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Chapter 15 …
One drop, then another.
Painful tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.
The raindrops sliding down her skin were heavy, like a summer shower.
He, perched on the edge of the table, slowly stood and cautiously approached her.
As if someone was deliberately prolonging the moment, inch by inch.
“Please… let me go… Karus…”
He silently looked down at her as she cried.
No expression appeared on his pale face.
“Please… please…”
He knelt before her and placed a hand under her chin.
“If I let you go, what will you give me?”
Through her half-lidded eyes, her gaze mirrored the red of a blood moon.
A voice, wet and trembling, whispered in his ear:
“Karus…”
Elena lifted her head to look at him.
The tears falling from her small cheeks streamed down delicately.
“I should get something in return too, shouldn’t I?”
“…Ha.”
The answer had already been decided.
To give him eternity,
to swear loyalty.
That was the answer he wanted.
But the words wouldn’t come easily.
She knew exactly how horrifying the consequences would be.
“If you let me go, I’ll live as if I don’t exist. I won’t tell the Public Security Bureau about you… I’ll live like a mouse… quietly…”
“Again.”
He knelt with his head down, fingers fidgeting, and spoke again.
As if he wanted to hear the answer he desired.
“Please… don’t do this…”
“Again.”
“Karus…”
Tears poured endlessly, soaking the hem of her dress.
The wetness against her legs felt unpleasantly damp.
“I clearly gave you a chance.”
“…”
“And you missed it.”
Thud—
He passed by her indifferently.
The sound of his shoes hitting the floor felt like a death sentence.
“Karus!!!”
Her cry made him pause.
Was it just her imagination, or did she see a faint smile behind his back?
“I’ll do it. Whatever you want… I’ll do it. Anything… so please…!”
The footsteps that had stopped now approached again, steady and metronomic.
“Do what?”
Dekarus knelt before her.
Following his hand, she lifted her head to see a face twisted into a devilish smile.
“What are you going to do, Elena?”
Fear rooted her tongue.
Her whole body trembled, as if she were daring to oppose a god.
“Ah… ah…”
He picked up the hand that had fallen to the floor and smiled faintly.
“Swear eternity to me.”
His soft lips touched her delicate hand.
He slowly pulled back and gazed at her with a languid look.
“Promise that you will be mine for life.”
Her head nodded slowly, up and down.
Tears streamed down from her tightly shut eyes.
She had never felt so miserable.
Completely broken in front of him, her world crumbled with a rustle.
“Lift your head.”
His hand caressed her gently, as if in affection.
The palm pressing down on her tears was wet.
He slowly leaned in, bringing his face closer.
“You can’t escape me.”
His soft lips touched hers.
The gentle pressure widened into a fervent kiss.
He teased her slowly, his tongue tangling with hers.
Breathless and rough, their murmurs filled the quiet room.
“Ha… I love you, Elena.”
Elena parted her lips, staring blankly into his eyes.
He cupped her face again and called her name.
His distinctive low voice lingered in her ear.
“I want to hear it, your voice.”
Following his command, she slowly parted her lips.
Her throat felt like a locked gate, unwilling to open.
She forced herself, squeezing out a voice.
Between the corners of her trembling lips came a fragile whisper:
“I love you…”
This was a pure white hell.
It looked innocent, but inside it was pitch black—a cruel cage she could not escape.
Only then did she realize:
She could never escape him.
Once again, a dazzling morning dawned.
Since she remembered nothing, she must have collapsed the way she did yesterday.
The outside was still quiet, so it must be early dawn.
He, sharp as a blade, was still sleeping beside her.
And thus, another hell began.
“Ha…”
When she sighed softly, he shifted slightly.
Having held her tightly all night, he could neither stand nor sit.
Just as she tried to move her pinned arms,
a deep, low voice tickled her ear.
“Where are you going?”
“…”
As if offering morning greetings, he kissed the nape of her neck.
Startled, she pushed his arms away, and a soft laugh escaped him.
It wasn’t that she had anywhere to go.
She simply disliked being in his embrace.
She felt like a giant doll, helpless and trapped.
Elena flopped down like a dried-up fish.
“You scared me when you collapsed like that yesterday.”
Through her fingers, his thin hand laced with hers.
The warmth touching her felt like a cozy hearth.
“…”
The memories of yesterday fell like shooting stars.
Elena shivered, feeling like a child left alone in a battlefield.
“Elena.”
“Go away…”
Her twig-like arms weakly pushed him away.
She had no strength left to resist.
Or rather, she didn’t even want to.
He was not someone she could dare to oppose.
“Elena, look at me.”
“…”
Silent as though dead, she gave no response.
With a resigned sigh, he turned her body toward him.
“Elena.”
