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Chapter 1
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sharp click of high heels echoed from the distance.
At the sound, her wide emerald eyes immediately turned toward the door. Her body, already trembling with fear, curled into itself as she pressed her back tightly against the cold corner of the room, as if she could disappear into the wall.
Creeeeak.
The grating sound of the heavy iron door opening made the silent, chilly room feel even colder.
Tap. Tap.
A pair of pink high heels stopped directly before her bare white feet, which were tucked beneath her trembling body.
“Hello, Lea. Did you sleep well?”
At the bright, melodic voice, her frightened gaze slowly rose.
A woman smiled coldly.
Ice-blue eyes.
Long, luxurious blonde hair.
“Today’s the day we’re going to the Temple of Wortanon. You remember that, don’t you?”
It was Delailu Gwyn, the beloved only daughter of House Gwyn.
Lea lowered her eyes and gave a tiny nod.
Delailu let out a mocking chuckle and looked down at her as though she were nothing more than an insect.
“Oh, before that…”
“We need to draw some blood.”
She spoke as if she had only just remembered, excitement practically overflowing from her voice.
A maid standing behind her quickly picked up a dagger and hurried toward the cowering Lea.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”
Delailu’s sharp voice sliced through the room.
“M-My lady? I… I thought you said we were drawing her blood…”
The maid lowered her trembling eyes.
“Hah. This is why new servants need to be beaten before they learn.”
Terrified by the twisted expression on Delailu’s face, the maid immediately threw herself to the floor.
“I-I’m sorry! Please forgive me just this once!”
Delailu stared at her in annoyance before glancing toward the frail woman huddled in the corner.
“Forget it. Just give me the knife.”
Ordinarily, she would never have let such insolence pass.
But today she was feeling unusually generous.
After all, seeing that pathetic little creature trembling in the corner had already put her in an excellent mood.
Taking the dagger, Delailu smiled brightly and crouched in front of Lea.
“Come now, Lea. Time to collect your blood.”
“Hmm… Let’s use your left arm today.”
Lea slowly extended her thin, shaking arm.
As her sleeve slid back, it revealed a ghostly pale forearm covered in bruises, scars, and old cuts.
“Remember this well.”
“No one is ever allowed to take Lea’s blood except me.”
How could she possibly allow a mere maid to enjoy something so delightful?
The dagger’s gleaming tip caught the sunlight before gently touching Lea’s delicate skin.
Slowly…
A crimson line opened.
Bright red blood welled up immediately, spilling from the wound.
“Ah…”
A tiny whimper escaped Lea’s lips.
Watching her, Delailu’s blue eyes sparkled with unmistakable delight.
“Good girl, Lea.”
“Finish up and come downstairs.”
Only after leisurely admiring her work did Delailu stand.
Lea swallowed back the nausea rising in her throat and weakly nodded.
Tap. Tap.
The sound of those heels striking the cold stone floor slowly faded away.
Even her tears had long since dried up.
The light that had once filled her emerald eyes had vanished the moment she fell into Delailu Gwyn’s hands.
She had lost everything.
After changing into a fresh maid’s uniform, Lea climbed into the carriage and quietly sat opposite Delailu.
At the coachman’s shout, the carriage lurched forward.
Lea’s lowered gaze naturally drifted toward the window.
Confined within the western tower of House Gwyn, the only time she was ever allowed outside was on the day they visited the Temple of Wortanon.
Only on days like this could she see the earth so close beneath her feet.
It was the only time a faint glimmer returned to her hollow eyes.
I want to go back…
Back to the days when she could freely gaze at the blue sky…
Back to the family who had smiled so warmly at her.
Her gaze slowly dropped to the legs hidden beneath her dress.
Not these legs…
If only I could have my tail back…
But it was a meaningless wish.
She had once been a mermaid.
Now she had become a human.
She could never return.
A deep sigh escaped her lips.
Her heart swirled with nothing but despair, and it had shattered long ago.
She stole a glance at the woman sitting before her—the devil more monstrous than any demon.
