Volume 7 Prologue (2/2)
”I have heard that Master Wu On's 'divinations' are the most accurate of all.”
”Then stand.”
The woman stood, as she had been told, and reached for the hem of her cloak. Her pale skin seemed to glow like white satin. She lifted up her clothes at the same time as her cloak, exposing her abdomen bare.
Without warning, the old man squatted down, and seemed to cling to the woman's feet.
The woman's chin instantly jerked up. Stretching out his tongue, the old man started licking her naked skin.
For a short while, an obscene atmosphere flowed through the underground room that was bathed in moonlight.
The old man's face slowly traced upwards until coming to a sudden stop when it reached the woman's belly. Unbecoming of her dainty figure, her stomach was strangely protruding.
The old man brought his face towards it and almost lovingly rubbed his cheeks against it.
”Ooh, ohh ooohhh,” the old man seemed to croon, his eyes s.h.i.+ning with a l.u.s.t that contradicted his age, ”it breathes. Even in the womb, it feels my presence, it answers my call. Just as Sage Samara saw, it is undoubtedly a boy. A boy who will carry Mephius.”
”Truly… Is that truly so?”
The woman's voice was husky. Was it disgust or joy that caused the gold curls tumbling from beneath her hood to shake so incessantly?
”This is all because you moved the course of events in accordance with our guidance. This time too, all will be well, will it not?”
”Yes. There will be no delay.”
”In that case, there will be no problem for the young lord's future. Although…”
”Although?”
Wu On changed the angle of his face slightly and the woman once more curved her neck with a shuddering gasp.
”This is undeniable the vessel of a king, but the shadow of turmoil coils around him. Well, there's no need for excessive concern. Ascending the steps to the throne is never a smooth process. But…”
Once again, the old man interrupted his own words. Moving his head back, he looked up towards the woman. There was no longer any desire in his eyes. Instead, they resembled the goggling, squirming eyes of a reptile, so empty of expression it made you want to s.h.i.+ver.
”There is one among them who casts a particularly deep shadow over the throne.”
”W-Who? Who is it?” the woman asked in a rush.
”A young girl,” the old man concluded briefly. ”Very near, at that. As for how great the threat is… I cannot tell exactly until the time comes. If it risks becoming a hindrance, then removing her before it's too late is one way of dealing with things.”
The old man licked his lips once then suddenly tumbled backwards as though he had lost all strength. His back shook as he began coughing violently. His body quivered with what looked like the backlash from having performed his 'divination', but the woman did not spare him a glance as she looked up at the moon that was once more s.h.i.+ning from beyond the ceiling.
In those eyes that reflected that gently light, there flickered an unmistakably intense hatred.
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