At the sound of his deep voice, she lifted her head slowly to look at him.
But within a second, she looked away.
She was scared.
“Come here.”
He pulled her trembling body into his embrace.
Her racing heartbeat pressed against his ear.
“Are you scared of me?”
She wasn’t foolish enough to admit fear outright.
She thought staying still was the safest option.
“…”
“You have to answer.”
“No…”
Instead of shaking her head, she answered verbally.
Like Pavlov’s dog, she had already been trained by him.
“Are you lying?”
“…”
Considering how much she trembled, claiming she wasn’t scared would have been deceitful.
Swallowing, Elena lowered her head.
“No…”
Her timid voice made him sigh in frustration.
“Go for a walk. I’ll allow it.”
“What…?”
A walk? Did that mean he would let her go outside?
Elena finally looked directly into his eyes.
“Now you’re finally giving permission.”
He smiled faintly as if slightly regretful, ruffling her hair.
Then he kissed her forehead lightly and left the bed.
“Go for a walk, and visit the library too. From now on, you’ll be free in this mansion.”
“…”
Elena merely nodded slightly in response.
Standing by the wardrobe, Dekarus tossed aside his pajamas and picked out a shirt.
“The tailor will come later. I told Jane, so she knows.”
“Tailor…?”
“Yes, to fit your dress.”
A wedding dress? The thought made her body stiffen.
“Ah…”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
Dressed neatly, Dekarus approached the bed, kissed her forehead lightly, and, finding her concern cute, ruffled her hair and bowed slightly.
“See you tonight.”
Reluctant to leave, he kissed her forehead once more, leaving a warm mark.
“I’ll be off then.”
“….”
Bang—
When the door closed, it felt as if her life ended too.
She collapsed on the bed, staring blankly out the window.
Exhausted, she could not move.
“A walk…”
Was she now a gift who had become his loyal puppy?
Should she feel joy, or sorrow?
The tragic scene made her scoff at herself.
Memories of yesterday floated chaotically in her mind.
Having sworn eternity, she could never escape him now.
“Foolish.”
Elena sighed deeply and finally got up.
The weather outside was dazzlingly sunny, perfect for a walk.
“Shall I go…?”
Perhaps it was the thought of leaving the mansion for the first time.
Her heart raced slightly.
Freedom felt unexpectedly pleasant.
After hesitating by the window, Elena headed for the wardrobe.
With its characteristic creak, the door opened, revealing rows of colorful dresses.
“What…”
The sheer number of dresses could easily last years, leaving her astonished.
After a brief pause, she picked a light yellow dress that suited the sunny weather perfectly, like a field of forsythia.
Looking in the mirror, her face seemed to brighten.
Yet the tear stains on her face remained.
“This won’t do for going out like this.”
After dressing, she asked a maid to bring her face water.
The maid insisted on cleaning her face properly, but Elena refused.
“Phew…”
Her cleansed face glowed like pearls.
For the first time in a while, she felt human again, which lifted her spirits slightly.
Outside, the bright sunlight tickled her eyes.
Being in the southern part of the empire, the weather was slightly warm even in spring.
“Good morning, miss!”
“Ah… yes…”
Startled by the sudden greeting, Elena trailed off.
Regretting her quiet response, she resolved to greet more brightly next time.
The mansion was far larger than expected.
On the left corner of the grounds stood a library as grand as a municipal library.
Vines of ivy clung prettily to the building’s walls, and behind them rose a dense forest of tall trees.
In the center, a broad path stretched out, with a fountain spraying cool water.
“Wow…”
She wondered if she could see the entire place in just one day—it was larger than the gardens of Versailles.
Elena carefully stepped down the stairs.
“Miss?”
“Huh…? Jane?”
From afar, Jane approached quickly, carrying a basket.
Feeling delighted, Elena quickened her pace.
“Miss, please walk slowly! What if you get hurt!”
Jane felt like a mother.
Though she had no mother, this was the kind of warmth she imagined a mother would give.
Elena smiled at her.
“It’s our first time seeing it from outside, isn’t it?”
Jane’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she held Elena’s hand firmly.
The warmth in her hand seemed to reach all the way to Elena’s heart.
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll guide you. Let’s go! There’s still plenty of time before the tailor arrives!”
Jane led her through the mansion grounds.
“First, let’s visit the garden. It’s the most famous place in the mansion.”
“The garden…?”
“Yes! Come this way!”
The garden was filled with stunningly beautiful flowers.
Roses of every color bloomed magnificently over the arched entrance.
“Wow…”
“You’re not even halfway done being amazed yet.”
Beyond the entrance, a magnificent flower garden and glass greenhouse awaited.
Inside the transparent greenhouse, a tea table was set up for simple tea service.
