The black serpent began sinking its massive fangs into Lin's neck.
Each fang injected a venom that burned through his tissues from within.
Lin struggled, but his body was completely restrained—as if the serpent were coiled around him, slowly squeezing the life out of him.
He screamed in pain.
The serpent sank its fangs deeper, as if trying to pierce into his body… and enter it.
Then from nowhere— The serpent vanished.
Lin collapsed to the ground, clutching his burning neck, and spat out black blood that sizzled against the earth where it landed.
He dove into the pool, trying to calm the venom's reaction inside him, but the pain wasn't just physical—it was something deeper.
His heart tightened.
The venom was dissolving something within him… something unseen.
Suddenly, everything around him came into terrifying clarity.
He could hear every single droplet falling into the pool.
Then—
The pain vanished.
He looked at his reflection in the water and saw a black serpent tattoo curling around his arms, Its head pointing toward his neck, where a glowing blue eye shone at the center of the blackness.
Lin stared deeply at his reflection in the water, which had absorbed most of the venom and now reflected light with crystalline purity.
He saw his eyes turn from black to luminous blue—like polished gemstones—then fade back to black.
He screamed,
"Damn it! The snake entered my body!"
Then… the world spun around him.
He collapsed, unconscious.
The stone chamber door opened quietly. The queen stepped inside.
Two silent maids followed her like shadows.
She halted when she saw him lying on the floor, then bent slightly, examining him as if evaluating the results of an experiment.
She smiled coldly and whispered,
"Excellent…"
She leaned in closer, her eyes as cold as ice.
"You've become more handsome. The Vasthera mark suits you. Even your mana… it's increased. Looks like my choice wasn't a bad one this time."
She slowly stood up, her hands behind her back, her eyes glinting with a look Lin's unconscious mind couldn't begin to comprehend.
"Yes…" she murmured, as if speaking to herself.
"I was right to decide you'll be my husband."
She turned to the maids, standing still like statues carved from frost.
"Take him to the bath. Clean him thoroughly… and dress him in the heir's robes."
Lin opened his eyes underwater, his breath ragged, body trembling.
The warmth was strange—like the pool was swallowing him, not to refresh, but to tame him.
He looked around sharply to find the two maids sitting quietly nearby.
Panic struck when he realized he was completely naked.
He grabbed the nearest piece of cloth and wrapped it around himself quickly, his gaze sharp, voice hoarse:
"What were you doing to me?"
No answer came.
They exchanged a brief look, then turned their cold gazes back to him.
Through clenched teeth, he muttered,
"I said… leave me."
One of them answered, soft and calm:
"The queen ordered us not to leave you alone."
He stared at them for a moment, then suddenly grabbed one by the neck and hurled her into the pool.
But then—
A soft, dry voice cut in:
"Are you done?"
He turned.
The queen stood at the door, looking at him with a half-smile.
"That's the first thing you do when you wake up?"
Lin tried to strike her, charging his hand with black mana like a blade.
But she caught his arm with ease and twisted it.
Lin felt fear.
He twisted away and leapt back, realizing he posed no threat to her at all.
The queen smiled fiercely.
"Good… I like a hunt.
If you had submitted without a fight, I'd have been bored.
You're proving yourself to be the perfect husband."
"I'm not your husband, you damn reptile!" Lin shouted.
Her face flushed with fury, and in a flash she appeared beside him, throwing a punch.
Lin sensed danger. His eyes lit up in blue, and his body moved instinctively, dodging just in time.
He turned to see a massive hole punched into the ice wall, cracks spreading deep through the room.
He had dodged it by mere seconds.
Then she appeared behind him again—unnoticed.
He felt the threat behind him and realized…
He didn't stand a chance.
He raised his hands and said,
"I… surrender."
And added silently, "Damn it, I'm still too weak."
The queen smiled faintly.
"Where did all that resistance go?"
"I can't beat you. I know my limits. What do you want me to do—attack you and get pulverized?"
"Then why attack at all?" she asked.
To know how far I have progressed," Lin replied.
