Episode 10

The garden was cloaked in the cold stillness of deep night, a chill settling in the air. Perhaps it was the night’s bite, or maybe…

“Haah… What’s going on…”

Russelin wasn’t sure if the emptiness she felt was because of the biting night air or the silence that engulfed her, left alone in the garden. She stood there, watching the last warmth vanish, and her face clouded with uncertainty. She could see the bright lights of the distant banquet hall, but the thought of returning didn’t cross her mind. After all, it was her choice to leave the banquet and to remain here alone.

‘I’m sorry… but I have to go back now.’

‘Pity. That’s not the answer I was hoping for.’

‘Then… what answer did you want?’

‘I don’t much care for questions asked knowingly.’

Russelin couldn’t shake the lingering thoughts of the blunt, detached man who had left her with a sense of regret.

‘I’m still not ready to face Aydin directly…’

Sure, she could make a bold move, take Leonard’s hand, and openly rebel against Aydin. But such a childish impulse was dangerous when she had so little to her name. And besides, the potential risks that came with Leonard Estere were not ones she could ignore.

‘I ran away because I wasn’t confident enough to face him.’

Resolving to be honest with herself, Russelin began walking aimlessly, her body weakened and her heart wavering like someone who’d done something terribly wrong—all because of Leonard’s overwhelming presence, which had now vanished.

‘…Still, I want to meet him again.’

I shouldn’t want this. I know what happens when personal feelings get involved. Just as Russelin was lost in her tangled thoughts, a dark shadow suddenly blocked her path.

“Stop right there.”

“…!”

The dangerously low voice sent a shiver through Russelin. Before she could raise her head, a rough hand gripped her chin and forced her face up.

“Aydin…!”

She gasped, her voice catching.

Once again, Aydin’s hand held her captive. He loomed over her, radiating a menacing intensity that left her trembling. Russelin winced, her brows furrowing in discomfort, but Aydin simply looked down at her with a displeased frown.

“What are you doing here?”

“I… I lost my way…”

“You got lost?”

Even she knew how unconvincing the excuse sounded. Aydin scoffed coldly, clearly not believing her. Russelin braced herself, expecting an outburst.

“Aydin…?”

But instead of the fury she anticipated, Aydin fixed her with a heavy, penetrating stare. His eyes didn’t seem cold in the typical sense; rather, they looked as if he were restraining something intense. Perhaps that was why she didn’t dare mention Celia.

“…Is the banquet over?”

“Are you concerned about the banquet now? Do you even realize the situation you’re in?”

“But… Aydin—!”

Ignoring her words, Aydin roughly grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the palace without giving her a moment to collect herself.

“Aydin, what are you doing…?”

“Keep quiet. I’m holding back as best I can.”

He walked briskly, not sparing a glance at the banquet hall or the curious glances of the servants. He led her straight to the chamber assigned to him, pushing her inside.

Thud!

“Ouch! That hurt!”

Aydin not only pushed her against the wall but braced his arm against it, trapping her, so she couldn’t escape. His intense gaze bore down on her.

“Aydin, please… stop…”

“Stop? I haven’t even started.”

Without a hint of mercy, Aydin pressed his lips to hers in a forceful kiss.

“I told you to stay where I could see you, didn’t I?”

“I’m sorry. The banquet hall felt too stifling.”

“So you went to enjoy a secret rendezvous with that bastard Leonard?”

“…You knew who I was with?”

Did he… Did he have someone watching me even back then? She hadn’t realized it at the time. Had Aydin already begun this game? As her expression grew colder, Aydin’s usual control wavered, his brow furrowing in irritation. In response, Russelin instinctively tried to step back, but something was different this time. Something surged up from deep within her.

‘…Why should I be the one to retreat?’

I have the power to confront him now. In this life, I vowed I would escape Aydin. Despite her determination, her heart wavered, but this time, instead of retreating, she held her ground.

“What can a ‘half-baked’ priestess like me do, after all? Like you, people will just use me and discard me.”

“What? What are you talking about…!”

“The second priestess. Celia, wasn’t it?”

“…Russelin, you…”

“Do you really plan to bring in a second priestess? To replace me?”

