed up the stairs to the fifth floor in one breath. His room didn’t even have a doorbell. I knocked. I knocked for more than ten minutes. The door didn’t open. I had heard a faint noise from inside earlier, though. Something buzzed in my head—an all-too-familiar sensation whenever I was on the brink of extreme anger.

I banged on the door harder and kicked it. I felt pathetic, no better than the street thugs I despised. The thought of taking my frustration out on Ray’s body disgusted me. I was overwhelmed with revulsion and self-hatred, yet I couldn’t stop myself. Just as I was about to pull out my gun to smash the door open, a door from a neighboring room creaked open.

“What’s all the noise at this hour? Can’t sleep with all this racket.”

A middle-aged woman scratched her disheveled head as she stepped out. Her words jolted me back to my senses. Guiger’s regular members weren’t allowed to carry firearms. I had to stop myself from revealing my true identity to Ray.

“My apologies. He’s not answering the door. He must be at his store.”

“I saw him come in last night. Come to think of it, he was staggering like he might collapse. Maybe he’s sick?”

“…”

A chilling sensation washed over me. A terrible intuition crept into my mind. I rushed to the building manager to get an emergency key. I unlocked the door and turned on the light. Ray was collapsed on the floor, half-draped over the side of his bed. He was motionless, like a corpse. He must have tried to get up to answer the door and passed out.

It felt like being hit in the back of the head with a blunt object. I hurried over and scooped him up. He was still breathing, but his body burned like a furnace. His lips were completely parched. He was in a state of unconsciousness. I loaded Ray into my car and headed for the hospital.

“Damn it! I told you to go to the hospital!”

I slammed my fist against the steering wheel the entire drive. By the time we arrived, the wheel was covered in dents.

It was an utterly wretched night.

The hospital’s general ward was packed with vagrants who had been beaten by Guiger. After getting Ray hooked up to an IV in the ER, I had him moved to a private room. I took off my coat. The mirror on the wall reflected a man in a Guiger uniform. A rare, exhausted expression stared back at me.

I laughed bitterly and looked over at Ray. He was sound asleep, his face pale and worn out. The arm with the IV drip looked unnaturally thin. I felt disgusted with myself for even thinking of taking out my frustrations on someone like him.

Unbelievable…

I muttered the words Ray used to say. He was pathetic, and so was I. Everything was a mess. In 29 years of life, I had never had such a miserable day. Both my work and personal life were in shambles. I had been outwitted at work, and now the person I cared about had ended up in the hospital in the middle of the night. It was a disaster.

I plopped down in a chair and stared at the floor, trying to calm my anger. As the darkness outside began to lift, I heard movement from the bed.

“Mm…”

Ray stirred, his eyes fluttering open. His unfocused gaze drifted around before settling on me.

“Just stay put. You were in a coma, so I brought you to the hospital. You’ll need a few days of rest, so it’s best if you take it easy. Since you ended up like this because of me, I’ll cover the hospital bills. Well, I’d better be off now. Gotta get to work and help break up some protests.”

I grabbed my coat. It was already seven o’clock. I had to report to work by nine. I didn’t have time to stay here. Just looking at Ray in this condition was frustrating beyond words.

꙳•❅*ִ

The kingdom’s winters are dark. At most, the sun is up for seven hours a day. I once heard that on one of Norway’s northernmost islands, it stays night for 24 hours during winter. What might the plants on that island look like? Or, do trees and flowers even exist there?

Due to the lack of sunlight and harsh cold, most of the kingdom’s land is a barren wilderness, covered in tangled, yellowed vegetation. The sporadic forests are a dull gray. However, in front of me now was a blue forest. It was so bright, it hurt to look at.

I sat on a bench as cold as a corpse and stared at the forest. The forest in front of the hospital was a deep green. Even in winter, the towering fir trees remained a vivid green against the black sky.

“It’s cold. How much longer are you going to stay here?”

A man draped a cardigan over my shoulders as he spoke. I remained still, gazing at the fir forest. The sound of the wind was desolate, like a woman’s cry.

They say spirits live in the forest…

I want to be reborn as a spirit after I die. To roam the woods with Diana, singing songs. To be a creature that lives forever, without memory.

It had been four days since I arrived at the hospital. I finally came to my senses yesterday. I had somewhat recovered physically, but I couldn’t help but laugh when I thought of Lord Manen clutching his phone in frustration. Laughing, and then feeling empty. In any case, Wolfscott was not yet fully his.

