Jus Primae Noctis - Volume 2 - Chapter 6

Jus Primae Noctis Volume 2, Chapter 6

The man who was walking in front had a delicate and slender appearance; he could almost be called soft and beautiful. His silver-gray hair and eyes that were of the same colour further reinforced that impression. In contrast, the other man had a tall and strapping figure; he looked hard and tough, and the corners of his mouth even revealed some stubbornness.

At first, Walker thought that the more beautiful one would be Baron Portland, but from the conversation between the two, it was evident that the man with the rough appearance was Simon Portland.

“Simon, I don't remember your house being so empty the last time I visited, eh?” It could be seen from the beautifully constructed jacket he wore that the beautiful man's family background was not bad. They saw him scan his surroundings, and his lips seemed to be holding in a mocking laugh.

However, Simon did not seem to think that his mockery was anything out of the ordinary, he just perched his butt on the ratty sofa and sat down. With an indifferent tone of voice, he said: “Dockray, you do actually want to do it or not? If you want to do it, don't waste time with your long-windedness.”

The delicately beautiful man who had been called Dockray laughed. Going to stand in front of the sofa, he intimately lifted up a lock of Baron Portland's hair and bringing it to his lips, he gave it a kiss. “Oh, of course I want to do it… And I even want…” He leaned his head down and whispered something by Simon's ear, his expression revealing some vulgarity.

Hiding behind the curtains, Walker and Wiltshire looked at each other in dismay, they were really somewhat unable to make any sense of the relationship between these two men and could only stand there with bated breath, watching quietly for any change in the situation.

They watched as Dockray rested a knee on the sofa and as he brought his whole person close to Portland, Walker could clearly see him reaching for the buttons on the Baron's trousers.

“Wait a moment.” Walker was a little in awe of how Portland's voice could sound so calm even at such a time.

The scene that followed, more than anything else that happened before, made Walker and Wiltshire's eyes almost pop out of the their sockets. They saw Baron Portland extend his hand out, cupping it and lightly shaking it up and down, while Dockray took out a small pouch of coins from his pant pocket and stuffed it into his hands, muttering to himself as he did so.

Even the sophisticated and worldly-wise Wiltshire could not help but to be flabbergasted. It was actually highly probably that the Baron, who was possessed of such a tall and doughty appearance, was actually prostituting himself to men --- at the thought that this was the man that had seduced the Princess, and had brought her to France from England, the two of them felt a sinking feeling in the pits of their stomachs for a while.

After receiving the money, Portland did not protest any further, and allowed Dockray to remove his clothes and press him under his body…

Walker's face flushed; he turned his head, thinking to avoid looking at the scene that was playing out in front of his eyes, in living flesh, so immediate that he could almost scent it --- although he had had sexual relations with Wiltshire innumerable times, but he had never imagined that he would have the opportunity to witness two men having sexual intercourse with his own eyes.

But once he turned his head, he immediately came face to face with Wiltshire, who was wearing a strange expression on his face; it seemed like he was smiling but yet he wasn’t. He could probably see Walker's embarrassment; reaching out, he took him into his arms, letting him rest in his strong embrace.

By the side, the two men who had become entangled into a ball of limbs on the narrow couch had already gradually sank into a certain state --- sweet and sultry moans permeated the whole drawing room, and Dockray was whispering comfort to the man pressed beneath his body as he slowly entered him.

“… gently, be more gentle… ah…” Portland did not seem as impertinent as he had in the beginning; he obviously found the action of spreading his body wide open to accept another man's sex organ to be so self-debasing that he was a little bit overwhelmed and as he gasped for breath, he also began to implore Dockray to slow down his movements.

However, the man who was indulging in his beastly desires did not seem to hear his partner's anguished wailing, instead he was wearing a ferocious expression that was at odds with his soft beauty. Dockray continued to relentlessly drive the vicious weapon at his crotch forward, stabbing it into the man beneath him, Simon, who looked to be so much stronger physically. As pained cries were issued by his partner, he increased the tempo of his movements, forcefully ramming it to penetrate into the deepest part of his body.

Although he did not dare to look directly at the scene of the two men having sexual intercourse, but the obscene sounds of Portland's groans as well as the sound of flesh slapping against flesh were continuously being drilled into Walker's ear, causing his heart to beat faster and faster. A faint ache began to throb in some part of his lower abdomen and he gradually started to have difficulty breathing.

