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Chapter 07
By the doorway, unable to even move a step, he had been indulging in the sight of her legs when a knock came.
Knock, knock.
The sound startled Selen so much that even he could feel it.
For a brief moment, he thought—how foolish—had she perhaps been waiting for him? But he knew better than anyone that such a thing was impossible, and would never be.
What was he to Selen?
From her perspective, he was nothing more than a man who had bought her like property.
A brute who purchased her as if she were an object.
And yet he had been visiting her room every night since the forced wedding three days ago—how unpleasant must that be for her.
‘Know your place.’
Soon, Anna quietly closed the door and left.
Baras picked up the robe meant for Selen, while an absurd thought crossed his mind: Was she still wearing only that small towel? How thin was it?
As if possessed, he stepped closer—and Selen, sensing his approach, shrank her shoulders. A strange feeling rose within him.
What if he discarded the robe and turned her around right now? For a moment, the image of her crying flashed in his mind.
He cursed himself for being insane, and still moved to place the robe over her shoulders—when another thought abruptly rose.
Why not? You bought her for this, didn’t you? Why hesitate? Do you expect her to call you kind and hold your hand? Ridiculous.
‘I’m losing it.’
He shut his eyes briefly, then placed the robe over her shoulders with a rough motion.
His face was clearly irritated—anyone could see it.
But when Selen slipped her arms into the robe and turned slightly, his expression softened instantly.
Her neck and ears were red like a ripe tomato. Then she spoke in a very small voice.
“Thank you. I thought you were Anna…”
She wasn’t looking at him directly, but she seemed embarrassed.
Baras rubbed his jaw, loosening his stiff neck, then crossed his arms and took a slow breath in and out.
“What did you say? I couldn’t hear you—it was too quiet.”
Her eyes wavered wildly, then rolled as if determined to be heard.
She repeated herself.
“T-thank you. I thought Anna had come.”
Baras suppressed a laugh and leaned down. He tried to bring his ear closer, but even bending down, her head was far below him.
He asked again in the same tone.
“What did you say? Speak a little louder.”
Selen’s Perspective
Selen inwardly blamed her small voice. Where had all the vocal training she had practiced gone?
Seeing Baras tilt his head and offer his ear made her heart pound, but she gathered courage, grabbed his arm, and stood on her tiptoes.
She lifted her head as much as possible and spoke into his ear, hoping he would hear her clearly.
“Thank you… for being kind to me.”
This time, he clearly heard it.
She lowered herself back down and looked up at him quietly.
His head moved slightly, and what had been only his ear revealed part of his profile. Seeing his faded left eye and sharp nose made her heart pound again.
When she finally met his jewel-like opposite eye, she silently prayed that her racing heartbeat wouldn’t reach him.
Baras found her strange.
Was there anyone else in this world who casually touched him like she did?
Who could meet his gaze so fearlessly?
When their eyes met, she awkwardly pulled her hand away—and he strangely felt disappointed.
Disappointed? At what?
He could simply hold her hand if he wanted to. So why wouldn’t his hand move?
As she sat at the table as if preparing to eat dinner, he suddenly remembered the gift he had brought.
He took a flat box from his coat and placed it on the table, sitting across from her.
Selen’s eyes widened.
“What is this?”
Baras, finally able to breathe a little easier, replied in his usual relaxed tone.
“A gift.”
After a brief hesitation, Selen opened the box.
Inside was a jewelry set—necklace, earrings, and bracelet—crafted with a transparent, brilliant diamond as the centerpiece.
Her slightly parted lips suggested she liked it.
Now all he had to do was wait for her to sell it and run away.
He had already contacted every jeweler and pawnshop in Belias, giving them serial instructions.
If she ever tried to sell it, he would know immediately.
Then he would gently guide Anna to accompany her outside again—and the plan would be complete.
Selen didn’t know Anna’s identity, so she would not suspect anything.
With enough money secured, she would surely run.
Once she ran even once, all of this turmoil would end.
Then he could go back to treating her like an object without hesitation.
Even if she escaped with the diamonds, he had deliberately chosen small ones.
High-quality, well-cut stones that could easily buy her a house.
If she settled somewhere, he could find her eventually. And when he did—he would lock her away.
To Baras, it was just jewelry. But to Selen, it was her first precious gift.
From him.
From a man—no, from this man.
Her sadness vanished instantly.
Maybe things had changed from the original story. Maybe she could get along with him.
She decided to treasure the jewelry. She would wear it on a very special day.
And when she could speak casually with Baras someday, she would tell him how she felt that day.
“It was the first gift I ever received from you.”
Baras watched her quietly smile at the box and, unknowingly, he smiled too.
‘Go ahead. Try your best. From that day on, you’ll cry every day.’
[Day 4]
Baras deliberately left the castle gates open.
If Selen wanted to leave, she could do so anytime.
He wanted to give her the perfect environment to prepare her escape.
He also topped up her personal funds and informed Anna.
Soon, a signal would come.
Just then, he saw Selen leaving the inner castle. Anna was with her.
Without realizing it, Baras who had been watching the gate stood up and followed.
Zart, watching him from the side, swallowed a bitter laugh.
His lord—who had entered his first battlefield at nine years old.
He had buried his slain predecessor and returned the following winter with his enemy’s head.
A war orphan disguised as a stable boy, rising through blood and dirt.
It took him two years to achieve revenge.
And he had returned carrying the enemy’s head like a rag.
Nothing about it was honorable.
Zart had seen him only once break—barely holding himself together.
Since then, he had never shown weakness again.
Now, watching his lord’s back, Zart silently wished:
May spring finally bloom in the lord’s long-delayed life.
Market Scene
Selen spent longer at the market than yesterday.
She took out a small pouch and counted coins clumsily on her fingers, something Baras couldn’t take his eyes off.
She bought only a few things: two apples, a chicken skewer, and a poorly made leather coin purse.
Nothing that would help her escape.
Merchants, already tense from yesterday, stiffened again at the sight of the duke outside the castle. But when they realized he wasn’t even looking at them, they held their breath and stayed quiet.
Selen sat at the same fountain she had liked yesterday.
She handed a chicken skewer to Anna and said something.
At first Anna seemed to refuse, but eventually gave in and ate it. Selen smiled brightly.
Baras found her strange.
‘Can people smile like that?’
Her smile felt like light spreading around her. Was it her hair color? Or sunlight reflecting off it?
Then his thoughts shifted.
What was there to make her smile like that?
He had not taken his eyes off her even once—and yet he still didn’t understand.
He had no idea what had made her happy.
And yet—
He was certain of one thing.
He couldn’t look away from her.
