Chapter 517: Riya
Her cheeks flamed, but she did not deny it. Instead, her voice fell to a whisper. "That is what some believe, my lord. That those who... plant the seed... will be honored above all."
He let out a low laugh. "Mm. Not bad. I like the sound of being worshipped." His eyes gleamed as he looked her over, noting the stiffness in her shoulders. Then, leaning just slightly closer, his tone dipped into a teasing whisper.
"Tell me... do you believe it too? Do you believe that every time I step behind that door and spread a woman open, I’m building heaven itself?"
The poor girl jolted in her seat, caught way off guard by the question. "M-my lord!" she stammered, finally daring to glance up before quickly lowering her gaze again.
Julian’s smirk lingered as he straightened, glancing once more toward the breeding room door. He scanned the room, searching for anything out of place. However, nothing seemed out of ordinary.
"Guess I’ll enjoy this more than I thought," he murmured, stretching lazily. His eyes flicked back to the desk. "So, what’s your name?"
The girl, still seated stiffly, lowered her gaze as she reached for a slip of paper. Taking it into her hand, she set the document before him.
"My lord... it is Riya," she said softly. "And this—" she gestured to the paper "—is the name of the one you are appointed with."
Julian took the paper without wasting any time and his smirk widened as he gave it a single glance. The letters scribbled across it meant little to him. He flicked it back onto the desk, his attention now fully shifting to the girl in front of him.
"Riya, hm...?" His eyes lifted to meet hers briefly, catching the way she quickly looked down again. "Well, Riya... looks like you’ll be the first to know if heaven itself is built in this room."
Riya froze, a flush creeping across her cheeks. "M-my... my lord, what do you mean?" she stammered, overwhelmed by his words.
Julian chuckled, his gaze already lowering from her eyes. It slowly made its way down, tracing a path from her lips to the smooth skin of her neck.
Riya’s breath hitched; she felt a shiver ripple through her spine, her heart hammering in a way that made her dizzy. The heat in her chest began to pool between her thighs as she realized that his stare was no longer just on her face—it was moving lower, mapping every curve with hunger.
She gripped the desk for support, but her body betrayed her, leaning toward him subconsciously. Julian’s gaze paused at her breast, just long enough to make her gasp softly. He then leaned back, giving her a moment to catch her breath.
"Good... I like a girl who reacts honestly," he said softly, almost purring, "even when she’s trying not to."
That made the heat inside her bloom even more.
"So... tell me, who is this Erica I’m appointed with?"
"H-huh... oh, Erica," Riya quickly murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She pressed her palms together in front of her chest, desperately trying to steady her racing heartbeat. "I... I haven’t heard much about her, but the elder instructed that she should be treated... nicely."
"Nicely...?" Julian repeated, his voice low and teasing. "I wonder what that means in a place like this."
His eyes flicked to her hands in her lap, and a sly thought crossed his mind. Curious... how obedient is she?
Riya blinked, shifting uneasily under his gaze. "I... I... she’s already here, my lord." She pointed toward the door behind her, quickly changing the topic.
Julian’s lips curled into a slow, wicked smile. "Already inside... hm." He let the words hang in the air, enjoying the way Riya flinched in response. "Then I suppose it’s time I meet her... and find out just how ’nicely’ I can treat her myself."
Riya swallowed hard, her cheeks warming further. She tried to avert her gaze, but Julian’s eyes followed her every movement, making it impossible to hide the shiver that ran down her spine.
He took a step toward the door. "Lead the way, Riya. I’m eager to see this Erica... and I’m sure she’s eager to meet me too."
Riya bowed her head and pushed the door open. "Enjoy your time, my lord," she murmured, stepping aside.
Julian tilted his head, feigning innocence. "And you... are you not coming in?" he asked.
Riya shook her head quickly, her fingers curling over her gown. "No, my lord. I... I am instructed not to overstep my boundaries."
Julian let out a low, playful sigh. "That’s... sad." He leaned closer, just enough that his breath brushed her ear.
"Though," he continued, "it is commendable that you can resist me... when the whole village kneels, ready to give themselves freely to me."
Riya’s heart raced uncontrollably. She tried to step back, but the wall was at her back, and his smirk held her in place like a predator circling prey. Every word he spoke seemed to set her nerves on fire, every glance filling her with temptation.
"Come to me if you change your mind."
Without offering any more words, he simply turned and slipped through the door, closing it behind him.
click
The soft sound startled her awake and Riya found herself standing alone, her cheeks flushed and body heated from his closeness. She brought her hands to her thighs, trying to calm the heat that was building there.
**
The inner chamber was moderately big, lit by the flickering glow of the lamp and the warm, golden light of the runes carved into the walls. A large, sturdy bed dominated the center of the room, while shelves lined the walls, holding bowls of fruit, glasses of water, and jars of dried herbs.
Incense burned at various points, sending fragrant smoke into the air. Whoever prepared this chamber knew exactly what they were doing.
Julian’s eyes wandered across the room, smirking at the perfection of it all. He could feel the tension in the air and the thought of who awaited him behind this setup made his grin widen.