But even worse than that, he could sense that behind him, Wiltshire also seemed to have been unable to keep himself from becoming affected by the situation --- besides Walker ear, his breaths grew successively heavier, and the arms that he had around Walker were gradually tightening their hold; Walker could even feel the twitching of the manhood that he had unconsciously pressed against Walker.

Afraid that the two people outside would discover them, neither of them uttered a single word, but the atmosphere between the two of them became increasingly edgy, and Walker could even feel that his face was slowly getting flamingly hot…

He suddenly felt a burst of moisture on his ear --- evidently, Wiltshire had already reached the limit of his self-restraint, and with burning urgency he began to suck on the helix of Walker's ear, meandering downwards to bite at his neck. The hands that he had originally used to encircle Walker now began to get sneaky, lifting his shirt and groping him all over at will…

“… Ah, let go! Let go! It hurts a lot, I beg you please let go!” Inside the drawing room, Portland suddenly began to scream wildly. Walker jumped in shock and quickly busied himself with catching hold of Wiltshire's hands that were wandering all over him and peeked through the gap in the curtains to see what was going on.

He was met with the sight of Dockray gripping the erection between Portland's legs hard, not letting him release even though he had already been brought to the edge of desperation. Meanwhile, Dockray's own scarlet manhood was continuously pumping in and out of the Baron, who had already been reduced to lying on his stomach --- from where Walker was standing, he could see very clearly that whenever the sex organ was withdrawing, some of the flesh of Portland's tender insides was clinging to it.

By this time, the expression on Baron Portland's face had become impossible to describe. The agony of having his body forcibly split open and a foreign object inserted made his facial muscles twitch violently --- Walker could not help but to think of the first time the Marquess had violated him, and how he had suffered so much pain at that time that he thought he was going to die.

Restlessly, Wiltshire began to fondle the area between Walker's legs through his clothing, only for Walker to restrain his unruly hands with even greater strength. The two of them pitted their strength against each other in silence. Finally, unable to get the upper hand, the Marquess gave up hope, and instead hugged Walker tightly to give vent to the lust that had been provoked in his body.

After a series of violent thrusts, Dockray gave a muffled groan and spent his lust within the body of Baron Portland before pulling out of him. It was evident that Portland could not endure the pain brought on by Dockray leaving his body, clutching his lower abdomen with his hand, he fell to the ground, with the manhood between his legs clearly shrunken into a soft mass.

“You're really amazing, so amazing every time… after I’ve had you I don’t even want to touch women… I’ll come and visit again after some time…” After an obscene touching of Portland's genitals, Dockray again fished out a few more gold coins and tossed them on the table before starting to gather his discarded clothing and getting dressed.

For a long time after Dockray's departure, Portland remained curled up into a ball on the carpet, not even making a single movement. It was a very long time indeed before he managed to struggle up and put on his clothes. Picking up the coins on the coffee table, he stuffed them into his pocket.

Seeing that Portland was having so much difficulty, Walker almost wanted to rush out and give him a hand, but Wiltshire, who had evidently managed to subdue his lust and regain his equilibrium, caught hold of him forcefully.

Although he was still walking with a limp, Portland did not seem to want to remain at home to take a rest. He hobbled in the direction of the door, evidently still intending to go out.

“Let’s follow him.” Seeing that Portland had left through the front door, Wiltshire pulled open the curtains and indicated to Walker that they should tail him.

Perhaps the reason could be attributed to his having just had intense sex, but Portland's vigilance was at a very low ebb. He did not seem to be at all aware of Wiltshire or Walker, who were following at his back, and like a lonely wandering spirit, he passed through the streets of Paris --- by looking at him, nobody could have known that this ordinarily dressed man with a vague expression was an aristocrat who had an illustrious lineage.

At first, Walker guessed that he would go to an illicit gambling den or some other place where he could indulge in hedonistic pursuits --- after all, a hobby that could reduce an aristocrat to having to sell his body to support it must be a rather astounding one. However, the end result was that Portland halted his steps in front of a pharmacy. Wiltshire and Walker saw him say a few words to the owner of the pharmacy, who he was quite evidently familiar with, and after the proprietor handed a bag containing something to him, he extracted the bulk of the pile of coins he had earned just now and handed them to the proprietor.

