There is No Key to His Cage - Chapter 11
“Aiden…? How do you know about Aiden?”
Elena, who had been sprawled on the bed, suddenly sat up like a live fish.
“You’ve heard something about him, haven’t you?”
Aiden must be alive.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have mentioned Aiden.
“No, it’s just that you called out Aiden’s name while you were sleeping.”
“Ah….”
She realized she had foolishly raised her hopes for nothing.
Was it enough to be content with the brief moment of joy she felt hearing Aiden’s name after so long?
Elena flopped back onto the bed like a dried fish.
“If you want, I could look into it for you.”
He said, looking at documents filled with dense writing.
“What? Really?”
She threw off the blanket covering her and sat up again abruptly.
Her eyes, which had been as lifeless as a dead pollack’s, instantly lit up.
“Really? You’re not lying, are you?”
She asked twice, seemingly genuinely happy.
She looked as joyful as a child who had just received a teddy bear as a gift.
He gazed at her intently.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a small dimple formed prettily on his pale cheek.
“I don’t take back words I’ve spoken.”
For the first time since coming here, she felt a sense of gratitude towards him.
For a moment, she wondered if she was being manipulated by him, but quickly shook off the thought.
“Aiden is my only friend. We grew up together in the orphanage…”
The person who faithfully stood by each other’s side in both happy and difficult times.
The person who accompanied her when she said she would live freely.
Aiden was all she had.
If asked what her everything in life was, it would also be Aiden.
“He seems important to you.”
“Yes. Very much so.”
As she talked about Aiden, a smile appeared on her face for the first time.
Seeing her beaming smile, Decarus slightly raised the corners of his mouth.
“Larsa will be severely punished.”
Boom. A huge seal, like an imperial seal, made a loud noise.
“How do you know about that woman?”
Larsa, is the name of the orphanage director who tormented Elena daily.
Was it because of the terribly hateful memories?
For a moment, a chill ran through her body, making her shiver slightly.
“She committed despicable acts.”
“So you do know the word ‘despicable’?”
“Elena.”
She cleared her throat and pouted her lips.
He had done despicable things himself, but did he not realize it?
There was no sign of remorse for his actions at all.
“Well, I guess you’ve just found out about it now. The master of the duchy, that is.”
“Yes. In light of this incident, I plan to provide maximum support to the duchy’s education department. I’ll also strengthen the laws.”
It seemed he wasn’t just a Grand Duke for nothing, seeing him trying to correct wrongdoings.
This must be the outward appearance of this man that others see.
“Well, alright. But did you investigate my background?”
“Yes, as it happens.”
He spoke as if investigating someone’s information was no big deal.
Well, it didn’t matter.
What could a gypsy who had nothing but freedom have left?
Even if they dug into her background, there was nothing to find as she had lived a clean life.
“Even if you investigate me, there’s not much to find. I was a wanderer after all.”
“Not much, you say…”
He paused his hand that was stamping documents.
“Right, there’s still a lot you don’t know…”
“Huh? What did you say?”
He mumbled something and trailed off.
She asked again, not having heard clearly, but he waved his hand towards her as if it was nothing.
“No, it’s nothing. Elena, come here. Let’s start your Imperial language lessons.”
“I’ll learn from others, but not from you.”
She answered coldly without even turning back.
It was horrifying enough just to breathe in the same space, let alone studying together with him.
She just wanted to escape from this room right now.
“I’d be better than Jane. I graduated top of my class at the Academy, after all.”
It was the first time she had seen someone boast about themselves so nonchalantly.
From his face to his body, and even his academic achievements.
Isn’t he practically calling himself perfect?
Elena snorted and buried her face in the pillow again.
“I’d rather die than do it with you.”
She’d rather just die than face him.
Decarus thought deeply about something, then opened a drawer.
“Shall I give you some chocolate, Elena?”
He spoke as if trying to tempt a lethargic cat with a treat.
She’s not a fool to fall for something like chocolate.
“Do you think I’d fall for that?”
“I thought you might.”
It seemed he was pondering something useless again, as it became quiet for a moment.
After a while, he spoke up again.
“Shall we go for a walk?”
It must be a lie that this man is highly educated.
How could ‘Let’s go for a walk’ be the best he could come up with after minutes of thinking?
Come to think of it, that’s something you say to dogs.
He definitely sees her as an animal.
Well, truth be told, she was tempted for a moment.
She’s only seen the outside of this huge mansion through the windows.
She desperately wanted to get some fresh air and enjoy the sunlight but didn’t want to go out with him.
Be patient, the patient one wins.
“Then shall we play together?”
“Please, just say something that makes sense.”
Why does he keep bothering her with conversation?
Elena sighed and burrowed deeper into the pillow.
Creak-
Judging by the sound of the chair being pushed back, he must have stood up.
Click, click. The sound of shoes against the floor gets closer.
Surely he’s not coming to the bed?
Thud-
The head of the bed sank as if he had sat down on it.
Why is he suddenly coming over and being a nuisance?
