SMR 100

~Chapter 100~ 

‘There’s no turning back now. Get it together.’

Harriet took a deep breath to steel herself—only for Tez to lean in and whisper against her ear.

“You look absolutely enchanting tonight. I imagine you’ll be quite popular.”

She nearly laughed. Of course, he’d say that—she’d styled herself like Bella. Of course, a man like Tez would be attracted to a woman like her.

Silently, she reached up and removed his hand from her hair.

“I don’t plan on entertaining just anyone,” she said coolly. “Not even you.”

“Don’t worry,” he replied smoothly. “One unbreakable rule on the ship is that no woman is ever touched without her consent.”

Still, he clearly thought she’d come here to indulge—just like the others.

‘He’s going to be a problem. I need to lose him as soon as I can…’

Her stomach twisted with anxiety as they waited for the boarding to begin.

Soon, the warehouse was packed—wall to wall with people. Harriet could barely believe that so many nobles had gathered here for mystery drugs and sexual games.

Then came the announcement.

“Boarding will begin now. Once aboard, we’ll gather briefly at 1, 3, 5, and 7 a.m. for the departure process. Please keep track of the time if you plan to return early.”

Several people chuckled at that.

Harriet turned to Tez with a questioning look.

“No one leaves before the final stop at 7 a.m.”

“But… the other times, the ship will arrive at the port, right?”

“Yes. If you feel unwell or uncomfortable at any point, let someone know. I’ll escort you back myself.”

“I wouldn’t want to interrupt if you’re… having fun. If I’m not around by 7, just assume I left earlier.”

Tez stared at her for a beat—then gave a slow, amused nod.

As people began boarding, the line moved efficiently. Soon, Harriet found herself stepping onto the ship with Tez.

From the outside, it looked like an oversized passenger ferry.

Inside, it was a den of extravagance.

A grand ballroom with a stage at the center. Dozens of private rooms. Lavish services. Music playing nonstop. Stylishly dressed dancers at every corner. Male and female attendants dressed in clothes so short they barely covered anything.

‘So this is what wickedness looks like.’

The place felt like a literal description of the lustful hell described in sacred texts.

She shivered.

But the others seemed unfazed—chatting and laughing, accepting drinks from attendants without hesitation.

Tez returned with two glasses and handed one to her.

“A toast?”

“…Is it just alcohol?”

“Of course not.”

He grinned and downed his drink in a single gulp.

Within seconds—three, four at most—his gaze shifted. It grew heavier, darker.

‘If I refuse, he’ll get suspicious.’

She hadn’t expected the drug to come this quickly.

‘What do I do? I didn’t think they’d push it this way…’

Her chest tightened.

Even Cedric Kailas—so perfectly composed—had lost his cool after taking this. There was no way someone like her, with far less control, could drink it and stay sane.

So she held the glass, pretending interest in the decor as she delayed.

“I’d like to get a feel for the ship before I lose my bearings. Wouldn’t want to get lost on board.”

“Haha! Just ask any attendant where the ‘Main Hall’ is and they’ll bring you back here.”

“What about the restrooms?”

“See those upside-down triangle signs? Those are restrooms. The public bedrooms are that way, the private ones are this way. One terrace below, you’ll find… more specialized tools and spaces.”

He rattled it all off like a tour guide—cutting off every potential escape route.

Then, chuckling softly, he brushed his fingers against her earlobe.

“There’s only a little Angelique in that drink. Just enough to lift your mood. Nothing too serious—don’t worry.”

Harriet’s spine stiffened.

He could tell she was hesitating—and was trying to lure her further in.

“Don’t worry,” he added. “The welcome drink only contains a small amount. It’s too expensive to be handed out freely. If you want more—the kind that actually ‘works’—you buy it from those people in black.”

“W-what’s the price?”

“More than what you’d pay outside. A hundred dirhams per pill. It’s included in the overall cost of the party, really. But you don’t have to worry about that.”

He lifted her hand gently.

A mark still gleamed on her skin—stamped there by the attendant before boarding.

“First-time female guests drink for free.”

‘So that’s what the “very expensive” stamp was for…’

She forced a weak smile.

At this point, she couldn’t refuse without making a scene.

‘Fine. Just a little. I’ll be fine.’

Trusting Tez’s word—just for now—Harriet tilted the glass and drank.

The taste was pleasant—fragrant and sweet.

But for someone who rarely drank, even the smallest amount was enough. Her body felt like it had taken off from the ground.

“Haa…”

Tez caught the change in her breath instantly. He wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Even your sighs are seductive.”

He was leading her somewhere. She couldn’t resist. Her steps followed his—slow and light.

“You said… it was only a little…” she murmured, her last act of resistance.

Tez chuckled.

“Only a little for me. For someone with no experience… you might feel it more than expected.”

“Liar…”

“I didn’t lie. But if it makes you feel better, I apologize—Harriet.”

He leaned in—close enough that she thought he might kiss her.

That single word—kiss—snapped something back into focus.

She thought of Cedric.

That voice. The heat in his breath. The low, trembling laughter that once echoed against her lips.

‘What the hell am I doing?’

She’d nearly let herself fall for Tez’s charm.

That realization jolted her.

Straightening her spine, she gently but firmly pushed him away.

“In that case… should we part ways here?”

“Ha! Getting rid of me already?”

“With a clear head like this… it’d be a bit embarrassing, you know.”

She’d caught him off guard. He hadn’t expected her to resist—not now.

But Tez was an experienced womanizer. He didn’t let it show.

Instead, he laughed and released her with grace.

“Hahaha! Very well. If you change your mind, I’ll be in that room. Even if someone else is with me—don’t hesitate. I’ll send them away for you.”

The thought made her stomach turn—but she smiled and nodded, backing away slowly.

Once he vanished into the crowd, she pulled herself behind a column near the servant corridor and let out a long, shaky breath.

“God… I underestimated this.”

It hadn’t even been that long since she boarded—but already, people were lining up in front of the men in black, buying pills like they were candy.

And then—just popping them in with their drinks.

All around her, people were collapsing into plush cushions, giggling, gasping, and moaning.

‘When are they going to bring out the brooch?’

Her heart pounded.

She’d separated from Tez. Now she had to stay hidden and wait for the brooch to be presented as a prize.

If she couldn’t win it, she at least needed to see who did.

‘It’ll probably happen on that stage. I need to stay close… but out of sight.’

She thought the hardest part would be winning the prize.

She was wrong.

What followed was a living nightmare.

All around her, people began shedding their last remains of shame. She was forced to witness increasingly lewd, unthinkable acts.

“Kyahaha!”

“Yah! Yah!”

“Ahn! Mm—Ah!”

“Hh—Hh…”

“Ugh! Aha!”

The sounds were animalistic—groaning, squealing, and panting.

This ship was hell. The lowest circle.

‘God, please… protect me in this den of sin. Let me leave unharmed.’

Harriet squeezed her eyes shut, turning her head away, reciting a prayer in her mind.

Time dragged on. Every second felt like an hour.

The drug in her drink lingered, refusing to fade.

Her body itched. Her heartbeat quickened. Her gaze kept drifting to scenes she didn’t want to see.

‘When will this wear off…?’

Her lips went dry. And then—memories rushed forth. Ones she had buried deep.

“Don’t go. Stay with me.”

“You want this too, don’t you?”

Cedric’s voice. His breath against her skin. The delicious heat of his lips. The low, thrilling laughter that rattled her bones.

‘This is insane.’

She clenched her teeth hard, fighting to stay grounded.