Previously
During tea, Irenia bravely reports the abuse Caesar suffers at the hands of guards, but Cornelia dismissively compares Caesar to a trained parrot to argue he is no longer human. Irenia passionately defends Caesar's humanity, leading the Empress to mock her status as an illegitimate daughter.
Empress Cornelia possessed a peculiar charm, a fatal allure that made one forget that beauty could harbor thorns or lethal venom.
“Would you acknowledge him as a human being if he acted like one?”
“As a human being?”
Cornelia offered a sly smile, laced with unmistakable mockery.
“I mean what I said. If he walked on two legs, used utensils, and spoke like the rest of us.”
“Are you attempting to tame that beast?”
I gave a firm nod.
“I will.”
A faint smile curved her red lips, a flicker of intrigue lighting her blue eyes.
“How entertaining.”
With a flick of her hand, a lady-in-waiting stepped forward, bearing an exquisite jewelry box. Inside lay an extraordinary necklace strung with pearls and diamonds, centered around an immense sapphire that smoldered like a living ember.
“This is the necklace I inherited upon entering the palace. It is known as ‘The Blue Flame Dream.’ An heirloom passed down through generations of imperial women.”
I realized at once that it was the very necklace Mercedes had mentioned. A rare piece worth a fortune.
“If you truly succeed, I shall bestow it upon you.”
Unable to quite believe her, I searched her face. She narrowed her eyes at me and spoke:
“If you were to possess it, you would achieve what you so desire. The First Crown Prince’s recognition as a human being, would you not?”
My gaze remained fixed on that mesmerizing sapphire, deep within which tongues of blue fire seemed to dance. A deadly fascination, an irresistible temptation.
Cornelia murmured softly:
“Make a man of him, and I will present it to you. And should you wear it to an official banquet, all will see you have my backing. That will be more than enough to secure the ‘recognition’ you seek.”
“Recognition…”
“Let us set a deadline. Say, the upcoming summer ball. You have until then to tame the beast. That seems like ample time, does it not?”
She had laid down her condition: three months from now, at the imperial banquet marking the close of the social season, I was to appear by his side… with him accepted as a ‘human being’ by her.
She gave an enchanting smile and added:
“Mind you, I detest liars. And if you dare deceive me…”
Her cold blue gaze bore into me, stealing the breath from my lungs.
“Then I shall have to discipline you… as an adult.”
I hardly remember how I managed to bring that audience to an end. The journey back was slightly easier; I walked slowly with Delfina’s support, making our way toward the Emerald Wing.
“I expected the woman daring to tame that madman to be rather formidable… yet you are utterly ordinary.”
I turned toward the voice and found a tall, handsome man with fiery red hair.
“Not quite what I envisioned.”
He advanced with confident strides while I stood frozen where I was.
“Irenia, of the Flores Dukedom.”
He pronounced my name with clear resonance, earning a sharp glare from me.
His blazing hair and cold blue eyes stirred an immediate resemblance to someone familiar… Cornelia.
A sudden chill ran down my spine.
“It is the Second Prince, Your Highness.”
One of the servants whispered, speaking for the first time to reveal the man’s identity: Matthias de la Rosa, Cornelia’s son.
I offered him a disciplined curtsy, keeping strictly within the bounds permitted by my current standing as the Crown Prince’s wife.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness the Second Prince.”
I had not even caught a glimpse of him at my wedding, yet I knew well enough that offending him would be foolish.
He stood before me, raking his eyes over me with unsettling scrutiny.
“I hear you were with Mother. No need to look so strained, Irenia.”
He took another step closer, bringing with him a heavy scent of musk and rich woods.
I frowned in distaste.
“I gave you no permission to address me by my name.”
Perhaps I was still on edge from the encounter with Cornelia, for my words came out sharper than intended.
He chuckled softly, entirely unfazed.
“Fine then. Shall I call you ‘Sister-in-law’ instead?”
He smiled with brazen assurance, shamelessly blocking my path.
His audacity made my tension mount.
Yet what unsettled me most… were his eyes.
His gaze was coarse, trespassing without restraint.
If Cornelia’s gaze was a blade, Matthias’s was a sledgehammer. Heavy, brutish, crushing whatever lay before it without a second thought.
“If you have nothing more to say, I shall take my leave.”
“Wait.”
He reached out and seized my wrist. My exhausted knee gave out, pitching me forward.
“Ah!”
The ground rushed up to meet me, only for his arms to catch me before I hit the floor.
“You ought to be more careful.”
I found myself trapped in his embrace. As I tried to pull back, his arms tightened around me.
“Please, let me go.”
He drew near enough for me to feel his breath, buried his face in my hair, and drew in a deep breath. A shiver crawled straight down my back.
“Pardon me.”
He finally set me aside, his movements outwardly courteous this time, though the whole thing had lasted only a few seconds.
Fleeting as it was, it left me thoroughly sick to my stomach.
Catching my breath, I flinched away.
I glanced around, only to see the servants and guards looking anywhere else, pretending they had witnessed nothing.
I pulled myself together.
“I am leaving.”
I refused to linger another moment. But the second I moved, he caught my hand once more.
Leaning in close, he whispered words… words so crude and shocking that I was left entirely speechless.
Then he turned on his heel and barked at his servant:
“My sister-in-law’s leg is paining her. Bring her a litter.”
I hardly remember how I made it back to the Emerald Wing.
I collapsed onto the bed, utterly drained.
Fortunately, Mercedes had tidied the chambers enough to lend them a semblance of comfort.
Reaching out, I brushed my fingers over the smooth sheet and let out a muffled groan.
“Ugggh…”
Yes, that wretched sound had come from me.
I gripped the edge of the blanket so hard my knuckles turned white.
His words echoed in my head…
‘Just curious… does that fool even know how to satisfy a woman?’
That vile phrase alone was enough to set a fire raging inside me.
“You miserable bastard…”
I muttered under my breath, seizing the pillow and hurling it furiously toward the floor.
Yet it landed without a sound… as though I had tossed it into an empty void.
Never in my life had anyone humiliated me to such a degree.
I had been on the verge of screaming right in his face, had we not been inside the imperial palace. One reckless outburst would set tongues wagging, and the last thing I wanted was word reaching the Empress.
“Ren.”
Caesar’s voice startled me right then.
“Huh?”
I was certain I had entered the room alone. Where on earth had Caesar been hiding?
The answer… was beneath the bed.
Our eyes met in mutual confusion as he clutched the very pillow I had just thrown.
“Good heavens, what in the world?!”
Yet what truly stunned me was not the pillow, but the sight of him squirming amidst the dust, looking as though he had just crawled out of battle.
Now I understood why the pillow had made no sound when it landed.
Then again, no, that hardly mattered right now.
“How did you end up under there?”
“Hehe…”
My question was met with an innocent grin, as though what he had done were the most natural thing in the world.
His behavior nearly drove me out of my mind.
“Come out of there.”
The moment I asked, he crawled out without the slightest fuss, scrambled up onto the bed, and sat pressed right against my side.
Of all the places in the room, why on earth choose beneath the bed?
How long had he been lying down there? Had he been waiting for me? What could have possessed him to hide under there in the first place?
Truly, let my eyes wander from him for a single second, and he will get up to things beyond my wildest imagination.
FADE OUT