My hands were cold. It was only autumn, but I felt cold as if I was in the middle of a winter storm.

I rubbed my hands together to warm up. They shook uncontrollably. I tried to calm down, but it was useless.

The maid looked at me with sympathy. She led me patiently as I fumbled.

Orlean followed from behind. She rushed me coldly.

“Lady, we have no time for this.”

I bit my lips. I had no strength to get angry at her anymore. The fear took over me. I had difficulty walking because I was shuddering so hard. The maid and Orlean knew why. Everyone knew it, but there was no one who could save me.

The maid took my hand to help. “Let me help you walk.”

“T…thank you.”

My voice was so small it was barely audible. I thanked her, but I couldn’t really mean it. After all, she was leading me to the emperor’s bedroom.

The maid’s kindness and Orlean’s malice… They both meant the same thing.

Their goal was to clean me up and present me to the emperor. It was their job. I knew they had no choice.

Should I try to run away? But to where?

I already tried to escape a few times and failed. Orlean and Duke Aeal’s guards kept a close eye on me. If I couldn’t escape the Duke’s castle, there was no way I could escape this huge fortress filled with guards and servants.

We walked by a giant glass window adorned with blue silk curtains.

Oh, should I just jump off the window?

Perhaps it would be for the best. I would die quickly and the Bonafit family would probably be punished. However, I didn’t have the courage. What if I didn’t die quickly? What if I didn’t die at all and just get hurt very badly?

My mind was racing with so many thoughts. I was seriously considering jumping when the maid said to me.

“We have arrived, my lady.”

I raised my head, still trembling. The giant door was painted in gold. The maid fixed my dress.

“This is where we part. We can’t follow you into the room. The emperor has ordered us to stay at least 100 kinas (1 kina = 1 meter) away from this room.”

Stay at least 100 meters away from this room? Just what was that old pervert going to do to me?

‘Tonight will be interesting.’

I remembered his creepy grin and his black teeth. I shuddered.

The maid checked my dress one last time. When she nodded, two doorkeepers opened the door.

“Please enter.”

I trembled as I took a step forward. I continued to walk. After the fourth step, the door shut behind me loudly. It sounded like the end of my life.

“…”

I could hear the maids scurrying away quietly. If I opened the door and try to escape, they would stop me.

I would be able to run for a hundred meters, but the guards and the servants were probably surrounding the room beyond that distance. When I get caught, it would not be pretty.

I continued to walk slowly. The emperor’s room was huge. It had its own reception room, which was where I currently stood. I saw another smaller door nearby.

Could I just stand here and spend the night? The emperor looked old enough that perhaps he was senile. Maybe he wouldn’t even remember that I was here.

I knew it was a ridiculous thought, but I still hoped.

I didn’t have the courage to run away. Still trembling, I dragged myself to the small door. I opened it and entered the bedroom.

The door squeaked cruelly. I became speechless when I saw him.

“You are late.”

“…”

The old emperor was naked except for a golden gown. He was sitting on the bed and drinking red wine.

I stopped myself from swearing out loud. I bowed respectfully.

“Sa Bina des Bonafit is honored to be here with the emperor.”

He grinned unpleasantly and waved me to come closer.

“Good. Look at you, so fragile and innocent in your nightdress.”

“…”

His stare made my skin crawl. I began to sweat heavily.

I considered turning around and running away when the old man approached me.

“Oh…!”

Before I could react, he grabbed my wrist. I tried to resist.

“Y, your highness!”

He pulled me towards the bed and grinned. “What’s wrong?”

“I, I need to tell you… Something first…!”

He was surprisingly strong for an old man. He dragged me to the bed, and I was powerless to stop him.

“Sure, sure, alright. I will hear your beautiful moan in the bed.”

I wanted to cry. I fought back as hard as I could, but when the emperor pushed me to the bed, there was nothing I could do.

“Ahhhhh!”

When I raised my head, the emperor was looking down at me with a disturbing smile. He raised my chin with his finger as he said to me.

“I thought you are just an innocent little girl, yet here you are fighting back like a passionate wild horse. A horse needs to be ridden by a good master. I shall honor you by riding you tonight.”

“N, No…!”

Before I could scream, the emperor jumped into the bed.

His fat body covered me. His wrinkly fingers grabbed my collar to pull it down. The old man grinned as he saw my bare shoulder.

“Oh! What a strange skin color. It’s almost golden. I wonder how it would feel…”

The emperor was getting excited. I couldn’t even scream. And even if I could, no one could hear me. And even if someone did hear, no one was going to help me.

I finally started to cry. This was finally happening. I closed my eyes and screamed the name of the person I missed the most in my own language.

“[Mom!]”

“…”

What?

Nothing happened.

I became confused. I was expecting the pervert’s hands all over me, but nothing was happening.

The emperor remained still. I slowly opened one of my eyes.

The emperor was staring at me wide-eyed. He wasn’t moving at all.

What is happening?

I couldn’t understand. I froze.

Then suddenly, the emperor’s body slumped on top of me slowly.

He was heavy and wet, and he smelled foul. However, the most shocking thing was his back. On his back, I saw a dagger sticking out.

Slowly, blood started to seep out.

“Oh…!”

I couldn’t take it anymore. Today was the most stressful day of my life.

I panicked. I was about to scream when someone’s hand covered my mouth.

“…!”

It was an intruder who was wearing a mask. His eyes met mine.

They were cold, green eyes.