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Chapter 14 ….
The sunlight tickling the corners of her eyes wouldn’t go away.
Elena instinctively raised a hand to block the warm light waking her up.
But at that moment, she felt something obstructing her movement and opened her eyes.
“Ah….”
She hadn’t realized her wrists were tied.
She couldn’t stretch or turn her body.
Her hands were bound tightly to the pillar, so securely that there was no way she could free herself.
“Haa….”
Elena let out a hollow sigh and lowered her hand.
These mornings that repeated day after day were nothing short of horrific.
“How long is this going to go on….”
“Did you sleep well?”
A familiar voice whispered softly into her ear.
But Elena didn’t even bother turning to look and simply shifted her body.
She didn’t need to see to know.
It had to be Dekarus.
“Your wrists must be uncomfortable.”
Long arms approached from behind and wrapped around her tightly.
He reached out to touch the knot and then kissed the nape of her neck.
“Does it hurt?”
“……”
When she didn’t answer, he bit her earlobe lightly, almost playfully.
Her body shuddered at the strange sensation, and he let out a quiet chuckle.
“Should I keep going?”
“No.”
He kissed the back of her head again and whispered softly,
“Then why don’t you answer me, hm?”
Because I don’t want to talk to you.
The words rose up her throat but she held them back.
“I want to hear your voice.”
He trailed kisses up her neck, to her ear, and then to her cheek in succession.
“Stop it.”
“You’re the one making me do it.”
He slowly rubbed his forehead against her soft hair.
The low hum of his voice vibrated against the back of her head.
“Shall we have breakfast? You must be hungry.”
“I’m not eating.”
At her cold response, he exhaled briefly and turned her around.
“Look at me, Elena.”
She looked lifeless, like a tuft of grass struggling to survive in the desert.
Her gloomy eyes were fixed on him as if she were about to curse him straight to his face.
Dekarus reached out to stroke her chin.
“Don’t touch me.”
The creepy sensation at the tip of her chin wouldn’t go away easily.
Elena stared at him with blank, fish-like eyes.
“What are you so dissatisfied about again?”
“I said don’t touch me.”
His hand gently traced down her jawline again.
“You want me too.”
His fingers teased her red lips before she snapped her head to the right, avoiding him.
“I’ve never wanted you. Not even once.”
All she felt was a heap of anger, like ashes smoldering with fury.
Any wavering feelings toward him were nothing but lies.
“Fine, if that’s how you feel.”
He tilted her chin up and pressed a brief kiss to her forehead.
The heated imprint of the kiss lingered on her skin.
Elena grimaced and rubbed her forehead roughly with her hands as if to wipe it away.
“How hurtful.”
“……”
She was dumbfounded that he could even feel hurt in this situation.
Sometimes she wanted to crack open his head to see how it worked.
Dekarus sighed softly, then gently ran his fingers through her long, wavy hair.
“If you want, we can eat here.”
His slender fingers traced delicate zigzags through her scalp, carefully avoiding his nails so it wouldn’t hurt.
“No.”
“I had salmon prepared—your favorite.”
Elena slowly turned her head toward him.
She had never told him she liked salmon. How did he know?
Did they investigate her so thoroughly they even knew her food preferences now?
Her suspicious expression made him curve his handsome lips into a faint smile.
“There’s nothing I don’t know about you.”
Whether it was some kind of magic or mind-reading, having every detail of her life laid bare like that didn’t feel good.
“Come here.”
When Dekarus lifted her limp body, the tightly tied cloth between them pulled taut.
He clicked his tongue, displeased, and set her back down.
“I’ll have to undo this.”
He reached up to the knot tied around the pillar and slowly loosened it.
With a soft rustling sound, the cloth binding her wrists like a leash slid free.
Satisfied, he picked her up again and sat her down on his lap.
“What are you doing….”
Elena muttered under her breath with a faint exhale.
But he ignored her and tugged the bell cord.
When she struggled desperately to get out of his arms, he grabbed her firmly with one hand, immobilizing her.
“Let go….”
“It’s fine.”
“Let go! I said let go!!!”
She thrashed wildly, but it was useless.
With her hands bound, she couldn’t push him away.
He kissed the top of her messy hair and soothed her.
“Stay still.”
“Shhh—” He made a soft hushing sound, petting her head gently like calming a startled dog.
Before long, the servants arrived, pushing in a three-tiered cart laden with food, arranging it prettily beside the bed.
The room filled with a delicious aroma that made her stomach growl involuntarily.
The servants glanced furtively at her in his arms as they carefully set the dishes down.
“Leave us.”
His voice was different when speaking to them—deeper, darker, like a sound from within a cave.
“I told you I’m not eating.”
He ignored her words, picked up a spoon, and scooped up some clear broth.
“Here.”
He brought the spoon to her lips, but Elena clamped them shut and lowered her head.
“Elena.”
He called her name several times to no avail.
She sat there frozen, like a statue that had looked Medusa in the eyes.
“Do as I say.”
“……”
“Elena.”
At her continued silence, he let out a deep sigh.
