When the afternoon sun reached its peak, Daniel finally awoke. As he opened his eyes, he found Elena clinging to him—as if she were trying to merge with his very being. Her serene, beautiful face lay in deep, childlike sleep, like a seven-year-old girl who had finally found what she'd been searching for.
He heard her mumbling softly under her breath:
"Please… stop… I can't take any more…"
Daniel smiled faintly, licking his lips at the memory. He gently detached her from him and walked toward the bathroom, naked and unbothered, his steps unhurried.
Moments after he disappeared behind the bathroom door, Elena slowly began to awaken. Her eyes fluttered open with painful sluggishness, and with the first breath of awareness, she was overwhelmed by pain—raw and unforgiving. Her entire body ached with spasms, bite marks, and bruises. A harsh throbbing gripped her skull as she groaned involuntarily. Then her gaze shifted upward, tracing the unfamiliar ceiling and walls. This wasn't her room. The painful truth struck her then: what had happened last night wasn't some terrible dream. It was real. All of it.
She tried to move, but the pain surged more intensely than she expected. Still, she forced herself forward, determined to rise. As she reached the edge of the bed, her face twisted in agony. She lowered her legs to the floor and attempted to stand, leaning on the bed for support. But her legs refused to bear her weight. They trembled beneath her like willow leaves caught in the faintest breeze. She resisted. She clenched her teeth. She fought to stand. And then she fell. Her fragile legs buckled, and she collapsed onto the ground with a sharp thud, landing hard on her backside. A sharp cry of pain escaped her lips. But even then, she did not give up. With the little strength left in her, she began crawling across the floor, dragging her battered body toward her clothes.
At long last, she reached them—only to realize she couldn't
wear such an outfit in broad daylight without drawing every eye in the palace.
So she settled for only her undergarments, sitting on the floor, panting,
shivering.
She continued crawling toward Daniel's wardrobe. Upon reaching it, she used it for support, opened the doors, and found everything neatly arranged. She pulled out a clean white shirt and a pair of black trousers, and began dressing slowly, her back pressed to the wooden frame, her whole body flaring with pain. Every movement was deliberate, calculated, as if the wrong angle might tear her apart.
Once she was dressed, or as close as she could manage, she still didn't feel strong enough to leave. She returned to the bed, trying to catch her breath, hoping her body would cooperate enough to get her to her own room.
Just then, the bathroom door creaked open. Daniel stepped out, droplets of water gliding down his damp hair and shoulders, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. His violet eyes found hers, amused and leisurely, a playful smirk pulling at his lips. The moment their eyes met, Elena flushed with such intensity her ears turned crimson. She quickly lowered her gaze, terrified the nightmare might repeat itself. Her body, as it was now, wouldn't survive a second round.
Daniel's voice cut through the silence, steady and casual as he walked toward his wardrobe:
"How's your body now?"
His words sent a chill through her spine. She looked up at him with a mix of hatred and disbelief, her voice dripping with disdain:
"Are you a monster? You used me like some cheap girl, and now you ask if I'm alright?"
Daniel turned to face her, holding his clothes, and made his way to the bed beside her, his tone laced with dark amusement:
"You do remember that this was your doing, don't you? The drug you laced in the glass was far too strong—its effects still linger in me. And now, here you are, sitting and speaking freely. Your head should've been separated from your body the moment I discovered your treachery."
His words struck like a whip. She hadn't expected such cruelty, not even from him. She had sacrificed her virginity, her future, her dream of independence—of escaping a political marriage to some minister, advisor, or foreign prince—all in one gamble. And it seemed her plan had failed miserably. The odds of survival had plummeted, and the backlash could very well end in her death. But what did it matter anymore? She spoke everything that crossed her heart. Her voice
trembled with rage and defiance:
"Even if you were under the influence of the drug, you should've been kinder. I never wronged you. We barely ever spoke. I'm your sister. And if you think to frighten me with death, then go ahead—kill me now. I have nothing left. But if you don't... then know this: I will kill you the moment I get the chance."
She shut her eyes tightly, lifting her chin in grim surrender. She was ready.
She heard his footsteps draw near and stop right in front of her. He stared at her calm breathing—so calm it betrayed her resolve. But her trembling hand clutching the trousers she wore did not escape his notice.
He tossed his clothes onto the bed without a word, ignoring her behavior entirely.
A minute passed. Nothing happened. Curious, Elena opened her eyes—only to see him fully nude. Her gaze instinctively dropped—and her mouth fell open in disbelief. "How in hell… did that fit inside me?" she screamed internally. "I took all of that?!"
Daniel ignored her completely. He began dressing at a leisurely pace, then lay down on the bed, closing his eyes as if nothing had transpired. His indifference stunned her. She had expected violence, another wave of domination… perhaps even death. But instead, silence reigned. A heavy, awkward stillness settled over the room.
Meanwhile, in the grand dining hall, the family had gathered for lunch. One seat remained conspicuously empty. Karis spoke up, concern tightening his voice:
"Where's Elena? She hasn't shown up yet."
Lina, frowning, added:
"She even skipped training this morning… Do any of you know what's going on?"
She turned toward Max and Alex. Max answered calmly, almost dismissively:
"Last night, I saw Daniel's maid speak to her. She said he wanted to see her. I didn't think much of it at the time."
A stunned silence followed. Karis and Lina exchanged alarmed glances, their expressions shifting from confusion to dread. Suddenly, Elena's personal maid burst into the room, breathless and pale:
"My lord, my lady! Elena wasn't in her room last night. Everything was neatly arranged—she clearly didn't sleep there!"
The words struck the room like thunder. Karis rose abruptly, his voice commanding:
"Call the guards—NOW!"