🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 3 …
It’s already been a week.
Now that I’ve been alone for so long, I find myself thinking about a mother I never even had.
The only thing she gave me was this body.
Is this why everyone cries for their mothers?
I’ve survived a miserable, vagrant life just fine without the fence called “family.”
So why am I tearing up now?
Creak—
The familiar, grating sound of the old door pierced through my ears.
And at the end of my gaze, there was his face again, just as expected.
He called out to her in that same tone he never seemed to tire of.
“Hello, Elena.”
“……”
She stared at him with a look that clearly said, You again?
These days, she didn’t even bother replying to him.
She thought he’d starve her if she acted out, but this man truly seemed to believe in “love.”
Not only did he come to see her every single hour, he served her lavish feasts each time.
He even washed her face himself with warm water, treating her like some sort of queen.
“Today I went to see His Imperial Majesty. He’s getting weaker by the day. I don’t think he has much time left now. He can’t even handle state affairs anymore.”
This had become one of his daily routines lately.
Chatting endlessly about everything that happened during the day.
Because of that, she had to sit through an hour of his rambling every single day, to the point her ears felt like they’d bleed.
After a week of this, she was starting to lose her mind.
“Talk about something else. I’m sick of this.”
They say humans are social creatures.
Not speaking for a week had left her mouth itching to the point of madness.
Once she opened her mouth, the dam broke on its own.
Hearing her speak made his face light up, and he eagerly launched into other “interesting” stories.
“Oh, do you remember Isaac, the knight commander I mentioned? He’s my childhood friend, but we had a huge fight at today’s meeting. The reason was—”
“Boring.”
“Then, there was a noble trial for House Jephthana. Apparently, Duke William Jephthana ordered someone to wreck his daughter Aria’s carriage to kill her. So—”
“Still boring.”
“Ah, then maybe—”
“Everything you say is boring!!!”
Finally, she screamed in frustration.
Every story was dull and predictable.
No, more than that—she wanted to leave this place.
“Elena, then…”
“Enough. Tell me the real reason you brought me here.”
He sighed deeply a few times before finally opening his mouth again.
“Elena, I already told you.”
“You said you brought me here because you fell in love at first sight? Don’t make me laugh. I know everything you say is a lie. What are you planning to do to me…?!”
Elena thrashed in her chair and let out a raw scream.
No matter how she tried, there was no way to escape his grasp.
“Elena, if you keep this up, I’ll have no choice but to tie you down.”
He sighed again and lowered his head, looking troubled. Then he raised his eyes to meet hers, speaking with grave seriousness.
“It’ll be hard, but I want you to understand.”
“Understand…?”
He was definitely insane.
More insane than anyone she had ever met, even the head of the orphanage where she grew up.
He was treating her like an animal.
“Yes. Understand. The Archbishop once said that the basic virtues of a rational person are tolerance and understanding.”
“Are you kidding me right now…?”
What the hell was this lunatic talking about?
He treated her like a beast and then told her to “understand”?
“Elena. So now, enough—”
She couldn’t take it anymore, not “understanding” or anything else.
It was worse than being trapped on a bus for 24 hours.
Even looking at the soup he spoon-fed her made her sick now.
“Stop…”
“Elena.”
“Stop! I said stop it!!!”
Her beast-like howl filled the silent room.
The echo reverberated out through the windows.
The veins in her neck bulged as she bowed her head, speaking in a trembling voice toward him.
“Please… please stop…”
Her tearful, resentful gaze wavered endlessly. She had truly reached her breaking point.
She couldn’t live in this hell any longer.
“I’m sick of it. Your food…”
Her voice trembled as she lowered her head.
“…your endless chatter.”
Tears ran down her cheeks and soaked her knees.
The falling droplets made her look all the more pitiful.
“Everything is just too awful now…”
Elena closed her eyes and hung her head.
The hoarse, metallic sound scraped its way out of her throat.
“Look up.”
He blinked slowly with his long lashes, gazing intently at her.
His lips curved into a graceful smile.
“Good girl.”
She truly couldn’t stand it anymore.
Being sold as a slave might have been happier than this.
The rope dug into her wrists painfully, and her dry, stiff legs were unbearable to even look at.
“Please… just stop.”
Her eyes were dull and lifeless, like those of a dead fish.
Her body was thin and weak, like someone who didn’t have much time left to live.
“Save me… please, please… I’ll do whatever you want… just please.”
A transparent wave welled up in her blue eyes.
Big teardrops formed on her wet lashes.
“Ha…!”
A chilling laugh pierced her ears.
He was laughing, covering his mouth with his hand.
Bewildered, she widened her eyes.
“Why… are you laughing?”
“You should’ve begged like that from the start, Elena.”
His face suddenly hardened cold as stone.
It was like being struck on the head with a hammer.
He got me.
From the very beginning, this man had seen through everything.
What she would say. How she would react.
All of it.
