There is No Key to His Cage - Chapter 15
One drop, two drops.
Painful tears blossomed from her eyes.
The raindrops flowing down her skin were as heavy as a summer shower.
He, sitting on the table, slowly stood up and carefully approached her.
As if someone had deliberately stretched time, he moved bit by bit.
“Let me go. Please… Carus….”
He silently looked down at her crying.
His pale face bore no expression.
“Please. Please….”
He approached her kneeling form and placed his hand under her chin.
“If I let you go, what will you give me in return?”
Between her half-closed eyelids, eyes like red moons shone through.
A voice, as if soaked in water, echoed in her ears.
“Carus….”
Elena raised her head to look up at him.
Tears fell, rolling down her delicate cheeks.
“I need to gain something too, don’t I?”
“……Ha.”
The answer was already decided.
To dedicate eternity to him,
To swear loyalty.
This was the answer he wanted.
But the words wouldn’t easily leave her lips.
Knowing how terrible the consequences would be.
“If you let me go, I’ll live as if I don’t exist. I won’t tell the Security Bureau about you… I’ll live like a dead mouse….”
“Again.”
He lowered his head, fiddling with his nails as he continued.
As if he wanted to hear the desired answer.
“Please. Don’t do this….”
“Again.”
“Carus….”
Tears flowed incessantly, wetting the hem of her dress.
The moisture touching her legs felt unpleasantly damp.
“I clearly gave you a chance.”
“……”
“You’re the one who missed it.”
Tap-
He carelessly passed by her.
The sound of his shoe heels was as dull as a death sentence.
“Carus!!!”
At her cry, he stopped in his tracks.
Was it an illusion to see a faint smile behind his back?
“I’ll do it. Whatever you want… I’ll do it. Anything…. So…!”
The halted footsteps approached again, ticking steadily like a metronome.
“What?”
Decarus knelt down in front of her.
As she raised her head following his touch, she saw a face with a devilish smile.
“What will you do, Elena?”
Her mouth wouldn’t open readily due to the preceding fear.
Her whole body trembled as if she had dared to confront a god.
“Ah. Ah….”
Then he picked up her fallen hand and smiled faintly.
“Swear eternity to me.”
His moist lips touched her delicate hand.
He slowly removed his lips and looked at her with languid eyes.
“Promise to live as mine for life.”
Her head slowly moved up and down.
Tears flowed from her tightly closed eyes, creasing them.
It couldn’t be more miserable.
She completely crumbled before him.
Her world shattered with a rustle.
“Raise your head.”
His touch caressed her carefully as if she were lovable.
The palm pressing down her tears became soaking wet.
He slowly approached, bringing his face close.
“You can’t escape from me.”
His soft lips met hers.
The firmly pressed lips soon parted widely, exploring each other.
He slowly tickled her, licking her palate.
Their intensely intertwined tongues rolled around inside their mouths, feeling each other.
Their rough breathing echoed in the quiet room.
“Haa… I love you, Elena.”
Elena blankly stared into his eyes after parting her lips.
He caressed her face again, calling her name.
His unique baritone voice lingered in her ears.
“I want to hear your voice.”
Following his command, she slowly parted her lips.
Her throat wouldn’t open easily, as if an iron door had closed.
She forcibly opened her mouth, squeezing out her voice.
Finally, a pitiful sound came from between her stretched lips.
“I love you….”
This is a pure white hell.
A pure white hell that looks innocent but is blackened inside.
A cruel cage she wants to escape but cannot.
She finally realized.
That she could never escape from him.
***
Another dazzling morning dawned.
Seeing that she had no memory, she must have collapsed like that yesterday.
It seems to be early dawn, given how quiet it is outside.
The once knife-like man is still sleeping beside her.
The hell has begun again.
“Haa….”
As she sighed softly, he stirred for a moment.
Having slept holding her tightly all night, she couldn’t stand or sit up.
Just as she was about to remove his arm like a bolt, a deep, low voice tickled her ear.
“Where are you going?”
“……”
He softly kissed her nape as if giving a morning greeting.
As she flinched and pushed his arm away, a chuckle was heard.
It wasn’t that she had anywhere particular to go.
She just disliked his embrace.
She disliked feeling like a giant doll.
Elena lay there helplessly, like a dried-up fish.
“I was surprised when you collapsed like that yesterday.”
Slender fingers slipped between her hands, interlocking.
The warmth of their touch was as warm as a stove.
“……”
Memories of yesterday fell like meteors.
Elena trembled like a child left alone in war.
“Elena.”
“Go away….”
Her arms, thin as twigs, weakly pushed him away.
She no longer had the strength to resist him.
No, she didn’t even think of resisting.
He wasn’t an opponent she dared to confront.
“Elena, look at me.”
“……”
She was silent as if dead.
So he turned her body around as if he had no choice.
“Elena.”
At his deep voice, she slowly raised her head to look at him.
But she turned her eyes away in less than a second.
She was afraid.
“Come here.”
He pulled her arm and embraced her trembling body.
The sound of his beating heart touched her ear directly.
“Are you afraid of me?”
She wasn’t foolish enough to honestly admit she was scared if she was.
She thought it best to just stay still.
