Toxin

I stared blankly at his cold face. It was the moment he was about to resolutely stand. His broad shoulders hesitated, and he swiftly twisted his upper body. Before his hand could reach it, dark red blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. The blood, seeping from a tight crevice, flowed down his wrist and soaked into my clothes.

The blood was crimson, overwhelmingly so.

***

“The royal feast shows no sign of poison. It appears to be an issue with either the stomach or lungs, though the color of the blood and the detailed symptoms don’t entirely match. He mentioned occasional paralysis, but we are unable to determine the cause…”

The elderly royal physician spoke with a furrowed brow.

“Again! Again with that excuse! How is it that you, the highest-ranking physician of the Baedal Kingdom, are utterly useless?! Lock this man up immediately and summon all the renowned doctors from the capital!”

“I will find the cause as soon as possible, so please, grant me just a little more time…”

“How much longer must we wait?!”

The royal physician was on the verge of tears. The Grand Chamberlain shouted, veins bulging in his neck, while the Black Martial Emperor remained indifferent, as though the situation did not concern him at all.

My frayed nerves didn’t miss a single word of their conversation. My heart thrashed violently in my chest, as if it were about to explode. I had no idea things had progressed this far. Though we had spent several days together, I hadn’t noticed a thing. He had never once shown any sign in front of me. Paralysis, coughing up blood… What happens next? I stared blankly at the cushion. Suddenly, a cold hand cupped my cheek. Startled, I looked up to see him gazing at me with an expressionless face.

“Are you feeling dizzy?”

I blinked silently. Could it be… Did he notice? There was no way he would ignore the symptoms affecting his body. Surely, he was secretly investigating, and it was only a matter of time before he figured it out. Or maybe… I just didn’t know. His unreadable gaze strangled me, and my eyes dropped along with the sweat trickling down my temples. Only then did I notice my hands gripping the blanket so tightly it hurt.

***

I stared blankly at the Black Martial Emperor’s blood on my robe. Whether it was the first time he showed signs of paralysis or now, the gap between what I had imagined and the reality was much greater than expected. But why… why do I always seem to be more shocked than I should be? A palace maid brought clean clothes, but I found it difficult to move. Even sitting down made me dizzy now. I leaned my heavy head against the thick pillow.

“It won’t be easy since this is a project His Majesty has poured his heart into for so long.”

I looked at Unsa, who was standing at the side of the room. Unsa tilted his head slightly at my lack of comprehension.

“I’m talking about Hanaru Mountain.”

Ah, right. Hanaru Mountain… I had momentarily forgotten. Of course. Now that the monster who killed my mother was finally showing visible symptoms, how could I not be distracted? I should be happy, yet…

Unsa tapped his legs before sitting down and continued speaking.

“Even though it may seem like it, His Majesty didn’t wipe out Imae Village just for fun. He had been eyeing that land for a long time because of its strategic value. Creating his own kingdom has always been His Majesty’s sole hobby and source of amusement. Though he may be deeply infatuated with you, this time it won’t be possible, so it’s best to give up now.”

I stared at Unsa blankly.

“Why that face? Don’t tell me you’re pretending not to know that His Majesty is deeply in love with you.”

“Please leave. I have no intention of dying just yet.”

It wasn’t long before I learned the real reason Unsa was watching me.

“With how you’re acting, that’s not convincing at all. Then at least stop making that face like you’ve already given up on life. That’s what’s making His Majesty more anxious.”

I laughed bitterly.

“Does he even feel such things…?”

“Of course, he knows what’s right and wrong. He just… doesn’t feel it here.”

Unsa pressed a finger to his chest.

“When His Majesty was eight years old, he once cut off a prince’s finger for touching one of his books. That prince still grinds his teeth in anger to this day. And not only that, His Majesty’s words…”

“He has always been fearless and ruthless!”

Suddenly, someone’s voice interrupted. The person who entered was the Grand Chamberlain.

“Then what about when he drove Souhu to commit suicide with psychological torture at just twelve years old? I believe the name was Narin? I still remember the hollow, gaunt face of Souhu.”

