Author's Note: This chapter highlights some lessons on Taxidermy, "a method of preserving an animal's body via stuffing or mounting for the purpose of display or study". It will be performed on a living human so please be warned. There are also references on Greek mythology, some cannibalism (not Mark and Prince Tserried), implied rape, and some marinating of live human meat. The middle parts will be a bit gory so you can skip to the ending if you can't stand it. (^_^)
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Chapter 5: Wind (風)
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The guest room was eerily quiet and as pristine as ever. The tiled floor was as white as a hospital's, presumably designed as such to better see impurities that would otherwise remain unnoticed if they had designs. Since the room itself was three floors underground, it didn't need to match the design of the upper floors and the prince had it customized without any problems.
Mark noticed that the doctor was already present, his tools already prepared on a long stainless table.
"Dr. Lindenburg. My deepest apologies for taking so long. I do thank you for responding to my request," the prince held out a hand which the doctor grasped and shook gently.
Up close, the man looked pretty old like someone in his seventies. His pink face was peppered with wrinkles, especially on the sides of his face. His thick, curly beard was pure white like his bushy eyebrows and the hair on his balding head. His blue eyes twinkled with mirth. This was the first time he was able to see the doctor personally instead of through a monitor. Mark found that he liked him immediately.
"Not at all. It is always an honor to work on your projects, Your Royal Highness," the doctor replied. Both of them laughed formally and regarded the subject.
At the center of the room was a man, completely naked and spread-eagled as if on display. He was quite huge, almost reaching seven feet in height. So this guy is the source of the vines that tried to attack the prince. Mark estimated his age to be at least forty.
"He was pretty lively," said the doctor, "but your Royal Guards restrained him effortlessly."
Tserriednich nodded, pleased by the doctor's calm appraisal. Mark knew that the old man was skilled in his craft. After all, Dr. Tsuji Lindenburg was a renowned taxidermist who could preserve animals in an amazingly life-like state. Most of his works were displayed on national museums where it drew a lot of tourists and admirers. Little did the public know of the doctor's true hobby – preserving the hide of still-breathing human beings.
The subject struggled but the seemingly fragile restraints were too effective. Mark's eyes marvelled at how the seemingly thin steel frames were able to contain such a tall, bulky person. Dr. Lindenburg noticed his curiosity and smiled gently like a kindly grandfather. "Is this your first time seeing a live taxidermy performance?"
"Not really," Mark replied. "But this will be my first time seeing it performed on a human male."
Both the doctor and the prince grinned at him. "Well, pay close attention then," said Tserriednich. "Doctor, please guide us."
The doctor nodded. "This is called a skinning frame. It can hold up to eight hundred kilograms so you don't need to worry even if the subject struggles."
Mark noticed that the man's mouth was closed with a ball gag.
"Ah, that's so he can't commit suicide by biting his tongue off," the doctor explained. "There are also rags in his mouth constrained with a net that is attached to the gag. It provides a mechanism that allows his saliva to be continuously swallowed and never spill outside the mouth."
Tserriednich regarded the man thoughtfully. "Neutralized, huh. They cast a spell on you, didn't they?" The man groaned. Mark didn't understand what the prince truly meant. He surmised that perhaps it was the reason why the vines couldn't be summoned anymore. He deduced as well that it could be all about nen. Such a mysterious ability. He definitely had to learn it.
"Rowland McBride." Tserriednich pronounced the name softly. The subject's eyes now widened, the fear apparent. "Please don't move too much, you'll only hurt yourself that way." The prince turned to the doctor who had just finished wearing his gloves and apron. "Do we have a theme?"
Dr. Lindenburg's eyes sparkled. "Yes, Your Royal Highness. Orion, the Great Giant in the Sky." His fingers snapped as he looked as if on a trance. "When I looked at him for the first time, I was amazed by the perfect bronze tone of the skin as well as the great expanse of it. I believe he is the perfect material for this."
The prince nodded, obviously pleased. He turned towards the subject with a serene smile. "Orion. Huntsman to Artemis, goddess of the moon and the hunt. According to the popular myth, she favored him but he had his eyes drawn to Aurora, the dawn goddess. Out of jealousy, Artemis killed him. She regretted it afterwards and placed him on the sky as a beautiful constellation."
