Chapter 14
“Are you telling me another man’s embrace felt good?”
“Lord Rory Rolls said he fell in love with me at first sight and confessed right away. His boldness made me like him too. When a man and woman who like each other end up in the same room, how could they not start dating?”
Laurencia smiled at Lady Anne, but inside, she kept replaying the filthy things Anne had tried to make happen through Rory Rolls. Twisted, angry emotions welled up in her chest.
“As you said, Lady Anne, he’s a real gentleman—such a good person. Far too good for me.”
“No. You mustn’t date him.”
“Why not? You locked us in the same room so we’d become a couple, didn’t you?”
“I said no! You already have Prince Luance.”
“Prince Luance is not my lover.”
“You ungrateful girl! Do you even know whose favor made you the daughter of Count Pol Heredian’s house?”
“It was thanks to Prince Luance.”
“Then you understand—”
Anne’s hand flew up. A sharp slap! cracked through the room. Laurencia’s head snapped to the side from the blow.
“Do not go out with Lord Rory Rolls!”
“I refuse. I like him.”
Anne raised her hand again. After a deep breath, she brought her palm down even harder, striking the same spot. Laurencia’s cheek burned like fire.
“When I say no, I mean no!”
“I’m going to see him. He’s the first man who’s ever liked me.”
Anne’s hand lashed out once more. Laurencia’s frail body swayed and stumbled, but she gritted her teeth and forced herself upright.
“When I tell you not to meet him, you won’t meet him!”
“Why? I’m curious why you act as if something terrible will happen if I see him, Lady Anne.”
Anne’s face went pale at Laurencia’s calm words.
“So it would cause trouble, then.”
Lifting her head slowly, Laurencia brushed her red hair back from her face. Beneath her long lashes, her violet eyes glinted coldly.
“You should have prevented an unfixable disaster before it happened.”
Laurencia’s expression was chillingly calm, as though she’d washed all emotion away. The look made Anne’s spine go cold. Laurencia was clearly provoking her.
“As someone of the Pol Heredian family, there’s no such thing as a disaster we can’t fix. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said. Listen carefully, Laurencia: if you don’t break up with that Lord Rory Rolls, I’ll kill that little kitten of yours.”
Anne threatened her coolly, certain this would work—because she knew Laurencia’s weakness. And she was right.
“If you want your cat to live, you’d better behave properly.”
“I’m sorry, Lady Anne. When Lord Rory Rolls visits tomorrow, I’ll end things. Just… please don’t hurt Leo.”
Laurencia bowed deeply, lowering her head.
“That’s more like it.”
“I’m sorry. Please don’t kill Leo. I’ll settle things with him tomorrow.”
When Laurencia returned to her room, she gave a low, bitter laugh. Then she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her cheek, red and swollen from the slaps, would soon bruise a deep purple. It wasn’t the first time she’d been hit; it hardly mattered anymore.
She sat on the edge of her bed, motionless, lost in thought as the night grew late. Starlight poured in through the terrace windows. Finally, she stood, opened the glass doors wide, and stepped out to the balcony railing.
Looking up at the moon, Laurencia smiled faintly. She unclasped the amethyst necklace from her throat and gazed into the gem’s reflection of moonlight.
A groan of pain escaped her lips as she sank to the floor. Tears and saliva mixed down her face as cold sweat glued her hair to her forehead and cheeks. She clutched the amethyst tightly, pressing her hand to her mouth as waves of pain wracked her body.
Prince Luance visited the Pol Heredian estate the next day and asked to see Laurencia. Something about her seemed different.
“Your Highness,” she said, “yesterday I learned something called social dance.”
“Social dance? Ah, right—your debutante ball is soon. Wasn’t it difficult?”
“My instructor was wonderful. And…”
Her voice grew quieter, and she twisted shyly, as though embarrassed.
“I’m glad to hear the instructor was good.”
“Yes. He was polite and kind—just… a very good man.”
“I see Lady Anne found you an excellent teacher.”
Luance studied her face carefully. There was a strange brightness about her, one he’d never seen before. When he brushed her hair back, he noticed her swollen cheek. Likely another beating from Anne or Brant.
“You were hit again?”
“It’s all right.”