“He was exceptionally intelligent! His Majesty was born with the blood of a ruler destined to dominate the world. How can you compare him to ordinary people?!”

“Well, if you put it that way, you’re not wrong.”

Unsa smirked at the Grand Chamberlain, who was unaffected by the sarcasm. While it wasn’t the same trust as Narsha and Raonhiljo’s, it seemed the Black Martial Emperor and his bodyguards shared a different kind of trust. To think someone could speak so freely and still keep their head on their shoulders. Unsa leaned back and glanced at the Grand Chamberlain.

“So, what brings you here at this hour?”

“Do I have to report everything to you?! Where did you leave it…?”

The Grand Chamberlain anxiously scanned the room before spotting the pipe by the cushion. Snatching it up, he shot me a glare with his fish-like eyes.

“It must be that His Majesty fell ill while chasing after you! Our tender-hearted emperor, who is so full of compassion, even took in a spy like you!!”

The Grand Chamberlain dragged his heavy body out of the room. Watching him leave, Unsa muttered while looking at the door.

“Conflicts always arise when one refuses to acknowledge the obvious truth.”

Unsa turned his gaze to me and spoke.

“Seems like His Majesty hasn’t said anything yet.”

“……”

“About the Jincheonroe details, too. On the day you fled, it completely vanished, despite the commotion. You’d think it would’ve been found if they searched thoroughly. I’m asking if you took it.”

I wasn’t particularly surprised. Thorough cleanup was typical behavior for the Black Martial Emperor. Yet, since that day, he hadn’t mentioned Jincheonroe even once. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and answered calmly.

“I don’t know. I was too busy trying to save my own life to worry about something like that.”

“Well, let’s just leave it at that.”

Unsa gave a dissatisfied smile.

“His Majesty is starting to grow tired of Jincheonroe. He’s turning his attention to something new now.”

I couldn’t focus on his words. I had been feeling an odd emptiness for a while now, like something was missing… Just then, there was a loud commotion outside.

“Mama! Please wait a moment…!”

“I’ve waited long enough! I can’t take it anymore! Move aside!”

The sound of skin slapping echoed as the door burst open. As expected, it was Veronjubille. She stopped upon spotting me in bed and glared at me with venomous eyes.

“In the end, this is what you… what you’ve done to me…”

Her skin was dull and dry, and her lips were cracked, as if she had been biting them. She walked straight up to me and slapped my cheek hard. It happened so fast that I didn’t even have time to react, nor did I feel the sting of the blow on my burning cheek.

“All this… just to do this to me…! This is all for this…!”

With eyes brimming with fury, she clawed and hit me mercilessly. The palace maids rushed in to restrain her, but they were easily swept aside by her frantic rage. She raised her hand again.

“If you touch me one more time, I won’t stand by quietly.”

My voice was so weak that even a child might have laughed at it, but not her. She lowered her hand and clenched her fist.

“And if you don’t stand by quietly, what then? You plan to tell His Majesty Garon…?”

“If you’re ready to face my lord, go ahead.”

My cold response made Veronjubille’s lips tremble. Then, in an instant, she grabbed a fistful of my hair.

“Get out! Go to the dungeon or wherever you belong…! Why didn’t you just die?! Why did you crawl back here?! Why?!”

Veronjubille screeched as she dragged me out. Though the palace maids tried to stop her, they struggled to control her madness. The fight between them and Veronjubille turned into chaos. Unsa, looking thoroughly annoyed, flung Veronjubille out of the room.

“Aaah…!!”

Her disheveled hair clung to her as she glared at Unsa with a menacing look.

“You… How dare you…! Call His Majesty… Call His Majesty Garon now…!”

“You should leave. If His Majesty told you to wait, then you’d do well to follow his orders.”

“He’s not coming, no matter how long I wait.”

Her trembling lips faltered, looking pitiful.

“No matter how long I wait… He’s not coming….”

Tears welled up in her beautiful eyes. I wondered, in the midst of being loved so passionately by so many, what the Black Martial Emperor might be thinking. Just then, a young maid and an attendant rushed in, breathless, to help Veronjubille.

