"You ignored me well enough these few days… just because of that silk golden ribbon.
Now that you're at my mercy, you'll do what I say… tonight.
Or your everything… will be handed over to both your Ribbon Prince and our Crown Ribbon.
And you surely don't want that… do you, dear Yurei?~"
Sozai whispered behind him, grin curving his lips as he pressed closer, purring low against the nape of Yurei's neck...cutting down the earlier silence like trying to erase any truth .
"Don't you dare, Sozai… you're calling your own death."
Yurei's heart pounded — worry, embarrassment, and something unnamed twisting painfully tight.
His throat felt dry as bone.
Instinctively, he pulled a small knife from his sleeve, holding it near Sozai's face.
"N-no… you can't… tell that to him..or anyone.." then silence for a breath "
… I'd be ruined…"
His voice cracked, small and raw from fear, shame… and anger.
"Shh… shh shh… are you crying already?"
Sozai's voice dropped softer as he gently pushed the knife away.
"I haven't even told you what to do… and that knife isn't needed here…"
He burrowed closer into Yurei's warm, faintly damp neck.
"W-who fucking knows what you'll ask?! What if it's something I can't—?"
"You can.
If you have the willpower… the need… the desire… and the capability."
A smirk ghosted over Sozai's lips.
Yurei swallowed hard. God knows what task needed all that.
Dirty thoughts flooded his mind again— the only things that fit desire and capability…
Heat flushed to his ears.
"Y… you're twisting words again…"
His voice shook, red creeping up to his nose, stomach tight.
"No, I'm not. It's really simple… I already told you why I'm here, remember?~"
One of Sozai's hands slid up, pausing over Yurei's chest — directly above the heart pounding like it might shatter ribs.
Yurei gasped softly, biting his lower lip, fighting to stay still… fighting the reckless urge to lean back into the touch.
Sozai felt the wild, helpless rhythm under his palm. His green eyes narrowed, gaze softening, a dangerous tenderness there.
"Oh, fluffy foxie … if you act like I'm going to drink you dry… don't beg me for it like that sozai whispered with a wink then chuckled
"Well… ready for the first round?~"
"W-what the fuck are you talking about?! For God's sake, just say it clearly… don't eat my head!"
His voice came out hoarse, eyes wet with heat, shame, and confusion.
Sozai leaned in close — so close it looked like he'd claim Yurei's lips right there.
Yurei froze, breath catching in his throat.
Instead, Sozai's smirk curved — playful, almost innocent.
He lifted the wine bottle, shaking it lightly so the dark red inside echoed back.
"Let's drink ~
You need willpower, need, and desire to drink it with me…
And the capability to drink more than twenty cups. That's round one."
For a breath, Yurei felt dumped — like being thrown off a cliff and landing in cold water, thinking :
"How does that cat twist everything back into teasing logic?!"
His lips pressed into a thin line of embarrassment and annoyance.
Sozai chuckled deeper, but Yurei only rolled his eyes, finally nodding.
He couldn't risk it — better to drink.
"Now that's a wise choice… see? Was it so hard?"
Sozai teased, giving a light pet over Yurei's right shoulder.
They sat side by side on the balcony edge, backs against the wall.
Sozai poured the wine — a thick farm red, its scent faint yet strong.
Just as Yurei was about to drink, Sozai raised a hand, expression mockingly grave.
"Wait wait wait… not like that."
The cup trembled at Yurei's lips; he nearly choked, blinking, annoyed.
"What's wrong again?" he asked gruffly.
"Is it possible you bathe in roses yet… don't drink them?~"
Sozai's grin softened into something oddly tender.
"Here you go ~ also in mine… because I love roses too."
Yurei's breath caught at the word "rose" — the earlier teasing still stinging his chest.
Sozai poured a few drops of rosewater into both cups, then dropped a single solid petal inside each.
"It wasn't needed…"
Yurei whispered, trying to sound flat but failing to hide the flush.
"But it's needed for you to keep your beauty, so Kyoren-sama—"
Yurei's hand shot up, clamping over Sozai's mouth, eyes wide, face blazing.
"Shut up! You talk too much! Drink before Kuradome-sama really finds me here with you in another perfectly wrong moment!"
"Mmph… can I taste if your fingers got sweet from bathing in roses?~"
Sozai's words were muffled but teasing behind Yurei's palm.
Yurei jerked his hand away, glaring, voice cracking:
"Of course not! And why do you keep flirting like I'm a girl? I'm also a man…"
"Man?~"
"Y-yes… man. Any problem?"
"But… the bottom, right?~"
"NO!"
"But you'd look more beautiful as one ~ and look at you: scared of Kuradome-sama, obsessed with Kyoren-sama's bite marks… you bathe in roses… earlier you easily got pinned under me… all proof that you're the bottom."
Sozai chuckled low.
Yurei felt like dying — like disappearing under Kuradome's desk if that were possible.
"W-what?! Is it wrong to respect the king and calm Kyoren-sama down? And bathing in rose isn't proof! Also, I didn't got pinned under you easily earlier—!"
"Alright, alright… don't get so red. Your blood will spill before the wine.
Now… drink. Taste it."
Sozai raised Yurei's hand, guiding the cup to his lips.
Yurei blinked but drank — the rosewater-touched wine burning sweet and soft, cheeks aching from heat.
"Good?" Sozai asked, voice softer now.
"Hm."
Yurei nodded, eyes flicking to him, quickly away.
He poured another cup, hesitated, then added rosewater and a petal again — then drank.
Sozai watched lazily, lids half-lowered, smile curving slow:
"He's drinking more than he thinks.
That stubborn fox…"
[ End of Chapter 31 ]