“It’s about time we head inside. Snow’s starting to fall.”

The man forced me to stand and led me back to the hospital room. The doctor recommended a two-week hospital stay. He said I nearly developed pneumonia, and that I needed rest because the flu, exhaustion, and malnutrition had all piled up.

Quite the charming diagnosis, isn’t it…

The man who had brought me to the hospital was visiting for the second time today. I felt like a beggar on the street, asking for spare change. Then again, what difference was there between my current state and that of a beggar? At this point, I had given up.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t have any dependents to take care of, so I’ve got more than enough money. And like you said, I might’ve gone too far. Think of it as a gift.”

The man spoke as he pulled the sheet over me.

“…Even so, I don’t like being in a private room.”

“The cost difference isn’t much. Besides, considering where I work, it’d be a problem if I ran into some homeless person I roughed up in the general ward. Most of the patients there are protesters who got injured by Guiger forces. I couldn’t handle that on my own.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. The man took my phone and charger out of his bag, something I had asked him to bring.

“Sorry. Must’ve been a hassle to bring that.”

“It’s no problem. I’m not needed at the protests on 42nd Street today, anyway. Still, looking for your phone as soon as you woke up? Someone must be waiting for you.”

“Well… something like that.”

I mumbled awkwardly. The man sat down in a chair. Every movement was precise and controlled. There wasn’t a single flaw in his actions. Maybe it was because he was a Guiger officer. Being around him made me painfully aware of the differences between us.

The man glanced at me.

“I’m surprised.”

“About what?”

“Hm…”

The man trailed off.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but you don’t seem like the type to have family or friends. So, it’s surprising that you’re waiting for someone.”

I didn’t reply. If I were in his shoes, I’d probably find it strange, too.

“Is it a man?”

“…It is.”

“Of course. A one-night stand?”

Well, people see what they want to see…

I smiled bitterly. His misunderstanding was absurd, but there was no way I could honestly tell him that the person I was waiting for was Lord Manen.

The man started fiddling with my hair, smiling as if lost in thought. At moments like this, there was a strange cruelty that seeped from him.

What could he be thinking to give off that kind of vibe?

Suddenly, he got up and locked the door. I couldn’t help but laugh. I’d vaguely expected him to make a move today, now that my fever had finally gone down.

“Don’t misunderstand. I just want to touch you a little.”

He unbuttoned my shirt as he spoke. Then he lay next to me, slowly running his hand across my chest, his eyes cast downward. He wore the same deep-in-thought expression as earlier. When I asked, “What are you thinking about?” he lifted his head, saying, “What? Oh…”

“I was thinking about work.”

The man smiled cheerfully.

“Are you planning to change jobs?”

“No. For someone like me, who’s only good at fighting, this is the best job I could ask for. I’m still healthy enough. Haha.”

“Then?”

“A new recruit came in today. God, he pissed me off. So annoying. I guess it’s the same everywhere, though. The veterans always get irritated by the cocky newcomers.”

His tone suggested he was genuinely upset.

“What kind of person is he?”

“A hairy guy with thick sideburns. He’s got some smarts, but thinks he’s the best. And on top of that, he’s gay.”

“If he’s gay, isn’t that a good thing for you?”

The man laughed heartily as if he found my comment ridiculous.

“Puhahaha! Even I have my preferences. Just imagining myself groping that hairy guy makes me sick. No, it’s so repulsive that it’s almost funny. I’d definitely need thick gloves just to touch that furball. Haha. Hahahaha.”

He kept laughing, to the point where I felt embarrassed.

“So, what’s your type, then?”

“Don’t you know, even after seeing how I come on to you?”

He grinned and lowered his head, kissing my nipples one by one.

“Soft, squishy nipples like these are my type.”

“Seriously?”

His bluntness was absurd, but I stayed quiet, enjoying his gentle touch. I caught myself unconsciously thinking of his member and felt a bitter taste in my mouth.

“Since I told you my preference, now I’m curious about yours. What’s your type?”

“I don’t have one. I can’t even figure out what ‘type’ means.”

“It’s simple. When you feel that electric tingle at first sight, that’s your type. Like, maybe a face or body shape that catches your eye. Wasn’t there anyone like that among the men you met at Snow White?”