“It’s time for your medicine, Mama, but you suddenly disappeared…! We didn’t expect you to come here! Please, Mama, get up!”

Veronjubille’s face turned pale.

“No, I won’t… I told you I’m not drinking it anymore!”

“You’ve been taking it for years. Why are you suddenly refusing…?”

“I’m not taking it! There’s something wrong with that medicine…! Something’s not right!”

“This is the tonic His Majesty bestows upon all the concubines. It’s for your health, so please follow his orders.”

“Then why can’t I get pregnant?! If it’s so great, why don’t you drink it all yourself?! I’m not taking another drop!”

At the attendant’s signal, four guards rushed to restrain Veronjubille.

“Ahhh…! Let go! Let go of me!! Your Majesty…! Emperor Garon…!”

Veronjubille screamed, slapping the soldiers and pulling their hair, but she couldn’t overpower them and was dragged away, leaving only her piercing cries echoing behind. Once the storm passed, silence returned. I adjusted my disheveled robe. Thanks to Veronjubille’s vicious attack, my scalp burned as though my skin had been peeled off. Unsa shook his head as he sat down. I had been feeling a strange sense of emptiness for a while, and now I realized why. Pungbaek and Usa hadn’t been around for several days.

“Where are the other warriors…? Why haven’t I seen them?”

“I’m surprised you’re interested in us.”

It wasn’t that I was concerned for their well-being. I was just curious as to why those who were always by my side suddenly disappeared. I couldn’t shake the curiosity.

“Where are they?”

“Usa is currently searching for something under His Majesty’s orders.”

Unsa leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms.

“And Pungbaek is also searching for someone, by His Majesty’s command.”

***

The construction of the fortress was accelerating. They said they would level Hanaru Mountain in two or three days at most. The Black Martial Emperor spent more time immersed in his duties, and our time together gradually decreased. He would occasionally stop by to force meat into my mouth, but before it could reach my stomach, I would end up vomiting it all. At this point, it seemed like eating or not eating was beyond my control.

Once again, I sat in a room that had been swept through like a storm. The furniture and decorations were all shattered into pieces. Palace maids entered to clean up the mess. I now gazed at their unfamiliar faces with indifference. A particularly thin maid glanced at me as she tidied the desk.

“Are you really not going to eat anything? Your face is so pale…”

Her desperate gaze, disguised as pity, seemed to beg,

Her black eyes constantly scrutinized me. The will to survive is always so desperate and beautiful. I gave a faint smile.

Unsa had left to eat lunch, leaving his spot empty. In his absence, the heavy, layered doors stood firmly shut. A shackle was tightly fastened around my ankle, and the soldiers were on guard, making sure not even a speck of dust could escape. Yet something felt off. The soldiers who usually stood guard with spears were now holding Jincheonroe instead, standing in front of the door. Even the palace maids seemed more tense than usual. It was a fear different from the one they had for the Black Martial Emperor.

As thoughts overlapped in my mind, it felt like someone was plucking my hair one strand at a time from my temples. Impulsively, I moved toward the painting materials. The clanking sound of chains followed me like a shadow. I stared at the unfinished portrait beneath the desk and looked around the room. I mentally traced the vast white walls that resembled a giant canvas. This was enough. It didn’t matter if it took days. If I was going to disappear without a trace, I wanted to bring Hanaru Mountain into this room.

I pulled out as many brushes as I could. I crushed various pigments onto a small plate, mixed them with glue and water. After applying the paint to a large brush, I propped myself up using the desk. I started by outlining the towering mountain peaks. I drew the lush greenery and small wildflowers that bloomed every summer. I painted a thatched cottage surrounded by a bamboo gate, with a round gourd hanging from it. I even drew a small window. I painted my mother’s grave, and next to it, I added Naro’s grave. It was a land where no one threw stones at me or condemned me—a place where I belonged. My leg, shackled, felt unbearably heavy. My sweat-soaked clothes stuck uncomfortably to my skin. I ripped off the irritating jacket and pants.

