Swear Fealty To Me, My Subjects!

About Constance the Man

If Rhine had to describe her in one word:

She's the kind of person who would adjust her glasses and respond with a serious "Yes, I understand," even if you were rolling around in bed with her and asked her to switch positions.

Even among the Forbidden Army, who lacked humanity,

She was renowned for her coldness and austerity.

Extremely obedient, exceptionally precise in execution, and a magnificent man among the tools of men.

But no matter how exceptional Constance was, she was ultimately just one person.

After a thousand deaths, Rhine had finally come to terms with the status quo: if it was just him and Constance, the attempt to pass would still be futile.

To aim for a better ending, he would need to secure more powerful pieces.

Rhine had no choice but to try again and work with the group of Forbidden Soldiers.

Although coercion was useless against that group, Rhine now had another idea.

Perhaps...

The answer to making the Forbidden Army swear loyalty to the Emperor lay here.

Not far from the palace, Rhine and Constance had arrived at the most prestigious pinnacle of the imperial capital:

[Land of Dreams].

It was an opulent palace, as luxurious as could be imagined, exuding an enchanting aroma from within even as one passed by.

Years and years of plundering by the wealthiest merchants in the world had turned this decadent love nest into a spectacle so grand it rivaled even the palace next door.

In the square fountain at the entrance of the palace stood the statue of a seductive phantom.

Although carved from hard marble, the sculpture was so lifelike that the soft, supple texture of youthful skin seemed tangible. A pair of vertical pupils, filled with love, gazed out as if they could speak.

The Phantom Dragon Demon, a symbol of evil and depravity, stared at the Imperial Palace on the other side with a provocative and alluring smile.

The name of the sculpture was "Olivia," a tribute to the evil god of the underworld, the deity of sex and pleasure.

It had become the most famous attraction in the capital of Hain—an attraction unlike any other.

Rhine let out a bitter laugh.

"So, my family's landmark turned out to be a brothel."

It was rumored that brothel-hopping had become a popular cultural activity among the wealthy in the imperial capital, but Rhine himself had never participated.

Most nobles of the Hain Empire, who bore goddess bloodlines and were candidates for breeding the Forbidden Army, indulged in pleasure but remained highly selective about the origins of their partners.

As a result,

They preferred to keep their indulgences internal, trampling over one another.

The old Rhine was no exception.

Today, however, Rhine's visit to the Land of Lost Dreams had nothing to do with seeking pleasure.

Rhine: "Feel free to roam around. I'll call for you later."

This request of Rhine's was highly improper.

The womb of a Forbidden Soldier was a strategic resource for the empire, and the Sanctuary of the State Church forbade these soldiers from wandering about freely.

Places like the Land of Lost Dreams were strictly off-limits.

As expected,

Constance reminded him, "Your Highness, the Forbidden Army must remain abstinent."

But Rhine didn't care. "That's an order."

Constance: "..."

After a brief silence, Constance finally relented.

Constance: "...Understood."

With that, leaving Constance behind, Rhine adjusted his collar and, feeling slightly nervous, walked toward the land of ecstasy.