Then he sighed and added in a weary, lazy tone:
"Can I… get something to eat? I also want to see my belongings."
She replied coolly,
"I'll give you a little time to eat before the wedding ceremony."
"How about my stuff?" Lin asked.
"I left it behind after I caught you," she said.
He sighed.
"Great… my daggers, my spellbook…"
Everything's gone.
Lin turned to the maid beside him and said in a quiet but firm voice,
"Take me to my room."
Before moving, he glanced toward the queen.
A sharp look—defiant and challenging—flared in his eyes, meeting hers.
Her crimson eyes blazed with a still ember-like glow, while a calm smile played on her lips—hiding far more than it revealed.
Lin walked behind the maid, glancing in all directions, astonished at how massive the palace was—far larger and grander than the Frost Family's manor.
When he entered his room, he froze for a moment in awe.
It was a masterpiece.
Smooth white stone walls adorned with intricate golden engravings that reflected the palace's rich history. Wooden shelves lined with ancient books surrounded the space.
The ceiling arched high above, decorated with ornate carvings and a crystal chandelier that scattered soft, calming light.
The floor was covered with a large, richly colored carpet, filled with intricate detail—elegant and comforting.
But the most shocking part?
There were no windows.
Not a single one.
As if the room was designed to be completely isolated from the outside world—like a hidden palace within the palace.
The maid brought his food and placed it quietly in front of him.
Lin looked at the plate.
Raw meat.
Still dripping blood.
He scowled.
"What is this?"
"Elk meat," she replied without flinching.
"It's not cooked," he said, staring at the red flesh.
"It's eaten like this," she said coldly.
Lin sighed in frustration.
"Bring fire. I'll grill it."
She raised an eyebrow.
"It's not grilled. This is how it's eaten."
He muttered under his breath,
"Damn it…"
Then he sat down, disturbed, and began chewing the raw meat, teeth grinding, disgust twisting his features.
"Damn… I miss my world's food…"
After a long, painful meal, he finally pushed the plate away with a sigh.
He turned to the maid still standing silently by the door.
"Are you just going to stand there? I want some privacy."
She bowed slightly.
"The queen ordered me not to leave you alone."
He raised an eyebrow sarcastically.
Then, in a low but threatening voice, said:
"Want me to strip down and walk toward you… then scream that you tried to assault me?"
She didn't answer.
She stared at him for a moment with empty eyes, then silently turned and left, closing the door behind her with a weighty, invisible slap.
Lin stood there for a moment, staring at the door.
Then slowly approached it and placed his ear against it to check.
Silence.
Pure silence.
He exhaled in relief, then whispered,
"You there, Forgotten One… Can you hear me? Say something—or I swear I'll go insane…"
The Forgotten One's voice echoed in his mind—And said….
"I can't help you right now—your body is too weak. I can't use it, because if I do, your body will die and your soul will vanish. You're also not yet qualified to learn any techniques. On top of that, I've temporarily suppressed your curse until we reach the Ma'hul, because if I let it return now, I won't be able to stop it again."
Lin said:
"Damn it! If I don't escape from here, that damn lizard is going to violate my body!"
The Forgotten One responded:
"What if I disable my protection against the Ma'hul's curse on your wedding night? Then the curse will strike you—and that snake. It might be your only chance to escape… through her death."
As soon as Lin heard the word "curse," his body began to tremble. He screamed, shivering in fear:
"No… no… no…
Anything but that… I don't want to go back to that place…
No… no… anything but that damn nightmare…
Damn it… Why did I come to this world?
Why did I even come?!"
The Forgotten One said firmly:
"This conversation ends now. We can't continue—your body won't endure it. My spiritual shield is on the verge of collapse. My power is too weak right now, and I'm already using part of it just to stop my words from destroying your mind."
Lin placed his hands on his head and whispered in a trembling voice:
"All because of those things… I… I don't want to see them again…"
Suddenly, he pulled himself together, slapped himself hard, and shouted loudly:
"Get a grip, you bastard!"
Then he began wracking his brain, trying to come up with an escape plan…