CHAPTER 111: THE DEVIL’S GAME! 2

Another set of massive gates thundered open, the sound shaking the ground. Alphas burst out like unleashed hounds, their eyes glowing with lust and hunger, their bodies thrumming with unrestrained pheromones. They roared, charging into the forest, the earth trembling under their feet.

It didn’t take long.

Screams erupted from the trees, sharp and piercing. An omega was dragged out, pinned to the dirt before she could cry for help, her clothes tearing under rough hands.

Another was thrown over a shoulder, her nails clawing at the ground, leaving trails in the earth. A boy tried to climb a tree, his hands slipping on the bark, only to be yanked down, his body twisting as an alpha sank teeth into his neck, marking him without consent.

Some were stripped naked as Alphas thrust into them, drowning them in their strong pheromones. Omegas cried and begged for help but no one came to their rescues.

The crowd cheered even louder with every scream, their voices a deafening roar. Their cries were more entertainment for the nobles. Wine spilt from overturned glasses, gold coins clinked as nobles placed bets, their laughter filling the air like poison.

Rin’s fists trembled, his nails cutting deeper into his skin, blood dripping onto his robe. He bit the inside of his cheek until he tasted iron, the pain grounding him, keeping him from leaping out of his seat.

’How can they... watch this? How can they smile? Laugh?’

His gaze flicked back to Evan’s seat, his heart pounding. And then he froze.

Lucien was there, sitting beside his father, his face unreadable, his grey eyes fixed on the game. To anyone else, he looked composed, detached... just another noble spectating the tradition.

’Lucien. You’re really going to sit there and watch this?’

The thought made Rin feel sick. He’d known Lucien was a Vortellion, but he’d hoped... foolishly, maybe... that Lucien was different. That he wouldn’t be part of this cruelty. But he wasn’t doing anything, just watching it.

Lirien touched his hand lightly, her voice low.

"Rin. Breathe. Are you alright?"

"...Yes," Rin said, his voice low and rough, barely audible over the crowd. He stood abruptly, his robe flowing around him. "I need... time. Just for a while."

"Do you want me to follow?" Lirien asked, her eyes sharp with concern.

He shook his head, his veil hiding the storm in his eyes. "No. I’ll be back."

Before she could stop him, he turned and walked out, his steps quick but controlled, his robe whispering against the stone floor. The arena’s noise faded behind him as he entered the quieter halls of the estate, the walls lined with tapestries and flickering mana torches.

He walked until his legs slowed, sank onto a stone bench tucked in a deserted wing, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He twisted his neck, groaning softly, pressing his palms over his eyes, trying to block out the images and the screams together with the dragging and the fucking laughter that penetrated his ear. They were burned into his mind like a scar that would never heal.

’I can’t... watch it anymore. There’s no way I can,’

He thought of tearing the veil off, desperate for air, when footsteps echoed down the corridor. Two sets, steady and deliberate. Rin straightened, leaving the veil in place, his body tensing as he prepared for whatever was coming.

The footsteps stopped in front of him. He looked up... and his breath caught.

The face before him was one he knew too well, sharp and familiar. He flinched, his crimson eyes widening beneath the veil. A whisper escaped him before he could stop it. "...Lucien?"

But no. Not Lucien. The resemblance was sharp, but younger, paler, with a cruel edge that Lucien lacked. Julian Vortellion stood before him, his dark hair falling over his forehead, his eyes glinting with curiosity and disdain.

"Who are you?" Julian asked, tilting his head, studying Rin like a predator sizing up prey.

Rin folded his legs elegantly, regaining his composure, his voice smooth as silk. "I... I’m known as the Golden Goose."

Julian frowned, turning to the man behind him... Dorian, who was once Lucien’s loyal guard, made Rin wonder why he was with Julian instead.

"Golden Goose?"

Dorian leaned close, whispering into Julian’s ear, his voice too low for Rin to catch.

Julian’s expression cleared, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Ah. So you’re that prostitute."

Rin’s lips twitched into a smirk beneath his veil, his voice calm but teasing. "Courtesan. Not a prostitute."

Julian laughed harshly, the sound grating. "There’s no difference."

"On the contrary," Rin murmured, his crimson eyes glinting, "there is every difference."

Julian stepped closer, sneering, his voice dripping with venom. "Then here’s my advice... find your way back to the stadium. The estate isn’t kind to your type. For an omega like you... It’s hell."

Rin sighed, rising gracefully to his feet, his robe flowing around him. He inclined his head politely, his tone sharp and sly. "Thank you for your kind words, young master Julian." Then his voice sharpened, cutting like a blade. "But... you’re an omega too, aren’t you?"

Julian froze, his smile vanishing, his face paling.

Rin tilted his head, his crimson eyes gleaming with mischief. "Is that why your brother took your position?"

Julian’s face darkened with rage, his hands curling into fists. He lunged, but Dorian caught his arm, his voice firm. "Young Master Julian! You mustn’t. He’s a guest of the Duke. If you attack him, you’ll be punished."

Julian’s chest heaved, fury blazing in his eyes, but after a long moment, he pulled back with a sharp exhale. He shot Rin one last venomous glare before spinning on his heel and storming away, his boots echoing down the hall.

Dorian bowed slightly to Rin, his voice formal. "Forgive him, sir. His temper runs hot."

Rin only smirked faintly, his tone light. "No need. He’s just... amusing."

They walked away, their footsteps fading into the distance. Rin remained, his eyes narrowing, his heart still racing from the encounter.

He never thought to see Julian angry because of the mere words he had said. He just spewed it out to see his reaction and it was different from what he was expecting. His anger is a weakness to him but something Rin could use.

He looked back to where Julian had disappeared, wondering whether to return to the stadium. He didn’t want to head back to seeing those horrible scenes, instead, a new plan formed in his mind: buy them all. Every omega.

He could take them to the brothel, where they’d be safe, not chained or hunted. He had the money—his mother’s inheritance, that has been untouched for years. He could do it.

’Yes! That’s a good idea, Rin!’

He patted himself and turned to leave when a couple of footsteps came from behind him. He froze when he heard it.

A voice spoke behind him, smooth and playful, sending a chill down his spine. "Oho! Isn’t this the Golden Goose?"

Rin’s entire body went still as his breathing ceased for a few seconds. He knew that voice, its sly edge unmistakable.

Before he could turn, the man was already in front of him, moving with a predator’s grace.

Of course, it was him!

The crown prince, Caspian Von Veyne, stood there in full regalia, his golden hair gleaming, his smile sly, his eyes sharp as daggers. The air around him was filled with confidence, with danger.

Rin immediately bowed low, his voice even, hiding the storm in his chest.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

Caspian leaned down, so close Rin could feel his warm and invasive breath against his ear. His whisper curled like smoke, low and intimate.

"Hello... Rin."

Rin’s heart slammed against his ribs, his blood turning to ice.

’He... He knows my name?’