HBRS Ch 2

“Haha….”

Luke had anticipated Richard’s hostility. He obediently removed his clothes as the servants demanded and allowed them to confirm that he carried no weapons. They then ordered him to dress again and shackled his wrists with restraints designed to suppress the flow of magical power. This was a precaution in case he was a hired magical assassin.

Only after this thorough inspection was Luke escorted to the drawing-room. He had never been invited to the duke’s home in life, so unlike the garden, the hallway was unfamiliar. Decorated with antique carpets and ornaments, the interior felt like a place belonging to a family with a long and distinguished history.

Knock, knock.

“Enter.”

Creak—.

“The search has been completed as ordered. No threatening objects were found, and safety restraints have been applied.”

“Good work. Admit no one to the drawing-room until I give permission.”

“Understood.”

The duke gave his orders in an authoritative tone, and the servant bowed respectfully before withdrawing.

“…….”

Luke smiled subtly as he waited for Richard to permit him to sit. At first glance, it appeared as though he was being restrained and interrogated by the duke, but in reality, Richard was merely complying with the suggestions Luke had implanted.

Such restraints might be effective against a human mage. However, they were mere toys to a demon who had ascended from the demon realm.

If the restraints could detect the intensity of magical power, it might have been a different story. Unfortunately, this house seemed to lack anyone capable of recognizing a demon’s intrusion.

Still, wanting to play along with the duke’s game, Luke put on a troubled expression, a helpless smile on his face, and addressed Richard.

“It seems I appear quite suspicious. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, would you permit me to sit?”

“There’s no need. I don’t intend to speak for long.”

Without the influence of suggestion, Richard would permit nothing. The duke glared at his uninvited guest with blazing blue eyes and commanded,

“Tell me what you want in exchange for the information about Cassiel.”

“…….”

His impatience hadn’t changed.

Every time Richard revealed a familiar aspect of his former self, Luke felt a faint pang of nostalgia alongside a discomfort that gnawed at his heart.

Despite taking his life in such a manner, Richard seemed completely unscathed. The moment he heard the command, Luke sensed that Richard had lived the past twenty years believing he could threaten others as he had in his youth. He had remained firmly in his position as duke, wielding absolute power, without facing any consequences for his actions.

Meeting the duke’s gaze, Luke smiled gently and spoke in a slightly stronger voice.

『If you suck my cock just once, right here, I’ll tell you everything.』

“What…?”

The duke’s face contorted into a grimace upon hearing Luke’s demand. He had granted this man his precious time, curious to hear what grand conditions he would propose. He hadn’t realized that this was what he meant by “favor.”

“You speak such nonsense.”

“I’m serious. If you just suck it, I’ll tell you everything.”

Luke replied in a serious tone, as if it were no joke. Yet, he couldn’t completely erase the playful expression from his face, his lips curving into his characteristic gentle smile.

“Ha.”

This damned wretch should consider himself lucky that he didn’t have a sword at his hip right now. Richard was just about to order his servants to give this shameless creature a thorough beating and chase him away. He raised his hand to summon a servant, but then realized, with a start, that he couldn’t move a muscle.

“Ugh…….”

Why? Why wouldn’t his body obey?

His limbs felt numb and heavy, as though he were experiencing sleep paralysis. After a few futile attempts to move his hand, Richard quickly erased the bewildered expression from his face and glared at the strange young man with a murderous look.

An ordinary human would freeze upon encountering a large monster, becoming easy prey. Unless one had been trained to deal with monsters, it was easy to be overwhelmed by the magical power that flowed around them.

And coincidentally, demons were the highest-ranking among monsters. Seeing Richard tremble in resistance to his power, Luke spoke again, his voice sharper and more resolute, driving his words in like nails.

『Sucking a cock. It’s not that difficult, nor is it that dirty.』

“Gah…….”

Richard’s trembling intensified with the added suggestion. Luke simply watched him, a gentle expression on his face, as if genuinely enjoying the sight.

It was nearly impossible for someone untrained in magic to break free from mind control on their own. Moreover, Luke knew better than anyone that Richard Valerion had no connection to magic whatsoever.

He was a skilled politician, not a mage. The proof was that he hadn’t even realized he had let a demon into his home, and the restraints he had prepared were utterly ineffective.

『Come now.』

The demon’s voice grew softer. The mere sound of it seemed to permeate Richard’s senses, carrying a sweet, languid warmth.

“Ugh….”

Richard groaned and frowned. His thoughts grew hazy, his judgment impaired, as if he were on the verge of sleep. Driven by the false desire that he absolutely must uncover the truth of the incident, he felt compelled to suck the cock of this man whose name and face he didn’t even know.

But why was he so hesitant? It was just sucking a cock; it wasn’t that big of a deal.

Of course, the other party was an unbearably arrogant fellow, so perhaps it was because he didn’t want to show him even the slightest bit of courtesy.

“Haah….”

Still, if he wanted to know the truth, he had no choice.

The duke, desperately resisting the magic, finally collapsed to his knees before the demon. Even as his knees buckled, his submerged consciousness scrambled to rationalize it as his own choice.

“You’ve decided to suck my cock. A wise decision.”

Luke smiled faintly, looking down at the kneeling duke. Though untrained in magic, the duke possessed remarkable mental fortitude, befitting a man who had held his position for so long. If he could resist even such a simple command, it seemed worth putting some effort into the groundwork.

Since it was their first reunion in a long time, it seemed fitting to commemorate it in this very spot.

“…….”

Richard shuddered with an indescribable sense of unease, gritting his teeth. Despite the man’s exceptionally gentle and courteous tone, a chill ran down his spine the moment he heard his voice.

To request sexual favors instead of money as payment for information…

And not from a young, beautiful woman, but from an old, dark-haired man.

How peculiar and suspicious. However, he soon found it too taxing even to think about how nonsensical the man’s demands were.

Blinking slowly, Richard reached out with a trembling hand and fumbled with Luke’s belt, beginning to undress him. Half of his consciousness felt hazy, as if asleep, and he could barely comprehend what he was doing.

Ziip—.

The stranger’s attire was simple, devoid of any family crests or ornaments. The plain clothes were easy to remove, quickly revealing bare skin. This indicated that he was of low status.

“…….”

However, the flesh beneath the clothes was anything but ordinary. The man’s penis was larger than any he had ever seen, almost surreal in size. And he wasn’t even erect yet.

Confronted with the naked flesh, Richard’s gaze wavered, even under the influence of mind control. The moment he considered putting it in his mouth and sucking it, he felt a wave of nausea and couldn’t help but grimace.

Was it right to delve into matters concerning his already deceased son?

The boy was dead anyway.

He struggled internally, questioning whether he should maintain his dignity as a duke. However, the thought remained unexpressed. The powerful suggestion to “know the truth” halted all other thoughts, acting as his primary directive.

Yes, the truth was important enough to endure even this disgusting act. The humiliation would be fleeting, but the responsibility and regret he felt as a father would last a lifetime.

He didn’t want to create any more regrets….

And if someone had dared to deceive the imperial family by disguising this as an accident, he must punish them thoroughly and make an example of them.

Having resolved his thoughts, Richard brought his lips to the tip of the man’s cock, trembling visibly. He still lacked the courage to actually touch and suck it with his hand.