She’d been ensnared by a fox with a pitch-black heart.
But there was nothing she could do.
Her instincts overrode her reason.
“Save… me…”
“Yes. That’s how you should speak from now on, Elena.”
Thud—
The old, frayed rope slipped off her wrists.
Along with the sound of the rope falling, her tears splattered onto the stone floor.
“Hhup… hic…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay.”
He repeated those words over and over as he embraced her trembling body.
How long had it been since she’d felt warmth like this?
Her weakened wrists fell limply into his hands.
Then he scooped her up in his arms.
“Let’s go home.”
“Ughm…”
How long had she slept?
It felt like quite a long time.
Warm sunlight streamed through the window, wrapping around her body and sparkling softly.
Elena stretched pleasantly, then froze in shock.
“Ah…”
The moment she opened her eyes, she flinched at the sight of his pale face right in front of her.
“This isn’t a dream…”
His long lashes quivered faintly beneath his closed eyes.
His black hair flowed gently, his nose was sharp as if carved, and his skin was as white as porcelain.
His beauty was doll-like—enough to enchant anyone.
But now wasn’t the time to be distracted by his looks.
She needed to escape this room without poking the sleeping lion.
She quietly turned her head to survey the room.
The key was whether she could reach the door far from the bed without making a sound.
Slowly, she slid one foot out from under the blanket and carefully shifted her body.
“Where do you think you’re going in such a hurry?”
Her wrist was suddenly grabbed, pulling her toward him like a magnet. She found herself in his arms, inhaling sharply.
“Let me go…”
She shrank like a worm, her voice trembling.
“I can’t do that.”
Warm breath tickled her ear.
The tingling sensation made her flinch and curl up even more.
“Are you shy?”
His strong arms gently turned her body around.
Her frightened, rabbit-like expression made the corners of his lips wrinkle with amusement.
“Move… I’m leaving.”
“And where would you go?”
She jerked her head away from the hand that stroked her hair.
“I’m going home…”
Her trembling eyes barely met his.
His half-lidded gaze was as seductive as a fox spirit’s.
“This is your home now.”
He softly stroked her disheveled hair and gazed into her eyes.
“No, no… I have to go.”
She shook her head violently and pushed at his solid chest.
But just as water can’t split rock, she couldn’t push him away.
He wrapped his arms tightly around her, trapping her completely.
“Shh, good girl.”
He soothed her like a wild cat.
“This isn’t my home…”
“You’ll get used to it soon.”
“Take your hands off me. Now.”
“Elena, you know it’s pointless.”
In that moment, Elena bit his wrist with all her strength.
But only for a moment.
He inhaled sharply and pried her jaw off with his grip.
Clear teeth marks marred the veins on his wrist.
“I’ve never had a cat before.”
He lifted his bitten wrist to his eyes.
The pale skin reddened as if it would bleed.
“What should I do in times like this?”
His gaze shifted from his wrist to her.
His ruby-red eyes glinted with a cold chill.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Trapped in his arms, Elena kicked and screamed with all her might.
“Let me go! Let go!!!”
“You’ll live here with me forever.”
He cornered her like a swarm of bees.
No matter how she struggled, it was useless.
She was trapped, like a foot stuck in a swamp.
“Who do you think you are… What gives you the right!!!”
Her screams filled the quiet room.
The birds perched on the windowsill scattered in fright.
Why?
She didn’t understand.
Had he really bought and imprisoned her because of love at first sight?
It made no sense.
If he truly loved her, he wouldn’t treat her this way.
Her wavering eyes met his.
His faintly smiling lips moved slowly.
“Because I love you, Elena.”
“I’m not your toy.”
“No, you’re my bride.”
He slowly tucked her hair behind her ear.
Goosebumps pricked her spine, and cold sweat broke out.
She clenched her teeth and closed her eyes.
Tears welled up.
“Why are you crying?”
His slender fingers wiped away her tears.
They fell endlessly, like rain.
“Stop it. Please. Please…”
His fingers gently brushed her lashes.
“You’re beautiful.”
He pulled her close; her small body sank into his broad chest like a teddy bear.
“Today the maids will come and show you your room. And they’ll fit you for everyday clothes.”
His warm lips pressed against her smooth forehead.
“So behave yourself, Elena. I have a hunting appointment today, so I must go.”
“……”
Not even a groan escaped her tightly closed lips.
He smiled softly, patted her head, then stood up and walked to the wardrobe.
“Escape is impossible, so behave.”
“You filthy bastard…”
Was he angry?
He paused dressing, turned his head slowly.
The cold in his eyes was unmistakable.
He walked up to her and grabbed her delicate chin.
“I really should fix that mouth of yours.”
His shirt gaped open, revealing a well-toned body beneath.
He tilted her chin up, staring straight into her blue eyes.
“You’re not thinking of going back, are you?”
Her body trembled at his words.
Seeing her stiff expression, he smirked, curling one corner of his lips.
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