The doctor clasped his hands in barely-contained excitement. "Shall we begin?"
Tserriednich sat on one of the chairs and crossed his legs. "I leave him to your hands, 'doc."
The doctor regarded the captive thoughtfully. "Well, pay close attention. This skinning frame can be rotated up and down for easier access so that we don't make unnecessary cuts that will damage our material needlessly. We need the skin in one piece so that our end product is flawless."
The skinning frame was rotated so that the subject was slightly angled face-down, his neck now bared easily for the doctor who was a feet and a few inches shorter than him. As a last attempt to perhaps throw the doctor off guard, Mr. McBride screamed and growled as loudly as he could, only for the sound to be muffled by the gag.
Completely unaffected by the subjects antics, the doctor calmly took a small scalpel. "The cleanest way to start is from the back at the portion below the neck. No matter what adhesive we use, cuts would remain visible to the naked eye upon close inspection. Therefore, we must ensure that the front area will contain only minimal trace of the procedure."
With that, the doctor inserted the scalpel slowly from the lower area of the neck down to the back. There were no sudden spurts of blood, a testament to the doctor's skill. The cut was made in a very straight line and Mark surmised that the doctor was tracing the man's spine. When the cut reached the area above the buttocks, the doctor placed the small scalpel back to the table and took the skinning knife.
"Now all we need to do is to be careful that the knife removes the fatty layer under the skin as well."
The doctor inserted the knife carefully on the cut and gently angled it sideways to the left. Slowly, he pushed the knife underneath, moving it little by little until the skin was gently removed.
As expected, Mr. Rowland McBride screamed in agony. Unfortunately the gag muffled him, adding to his despair. Tears pooled in his eyes uncontrollably. Mark pitied the poor guy but only shrugged. What was happening was only a rightful consequence for the assassin attacking the prince.
After the left part of the back was almost fully removed, the doctor now slowly traced the subject's buttocks with a larger knife. Mark whistled as the perfect shape of the man's left butt was still as firm as ever even without the skin. He looked hard as yellow liquid spurted out of the man's cock which flowed to a long transparent tube that he didn't notice earlier.
"Doctor inserted a catheter in there," Tserriednich casually explained.
Dr. Lindenburg laughed. "Oh yeah. It's a necessary procedure. We can't have him pissing on us now, can we?"
Mark noticed that there wasn't anything inserted on the anus.
"That's because the doctor had cleaned him up earlier," Tserriednich clarified.
"He was squirming all the time," added the doctor. He was cutting up the portion of the rectum connecting the large intestine and the anal opening which looked a bit sore due to the reddish hue. "Such a cute, little virgin. I did enjoy cleaning him up. It had to be done twice over but I had no regrets."
Oh. Mark shuddered.
The doctor now moved to the left thigh. Mark could see that the subject was struggling really hard. After all, his skin was being ripped off. He imagined it to hurt just like hair removal using hot wax, only that the pain was magnified a thousand times. No matter how much Mr. McBride struggled, his limbs were stretched and held still by the restraints. And he couldn't use his vine power because of that mysterious spell. Poor fellow.
He turned to the prince who looked on with gusto. Now that the left thigh was done with, the doctor now took the smaller knife again and started at the back once more, this time at the right side.
Mark sighed. This would be a long night. His own stomach was protesting silently not because of disgust but because he needed some snacks. Tserriednich, as perceptive as he always was, noticed his situation.
"You may call the servants to deliver us food and wine. Instruct them to bring a grill and some tongs for the doctor as well," the prince ordered. "Do you need something else, 'doc?"
Dr. Lindenburg paused for a while and thought. "Some toasted bread and soda will do."
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Moments later, the assassin Mr. Rowland McBride was divided into two major parts. The first part was his perfectly tanned skin hung out to dry on the skinning frame. The fatty layer was gone, meticulously removed until not a trace was left. It will have to hang there for a few minutes as the doctor chemically treated the plaster to mount it with.
