Love of the Egoist

“No, w-wait… you can’t be serious?” Sweat broke out all over Kuon’s body. His fingers shook, so he grabbed the chain to stop the tremor. The determination to face his fate like a man vanished. The thought of what Yugo intended to do ricocheted in his head, piercing his brain, letting his fear out. “I had to do it. Why can’t you understand?”

“I do understand…” Yugo assured, his tone sincere. “And now I have to punish you. When a slave escapes, he has to be punished. Otherwise, he could run again. Do you know how runaway slaves used to be punished?”

His voice rang with ice, but Kuon didn’t reply. Realization dawned on him. It didn’t matter what he said, what he did—nothing would change even if he begged for forgiveness. Five days had passed. Yugo’s anger should have cooled down. This was a considered, planned revenge—vicious, cold-headed, measured.

What did I expect?