Then, as if left with no choice, he grabbed her chin and forced her head up.
“Open your mouth.”
“Ugh…!”
“Good girl.”
“I don’t want to!”
Before he finished speaking, she bit down hard on his finger.
His scream filled the air as the taste of blood spread in her mouth.
In that moment, Elena slipped free from the restraints and scrambled off the bed.
“Haa….”
He exhaled deeply and looked down at his bleeding finger.
A twisted smile spread slowly across his face as he smeared the bright red blood—he looked like a devil.
His icy eyes locked onto her.
“That hurts, you know.”
Her once-steady heartbeat began to race uncontrollably.
Realizing what she had just done, Elena parted her trembling lips in shock.
“Ah… ah….”
“I guess I’ve been too soft on you.”
He laughed softly as he slowly stood.
“Words alone don’t seem to work after all.”
Her body went cold with each word he uttered.
She could barely breathe, like someone trapped in a horror film.
Elena backed away toward the window in terror.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Her teeth chattered like someone left in the freezing Siberian cold.
Her breathing was rapid, as if she’d just finished a sprint.
“Come here.”
He circled around the bed to approach her.
For every step he took, she took one back.
Trapped at the end of the room, Elena pressed herself against the window.
“Don’t come closer. If you do, I’ll…!”
Her trembling hand hit the window, but even that small act of defiance wasn’t allowed.
“This is as far as your rebellion goes.”
Clack—
In an instant, his hand reached for the brown latch on the window.
The sound of the locked window echoed like her heart dropping into her stomach.
“It’s only cute up to a point.”
His gentle hand brushed her cheek and trailed toward her lips.
His fingers teased between her slightly parted lips like splitting a cherry.
Her gaze met his and wavered, unfocused.
“Good girl, Elena.”
He gripped her shoulders firmly and guided her back to the bed.
Elena sat down weakly, like a wooden doll.
“Oh, it’s gone cold. Wait here—I’ll have them bring it out again.”
He tugged the bell cord once more.
At his order, the servants quickly brought in fresh food.
“Now, you can eat properly, right?”
He picked up a piece of well-cooked fish and placed it in her mouth.
The delicious smell teased her senses, and her salivary glands went into overdrive.
But Elena didn’t chew or swallow.
“Chew.”
His cold voice brushed against her ear.
Her slack jaw obeyed his command, moving slowly.
She opened and closed her mouth, chewing the food with small, deliberate bites.
His intense gaze on her made her feel like she might choke.
Gulp—
As the sound of her swallowing filled the room, he gently brushed aside her long hair.
“Good girl.”
She hadn’t felt this miserable in a long time.
Not even when he locked her in that cold, isolated chamber.
Not even when the orphanage director took away all the money she’d saved.
But now—humiliation and resentment surged uncontrollably inside her.
“Elena.”
She turned her head stiffly, like a rusty machine, at his call.
Dekarus reached out and brushed her tear-stained eyes.
The moisture from his touch dampened her skin.
Ah. She was crying.
“You’re making me soft when you cry like this.”
His long arms pulled her fragile body close, and her face sank into his broad shoulder.
Transparent tears dripped like raindrops onto his navy pajamas.
His large hand gently patted her back to soothe her.
“Once you’re done crying, let’s go outside.”
He stroked her back as if comforting a child.
Her slumped figure looked so pitiful, like a bird with its wings broken.
She hated herself for crying in his arms.
She hated herself even more for being powerless to defy his commands.
“Shall we go out?”
He stood and approached her, lifting her up and setting her before the mirror.
Her face was a mess of tear stains.
“It’s gotten hotter lately. Something lighter would be better.”
He paused at the wardrobe, then pulled out a light pink dress and held it up against her.
“How is it? I think it suits your hair color well.”
Elena gave no reply, her eyes vacant as she stared into space.
Her tears had dried up.
All that was left was bitter resentment.
Dekarus approached her and slowly lifted her nightgown.
Her pale skin was exposed little by little, carrying a chill with it.
“Stop….”
Elena weakly pushed at his arm, barely managing to speak.
“Oh, you want to put it on yourself?”
Dekarus handed her the fluttering dress and pressed a firm kiss to her forehead.
Elena stared at him silently, dress in hand.
“Your arms are still tied, aren’t they?”
He untied the cloth binding her wrists.
“There, now you can.”
She turned her back to him and slowly changed clothes.
She felt no embarrassment, no shame—only the desperate desire to escape this hellish situation as quickly as possible.
“Beautiful.”
He came up behind her and combed her long hair down to her waist.
In the mirror, his face looked almost excited.
As his warmth spread through her hair, a mess of unknown emotions burst inside her chest.
“Please… just leave me alone.”
At her first honest plea, Dekarus froze mid-stroke.
His gaze turned cold again, chilling her to the core.
“When I’m with you, I can’t breathe… I can’t live like this… Every single day with you is like being thrown into the flames of hell….”
Thud—
Her slender knees gave out and hit the rough wooden floor.
The sound was weak, like a blackened leaf falling.
“Please… let me live. Just let me breathe, I beg you. Please.”