Clearly things had developed far beyond the expectations of Walker and Wiltshire. After they saw Portland get on a nearby horse carriage for rent that was waiting for business, Wiltshire quickly pulled Walker along to board another one, and instructed the driver to give chase to Portland's carriage.

At a place that was approximately a few blocks away, Portland got out of the carriage and walked into a draper's shop with a dilapidated store front. Wiltshire signalled for the driver to stop on the street across the shop, and the observed Portland's actions from the window of the carriage.

After approximately half an hour, when Portland emerged from the draper's shop, the bag he had been carrying before was no longer in his hands. He did not call for a carriage; alone, he walked on the pavement with wobbly steps --- from the direction he was heading, it seemed that he intended to return home. 

Walker wanted to get off the carriage, but he was prevented from doing so by Wiltshire. It was not until Portland's figure disappeared around the corner of the street that Wiltshire dragged Walker out of the carriage and they headed straight for that draper’s shop.

“Sir, is there something you’re looking for?” Attending to the shop was a middle-aged woman who was showing some signs of haggardness. Probably because it had been too long since she had gotten any business, her expression was so eager that it was rather awkward.

Wiltshire found none of the proffered wares in the shop pleasing to his eye, but still, he looked all around, making a show of picking out items. “I want to pick out some unique fabrics to bring back to England, Madame, can you make some recommendations?”

Of course, Walker could not understand French, but he still tried very hard to hide his bewilderment, and stood quietly by Wiltshire's side.

A slightly embarrassed expression revealed itself on the woman’s face: “Sir, all we’re selling are some basic goods, I’m afraid…” 

“Ah, you need not be modest, I just saw the distinguished Baron Portland come into your shop to buy something!” Artfully, Wiltshire steered the conversation in the direction he desired.

“You know Sim… no, his Lordship the Baron Portland?” Immediately, the woman looked to be pleasantly surprised. “And you are even a foreigner?” 

“I have a friend from France who knows him very well. Isn’t it true that he is frequently patronises your shop? From what my friend said, Baron Portland is famous for having refined tastes throughout high society.” Every time that Wiltshire began to lie, his expression would become ever more sincere, as that middle-aged woman looked at him, she came to believe him firmly, with no doubts in her mind.

“Is that so? However, the reason Baron Portland comes here is not to buy fabrics…” She spoke with some hesitation, it seemed as though she did not wish to lie to a friend of Portland's.

After Wiltshire gave her an encouraging smile, indicating that she should continue speaking, the woman lost her wariness and began to open up to him: “Monsieur Portland is really a good man… my son Joseph once served his family as a manservant, but after he did something wrong --- I'm not sure what --- he was fired and thrown out by Monsieur Portland's father… But Monsieur Portland still frequently visits him… although…”

The woman's eyes suddenly grew wet, and her voice became choked: “One time when Joseph went out, he was hit by a horse carriage. Ever since then, his lungs have been giving him problems, the doctor said that if he should go without medicine for even a short time, he would die… but the medicine that is required to treat his illness is as expensive as gold, people such as us simply cannot afford it. When Monsieur Portland came to know of this, he began sending medicine to us, it is all thanks to him that Joseph has been able to survive to this day…”

The pitiful mother's eyes were shimmering with tears. It was evident that Wiltshire also did not expect that Portland, who had been accused of abducting the Princess, would actually have such a compassionate side to him, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself in irresolution for a brief spell.

“Madame, may I visit your son for a while? I have a friend who is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of lung diseases, perhaps I can ask him to come diagnose and treat your son?”

In order to achieve his goals, he could lie to a pitiable mother without the slightest trace of guilt --- Walker couldn't help but to frown at the Marquess who was wearing an expression of serenity.

Wiltshire pretended not to see Walker's disapproving gaze, without consulting him, he followed the woman into the house. After thinking for a bit, Walker followed them, for want of a better option.

Climbing up the narrow stairs, they came to the space above the draper's shop which was also so narrow that it made one feel so claustrophobic that they found it difficult to breathe. The woman called out softly in the direction of one corner of the room: “Joseph, Monsieur Portland’s friend has come to visit you.”

There was no answer whatsoever, and the air was redolent with the scent of a rot that was unique to people who were unwell.