The second part was Mr. McBride himself, divested of all skin, hands, feet, tongue, cock and testicles. The gag was gone and he gasped in indescribable pain as he squirmed in a basin filled with soy sauce, vinegar and spices. His bile had been removed through a clean cut in his belly which the doctor hadn't bothered to sew shut. It wasn't because of sloppiness on the doctor's part but was intended to allow the marinade to enter and add more flavor to the man's insides.
As the skinless man fought for his breath, his teeth bared for all to see like that of a diagram of the muscular system, Mark wondered how many hours he would last before dying. Mark also noticed that his eyelids were gone as well, resulting in his optic nerves getting soaked by the flavorful solution. The said nerves, along with some veins, started to stretch. It made his eyeballs look seemingly separated from the rest of his head.
Beside the basin was the electric grill where the doctor had previously roasted some portions of their subject.
Mark went back to Tserriednich's side. His prince sipped his red wine, watching in fascination as the doctor removed the skin from its frame and was now slowly wrapping the freshly-treated plaster with it. Mark refilled his own goblet with the prince's wine and drank. Then he took some of the doctor's toasted bread and ate.
On the doctor's plate were some uneaten portions of Mr. McBride's roasted parts which filled the air with sizzling aroma. However, Mark and his prince ignored it. They do have their tastes which didn't include human meat, thank you very much.
A few moments later and the project was complete – Orion, the Great Giant in the Sky in all his glory. Tserriednich stood up, completely mesmerized. Mark could understand the prince's admiration of the work. The thing in front of them didn't look like a piece of dead skin that it really was. Rather, it was a tall muscular figure on his way to catch something in the clouds. A perfect rendering of the hunter of the legend.
The doctor sat down and ate some more of Mr. McBride's barbecued tongue as he regarded his handiwork with pride.
As the prince smiled happily, Mark had that indescribable feeling again that brought unshed tears to his eyes. Seeing the prince satisfied made him feel satisfied as well. Never mind the squirming assassin whom the doctor would feast on later. Mark noticed that he wasn't squirming anymore.
Finally, the prince turned to the doctor, a smile still gracing his lips. "As expected, your work is stellar, Dr. Lindenburg. I sincerely hope we'd still be working together in the future."
The old man bowed. "It will be my greatest pleasure, Your Royal Highness."
At that, Mark summoned some of the servants to assist the doctor in packaging and transporting the marinated meat to his residence. He ordered the others to handle with care the new addition to their prince's art collection. As usual, the doctor will be well-compensated for the job well done. Mark was sure there will be more projects to come.
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Upon ascending to the upper floors, Mark noticed that some of the Royal Guards looked tense again, particularly Theta and Sarkov. He understood that they were just apprehensive again, knowing what had just transpired in the guest room. He focused his attention to his prince and paid them no heed.
When they finally arrived to the royal quarters, the prince expressed his wish to retire. Mark assumed that the prince wanted to sleep immediately to retain the memory of that fine work of art in his subconscious. However, Tserriednich still summoned him inside much to his surprise.
In a not-so-rare streak of clinginess, Tserriednich requested a massage. Knowing the prince's homicidal tendencies, Mark understood that no one else but him could do it.
Thus, all servants were sent away to the outer room and Mark ended up on the prince's sofa with Tserriednich lying on his lap as his head was being massaged. Mark never knew any techniques so he simply followed his instincts and rubbed his fingers gently on the prince's scalp in circular motions. They stayed like that for a while as a soft piano music played in the background.
"Say," Tserriednich started, "are you not bothered with me requesting you to do this?"
What could have brought this on, Mark didn't know. "It's my job to take care of you, my prince, so it doesn't bother me at all." That taxidermy thing would bother me more, really.
"Forgive me for being angry earlier."
Mark was astonished. What could have gotten into his prince to be this way, he did not know. "I believe that was because you just woke up, Your Royal Highness. It wasn't your fault."
Tserriednich sighed putting out a hand. Mark took that hand into his own and pressed it gently. He did not really know what he was doing but the prince didn't seem to mind either. "That piece just now was really amazing. But like all the other ones I have, I might have to dispose it all away."