“You, go and do your work. You have a lot to do, don’t you?”
Her voice was muffled as her face was buried in the pillow.
“I have time to spare for you.”
His hand gently stroked her curly hair.
The strange sensation made her hair stand on end and felt ticklish.
“Don’t touch me.”
Tap-
The hand that had been messing with her hair fell away pitifully.
She burrowed into the blanket like a small rabbit trembling in fear.
“Don’t come near me. Don’t talk to me, and don’t touch me.”
She was like a landmine that seemed ready to explode if he took just one more step closer.
A landmine that had been neglected for a long time and would go ‘boom’ if someone unknowingly stepped on it.
She had hidden herself deep in the dark mud, afraid of the touch of others.
“You’re like a serval.”
“……”
“A wildcat that grew up without receiving human warmth. You always show your claws to me. In fact, you want to be loved.”
“Huh.”
Want to be… loved?
How could one count the countless acts of violence committed in the name of love?
How could one fathom the hearts of children abandoned in the name of love?
To her, the emotion of love was a cruel gallows that judged her, a sorrowful emotion that bloomed in the sand.
“Who are you to define me?”
The small spark in her heart suddenly blazed up.
Elena threw off the blanket and glared at him as if she could kill him.
A cold voice flowed from between her tightly clenched lips.
She hated how he spoke as if he knew everything about her.
“Love?”
It was ridiculous.
She had never felt the emotion of love, not even once.
She had no need to feel it, nor did she even want to.
Because it had always hurt her.
She didn’t have a room in her heart to receive love.
No, such a room didn’t exist in the first place.
Because love was a false emotion that made people fools.
“I don’t need something like love.”
Yes, she didn’t need such emotions.
Humans are inherently alone.
The talk of giving and receiving love and living together must all be lies.
Such words are hypocritical and ugly.
They’re all excuses made up because one is weak.
“Elena.”
“What, do you pity me? Yes, someone like you probably never saw a child without parents before. So you pity me? Because I’m an orphan? Is that why you feel some sympathy?”
She poured out all the dark emotions in her heart.
She hated this man who judged her as he pleased.
The rebellious feeling that was boiling up burst out of her mouth.
“You must have been happy to at least have dead parents. How nice. You have everything I don’t. Right?”
“…Elena.”
His expression immediately darkened.
A bit of fear arose, but she didn’t care.
She hadn’t actually intended to bring up his dead parents.
It was just her anger making her mouth move on its own.
“Don’t look at me with those eyes. Don’t pity me.”
“……”
“I hate people like you the most. People with a sense of superiority. That’s exactly what you are. The worst. The very embodiment of it.”
He stared at her like a person devoid of any emotion.
Not a single thought was reflected in his ruby-like red eyes.
“So don’t concern yourself with my affairs. I can barely stand to face you right now.”
After spilling out all the feelings she couldn’t tell anyone, her heart felt empty.
Guilt crept in like a dark fog.
“Now leave. You have your work…!”
Suddenly, his hand pulled her in forcefully.
Dragged by the strong force, Elena fell into his broad shoulders.
“What are you…!”
He silently stroked her head.
Gently, as if petting a puppy.
“Let go of this.”
“……”
“I said let go while I’m asking nicely!”
Elena struggled and pounded his arm with her fist.
But he didn’t even flinch, as if it didn’t hurt at all.
“You haven’t changed at all. That personality of yours that can’t say you’re hurt even when you are.”
“What are you…!”
“Just stubborn as ever.”
Why does he keep acting like he’s known her for a long time?
When she’s never seen him in her entire life, why?
“Who are you? Who on earth are you to me…!”
“Someone who can cherish you.”
“…What?”
He slowly removed his shoulders and faced her.
She saw herself trembling reflected in his glass-like eyes.
“Someone who can embrace you.”
“What…”
His warm touch caressed her soft skin.
A confusing emotion settled in a corner of her heart.
Like a heat haze rising between the asphalt.
“Someone who will love you forever.”
“Don’t say such things.”
She didn’t want to hear it.
It was like a cursed spell from the devil.
Something that keeps making people weak.
“I love you.”
“Stop it.”
Her whole body trembled like someone left alone in a midwinter blizzard.
An inexplicable fear and terror poured out as if standing before the gates of hell.
“Elena.”
“Stop it, I said stop!!!”
A small droplet that had formed in the corner of her eye rolled down her cheek.
The burst of tears poured down incessantly like a passing shower.
Elena raised both hands and struck his chest hard.
“I told you to stop. But why do you keep, keep…”
He sighed deeply and embraced her again.
Elena, squeezed tightly in his arms, gasped.
Her face was a mess from the tears soaking into his shirt.
Elena, with her eyes tightly shut, barely managed to speak in a choked voice.
“I hate you so much…”
“I know.”
“Really, really hate you. You’re the worst…”
She felt a warm sensation from the hand patting her back.
Like a well-tended flower on a spring day, a small bud blossomed in a corner of her heart.