He spoke slowly, moving his hand, and I closed my eyes.

“Not at all. None of them gave me that ‘tingling’ feeling. Maybe I was just unlucky because they were all perverts. Like that bald fat guy I met at Snow White once…”

“That guy?”

“The one who beat me up. Every guy was like that. He tied me up and beat me for two hours straight. Another guy forced me into women’s clothes, did whatever he wanted, then locked me up for two days without giving me a drop of water. That was the worst. I was trembling, wondering if I’d been caught by a serial killer. All the others were weird too. Most of them just enjoyed beating me. You guys, at least, were relatively decent perverts. You didn’t starve me or lock me up, at least.”

The man chuckled softly. “Relatively decent perverts, huh…” Suddenly, his gray eyes flashed coldly as they met mine, and I flinched involuntarily.

“They were lucky. If I’d seen them, I would’ve snapped their necks and crushed their cocks on the spot, haha.”

“…”

“You’re scared again. You’re all goosebumps.”

He spoke playfully and kissed me, a soft and intimate kiss. His embrace was gentle as he held me close.

“Let’s sleep. You look tired.”

He buttoned my shirt and spoke. I let out a silent sigh. I was unnerved by how much I craved his firm member. I laughed at myself for getting this way. As I fell asleep in his arms, the image of a birch tree crossed my mind.

꙳•❅*ִ

The boxer who took my right cross fell to the ground two months later when I hit him in the stomach. The boxer who handed me my first defeat never got back up that day. Manen gave me a valuable gift: defeat.

I decided to accept it cleanly. I had been arrogant. Of course, I had no intention of staying down. I planned to get back on my feet and wait for the perfect moment to strike back at Manen. Just like the boxer who collapsed after taking a punch to the stomach, dying instantly from a ruptured spleen, I vowed to find a way to take Manen down. I was confident.

Lord Wolfscott called for me, saying he had something important to discuss. The moment I entered his office, I frowned.

A slick-looking guy was sitting on the buffalo leather sofa in the office. Ray Arisa, a sideburned man who happened to share the same name as my favorite body. Coincidentally, I had just had Ray admitted to the hospital the day before. Seeing this guy today, of all days, was enough to kill my appetite.

“Lord Japonica has stepped out. He said he’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”

The sideburned man spoke. I didn’t even bother to nod. The fact that he shared Ray’s name was enough for me to hold a grudge against him. His cocky attitude made me sick. Most of all, I hated the way his leering eyes scanned me from head to toe. His gaze was openly sleazy.

“Why don’t you sit down? You must be tired standing like that.”

His voice was annoyingly smooth. I’d bet a million talantens that he was a bottom.

“I’m fine.”

“Well, I guess it’d be rude for a commoner to sit across from a noble. You’re very polite.”

If he were from the protesting riffraff or a tattooed noble, I’d have sent him straight to the torture chamber.

“Are you the head of Guiger? They call you Snake, right? I’ve heard a lot about you. Even my peers in the release department speak highly of Guiger chiefs, saying you’re extraordinary men.”

Fifteen minutes felt like an eternity.

“Your eyes are gray. So sharp. I wonder what your face looks like under that mask. They say you never take it off while on duty. There’s no one here but me now, so why not take it off?”

He had clearly underestimated me, flirting disgustingly. Having just returned from Italy, it seemed he had no idea what kind of person the Guiger head was. I gave a curt reply.

“I can’t. It’s Lord Wolfscott’s order.”

Seeing his aroused lower half made my eyes burn. That hulking hairy guy was definitely not my type.

I was already in a foul mood thanks to Manen. The temptation to pin him down and punch his gut was overwhelming. Shoving something into that gaping hole of his might make him drool with delight. Even a punch felt too generous for him.

Finally, Lord Wolfscott entered the room.

“Have you been waiting long? Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Welcome, sir.”

The sideburned guy stood up with a completely different demeanor.

Ugh.

Birds of a feather really do flock together.

Watching the two of them made me snicker. I suddenly realized why Lord Wolfscott had taken a liking to this guy. They looked like twins. Not just in mannerisms, but even in appearance, he resembled a younger version of Lord Wolfscott. Maybe he felt some kind of nostalgia, haha. The only difference was their sexual preference, I guess?

Just thinking of that sideburned guy drooling over the department heads made me want to burst out laughing. My stomach itched with amusement. I bit my lip to suppress it.