Chapter 81: The King’s Obsession

When Rin finally woke up, every part of his body hurt.

His head felt heavy, his muscles ached, and for several long seconds, he simply stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above him.

Then the memories of the previous night began flooding back.

The strange room. The chains. The terrifying man who had called him wife.

Rin’s eyes widened.

That lunatic... did he take advantage of me?

The thought alone made his stomach twist. He immediately tried to sit up, intending to get as far away from this place as possible.

But before he could even move properly, a hand suddenly caught his arm. Rin froze. Internally, he screamed.

AHHHHH!

He slowly turned his head. Kaelith was lying beside him, his eyes already open and fixed directly on him.

There was something deeply unsettling about the way he looked at Rin. His expression was calm, almost peaceful, but there was an unmistakable obsession hidden behind his eyes.

"Leaving somewhere, wife?" Kaelith asked.

Rin stared at him.

"Wife?... You’re still calling me that?"

His voice was cold, although there was still a hint of trembling beneath it.

"Listen carefully. Whatever happened last night was a mistake! Besides, it wasn’t completely my choice."

Kaelith remained silent for a few seconds. Then he smiled. But Rin suddenly found himself distracted.

Wait.

He stared at Kaelith. The man’s appearance was almost impossible to describe.

His features looked as though they had been painted by some celestial artist. His long hair fell naturally around his face, his eyes were an intense crimson, and even after everything that had happened, he looked almost unreal. Rin’s gaze moved for another second.

Wow... Is this what a heavenly painting looks like?

Then he immediately snapped out of it.

WAIT! What the hell are you thinking, Rin?!

He quickly looked away. Kaelith, however, noticed.

"It seems my wife is still confused."

Kaelith slowly sat up.

"But, beloved..."

He reached toward Rin’s face, gently touching his cheek.

"You were the one who seduced me last night."

Rin’s eyes widened.

"What?!"

"What devoted husband could possibly refuse his wife when she is being so sweet?"

"You... you lunatic!"

Rin’s face turned bright red. Before he could continue insulting Kaelith, the man leaned closer and silenced him with another brief kiss.

Rin froze.

What the hell is happening here?!

Kaelith pulled away and looked at him with an amused expression.

"You should learn to behave."

His voice carried a teasing warning.

"Otherwise, I may have to punish you."

He smiled before leaning forward again. Rin’s mind was completely overwhelmed.

This guy is insane. Completely insane.

And yet, before Kaelith could continue, a knock suddenly echoed through the room.

"King, the generals’ conference is ready. Please come. We need to discuss our next actions regarding the Upper Kingdom."

Kaelith’s expression immediately changed. The playful atmosphere disappeared.

"Tch. Very well."

He looked toward the door.

"Call Selena. She needs to help my wife prepare."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Wait!"

Rin quickly sat up.

"Hold on! Explain where I am! Last night you did all sorts of things to me, and I deserve some answers! Where am I? Who exactly are you? And what do you want from me?"

Kaelith turned back toward him. For a moment, he simply stared. Then a mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"Hmm. If you give me a kiss, perhaps I’ll answer."

He tilted his head.

"What do you think of that deal?"

"You..."

Rin’s face became completely red.

"You psychopath!"

Kaelith chuckled.

"I understand. You’re shy."

He walked toward the door.

"That’s fine. We have all the time in the world."

His strange crimson eyes remained fixed on Rin.

"I’ll wait as long as necessary."

He paused.

"But now your husband has to go to work. Don’t miss me too much. I won’t be gone for long."

Before leaving, Kaelith gave Rin one last teasing look. Then he walked out.

The moment he stepped outside, his expression became cold. He immediately issued several orders. No man was allowed anywhere near the room. No one was permitted to approach Rin without permission.

And the only person allowed to serve the newly declared royal consort was Selena. Only after giving those orders did Kaelith finally leave for the generals’ conference.

Rin remained behind. He looked around the room. Then he looked down at himself.

He still had the strange collar around his neck. His body was covered with marks from the previous night, and the bed looked as though an entire war had taken place on it.

Rin stared at the ruined sheets. Silence. Then one thought entered his mind.

I want to hide in a hole. I want to disappear.

KNOCK. KNOCK.

Rin looked toward the door. He had no idea who could possibly be there. Still, there wasn’t much else he could do.

"Come in."

The door opened. The woman from the previous night entered. The same woman who had forced him to take the strange pill.

She approached him calmly and bowed.

"Good morning, Royal Consort."

Rin’s eye twitched.

Royal Consort... I’m a man!

"My name is Selena. From today onward, I will serve you. Please tell me how I may assist you."

Rin stared at her. Then he pointed toward the collar.

"Then... take this off."

Selena immediately shook her head.

"I apologize. That is impossible."

She maintained a polite expression.

"Please give me another request."

Rin sighed.

"Fine."

He looked at her carefully.

"Then tell me where we are. Where am I? Who are you people? And why am I in this situation?"

Selena remained silent for several seconds. She looked genuinely surprised. Apparently, she hadn’t expected Rin to ask so many questions.

But the King had never ordered her to keep these things secret. So she answered.

"You are currently within the Demonic Domain."

Rin’s expression changed.

"You are an Invocation."

"An... Invocation?"

"Yes."

Selena continued.

"You were chosen as the royal consort after the King accepted you as his partner last night."

Rin’s face became increasingly confused.

"We are demons."

For the first time, Selena raised her eyes fully. Rin saw them clearly.

Purple irises. Vertical pupils like those of a serpent. Rin swallowed.

