My eyes gradually started to close, relinquishing their hold on the world around me, as if surrendering to the heavy weight of fatigue.
Initially, I felt a noticeable weakness in my waist, a gentle but undeniable signal of my diminishing strength, and in the mere blink of an eye, my once upright posture crumbled entirely, unable to maintain itself any longer.
The likely cause of this sudden decline in my physical state was my earlier indulgence in the sheer thrill of sexual pleasure, which I had pursued fervently but without having consumed a proper meal beforehand to sustain my energy.
Simultaneously, just as I recognized that my body lacked the vitality needed to continue, I sensed my consciousness beginning to fade away, as if it were slipping through my fingers like sand.
Thus, my very first experience of serving in the bedchamber concluded in an utterly reckless and insolent manner, leaving behind a profound impression that I would not soon forget.
As anticipated, when I finally managed to open my eyes, I found that Riorem was conspicuously absent from the space around me.
The bed itself remained undisturbed, exhibiting no signs of movement or any indication that someone had recently occupied it.
Naturally, one could speculate that he might have chosen not to bother with straightening out the blanket, which was in disarray due to various bodily fluids left in its wake…
However, understanding Riorem’s character and typical behavior, it was clear that he must have taken his leave the instant I slipped into unconsciousness.
Throughout our time together, I had observed that whenever he encountered a situation that was too much for him to handle or process, he consistently reacted in this manner.
“Getting up from the bed alone was expected…”
Still bound to the bed, I looked around the room with a sense of curiosity mixed with apprehension.
The room was quiet, but it wasn’t empty; there was an atmosphere that hinted at someone’s presence.
I was on the bed, my body restrained, and across from me, sitting casually at the coffee table, was a person I had never seen before, a stranger who stood out in this unfamiliar setting.
The person had the typical appearance of an Arete native, characteristic features that suggested a deep connection to her cultural roots.
Her skin was olive-toned, sun-kissed, radiating a warmth that seemed to capture the light of the room, and her eyes were gray, intriguing and reflective, holding a depth that drew my gaze.
Her light brown hair was neatly braided, reaching down her back, the braid meticulously crafted, indicating a sense of care in her appearance, adding to the aura of calm and mystery she exuded.
Unlike other Arete women, there was a notable absence of ornamentation in her hair.
While I was observing her, the unknown Arete woman cast a piercing glare in my direction.
Her gaze was both sharp and full of intellectual fervor.
That piercing look was the catalyst that prompted the question within me.
“Why is she here?”
I didn’t have any knowledge or information regarding her identity or background.
However, it wouldn’t be long before I would uncover the truth about who she really was.
Considering that she had the ability to enter the bedchamber during Riorem’s absence, it was highly probable that our paths would cross again in the near future.
Yet, I found myself grappling with a deep sense of confusion regarding her decision to remain by my side.
Especially since she appeared to possess a demeanor that would be far from intimidating towards a woman who was bound to a bed, in a state of partial undress…
At the very least, I noticed that the nagging frustration stemming from my unfulfilled desires seemed to have diminished somewhat.
There were so many fascinating events and situations unfolding one after the other.
It led me to ponder the possibility that disregarding my elder brother’s directive to end my own life, along with being pulled along by Riorem’s firm grasp, was beginning to yield some positive outcomes.
Just then, the door that led into the bedchamber swung open with unexpected suddenness.
This was a door entirely different from the one that Riorem had utilized the previous night—this particular entrance opened directly into the hallway.
“Teumesa.”
The largest door opened, and Riorem appeared, looking very displeased.
At Riorem’s call, the woman rose from her seat.
“I’ve been waiting, General.”
The woman greeted Riorem with a respectful bow, her gestures reflecting an acknowledgment of authority and position.
Her demeanor was much more collected and composed than I had anticipated, suggesting a level of professionalism and discipline that I hadn’t expected to encounter.
The expression on the woman’s face as she gazed upon Riorem was also markedly different from the image I had previously conjured in my mind.
Although there existed a palpable difference in the level of intimacy between the two, she managed to maintain a similarly dry and detached expression as the one she wore when she directed her gaze towards me.
In other words, it became evident that they weren’t engaging in any sort of bond characterized by camaraderie; rather, it was abundantly clear that she occupied a position within a superior-subordinate dynamic in relation to Riorem.
Only then did I become acutely aware of the woman’s attire.
Specifically, it was the stiff fabric of her clothing, meticulously pressed and showing the signs of daily wear and tear, that caught my attention.
I noticed there were no decorative elements such as epaulettes adorning her uniform, which had previously led me to overlook its significance, but it was unmistakably a military uniform.
“Waiting? For me?”
Riorem asked in a cold voice.
“Why would you be waiting for me? Shouldn’t you be at the palace in Dynamis, not here?”
“As soon as I found out what you brought, any discussions were meaningless. I had to immediately silence everyone in the expedition.”
“So, you came to my castle instead of attending the noble meeting I had to send my representative to?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The woman responded to Riorem’s words with a composed, businesslike tone that suggested professionalism and focus.
However, despite her outward appearance of calm, I observed that her shoulders were tense, indicating a hidden strain beneath her serene facade.
This was not unexpected, considering the icy aura radiating from Riorem, which was so intense and penetrating that it seemed to slice through the very air around us, making the atmosphere feel uncomfortably charged.
