POV Crown Prince

The sounds of voices mingled with the instruments. I hated that kind of thing—noise, bright lights, strong smells—it all bothered me, almost driving me to irritation, but I learned to control it, well, to mask it.

Usually at these parties, the men talked too close, most of them had bad breath. I had some Go pieces in my pocket, so I fiddled with them. I imagined that each person was a piece and created moves with them. I needed to distract my mind.

I was turning twenty-four, my first birthday after spending the last three years fighting for the Kingdom. About six months ago, I returned after managing to recapture several villages invaded by our enemies from the north. It had been three years of fighting, training new soldiers to protect their villages, and rebuilding everything that had been destroyed in battle.

The party was generally to celebrate another year of the Crown Prince's life, but I hated any party I had to host. It was stressful, and I hated the fact that I had to talk to all these people or accept that they talked to me.

“Your Majesty...”

Due to my brother's fragile ego and the horrible temperament they said I had, they decided that we would both be treated as princes, since it was more acceptable for a man to act that way than a woman. Perhaps that was his misfortune, because I became much better at all the tasks of a crown prince. The only difference between us was that I wasn't interested in interpersonal relationships or romantic relationships, while my brother didn't hide his interest in such things.

“Your Majesty...” I felt the warm breath of my personal guard, Daewon, hit my ear. I pushed his face away. “Sorry, I forgot.”

“You've been serving me for five years, how could you forget that?” I wiped my ear, got up from my seat, and left that party, which seemed to last forever.

“The emperor requests your presence.”

“I'm not going back,” I snapped. My growing irritation was accompanied by a headache.

“He requests your presence in his chambers,” Daewon said. “I believe it is your gift.”

“What will it be this time?” I wondered as I walked to my chambers. “For the past three years, he has given me strange gifts. What would I do with women and men who don't know how to play Go, who don't know how to play any other game?”

“I don't think the intention was to play,” Daewon said.

“It's a woman again,” I said as soon as I opened the door. “At least this one doesn't have a sickening smell.” I sighed heavily. “I'll see you in the morning. I hope this one learns how to play Go, because I don't want another night with someone with the IQ of a frog.”

“Your Majesty...” He pulled me into the corner. “Have you ever thought that you can do much more than play Go? The emperor hired the most beautiful courtesan in the whole kingdom, the Moon Goddess.” He smiled, it was clear that the choice was his. “Everyone wants her for her beauty.”

“... I turned and stared at the woman who was sitting there, playing the passive role of waiting for a master. She had seen us a long time ago, but she didn't express any feelings. ”What's beautiful about her?

"What do you mean?

"What does everyone find beautiful about her? I wanted to understand, to me she was just a person, I can't say if she was beautiful, just an ordinary person.

“Well... she has beautiful attributes, her face, her body, her... melons and stuff.” He scratched his head, it was quite depressing, for him it didn't take much to be beautiful or desirable. His monkey brain was so simple to please.

“So that's it?” I tried to find out if there was anything else that ordinary people saw in that woman.

“They also say she's a great dancer, plays the shamisen very well, and entertains a man well...”

“Technically, I'm a woman.” He stared at me. “All right.” I sighed. In the end, regardless of my reproductive system, they expected me to have physical relations with that woman.

When I was taught how a man and a woman lie down together, I had to learn how a man lies down with a woman, not only because my brother was present, but because that was how it was taught. His needs were always the ones that had to be satisfied, and the woman's needs took a back seat. It was tedious to think about sexual intercourse, especially since I had never felt the shiver down my spine and the stiffening of my member. How could I feel something I didn't have?

“Wait...” I stopped Daewon from leaving. “Should I use that?” I tried to hold back my grimace as I pointed down. In their quest to bring me closer to what they wanted, they even designed something unique for me to use during the act, whether with a man or a woman.

“So are you going to...?” He raised his eyebrow.

“If it means I have to stop getting women and start earning useful things, then I'll do it.”

“Once you get a taste of a woman, you won't care about Go anymore.” He patted me twice on the shoulder while laughing like an idiot. “Remember what you've learned...”

“Is she only there to satisfy the male desire to stick my phallus in her?” I sighed with pity for the woman. “All right.” Daewon just left and the heavy door slammed, echoing a loud and uncomfortable sound. Now it made sense why the maids made me wear the member today. I should have been suspicious. “Let's get this over with... take off your clothes and lie down on the...” My voice trailed off when I saw what she was doing.

“Your Highness, don't you want me to dance to entertain you?” She stared at me with a calm expression.

“You... were playing Go?” Her strategy was excellent, one of the best I've ever seen, but she wouldn't beat me.

“I'm sorry.” I wanted to pass the time... I'll undress like...

“Stop!” I stopped her. “Play with me.” I sat down on the other side. She was going to take the black pieces, the ones I always chose. “Those are mine,” I said.

“Oh, I'm sorry, Your Majesty.”

“You may begin.” I would give her the advantage.