“……”
“You should answer.”
“No….”
Instead of shaking her head, she answered verbally.
Like Pavlov’s dog, she was already trained by him.
T/n: The phrase “Like Pavlov’s dog” refers to Ivan Pavlov’s famous classical conditioning experiment, where dogs were trained to salivate at the sound of a bell. When applied to human behavior, it suggests that a person has been conditioned to respond automatically to certain stimuli or commands, often without conscious thought. This comparison implies a high degree of control or influence exerted by one person over another, resulting in reflexive rather than deliberate responses.
“Are you going to lie?”
“……”
Well, it would be deceptive to say she wasn’t scared when she was trembling this much.
Elena swallowed hard and lowered her head.
“No….”
Seemingly frustrated by her faint voice, he let out a deep sigh.
“Go for a walk. I’ll allow it.”
“What…?”
Did he mean he would let her go outside for a walk?
Elena finally looked straight into his eyes.
“Now you look at me.”
He gave a faint, almost disappointed smile as he gently stroked her hair.
Then he lightly kissed her forehead before leaving the bed.
“Go for a walk and visit the library. From now on, you’ll be free within this mansion.”
“……”
Instead of answering, Elena nodded slightly.
Standing in front of the wardrobe, Decarus took off his pajamas and pulled out a shirt.
“The tailor will come again later. I’ve told Jane, so be aware.”
“Tailor…?”
“Yes, we need to fit your dress.”
By dress, could he possibly mean a wedding dress?
Her body stiffened at the newly realized reality.
“Ah….”
“You don’t need to be nervous about it.”
Neatly dressed, Decarus slowly approached the bedside and lightly kissed her forehead.
Then, as if finding her worry cute, he ruffled her hair a couple of times and bent down.
“See you tonight.”
He kissed her forehead once more, as if reluctant to leave.
Thanks to that, her forehead was covered in warm lip marks.
“I’ll be going then.”
“……”
Bang-
As the door closed, it felt like her life was ending too.
She flopped onto the bed and stared out the window lifelessly.
All strength had left her body, making it impossible to stand up.
“A walk, huh….”
Was this a gift for finally becoming his loyal dog?
Should she be happy or sad?
A sneer escaped at the pitiful sight.
Memories of yesterday floated chaotically in her mind.
Having sworn eternity, she could no longer escape from him.
“How foolish.”
Elena sighed deeply and then got up from her seat.
The weather outside was brilliantly sunny, perfect for a walk.
“Should I go out…?”
Was it because it was her first time leaving the mansion?
Her heart seemed to flutter a little.
Freedom felt quite good.
After standing by the window contemplating for a moment, Elena headed to the wardrobe.
As the door opened with its characteristic creaking sound, a row of colorful dresses appeared.
“What….”
She couldn’t hide her surprise at the quantity, which seemed enough to wear for several years at a glance.
Confused, Elena hesitated for a moment before simply choosing a color she liked.
The light yellow dress, suitable for the current weather, was as pretty as a forsythia.
When she held it up in front of the mirror, her face seemed to brighten.
But the tear stains on her face remained.
“It’s a bit awkward to go out like this.”
After dressing, Elena had a servant bring her washing water.
The maid insisted on wiping her face, but she firmly refused.
“Huu….”
Her scrubbed face shone white like a pearl.
She seemed to feel better, looking human-like after a long time.
Stepping outside, the bright sunlight tickled her eyes.
Being located in the southern part of the empire, it was a bit warm even in spring.
“Good morning, miss!”
“Ah, yes….”
Startled by the sudden greeting, Elena trailed off.
Regretting not responding properly, she vowed to greet cheerfully next time.
The mansion was much larger than she had expected.
In the left corner of the mansion grounds was a library as large as a public library.
The outer walls of the building were beautifully covered with lush ivy, and beside it was a dense forest of tall trees.
In the center of the mansion was a wide path and a fountain spraying cool water.
“Wow….”
She worried if she could see all of this place, larger than the Gardens of Versailles, in just one day.
Elena carefully extended her foot and descended the stairs.
“Miss?”
“Huh? Jane?”
From afar, Jane approached her with quick steps, carrying a basket.
She too walked quickly, glad to see her.
“Miss, please walk slowly! What if you get hurt!”
Jane was like a mother.
Of course, she didn’t have a mother, but she wondered if this was how having a mother would feel.
Elena smiled brightly at her.
“It’s our first time seeing each other outside, isn’t it?”
She held Elena’s hands tightly, her pretty eyes sparkling.
The warmth touching her hands seemed to spread all the way to her heart.
“Yes.”
“Well then, let me guide you. Come on! We still have plenty of time before the tailor arrives!”
Jane led her by the wrist, showing her around various parts of the mansion.
“Let’s look at the garden first. It’s the most famous place in this mansion.”
“Garden…?”
“Yes! Come on, this way!”
Led by her hand, they arrived at a garden full of incredibly beautiful flowers.
The arched entrance was adorned with colorfully blooming roses.
“Wow….”
“You shouldn’t be surprised yet.”
Past the entrance, a flower garden and glass greenhouse appeared that made her jaw drop.
Inside the transparent glass greenhouse, there was even a tea table set up for a simple tea time.