Now Mark was really taken aback. "My prince! You have spent billions on your collection. You can't just throw it all away."
The prince looked at the ceiling with a faraway look in his eyes. "I know. But in time, I might have to."
Tserriednich put out his other hand and Mark took it, placing the other gently beside the prince's face.
"That assassin, he is just the beginning. Later on, there will be others like him who will try the same. And it won't just be assassination attempts. My father had been the target of a smear campaign eight years ago. My brother Halkenburg, as much of an idiot as he was, had also been targeted by people who infiltrated the ranks of his followers."
Mark chest tightened at the prince's words. His fingers also tightened on the prince's hand. If he could just wrap Tserriednich in his arms to protect him forever, he would do it. But real life was always merciless and foolish fantasies never come to pass.
"If I want a clean image in the future, I need to get rid of anything that can potentially damage my reputation. Of course, we need to be thorough so we must also eliminate any outsider who knows any of my covert actions."
"Does that include, Dr. Lindenburg?" If the prince would ask him to kill the doctor, as much as he liked the old man, Mark would kill him on the spot.
"No," Tserriednich sighed. "He is loyal to me so he won't say anything."
"How can you be so sure? He could be just putting up appearances for all we know." It seemed to Mark that he was more upset about the prince's situation than the prince himself.
Tserriednich laughed lightly. "I just know it." The prince looked up at him. "I know it because my nen can detect it."
Mark met his prince's gaze and he was overwhelmed. No matter how many times it hits him, he was always surprised how many emotions Tserriednich could elicit from him with a simple glance. Without thinking, he touched the prince's face. He had always imagined himself taking that face in his hands and tasting those lips. Thankfully, he still came to his senses and proceeded to massage the prince instead.
"Anyway, the other main reason why I have to dispose of that collection is for my lady's sake. You know her background. She'd probably investigate me and I need to be at least ten steps ahead of her."
If the prince heard Mark's teeth gritting due to the sudden anger at the mention of the lady, Tserriednich did not seem to notice. And frankly, Mark wouldn't care if the prince noticed his irritation. Really, how many more sacrifices would the prince have to make for the sake of that damned woman?
Thankfully, Tserriednich changed the subject. "Theta said that a nen baptism could hurt the one being hit by it but you never looked hurt at all."
Mark was unfamiliar with this nen thing but he did understand why he wasn't hurt with the so-called 'baptism'. "It was because your life force protected me, Your Royal Highness." And you almost died because of it.
Tserriednich closed his eyes, relaxing at the sensation of the fingers running through his skin. "I did. Still, you did contain your aura and mine by yourself with minimal instruction. That's something. I'm sure you will learn quicker than the others."
"I will do my best to learn it, my prince."
Due to the prince's close proximity and the emotional momentum of his previous anger, now Mark was half-hard again and was actively suppressing the other half from rising. The urge to pull Tserriednich and fuck him senseless was getting stronger and stronger. However, he couldn't just say 'The Chief Lord of the Bedchamber humbly requests to fuck you, Your Royal Highness', now could he? He decided to keep talking to distract himself.
"About your practice sessions, Your Royal Highness, we still have two batches of test subjects on standby."
"Excellent. However, I won't be using any of them for two more weeks. I just watched a satisfying performance so I might just dispose of them subconsciously. I need to calm down a bit first."
"Understood, sir," he replied. Without thinking, he took Tserriednich's left hand and almost brought it to his lips. Halfway, he managed to stop the urge and massaged it instead. Seems like he needed to calm down a bit too.
After a while, the prince sat up. Mark assisted him to the bed. As the prince closed his eyes for a good night's sleep, he murmured so softly that Mark strained his ears to hear it, "I do wish that even when I become King, you'd still choose to stay with me. Even when you see me in my most private moments, I never feel like you were intruding. I am sure no one else could have done the things that you have done for me. For that, I thank you."
Mark didn't know how long he could have stood there on the side of the sleeping prince's bed. Right at that very moment, he thought that perhaps he did not need to strain his brain so much to figure out the reason why the prince saved his life. For despite his temperament and though the prince may not show it often, Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou was still a human being and needed someone.
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tbc