Russelin looked up at Aydin, her expression wounded with betrayal, but he remained silent.

“So that’s it… You’ve chosen to abandon me for a complete priestess.”

“Russelin.”

“Enough. Let me go. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”

As Russelin tried to brush past Aydin, he seized her roughly.

“Ouch! Aydin…!”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Without waiting for an answer, Aydin forced her onto the bed, pushing her down with an unyielding hand.

“What are you doing!”

“You said you were worried about the second priestess, didn’t you?”

Ignoring her struggles, Aydin loomed over her, his shadow heavy and oppressive, making Russelin’s instincts scream in warning.

“Get off of me. Just because we’re engaged doesn’t mean—”

“More than a fiancée, aren’t you my priestess? The one meant to handle my power?”

“…!”

“I’m offering to keep a woman who can’t even fulfill her role close by, and you’re not even grateful.”

Aydin’s sharp words struck her like barbs, each one digging deeper. Russelin bit her lip, unable to reply, and just then, she glimpsed a red aura rising over his shoulder.

“What are you doing!”

“You need to take my magic. Or are you planning to keep traces of that bastard with you?”

“I can’t… not today…”

“And am I just supposed to stand by while he taints what’s mine?”

“Aydin…?”

Russelin felt something had shifted in him. Though he’d always been possessive, something about his demeanor was different, and she sensed she had no way to stop him now.

“You’re mine, Russelin.”

“…Ah…!”

“Even if you break, you’ll stay by my side. Don’t forget, I’m the only one who’ll accept you.”

Her vision turned dark as she squeezed her eyes shut, a sense of claustrophobic dread enveloping her. But despite it all, another thought crossed her mind.

‘I’ll do as you wish.’

‘…But why would you?’

‘Consider it a return for saving me twice.’

A memory of warmth and safety came to her, but he was no longer here. The words Aydin hurled at her broke her resolve.

“Open your mouth.”

Without tenderness, his lips pressed against hers, forcing his raw magic into her. She felt the unrefined energy coursing through her, her body aching as it flowed within her. Silently, she steeled herself to endure it.

* * *

With a loud bang, Aydin stormed out of the room, taking only a few steps before stopping, slamming his fist into the wall.

‘How dare he defile what’s mine…’

He didn’t truly believe Russelin had been playing them both. She was, after all, a passive woman who had lived solely under his control. He could forgive a moment of defiant rebellion.

‘I don’t love you, Aydin. That’s nothing more than your obsession.’

‘I already have someone else I care about. The man I saved, for the first time in my life, is…’

She’d been bold enough to defy him before he claimed her. That half-baked priestess had rejected him, so he’d bound her even closer within his grasp. But seeing her marked by Leonard’s presence had incensed him beyond reason.

“I never thought I’d lose her so easily…”

From the moment they were tied together by fate, Russelin was his. Not even death could take her from him. His eyes darkened with fierce obsession.

“Well, well. So vulnerable, Duke.”

A voice broke the heavy silence, followed by the click of high heels approaching, though Aydin didn’t lift his head.

“Your magic’s a bit unstable, isn’t it? You should have come to me.”

“…Celia.”

At the sound of her name, Celia placed a hand on his shoulder, prompting Aydin to finally look up.

“Were you with her again?”

“She was straying too much, so I reminded her of her place.”
“But was that worth canceling the banquet for?”

A hint of resentment crept into Celia’s voice. It had been Aydin who insisted on calling off the banquet, even going so far as to keep its intended star hidden away. It was expected, though; his focus had shifted entirely.

With a sharp gesture, he brushed her hand off.

“Don’t worry about trivial things. I’ll host another banquet for you anytime. Isn’t that our agreement?”

“Of course. With her back, it doesn’t matter when, does it?”

Aydin cast a hard look her way, but ultimately sighed.

“Return to Bert ahead of me. I still have things to take care of.”

“Are you bringing her along?”

“…Yes. I’ll bring Russelin soon enough. I expect you to fulfill your role.”

“Naturally, I’ll be waiting, Duke.”

Their gazes met, but the intensity between them held none of love, only a dark, unsettling tension.