I clenched brushes in both hands and held another in my mouth. I started moving again. The dark ink slowly filled the empty spaces. I wanted to fill this room with Hanaru Mountain, and halfway up the mountain, I would draw Raonhiljo’s stolen nest and family. I’d even paint the garden he loved. I would create everything for him.

My chest heaved with exhaustion. I stopped for a moment. Then, as for the Black Martial Emperor… I resumed my brush strokes. Far from my mother’s thatched cottage, I drew a small peak at the edge of the mountain. It looked like either a hut or a grave. The ink brush pulled me into a state of deep immersion. Just then, I noticed a figure standing in the corner, and my hair stood on end. I froze, still holding the brush, my breath coming in short gasps. Draped in a purple twilight, the Black Martial Emperor stood at the doorway. His eyes slowly swept over me, from my face to my hair-stuck shoulders and legs. My legs wobbled. I quickly smeared the brush over the hut. The Black Martial Emperor’s eyebrow arched in arrogance.

“What kind of mischief is this?”

By now, one wall was completely covered in colorful drawings, and the floor and furniture were a mess of spilled pigments. But he didn’t care. He strode over with his long legs and offered me a bowl of medicinal tonic. The bitter scent turned my stomach, and I shook my head. As if anticipating this, he took a few sips and then grabbed my head, pressing his lips to mine. Despite my resistance, the liquid slid down my throat into my stomach. By now, I was so weak that even moving was a miracle. The only thing keeping me going was the tonic.

His tongue, suddenly intruding, teased the sensitive flesh inside, explored my throat, and tangled with mine in a vulgar manner. Only after confirming that I had swallowed all of it did the Black Martial Emperor pull away.

… the empty bowl left its sound on the desk. The Black Martial Emperor, gazing at the wall of drawings, spoke.

“When did you start painting? Who taught you?”

“I’ve been drawing on my own since I was a child.”

I placed the brush on the desk and looked at him.

“When did Your Majesty start killing?”

He raised one eyebrow, dismissing my question with ease. His black eyes shifted back to the painting, once again immersed in its details.

“You have a unique way of handling space. Your brushstrokes are delicate and careful, yet rough at the same time. Even though you use bright colors, they come out dull and dark. It’s easy to recognize, no matter what other paintings it’s mixed with.”

He murmured softly. I was a little taken aback, once again stunned by his keen observation of my painting habits. The Black Martial Emperor scrutinized the painting as though he were licking every inch of it.

“What do you call this habit of using such brushstrokes and colors?”

“It’s called a

…”

The Black Martial Emperor’s eyes slid gracefully. His lips parted, and a voice as fluid as water spilled out.

“Yes,

.”

Suddenly, a cold wind wrapped around my entire body. I turned away, shaking off his gaze. Exhausted from putting all my remaining strength into painting, my legs trembled. Before I could take a few steps, he lifted me in one swift motion.

“Surely you don’t plan to stay like that, do you?”

Only then did I notice my naked body, smeared with sweat and paint.

***

The Black Martial Emperor placed me in the bathtub. He covered the gunshot wound on my chest with a white cloth to keep it from getting wet and poured warm water over my head.

“I prefer cold water.”

His black eyes fixed on me.

“This is appropriate. You tend to have a low body temperature, after all. Even in the heat of summer, you would burrow into my arms.”

A rush of heat surged to my face.

“Hold on.”

He placed my hands on the cloth and continued to pour water. With a soft splash, steam rose as water trickled from my shoulders to my waist and down to my legs. His gaze followed the stream of water. His large hand wiped the paint from my chest, brushing over a protruding area.

The Black Martial Emperor crouched down, pouring water over my lower body. His hand traced the curve of my waist and slid between my thighs. His slow, sensual motions caused my skin to stiffen. Instinctively, I tried to close my legs, but his hand was quicker. He spread them apart, gently washing my thighs and deeper areas. His hand skillfully avoided both my testicles and my genitals, leaving my soft member barely grazing his cheek. As moist breaths filled the air around me, my skin felt like it was burning. I quickly pulled my body away.