Luance swallowed his irritation. He hated pretending to care—it was exhausting. He had told them to strike her where marks wouldn’t show, yet they’d left her face disfigured again. With her hollow cheeks and bruised skin, her face looked grotesque.
“Fine. If you say you’re all right, just put something cold on it later.” He gently stroked her red hair.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Anyway, Laurencia, did you dream anything last night?”
“I did, actually.”
“Tell me.”
“I dreamed of the Empire of Polloid—of the beautiful Imperial Princess and Crown Prince Adrian’s engagement.”
Luance smiled in satisfaction. That confirmed it—the monster’s power had awakened.
“Your dream was true. Princess Charlotte of Polloid is at the Imperial Palace now.”
“My dream came true?”
“Yes. It’s certain now—you’re seeing prophetic dreams. Listen carefully: there must be a pattern to them.”
“A pattern?”
“For example, if you dream while thinking of me, your dream will be about me.”
“Really? But Prince Adrian’s engagement has nothing to do with you, does it?”
She bit her lip, puzzled. Luance’s brows furrowed—her slowness always irritated him.
“You seem distracted today.”
“I think I’m just sore, that’s all.”
“Sore?”
He glanced again at her cheek. She’d been hit that hard before; now she was just whining.
“I think my body’s just stiff from dancing for hours yesterday. And my cheek still hurts, and today I have an appointment—”
“Laurencia. Do you think dancing for hours makes any sense? You should know your limits. Did you enjoy it that much? Or was it the man’s embrace you liked?”
“……”
“Laurencia. Aren’t you going to answer me?”
“I will—I was just thinking.”
“Thinking?”
“Yes. Thinking about Your Highness’s question.”
“I’ve told you not to think, only to obey me. Why do you keep disobeying? You bring punishment on yourself.”
“You’re right, Your Highness. But when you asked that question, I couldn’t help but think of him.”
A faint blush rose on Laurencia’s cheeks, and a smile curved her lips.
“Your question—about whether I enjoyed dancing, or the man’s embrace more.”
“That sounded like a question to you?”
He had meant it sarcastically. But something was off. Normally she would have stammered apologies, saying, “I’m sorry, Your Highness, please don’t misunderstand.”
Instead, she had taken it seriously—and answered thoughtfully.
Luance stared at her suspiciously, trying to make sense of it.
“I think Your Highness was right.”
“What was I right about? Speak up!”
“Thinking about it now… I think I did like his embrace.”
“Laurencia—are you seriously telling me, to my face, that another man’s embrace felt good?”
“I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way, either.”
“Unbelievable.”
“Lady Anne introduced him to me. She said he’d be a good escort and my first dance partner at the debutante ball. She was right—he really is a wonderful man.”
“Wait—Laurencia—”
Luance tried to stay calm and listen.
“Yesterday, before we parted, he told me he’d fallen for me at first sight.”
He struggled to process what she was saying.
“And after our dance lesson, before he left, he confessed to me.”
“Confessed?”
“I can hardly believe it myself. You don’t believe it either, do you, Your Highness?”
Laurencia was nineteen—plain and unattractive. What kind of man would fall for her at first sight? Only a madman. Otherwise, she had to be lying—but for what reason?
“Since yesterday, we’ve been going out.”
“Impossible. What kind of filth—”
Luance pressed his lips tight to keep from cursing aloud. What kind of man had Anne sent her?
“He’s supposed to come pick me up today. We’re going on something called a date.”
“Wait, Laurencia—did you say date?”
“Yes.”
“And what about me, who came here to see you?”
“I’ll go out with him after you leave, Your Highness.”
“And what exactly am I to you?”
“Sorry? Why do you ask that?”
“Answer me properly.”
“You’re my friend.”
“Friend? You think I’m your friend?”
“Yes. You’re the one who said so first, remember? ‘Will you be my friend?’”
He had once come to her tower room and offered her friendship. She’d been so happy—never realizing that moment was when she’d accepted a poisoned cup.
Knock knock.
A maid’s voice came through the door: “Lord Rory Rolls has arrived, my lady. He’s waiting in the parlor.”
Laurencia only said she’d go see him, then left the room—leaving Prince Luance standing there alone.