Delailu Gwyn.
If only I could escape…
Escape this horrible woman…
Escape this mansion…
I’d do anything.
Biting her lower lip until it hurt, she stared at the carriage floor.
Clunk.
The carriage suddenly came to a stop.
Then the coachman’s voice sounded from outside.
“Young Lady, one of the carriage wheels has been damaged. We’ll make repairs before continuing.”
As she listened quietly, her wandering eyes stopped on the small carriage door.
Should… should I run away?
She had never once attempted escape while imprisoned in that towering fortress.
This was the first time the carriage had stopped in the middle of a forest.
Maybe…
Maybe I can disappear into the woods.
A tiny spark of hope ignited.
If she had to spend the rest of her life imprisoned, having her blood drained while obeying every command…
Then perhaps dying while trying to escape would be better.
She wiped her sweaty palms against her dress.
She wet her dry lips with her tongue and swallowed hard.
Now…
This is my only chance.
Knock. Knock.
Just as she steeled herself to move—
The knock on the carriage window nearly stopped her heart.
You scared me…
She clutched her racing chest.
“What is it?”
“The carriage of House Felix is stopped on the opposite side.”
At the escort knight’s report, Delailu’s previously indifferent face instantly lit up.
“Really?”
“Yes, my lady. The road is too narrow. Our carriage is blocking their way.”
House Felix…
Lea knew that name well.
Duke Caspian Felix—
Delailu’s first love.
Her fiancé.
The man she desperately wanted but could never truly possess.
Was he in that carriage?
Lea knew of him only because Delailu constantly beat her while screaming his name.
She had never actually seen his face.
Still…
From what she’d heard, Caspian Felix seemed utterly uninterested in Delailu.
That was why his name had accompanied so many of her beatings.
“We can’t just sit here!”
“I have to go!”
Bang!
The very door Lea had intended to open herself suddenly swung wide.
Beyond the rectangular doorway, cherry blossoms bloomed in dazzling abundance.
For a brief moment, she simply stared.
Her heart pounded louder and louder.
This is my chance.
My first… and my last.
Since the day Delailu found her after she became human, Lea had lived imprisoned.
She had never once been allowed the freedom to run.
Slowly, she stood.
She took one step.
Can I really… escape?
Gripping the doorway tightly, she leaned outside.
“I want to be free…”
Her quiet voice drifted into the empty air beneath the blinding sunlight.
Then—
She stepped onto the ground.
And ran.
Her rare sky-blue hair—unseen anywhere in the Akarzen Empire—fluttered wildly behind her.
Her breathing became ragged almost instantly.
Every breath burned.
Still she kept running.
Her heart ached as though it would burst.
Her legs felt as heavy as stone.
Yet she forced them onward with everything she had.
Behind her, Delailu screamed in fury.
Lea never looked back.
She simply ran.
Then—
Thunk.
An arrow whistled through the air.
Its merciless tip pierced straight through her heart.
Ah…
She felt her pounding heartbeat rapidly slowing.
Death arrived in an instant.
Thud.
Her body collapsed into the tall grass.
So…
In the end…
Only death awaited me.
Oddly enough…
She felt relieved.
Watching Delailu’s face twist in horror was deeply satisfying.
At least…
I managed to hurt you in the end.
Without her, House Gwyn would suffer tremendous losses.
The thought made her smile.
It had been a long time since she’d laughed.
Is… that man Caspian Felix?
Standing beside Delailu was a tall, broad-shouldered man.
His powerful frame contrasted strangely with his astonishingly handsome, almost delicate face.
No wonder she fell for him…
Pain exploded throughout her body.
She tightly squeezed her eyes shut.
This was truly the end.
As large tears slipped from beneath her closed eyelids, every sensation…
Every fragment of consciousness…
Was swallowed by darkness.
A sacred voice echoed through the deep blue sea.
Long sapphire hair drifted gently in every direction with the ocean’s currents.
Though she was beneath the cold sea, a warm embrace surrounded her.