Nevertheless, the woman persisted in her discourse, maintaining her exterior composure and refraining from revealing any of her inner emotions.
“However, when I arrived at Dynamis Castle, it wasn’t the soldiers causing trouble. It was the maids and even the servants, who were stationed outside the bedroom.”
“Using cleaning as an excuse to see the woman the general brought, huh?”
“…So?”
“So what do you mean? The whole of Arete will hear that the general brought a woman with red hair and golden eyes, and you’re asking such questions?”
The woman’s voice faltered in an instant.
“What on earth are you thinking? I can understand, at the very least, why you chose the Principality of Peroa over the Kingdom of Messenia. But that woman…
At that moment, the woman turned to look at me.
Her gray eyes were filled with confusion.
“How could you let that woman live? To even bring her here…”
It was clear that she didn’t like my existence, but she didn’t seem to blame me at all.
She just seemed unable to comprehend the situation itself.
“There are still those who bring up your origins, aren’t there, General?”
“Teumesa.”
“No, in fact, those are not the issue. You know what the two other princesses of Peroa have birthed, don’t you, General?”
“Enough.”
“The most talented of the sisters will likely give birth to an even greater heir. That’s why the Duke keeps raising the price.”
“Teumesa Lavros.”
A low, bubbling voice echoed through the room.
Riorem, who had been standing by the door all along, began to move.
Clunk, clunk.
The sound of his footsteps was even and measured, as though it had been timed.
Soon, Teumesa was completely hidden behind Riorem’s back.
“What are you trying to say, Teumesa?”
I turned my head and tried to look at Teumesa, who was standing opposite Riorem.
It was no use.
All I could see from the bed was her pale, trembling hand.
“…This is the worst move. That woman’s existence is bound to be a threat to everything you’ve built, General.”
“You’re being presumptuous.”
Snap.
Teumesa grabbed her own clothing, her grip so tight that I could hear the fabric rippling from here.
A long silence followed, hanging in the air like a heavy fog, thickening the tension that enveloped the room.
A man who wanted to leave me in this room, abandoning me to confront whatever fate awaited, and a woman who didn’t even want to leave me alive, as if my very existence posed a threat to her plans.
The air grew sharp with a problem that couldn’t be compromised on, an issue so fundamental that any attempt at reconciliation felt futile and hollow.
But as expected, Teumesa was the first to wave the white flag, signaling her surrender to the impossible circumstances that surrounded us.
“…Then I will head to the capital. I need to attend the afternoon meeting where the main agenda will be discussed.”
Riorem didn’t respond.
He simply walked toward me as though his business with Teumesa was done.
Clack.
From across the room, I could distinctly hear the sound of Teumesa grinding her teeth in a display of barely contained frustration.
Despite her audible presence, she was still nowhere to be seen within the confines of the room.
Nevertheless, I could already envision that she must have been sporting an even more furious expression than the one she had directed at me earlier.
However, at that moment, Teumesa found herself in a position where she couldn’t take any action to address her anger.
With a sudden release of pent-up emotion, she swung open the door that Riorem had entered through and stormed out of the room in a flurry of determination.
Bang.
The bedroom door slammed shut with a sharp sound that reverberated through the space, creating an echo that lingered in the air for a moment, emphasizing the suddenness of the action.
Despite the loud noise resonating around us, Riorem didn’t direct even a glance toward the now-closed door.
He simply maintained his intense gaze fixed upon me, unwavering and unyielding.
I could distinctly feel his icy blue eyes roving over my skin, almost like a physical touch, tracing the remnants of bodily fluids that had fallen on my lower abdomen and were visible beneath the thin fabric of my clothing.
It must have been an outrageously scandalous sight to behold, eliciting a mix of feelings within me.
In an effort to diffuse the tension in the air surrounding us, I decided to break the silence with a gentle remark, hoping to ease the heaviness of the moment.
“That was your mistake just now.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“The fact that no one entered the bedroom since dawn is entirely thanks to Teumesa, isn’t it? You just left.”
“Are you saying that’s my fault?”
“Of course it is. If it weren’t, the maids who can’t even manage to fix their hair properly would’ve helped clean up after me.”
Riorem stared at my face with an unreadable expression.
His expression seemed both baffled and, in a way, angry.
Fortunately, Riorem soon revealed his feelings.
“Is that all?”
A flicker of sharp light passed through his blue eyes.
“Does it not bother you at all? Just now, I left you alone and talked to another woman, didn’t I?”
I tilted my head out of habit, unable to comprehend his words.
“Shouldn’t it bother me?”
“Of course it should. I…
“You?”
“I am your master, aren’t I? The only reason you can even be here is because of me, the only one who holds power over you.”
Riorem let out a harsh breath.
“So how can you act like it doesn’t matter? To be ignored, left alone, and even spoken to in front of someone else?”
With long strides, he crossed the room and stood right next to the bed.
Had he just taken a bath? I could smell a faint scent of myrrh from him as he approached.
“Is this how it should be?”
Riorem’s face quickly twisted in frustration.
He must have realized that I didn’t understand a word he was saying.
“It was a woman I’d never seen before.”
“Yes.”
“That woman was allowed into my bedroom, and you didn’t care at all?”