“I’ll do it myself now.”

Effortlessly, he stopped me, his hand continuing its work. He stared intently at my gradually hardening member. But that was all. I bit my lip. By now, he too was soaked. Water dripped from his hair into his lips, while his waterlogged

robe clung tightly to his muscles. Clenching my fists and thinking about other things, I barely managed to calm myself down. As the clean skin of my body began to reappear, his eyes locked onto the cigarette burn on my waist.

It had been left there by Orumun. Sometimes, he would beat me senseless and leave me unconscious, branding me with such marks. My body still bore scars, like badges of pain, left behind by the Imae Tribe. The day they were slaughtered, my nightmarish past likely vanished along with them. Instead, the Black Martial Emperor had etched something even worse into me. I stared at the top of his head.

“You keep… coughing up blood. Aren’t you worried?”

“Others are worrying about it enough for me. I don’t need to.”

“But you still haven’t… figured out the cause.”

“That’s not my job either.”

With a splash, the water grazed my overheated skin again. My wet hair clung to my cheeks. As I tried to push it back, my fingers brushed against my horns. Startled, I let my hand fall. The Black Martial Emperor briefly glanced at my withered wrist and thigh. He then stood up, looming over me with eyes sharp enough to pierce through my veins.

“Until you can swallow food, I could chop off these servants’ limbs, one by one. Or do you prefer the method of inserting it in your rear? Or…”

His voice faded away like smoke, then returned in a low resonance.

“Is there something that really strikes your fancy?”

I looked at his elegant face, illuminated by the lamplight. He was like a typhoon, violent one moment, then suddenly calm at the center. I was starting to understand his once-unreadable gaze. Not because I had gained new insight, but because he would occasionally lower his guard like this. I averted my eyes, trying to shake off the fog his black eyes cast over my mind.

“If it’s with Your Majesty, I think I would be fine.”

His gaze pierced my cheek. I slowly parted my parched lips.

“I can’t stop thinking about Your Majesty’s finger, which I tasted briefly that day. I suppose because you’ve only eaten the finest things in the finest settings, your flesh is different too.”

His bloodthirsty eyes curved into an icy smile.

“Terrifying.”

His face descended toward mine. His tongue traced the faint curve of my lips, wetting them as if trying to preserve their shape. His touch was deliberate and gentle, like he was etching every movement. After that, he dressed me in clean bandages and clothes. Just like when he came in, he scooped me up effortlessly and quickly walked out. I had no energy left to resist, so I simply surrendered to it.

The wind at the end of summer dried the remaining water on my body. Dizzy from the precarious swaying, I buried my face deep into his chest, the loud thumping of his heart ringing in my ears. With each of his steps, something thick and heavy grazed against my hips. The Black Martial Emperor glanced down at me occasionally before stealing another kiss. As we moved, his pace would slow, only for him to thrust his tongue back into my mouth. A faint smell of blood lingered in his breath. The weak thudding of my heart quickened. That incessant sound gnawed away at me.

We were almost inside the fortress when I noticed someone waiting at the dim end of the hall. It was Usa. Unsa was by his side. Usa, still looking like he had just returned from a long journey, approached the Black Martial Emperor and bowed. I tried to twist my body and climb down, but the Black Martial Emperor held me in place without a word. Usa briefly glanced at me before addressing him.

“As expected, the Imae Tribe was wiped out, and the survivors scattered and went into hiding. We managed to find one survivor, but…”

I knew Usa had been searching for something, but I had assumed it was an object. Suddenly, the mention of the Imae Tribe took me by surprise. The Black Martial Emperor stood there, expressionless, waiting for Usa to continue.

“As you mentioned, I went to that house, but it was burned down, and no paintings remain.”

“And?”

“But there was still an Imae Tribe who hadn’t left the village.”

“Really?”

The Black Martial Emperor asked briefly. Upon hearing that there were still surviving members of the Imae Tribe, I also lifted my head. When Usa gave a signal with his eyes, two soldiers dragged someone in. The person being dragged in was a bent-over member of the Imae Tribe. I widened my eyes and examined the old man. He was certainly the same old man I had encountered in Imae Village a few months ago, the one who had been teased by children for his senility. The old man, stained with dirt, seemed completely unaware of where he was or who was in front of him, his eyes dull. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he saw me.