Following behind the Marquess cautiously and solemnly, Walker made his way near to the bed in the corner --- he could see that a young man was lying on the bed; he was emaciated because of the ravages of the disease, his blond hair was in a mess and hanging in his face, so that presently, nobody could see what he looked like.

“Are you Joseph? Hello, I am Simon’s friend, Sir Stone [1]. Because I have a good friend who is a doctor, Simon has occasionally brought up your illness to me and has requested that I come to visit you.” His lies were as seamless as celestial garments that had been woven in heaven, and Wiltshire's expression also perfectly fitted the occasion.

Upon hearing Portland's name, Joseph had a slight reaction, but it did not seem to be joy, as might have been expected. The frail, sick man raked away the blond hair that was obscuring his eyes, in those blue eyes that were as beautiful as the seacoast and clear skies, there was rage as he said: “You are Lord Portland’s friend? I thank him for his concern, but I don’t need it. The only thing I ask of you is for you to tell him not to send medicine or other things here anymore, I won't want them!”

As the surprises kept piling up one right after the other, even the cosmopolitan Wiltshire was also a bit confused by the situation: “I thought that…”

“Sir, please leave, I do not need sympathy! I especially do not need for a person associated with Portland to show me sympathy!” After a struggle, Joseph managed to sit up in bed. He was only wearing a flimsy shirt on his torso, which was utterly unable to disguise his withered and weakened body. However, from his facial features, a shadow of his former beauty could be seen, although he could only be described as a haggard invalid at the moment.

When Joseph's mother saw how agitated her son had become, she was a little frightened: “Monsieur, let us speak further downstairs! There may be a misunderstanding between Joseph and Monsieur Portland…”

Looking at Joseph's frail body, which seemed to be flickering like a candle in the wind, on the verge of being extinguished, the Marquess also know that he should know be overly upset. Giving the young man who had started coughing in his distress a slight bow, he motioned for Walker to follow him and they left the narrow attic.

Once they had stepped into the small draper's shop, tears started streaming down the woman's face.

“What was that all about? From the way Simon spoke, I’ve always thought that he and Joseph were good friends.” Wiltshire appealed to the woman with a befuddled expression in an effort to pry out more news.

“They were, originally.” The woman tried hard to stop crying, but she was unsuccessful: “But ever since Joseph left the Portland family, there has been something wrong. Every time Joseph sees Monsieur Portland, he seems to be fuming with rage as he gnashes his teeth. I had always kept hidden from him the fact that the medicine was sent by Monsieur Portland, but he has recently found out. After that, he has refused to take the medicine. The doctor said that, if this continues… if this continues, he would very soon… very soon die…” Her whimpers finally turned into wails, and at long last, Walker finally understood why the sorrow on the woman's face seemed to be so ingrained.

After saying their goodbyes to the disconsolate female shopkeeper, Walker started to discuss the whole strange sequence of events with the Marquess even as they were in the process of renting a carriage.

“... What do you think, why would Portland want to find a cure for Joseph even if he has to resort to sell his body to do it?” This was the detail that Walker found most difficult to understand about the whole entire affair. From the impression he had gotten from Portland, he did not seem to be the sort who would sacrifice himself for someone of the same gender.

However, Wiltshire seemed to have completely taken leave of the astute image he had projected just now as he was probing for more information. Lazily, he sprawled out and leaned on Walker's body.

Upon hearing this, he slightly straightened his body. Suddenly he extended his hand and gave Walker's flaxen hair a gentle twist and said: “Who knows… but if you should ever get as ill as that, I would also be the same way towards you… but my methods would probably be more intelligent than his…”

His original intentions had been to have a serious discussion with Wiltshire, but who could have known that he would provoke him into saying such things that made his face blush and his heart race instead, and now, Walker had a hot, red face to show for his efforts. In silence, he looked into the Marquess's green as peppermint candy eyes. Walker really could not tell from his laughing eyes just how much, if any, sincerity had actually been in his speech.

……

“Where are we going now?” After a period of honey-sweet silence, Walker made an effort to think of a topic of conversation that would dispel the extremely ambiguous atmosphere in the carriage, which teetering on the edge of finding physical expression.

Wiltshire smiled: “To Portland’s residence, of course.”


End of Jus Primae Noctis Volume 2, Chapter 6

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[1]: Wiltshire introduces himself as “爵士 (juéshì)”, a knight.

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