When That Door Opens - Chapter 28
I buried my face in my knees. Was I now receiving the punishment for living in submission to my sister’s murderer? Even as I thought that, the injustice of it made me feel like I was going mad.
I only wished to survive. I only wanted to cling to my miserable life. But was this truly the only way to stay alive?
“Lady Astel, the bathwater is ready.”
The voice of an attendant came from beyond the door. I flinched and raised my head. Bathwater—could Roman have already arrived? Even though I knew it was unlikely, I couldn’t think straight.
When that door opened, I feared Roman, that dreadful man, would be standing there. He wouldn’t care about others watching; after all, this place was filled with Roman’s people!
“I have no desire to see anyone right now! Leave at once!”
I yelled venomously at the attendants to leave and stood up. My heart pounded loudly. I had to find a way, any way, to escape Roman’s lust!
* * *
“We intend to hold the council meeting scheduled for next week after the Grand Duke returns.”
Could it be that the gods hadn’t abandoned me? An elderly council member with graying hair delivered the news like rain in a drought.
A mine had been discovered on one of Roman’s lands. Blinded by greed, Roman had rushed there immediately. He probably wouldn’t return until the full extent of the mine’s resources was revealed.
I genuinely hoped the mine would overflow with gold. If so, Roman would be so consumed by the gold veins that he would forget about someone like me.
‘With any luck, he might even forget me entirely.’
There were many women in this world. Women far more beautiful and noble than I, women who would gladly accept Roman…
Surely, he would find better company in his lands than with some stone like me. I clung to this slender thread of hope.
Though it was soon shattered.
“Lady Astel, I heard that the Grand Duke received an oracle. May I ask what exactly the oracle said? The Grand Duke instructed me to prepare for its fulfillment.”
“…I did hear the words of the gods, but I haven’t completed their interpretation yet. I will need some time. Once the meaning of the oracle becomes clear, I will summon you. