Leah awoke in the early hours of dawn. As she slowly lifted her weak and limp body, an excruciating pain shot through Leah.
“Ah…”
Her waist ached as if it might snap. Frowning, Leah looked down at her body.
Her skin was blotchy, reminiscent of bruises. The remnants of yesterday’s ordeal, a constant reminder of the hours she couldn’t escape from Caius.
Leah tightly clutched the blanket and surveyed her surroundings with a careful gaze. Familiar, she found herself in her bedroom.
Naturally, Caius was nowhere to be seen.
As she reflected on how she ended up here, Leah felt a distant unease. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily, her swollen lips parting.
At some point, she had vaguely imagined a moment where she and Caius would become one. On that day, she believed that the union would be a beautiful bond forged through deep love and mutual understanding.
However, yesterday, the beautiful connection Leah had imagined was nowhere in sight. It was only a primitive act coloured by desire and pleasure.
Yet, Leah’s body responded obediently to Caius’s movements, even now. It seemed like proof that, despite everything, she couldn’t resist him.
The remaining moments pressed on Leah’s heart like an indelible stamp, and she sank to her knees.
“Caius…”
Softly uttering his name, Leah remained motionless for a while.
After her tear-stained eyes cooled, she slowly rose from the bed.
Her body aching, and her steps faltered.
After finding and putting on inner garments and a gown from the dressing room, Leah emerged back into the daylight, where the morning sun was gradually streaming in.
Leah sat on the bed, waiting for Sofia and the maids to appear.
Staring blankly through the large window at the blue sky beyond, someone knocked on the bedroom door.
Approaching, Leah opened the door. The maids, who had come to assist with washing, lowered their heads in respect.
Sophia was nowhere to be found. It was only then that Leah recalled what Caius had said.
“Sophia Perso. The maid you’re looking for will no longer stay in the Western Palace.”
Being too distraught, Leah had momentarily forgotten this fact. The pale Leah urgently asked the maids.
“Do you happen to know where Sophia went?”
Exchanging glances, the maids promptly responded with what seemed like a rehearsed answer.
“I’m sorry. We really don’t know anything.”
“Is that so…”
Leah trailed off with a perplexed feeling. Perhaps there was an imperial decree from Caius.
Lost in thought, Leah sighed and allowed the maids to lead her to the bathroom.
She didn’t even have the composure to consider that the maids might notice the traces left on her body.
Was it possible that Caius had completely expelled Sophia from the palace?
Leah bit her lip in a distant feeling. Though her lips caused mild discomfort from the bite, the uncertainty about the situation was unbearable.
The thought that Sophia, who had always been by her side, might be gone made her heart uneasy.
Come to think of it, did Jade receive the message? The questions that couldn’t be answered scattered into the air.
“Ah…”
Wondering why everything had become so tangled, Leah closed her eyes.
In a single moment, the only people who had stood by her side vanished. Only then did she truly become completely alone, a thought that made breathing almost unbearable.
* * *
The recently renovated Prince’s Palace boasted a luxurious exterior, truly living up to its grand name. Its scale could be considered on par with the Imperial Palace and the Empress’s Palace.
On the second day of the relocation, Caius carried out his official duties in his new office as if nothing had changed. The seamless integration created an impression that this had been his domain from the beginning.
“…”
However, Victor’s expression as he gazed at his master was immeasurably complex.
Even though the annulment documents had been processed yesterday, ultimately ending the relationship between Caius and Leah, he seemed entirely unaffected.
His consistent attitude raised doubts about the appropriateness of the decision on the annulment and engagement.
Only at this moment did Victor acknowledge the truth. The lord he served was no longer the same as before.
Given the current circumstances, even if memories were to return, they could never revert to how they were.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if you have nothing to do, go out.”
Caius spoke calmly, his gaze fixed on the documents. Victor straightened up, somewhat taken aback.
“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”
He replied immediately, yet Victor was left grappling with countless anxieties internally. What did his master intend to do with her from now on?
While Victor anxiously averted his eyes, Caius subtly raised his head.
“It seems like you’re curious about how I’ll handle Leah Ainel.”
His words accurately pinpoint Victor’s thoughts, Victor let out a forced cough. Victor, avoiding eye contact, cleared his throat before finally nodding.
“W-well… Yes. Perhaps. Since you haven’t contacted the Ainel delegation.”
Originally, Caius was supposed to negotiate with the Ainel delegation that had come as ambassadors and discuss Leah’s future. However, the plans were cancelled, and the delegation left as planned.
Despite the agreement falling through, leaving Leah in the Empire under these circumstances, especially given her imminent new engagement, would be excessively cruel.
“That woman will stay in the Empire.”
Despite this, his master carried out this cruel decision with unwavering determination.
Victor, swallowing his distant emotions, muttered to himself.
“How long will this continue?”
“Well….”
Victor waited for him to continue, but Caius remained silent, passing a document with a subtly satisfied expression.
On the document he inspected, there was the Emperor’s seal granting permission to tour the territories, starting from Ramos, in the northeast of the capital, accompanied by the Imperial Guards, to cover the surrounding territories within a fortnight.
“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”
Caius once again lowered his gaze to the documents. Victor, standing there blankly, barely managed to suppress a sigh before bowing his head.
“No… I will take my leave.”
Though Victor couldn’t fathom his master’s thoughts, even if he knew, there was likely nothing Victor could do. He just hoped that the woman his master once ardently loved wouldn’t suffer too much.
While Caius signed the documents with a nonchalant expression, Victor silently left the office. The only sound in the quiet office was from the precise movements of the pen.
As Caius, who had maintained an expressionless demeanor, finally lifted his head, the sun had begun to set in the sky. He let out a lazy sigh, put down the pen, and swept his hair back.
And as he recalled yesterday, he thought of the woman who had shaken uncontrollably beneath him.
Leaning back in the chair with closed eyes, his expression softened.
“Leah.”
The voice whispering her name was calm as well.
Yesterday, everything was truly perfect. It felt as if a part of his body, previously unknown to be lacking, was finally filled.
Did his past self not know this feeling while loving that woman?
He wanted to peer into his past emotions for the first time, but Caius abandoned the futile effort.
What mattered was the emotions he felt now.
Slowly opening his eyes, Caius immediately recalled the report Victor had given right after returning to the Imperial Palace.
The news was about the Ainel diplomatic delegation, including Jade Richter, having just left the capital.
“Well….”
It was a natural course of events. After witnessing that scene by coming to the capital himself, there was no way he would continue with any disruptive actions.
Caius contentedly recalled the events of yesterday.
As expected, none of them were flawless.
* * *
Caius’s new engagement ceremony date was set for the day after tomorrow.
The Emperor personally endorsed a date, considering a deadline until Caius would take his position, which was set three months later.
Leah learned about this news through the voices of the maids conversing in the corridor.
“It seems that His Majesty, the Emperor, is eagerly anticipating the upcoming engagement. They say it will be more splendid than any other ceremony.”
“No wonder. Bresha is a true noble. She’s on a different level from those newly rich nobles who only have money.”
Leah, having stopped at the corner, found herself unable to move her feet.
Initially, she intended to ask the knights to let her meet Caius.
She had many questions for him – about what happened to Sophia, what he planned to do with her in the future.
But she couldn’t bring herself to pass through the corridor where the maids were standing.
“By the way, what will become of Lady Leah now?”
When her name came up, Leah held her breath. Despite her preference to avoid the conversation altogether, the maids continued without hesitation.
“What will become of her? She will probably continue to stay here. Didn’t you hear about the West Wing a few days ago?”
“The West Wing?”
“Yes. His Royal Highness spent almost half a day there. According to the maids in charge of that area… Oh, the rumors were not a joke. Even the next day, Lady Leah’s body had marks all over…”
Gripping her hands tightly, Leah couldn’t bear the overwhelming embarrassment. Eventually, she turned away, attempting to retreat. The maid’s following words further restrained her footsteps.
“Then, is His Royal Highness planning to keep Lady Leah in the palace now?”
Leah awoke in the early hours of dawn. As she slowly lifted her weak and limp body, an excruciating pain shot through Leah.
“Ah…”
Her waist ached as if it might snap. Frowning, Leah looked down at her body.
Her skin was blotchy, reminiscent of bruises. The remnants of yesterday’s ordeal, a constant reminder of the hours she couldn’t escape from Caius.
Leah tightly clutched the blanket and surveyed her surroundings with a careful gaze. Familiar, she found herself in her bedroom.
Naturally, Caius was nowhere to be seen.
As she reflected on how she ended up here, Leah felt a distant unease. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily, her swollen lips parting.
At some point, she had vaguely imagined a moment where she and Caius would become one. On that day, she believed that the union would be a beautiful bond forged through deep love and mutual understanding.
However, yesterday, the beautiful connection Leah had imagined was nowhere in sight. It was only a primitive act coloured by desire and pleasure.
Yet, Leah’s body responded obediently to Caius’s movements, even now. It seemed like proof that, despite everything, she couldn’t resist him.
The remaining moments pressed on Leah’s heart like an indelible stamp, and she sank to her knees.
“Caius…”
Softly uttering his name, Leah remained motionless for a while.
After her tear-stained eyes cooled, she slowly rose from the bed.
Her body aching, and her steps faltered.
After finding and putting on inner garments and a gown from the dressing room, Leah emerged back into the daylight, where the morning sun was gradually streaming in.
Leah sat on the bed, waiting for Sofia and the maids to appear.
Staring blankly through the large window at the blue sky beyond, someone knocked on the bedroom door.
Approaching, Leah opened the door. The maids, who had come to assist with washing, lowered their heads in respect.
Sophia was nowhere to be found. It was only then that Leah recalled what Caius had said.
“Sophia Perso. The maid you’re looking for will no longer stay in the Western Palace.”
Being too distraught, Leah had momentarily forgotten this fact. The pale Leah urgently asked the maids.
“Do you happen to know where Sophia went?”
Exchanging glances, the maids promptly responded with what seemed like a rehearsed answer.
“I’m sorry. We really don’t know anything.”
“Is that so…”
Leah trailed off with a perplexed feeling. Perhaps there was an imperial decree from Caius.
Lost in thought, Leah sighed and allowed the maids to lead her to the bathroom.
She didn’t even have the composure to consider that the maids might notice the traces left on her body.
Was it possible that Caius had completely expelled Sophia from the palace?
Leah bit her lip in a distant feeling. Though her lips caused mild discomfort from the bite, the uncertainty about the situation was unbearable.
The thought that Sophia, who had always been by her side, might be gone made her heart uneasy.
Come to think of it, did Jade receive the message? The questions that couldn’t be answered scattered into the air.
“Ah…”
Wondering why everything had become so tangled, Leah closed her eyes.
In a single moment, the only people who had stood by her side vanished. Only then did she truly become completely alone, a thought that made breathing almost unbearable.
* * *
The recently renovated Prince’s Palace boasted a luxurious exterior, truly living up to its grand name. Its scale could be considered on par with the Imperial Palace and the Empress’s Palace.
On the second day of the relocation, Caius carried out his official duties in his new office as if nothing had changed. The seamless integration created an impression that this had been his domain from the beginning.
“…”
However, Victor’s expression as he gazed at his master was immeasurably complex.
Even though the annulment documents had been processed yesterday, ultimately ending the relationship between Caius and Leah, he seemed entirely unaffected.
His consistent attitude raised doubts about the appropriateness of the decision on the annulment and engagement.
Only at this moment did Victor acknowledge the truth. The lord he served was no longer the same as before.
Given the current circumstances, even if memories were to return, they could never revert to how they were.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if you have nothing to do, go out.”
Caius spoke calmly, his gaze fixed on the documents. Victor straightened up, somewhat taken aback.
“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”
He replied immediately, yet Victor was left grappling with countless anxieties internally. What did his master intend to do with her from now on?
While Victor anxiously averted his eyes, Caius subtly raised his head.
“It seems like you’re curious about how I’ll handle Leah Ainel.”
His words accurately pinpoint Victor’s thoughts, Victor let out a forced cough. Victor, avoiding eye contact, cleared his throat before finally nodding.
“W-well… Yes. Perhaps. Since you haven’t contacted the Ainel delegation.”
Originally, Caius was supposed to negotiate with the Ainel delegation that had come as ambassadors and discuss Leah’s future. However, the plans were cancelled, and the delegation left as planned.
Despite the agreement falling through, leaving Leah in the Empire under these circumstances, especially given her imminent new engagement, would be excessively cruel.
“That woman will stay in the Empire.”
Despite this, his master carried out this cruel decision with unwavering determination.
Victor, swallowing his distant emotions, muttered to himself.
“How long will this continue?”
“Well….”
Victor waited for him to continue, but Caius remained silent, passing a document with a subtly satisfied expression.
On the document he inspected, there was the Emperor’s seal granting permission to tour the territories, starting from Ramos, in the northeast of the capital, accompanied by the Imperial Guards, to cover the surrounding territories within a fortnight.
“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”
Caius once again lowered his gaze to the documents. Victor, standing there blankly, barely managed to suppress a sigh before bowing his head.
“No… I will take my leave.”
Though Victor couldn’t fathom his master’s thoughts, even if he knew, there was likely nothing Victor could do. He just hoped that the woman his master once ardently loved wouldn’t suffer too much.
While Caius signed the documents with a nonchalant expression, Victor silently left the office. The only sound in the quiet office was from the precise movements of the pen.
As Caius, who had maintained an expressionless demeanor, finally lifted his head, the sun had begun to set in the sky. He let out a lazy sigh, put down the pen, and swept his hair back.
And as he recalled yesterday, he thought of the woman who had shaken uncontrollably beneath him.
Leaning back in the chair with closed eyes, his expression softened.
“Leah.”
The voice whispering her name was calm as well.
Yesterday, everything was truly perfect. It felt as if a part of his body, previously unknown to be lacking, was finally filled.
Did his past self not know this feeling while loving that woman?
He wanted to peer into his past emotions for the first time, but Caius abandoned the futile effort.
What mattered was the emotions he felt now.
Slowly opening his eyes, Caius immediately recalled the report Victor had given right after returning to the Imperial Palace.
The news was about the Ainel diplomatic delegation, including Jade Richter, having just left the capital.
“Well….”
It was a natural course of events. After witnessing that scene by coming to the capital himself, there was no way he would continue with any disruptive actions.
Caius contentedly recalled the events of yesterday.
As expected, none of them were flawless.
* * *
Caius’s new engagement ceremony date was set for the day after tomorrow.
The Emperor personally endorsed a date, considering a deadline until Caius would take his position, which was set three months later.
Leah learned about this news through the voices of the maids conversing in the corridor.
“It seems that His Majesty, the Emperor, is eagerly anticipating the upcoming engagement. They say it will be more splendid than any other ceremony.”
“No wonder. Bresha is a true noble. She’s on a different level from those newly rich nobles who only have money.”
Leah, having stopped at the corner, found herself unable to move her feet.
Initially, she intended to ask the knights to let her meet Caius.
She had many questions for him – about what happened to Sophia, what he planned to do with her in the future.
But she couldn’t bring herself to pass through the corridor where the maids were standing.
“By the way, what will become of Lady Leah now?”
When her name came up, Leah held her breath. Despite her preference to avoid the conversation altogether, the maids continued without hesitation.
“What will become of her? She will probably continue to stay here. Didn’t you hear about the West Wing a few days ago?”
“The West Wing?”
“Yes. His Royal Highness spent almost half a day there. According to the maids in charge of that area… Oh, the rumors were not a joke. Even the next day, Lady Leah’s body had marks all over…”
Gripping her hands tightly, Leah couldn’t bear the overwhelming embarrassment. Eventually, she turned away, attempting to retreat. The maid’s following words further restrained her footsteps.
“Then, is His Royal Highness planning to keep Lady Leah in the palace now?”