“Oh my…! You poor child…! Cursed to be pelted with stones every day…! Born with a fate that gives you no place to rest your feet…!”

The unexpected words left me unable to move a single finger. Suddenly, I felt the Black Martial Emperor’s gaze on my cheek. Usa glanced at the old man.

“We couldn’t get clear information from him because his mind was wandering, but he did share something interesting.”

The Black Martial Emperor turned his gaze from me toward the old man. Usa spoke softly to the old man.

“Could you tell us what you told me earlier? What happened again?”

“You poor child…! Cursed to be born without even a name…!”

Usa managed to calm the babbling old man.

“If you tell us what you told me earlier, the emperor will reward you with something precious. Perhaps some fine meat or liver…”

The old man’s face lit up with life.

“R-really? If I tell the truth… will he really give me liver?”

“Of course. The emperor is very fond of the Imae Tribe.”

Usa smiled at the Black Martial Emperor. The old man looked up at me with unfocused eyes.

“You poor child… Your father went that way, didn’t he…?”

My ears rang. It felt as if a boulder had suddenly fallen, shattering my body. I stared at the old man, unable to even blink. His aged, tree-like throat trembled up and down, and his wrinkled lips slowly parted.

“Didn’t your mother… kill her husband with the poison of Imae…?”

An oppressive silence engulfed me. It had always been this way. No matter how hard I ran, misfortune always overtook me. My mind, ambushed, had already lost its function, and the only thing that filled my ears was the sound of my own breathing. Then, the truth I had never wanted to hear poured from the old man’s lips.

“Your poor father was human, and your mother was Imae… Despite being pelted with stones, they stayed together as husband and wife. And they conceived you, passing their curse onto you… Oh, poor child…! Born with a fate so cursed that you can’t even have a name!”

“So, you’re saying that when the Imae Tribe mixes with another race, they become poisoned by Imae’s poison? And that’s what happened to this child’s parents?”

At Usa’s question, the old man quietly nodded. Unsa scoffed at their exchange.

“What nonsense. Wasting my 29 years of life cleaning up after such a pathetic person… it’s laughable.”

Despite Unsa’s ridicule, Usa lightly patted the old man’s shoulder.

“And what happens when someone is poisoned by Imae venom, like you said earlier?”

I sharpened my focus, listening closely. The old man’s frail shoulders trembled as he wrapped his arms around himself.

“Y-you get paralyzed… you cough up blood and die…! It’s a terrifying poison that eats away at life!”

“Paralysis and coughing up blood…”

Unsa’s face gradually hardened. At this reaction, Usa spoke with a satisfied air.

“Those symptoms match exactly with the emperor’s current condition. And the symptoms began right after this child arrived here.”

“So, you’re saying that mixing with another race leads to poisoning and death? You expect me to believe that? In my life, I’ve seen all sorts of things, but I’ve never heard of something like this existing.”

Unsa still looked unconvinced, and it was no surprise. If it hadn’t been for my father, I would’ve reacted the same way. Their gazes shifted between the Black Martial Emperor and me. The chest pressed against my back was utterly still. My eyes dropped to the dirt floor. My blood ran cold, and my breath tightened. Suddenly, a dry voice fell from behind me.

“Imae’s poison… It’s surprisingly convincing for something you just made up.”

Still holding me from behind, he rested his chin lightly on my shoulder. His dark eyes slid over me.

“What do you think?”

He slid his hand inside my tunic, stroking the damp skin and nipple beneath it, as if searching for the heart that was about to burst. I loathed this position with every fiber of my being. Being exposed like this, with only me on display…!! As I twisted my body, the Black Martial Emperor tightened his grip. My breath quickened. All I could do in my defenseless state was try to hold on. I clenched my fists, trying to steady my voice.

“…It’s true that my mother and father were from different races… but I heard my father died from a long illness.”