There is No Key to His Cage - Chapter 4.2
On a day when a biting winter wind was blowing.
It was when she had just escaped from a tedious company dinner and was heading home.
The traffic light was green, and as usual, she crossed the crosswalk accordingly.
It was when she was about halfway across.
A loud honking sound was heard from somewhere.
When she turned her head, she saw an overloaded vehicle speeding towards her, unable to control its speed.
Like a scene from a drama, she couldn’t move or even let out a small scream.
She just stared blankly at the huge truck, like someone waiting for death.
Perhaps the last memory of her previous life was the truck driver’s startled expression.
“I can still vividly remember the driver’s expression. It was the first time I’d seen someone’s eyes get that big.”
And so her fate changed.
In the blink of an eye, everything had changed as if it had been just a dream.
Her adult body became that of a child, the middle of the road filled with cars became an orphanage full of children.
And unfamiliar language and unfamiliar appearance.
At first, it was very bewildering.
Not only did she naturally understand a language she had never heard before, but it also came out of her mouth effortlessly without any special effort.
“And suddenly my viewpoint was lower, so the world looked different.”
She thought God had given her another chance to live happily.
But that too was a big misunderstanding.
Violence was always lurking around her, anywhere and everywhere.
Just like in her previous life, if she couldn’t solve math problems, she was pinched on the inside of her thighs where others couldn’t see, and if she ate late, she had to starve the next day.
When she fought with friends or when the director was in a bad mood, she was beaten indiscriminately.
And this was when she had just turned 7 years old.
Perhaps that was the first time she resented the existence of God.
She cried every day, saying that if God existed, shouldn’t He give her a better life than her previous one?
So she grew up lonely for over 20 years, combining her previous and current lives, between the thorny fences of the orphanage.
When she first thought of escape, she who was beaten every day, was barely 7 years old.
Having already lived a long previous life, she knew from the moment she opened her eyes here that the orphanage was of no help to her life.
So on a night when owls were hooting, she ran away.
Food, shelter, clothes to wear.
Everything was lacking.
But she, who had escaped from a hellish place, was as happy as anyone else.
With him.
“Elena, look at this.”
“Hm?”
She had a friend.
A friend who had grown up with her from the orphanage and had been with her all her life.
“What’s this? A flower?”
Aiden entered the orphanage when he turned 9.
He was childishly whimsical but also mature like a little adult.
Sometimes like a mom and dad, sometimes like a comrade, he was a reliable supporter.
He was a friend who always gifted her with a fresh smile.
An indispensable, precious person in this world.
He was someone who gave strength to Elena, who was very young.
“I’m worried your ugly face might get even uglier. Smile a bit. You being gloomy makes me gloomy too.”
“What? Ugly?”
“Ah, I’m sorry! Don’t hit me!”
She loved to sing and dance.
They wandered around like gypsies.
As long as she was with him, it didn’t matter if it was a stone path, a forest path, or anywhere else.
Sometimes they performed plays, and sometimes sang on the streets to earn money.
It wasn’t much income, but they were happy with their freedom.
Aiden was the one who supported her then.
His clear amber-like eyes were vivid in her memory.
His smile as he looked at her was unforgettably bright.
“Aiden… I wonder what happened to Aiden. I hope he’s not being beaten by someone like I am…”
As if reminiscing about old times, her blue eyes floated aimlessly in the air.
Tears that flowed unconsciously slowly fell into the warm bathwater.
“Ah, this isn’t the time for this.”
She had to hurry and get ready to go out, as the maids were waiting persistently outside.
As she stood up, the sloshing bathwater flowed out of the tub.
Her snow-white body shone like a jewel reflecting light as if it had been kneaded.
Creak-.
“Um… I’m done.”
“Yes, my lady. Then please come this way. I’ll guide you to the room you’ll be using from now on.”
She put on a white dress and a thin shawl before heading out the door.
Her heart felt a little more at ease, experiencing the outside world after a long time.
The corridor was the epitome of splendor, befitting some noble’s residence.
Walls decorated entirely in gold, sculptures that looked obviously expensive, and artworks that could be found in the Musée d’Orsay were lined up, showing off their beauty.
“Why would someone like this…”
“It’s because you are an extremely important person to His Grace the Grand Duke.”
“What… do you mean?”
Suddenly, her body froze like an ice sculpture.
It felt as if her fully functioning brain had stopped working.
Grand Duke.
Did she say, Grand Duke?
“Considering that he assigned me, the head maid, and others among the maids to you, it’s clear he cherishes you greatly. Also, everything prepared for you is of the highest quality. Surely, His Grace the Grand Duke values you…”
“No, not that. Just now… did you say, Grand Duke…?”
Elena spoke with trembling lips.
Grand Duke is a title given to only five people in the Estel Empire.
And only the rulers of duchies can have it.
But he’s a Grand Duke?
“Oh my, it seems you didn’t know yet.”
Jane, with her light brown hair neatly tied, said with wide eyes.
“He is the Grand Duke who rules this Ardeo Duchy.”
“What?”
Elena frowned for a moment and unconsciously shook her head slowly.
Thinking she might have misheard, she grabbed Jane and asked again.
“He’s… what?”
“The ruler of Ardeo Duchy, His Grace Grand Duke Decarus de Scylla.”