"Invocation? What are you talking about?"

Selena explained.

"An Invocation occurs when the King uses his own blood to call for the person he is searching for. When that person’s soul answers the summons, they are brought here."

She paused.

"However, there have been cases where the wrong person answered the call."

"And what happened to them?"

Selena’s expression remained emotionless.

"The King disposed of them immediately."

Rin stared at her.

Disposed of them?

"What the hell does that mean?"

He quickly pushed the thought aside. There was something much more important.

"Wait."

Rin’s heart began beating faster.

"The King’s name."

Selena looked at him.

"His name?"

"Yes. What’s the King’s name?"

Rin knew he’d asked the question the previous night. But because of the state he’d been in, he couldn’t remember the answer.

His memories were still fragmented. He remembered the red eyes. The voice. The obsession. But not the name.

"The King’s name is Kaelith."

Rin froze.

The room suddenly seemed much quieter.

Kaelith.

That name. He knew that name. His eyes widened.

No. It can’t be.

"Kaelith..."

Rin’s mind raced.

Isn’t that the character from my favorite novel?

Betrayal?

His breathing became faster.

Are you telling me I was summoned into a novel?

And the person who chose me is the LAST VILLAIN?!

Rin’s entire worldview collapsed.

"How do I get out?"

He asked the question immediately. Selena answered just as directly.

"There is no way."

Rin stared at her.

"If you attempt to escape and provoke the King’s anger, you will die."

"...What?"

Rin’s face went blank.

Great.

Absolutely wonderful.

I somehow managed to enter a novel and immediately became the property of the final villain.

He rubbed his forehead.

"Okay."

He sighed.

"Then at least help me wash up."

Selena nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Rin leaned back.

First, I need to determine whether this really is the world from Betrayal

If it is... then is this what happened after the ending?

And if that’s true...

What am I supposed to do?

Selena used her magic to heal Rin’s injuries. She helped him wash and eventually brought him clothes that actually fit him. For the first time since arriving in this strange world, Rin felt somewhat human again.

He looked at Selena.

"Thank you... Selena."

His voice became quieter.

"Honestly. Thank you for helping me. And for answering my questions."

Selena froze. For several seconds, she didn’t say anything. Something inside her cold heart moved.

It was tiny. Almost imperceptible. But it was there.

She had expected fear. Anger. Disgust. Perhaps even arrogance.

Instead, Rin had thanked her. Before Selena could answer, however, a cold voice came from behind her.

"Oh."

Selena immediately stiffened.

"What a well-mannered wife I have."

Rin’s eyes widened. Kaelith stood behind them.

"I see, he even thanks servants."

His eyes moved toward Selena.

"But somehow..."

His smile disappeared.

"I feel jealous that you can speak so sweetly to someone other than me."

Selena immediately dropped to one knee.

"I am glad you have returned, Your Majesty."

She bowed her head.

"The Royal Consort has been washed, healed, and dressed as you requested."

"You may leave."

Kaelith’s voice was indifferent.

"Yes, my King."

Selena stood.

Before leaving, however, she glanced toward Rin. He was still sitting on the bed.

Something inside her chest tightened. She didn’t understand it.

She had known him for only a few minutes. Yet somewhere deep within her heart, a thought appeared.

Don’t die. Please.

She didn’t even realize it, but those few minutes beside Rin had begun to thaw the frozen heart she had carried for so long.

The door closed behind her. Rin turned toward Kaelith.

Now that he knew who he was, he could compare him to the illustrations and descriptions from the novel.

It was exact. The same appearance. The same crimson eyes. The same terrifying presence.

It’s him.

It’s really Kaelith.

But Rin still needed to be certain. And he had an idea. It was possibly the stupidest idea he’d ever had. But if this world truly followed the rules of the novel, then perhaps...

He needed to test something. Rin took a deep breath.

Whatever happens...

I’ll do anything to get out of here.

He suddenly changed his expression.

"Aren’t you back?"

His voice trembled.

"I thought you weren’t coming back."

Kaelith stopped. Rin forced himself to smile.

"You were gone for so long, husband."

He internally suffered.

I swear I’m going to escape this place even if it kills me.

Kaelith stared at him. For several seconds, he said nothing. His brain seemed to have completely stopped working.

Rin continued.

"You didn’t miss me?"

He tilted his head, acting like a heartbroken lover who had been abandoned.

Kaelith stared. Then he started walking toward Rin. He looked so distracted that he didn’t even notice the pillar beside the sauna.

BOOM!

Kaelith walked straight into it. Rin stared. Kaelith didn’t even react.

A small stream of blood began running from beneath his hair. He didn’t notice. He simply continued walking toward Rin.

"Blood!"

Rin’s eyes widened.

"Hey, Kaelith! Blood! You’re bleeding!"

But Kaelith didn’t care. He had reached the edge of the bed. He looked at Rin with shining eyes.

"You missed me?"

His smile grew wider.

"You actually missed me."

Rin stared at him.

"I..."

"I missed you too, wife!"

Kaelith sounded happier than Rin had ever seen him.

"I didn’t know you loved me this much."

His crimson eyes sparkled with happiness. And beneath that happiness was the same obsession. The same terrifying devotion.

Rin slowly stared at him. His favorite character. The character he had once admired from the pages of his favorite novel.

Now stood in front of him. A blood-covered, completely deranged demon king was smiling at him as though Rin were the most precious thing in the entire world.

Rin’s soul nearly left his body.

I want to faint.

I want to go home.

I want to return to my world.

But most importantly—

Why did I choose THIS plan?!