Chapter 43

Something rising deep in my chest choked my throat tightly.

The sensation, resembling pain, made my thoughts even clearer.

“However, since you’ve hurt yourself recklessly, I will give you a punishment.”

“Oh, what kind of punishment are you planning this time?”

Chernea asked, almost singing, but he barely reacted.

He continued in a calm voice.

“I will acknowledge your existence before the nobles. So you must convince the royal family yourself. That Lady Péroa… belongs to me.”

Chernea parted her lips.

How? By what means should I convince others?

The obvious question came to mind, but Chernea couldn’t speak a word.

The reason was that Riorem had sealed her lips with his own.

A strong force pushed her body onto the desk.

Her pale body collapsed backward weakly.

Riorem showered her with kisses.

He stole her breath intensely, tickled her tongue, and instilled a languid pleasure throughout her body.

She knew well what he intended.

‘He plans to silence me and put me to sleep like this.’

Chernea obediently wrapped her arms around Riorem’s back.

And what happened after that… she just decided to look forward to it.

Despite all this pressure, the man who chose to keep her by his side—what would he do?

A few days later.

A maid woke Chernea early in the morning.

The bathtub was already prepared in the room.

A few flower petals floated on the bathwater infused with fragrant oil.

‘Something’s going on.’

Chernea soaked herself in the tub and looked down at her right hand.

Her palm throbbed as if burned by fire.

The wound had somewhat healed by now, but it wasn’t quite ready for bathing.

Let alone fragrant oil.

While Chernea soaked in the sweet scent, the maid busily tended to her hair.

She dipped Chernea’s long, luscious red hair in water to wash it, dried it with a towel, and applied fragrant oil again.

Although it wasn’t impossible to do alone, the maid seemed unusually hurried and busy.

After the bath, things got even busier.

The maid entered the next room.

Opposite Riorem’s room, it was probably the room made for the lord’s wife and was filled with Chernea’s belongings.

The maid returned carrying an overwhelming amount of dresses and accessories — too many to move at once.

It wasn’t the first time, but something was different from usual.

As the maid wiped her body dry for the last time, Chernea realized what felt off.

‘These are going out clothes… and she brought hair accessories too.’

The maid only decorated her hair on days when Chernea had to wait for Riorem all day in the bedroom.

Since she wrapped her face and hair tightly when going outside, she seemed to want to take advantage of those days to dress up.

But today, she had brought a box of accessories along with the outing clothes.

It was definitely not a mistake.

The maid opened the lid and offered it as soon as Chernea chose a dress.

Chernea gazed silently at the golden eyes decorating the box.

Inside the flashy box with three tiers on each side, there were even more dazzling accessories.

‘These are flashier than what she usually brings.’

Honestly, it made her want to laugh.

There was enough here to be gifted to any princess.

Chernea picked a ribbon woven with golden threads and a green emerald hairpin that matched the dress.

From then on, the maid became even busier.

Starting by neatly combing her long hair with a silver comb, then applying more fragrant oil to add shine, she let it fall long.

The maid carefully styled her hair and pinned the emerald hairpin behind her ear.

Though the hairstyle might have seemed plain, the flame-like red hair cascading luxuriously was far from modest.

It was rather the most dazzling decoration in itself.

After the dress and hair styling were finished, it was time for makeup.

The maid’s hands were quite skillful, but since she was working alone, it wasn’t as fast as when multiple people do it.

So when Riorem came in after finishing his own preparations, Chernea hadn’t even applied lip tint yet.

Bang.

Without any caution, Riorem entered through the wide-open door.

He looked around the room and suddenly stopped.

His gaze lingered over Chernea in the mirror as if licking her.

If the maid hadn’t been there, he probably would have kissed her neck where the necklace wasn’t yet fastened.

“You’ve bought quite impressive accessories.”

Chernea opened with a tone aimed at Riorem.

“Are you planning to go somewhere fancy? If it were night, I’d think you’re heading to a ball, but it’s still morning.”

“A ball… it’s something similar.”

“Is that so? I’m curious. Aren’t you going to tell me in advance?”

Riorem didn’t answer.

Instead, he slowly stood behind Chernea.

Just as the maid finished applying the lip color, she stepped back.

Being perceptive, the maid left the bedroom, leaving all the items behind.

Riorem took something out from his chest—a long velvet ribbon.

The deep blue ribbon crossed Chernea’s neck.

His large hands skillfully tied it, letting the knot hang down her back.

Then he looked at Chernea’s reflection in the mirror again.

The ribbon wrapped around her slender nape like a collar.

It was certainly a beautiful and luxurious item, but it felt like a mark signaling the owner of prey.

Riorem smiled upon confirming this.

“It’s the royal palace.”

There was no other explanation.

It was a notification, plain and simple.

Chernea was led by Riorem out of the bedroom, down the stairs, and into the carriage.

Many eyes followed Chernea during this.

Some were shocked, others troubled.

But none of that compared to what happened after the carriage door opened again.

The carriage stopped in front of the gate where nobles and officials came and went.

Though there was no big event that day, plenty of people had gathered.

Probably everyone there watched the moment the carriage bearing the seal of Lord Dynamis entered.

Knowing this, Riorem stepped out casually.

Naturally, Chernea also came out to the center of attention.

Though it was familiar, it somehow felt fresh.

‘Maybe because it’s the first time getting out of the carriage without an escort.’

Chernea followed Riorem with a calm expression.

Riorem walked about two steps ahead of her.

He neither held her hand nor checked if she got down properly.

Of course.

A slave could never dare walk beside her master.

Without a word, Riorem began explaining to the nobles—making clear the vertical relationship between him and this woman.

Everyone watched in shocked eyes.

“She really is Lady Péroa.”

“No escort… does that mean the rumor that she was brought as ‘spoils of war’ is true?”

“He even tied a ribbon on her, calling her his slave.”

Murmurs continued behind Chernea’s back.

The seemingly endless time abruptly ended when Riorem entered a certain room.

From the moment they entered, it was no ordinary place.

The corridor between the double galleries was filled with guards, and thick banners hung layered on the walls.

Only after entering the not-so-spacious room did Chernea realize where Riorem had brought her.

‘This is the king’s council chamber.’

Walls padded with wood and banners to absorb sound, a circular table with a hollow center, and a tall-backed chair at the head.

It was definitely a room where only the king and a very few important figures were allowed.

Realizing this, an obvious question popped up.

‘Why was I brought here?’

She looked at Riorem silently, but he never once looked back.

Soon, Riorem sat in the chair that seemed to be his place.

Then he pointed to a backless stool beside him.

“Sit down.”

Following his words, Chernea sat, and Riorem pushed some documents and papers from the desk toward her.

Only then did Chernea realize Riorem had brought her here as his secretary.

Though rare, it wasn’t unheard of.

Some nobles hired educated slaves to transcribe confidential documents.

‘But no one would bring a slave, let alone one who isn’t a scholar or secretary but a princess of a fallen kingdom, to a place like this.’

Even thinking that, Chernea obediently did the work expected of Riorem’s personal secretary.

She read the documents, organized the content, and took notes on what was said during the meeting.

Though it was her first time, it wasn’t difficult.

Rather, she enjoyed hearing much that she couldn’t overhear in the Pelvice Palace or Riorem’s bedroom.

Only one thing troubled her—the red eyes watching her from beginning to end of the meeting.