LOGINMy man comes to me. I already know he is mine—only he could do what he does to me.But tonight we don’t go far; we only kiss passionately, savoring our tender moment. I wrap my arms around his neck, but he pulls back, takes my hand, and leads me out of the room.We find ourselves in the throne hall, and again I see a man and a woman, as well as some young man and a little girl. Once more, a quarrel breaks out. Everyone argues and shouts, while the girl with clear gray eyes looks at me.Suddenly I hear a soft crackling sound—the same one I heard before. The little girl’s face changes. She is afraid and crying, while the adults continue to argue, paying her no attention.A grimace of pain twists her beautiful child’s face. She writhes, covering her ears, and I hear her desperate scream:“Isabella!!!”The girl approaches the arguing people, who also begin to writhe in pain, and shock overwhelms me as I see them start to fuse together! They look like sculptures made of raw clay, as if a f
“What did you do?!” I throw the book aside, staring in shock as the girl darts toward my wardrobe and hides inside it.“I think I slept with Yafi!” comes her muffled voice from behind the door where the brunette has barricaded herself.“What do you mean, ‘you think’?” I don’t understand, stepping closer and listening to her rustling around inside.“I don’t remember for sure… I was drunk, and I can’t exactly say I’m sober now either… But I woke up in the barracks, in Yafi’s room… in his bed, undressed, wearing only his shirt… while that bastard who took advantage of me walked out of the shower wrapped in just a towel!” my friend hisses, and I hear the unmistakable smack of her palm against her forehead. “Never again. NEVER am I drinking again!”“Io…” I start, but stop short when I hear someone pounding on my door again.“Iza, open up!” Yafi’s growl echoes from the corridor.“Don’t open it!” the brunette squeaks pitifully from the wardrobe.Oh gods. I don’t need a book—this drama is hap
His face was covered with numerous ugly inflamed pimples, on top of other purely physical deformities. I wondered whether he had been born like this, or if it was the result of some terrible disease.Suddenly, my attention was caught by one particularly large pimple on his chin. It was red, with a white, pus-filled center. And then—right before my eyes—that center burst, splattering its contents onto the table near the king’s hand. The man was still lost in thought, calmly chewing his food, completely unaware of what had happened, while I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the disgusting sight, fighting the urge to throw up.But my horrified fascination reached its peak when I saw that clean skin quickly formed where the pimple had burst… and then, just as quickly, another huge, festering pimple began to form in the exact same place, threatening to erupt again!That couldn’t be possible. Pimples simply don’t form, burst, and reform again within minutes. Something else was going on here.
EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING WENT WRONG!How did it happen that we got drunk like absolute alcoholics before lunchtime? I honestly have no idea.The wine went down so easily—like juice—but had a massive delayed effect! Who could’ve known it was that deceptively strong?!We drank, chatted happily, sprawled out on my huge bed… and I came to when someone was shaking me!With great effort, I pried my eyelids open and, to my horror, discovered the KING standing beside my bed—his lips pressed into a thin line of anger, arms crossed over his chest, staring straight at me.“Hell—hello,” my drunken mouth bleated weakly, and despite the sheer terror, stretched into a stupid grin.Damn. Damn. Damn.Iza, when it comes to survival instincts, you are a complete zero.I see Karadeylis let out a heavy sigh as he took in our oil-painting-worthy scene. The girls were still completely out cold, picturesquely sprawled across my bed—which made me flash yet another involuntary, idiotic smile.The monarch’s eyes
“But we’re already married… And I feel like I owe him a marital duty now. But when it comes down to it, I chicken out like a complete coward!”“You won’t be able to run away from him forever,” I smile gently at my friend. “There will come a moment when your barriers fall. Just trust your husband and try not to overthink it. Listen only to your body and your soul—trust your sensations.”“It’s just… the circumstances too,” the brunette admits. “That evening, when Karadeylis married us, we left the palace. Ogis didn’t drag me to the barracks, and not to his parents either. We stayed in a beautiful hotel and all night we just… talked, kissed, and…” She blushed to the tips of her ears. “My husband made me feel good. But I couldn’t… not right away!” she sighs.“The next day, we went to his parents to tell them about the wedding. They were completely stunned—at that point Ogis didn’t even have a steady girlfriend, and suddenly he had a wife! They thought I was just one of his temporary fling
“Izz–aa…” I hear a soft child’s whisper, though the girl’s lips aren’t moving.Smiling, the girl runs away from me, glancing back over her shoulder, and I follow her. Stepping out of the room, I find myself in a dark corridor and see the little girl disappear into one of the rooms. I go after her and run into a door—but it’s locked. No matter what I do, I can’t open it.A strange noise draws my attention. It’s very similar to the sound of a Geiger counter—an odd crackling, only more drawn out, as if in slow motion.I turn around and realize I’m back in the chamber with the well. I see the dark-haired man and the silver-haired girl inside that same bright substance that once swallowed me as well. They are suspended in it like in a cocoon. I can’t clearly make out their faces, but I see that they’re hanging motionless within the glowing mass.Suddenly, the sound returns, and I notice a dark vein appearing inside the bright substance—like black ink spreading through clear water. The dark







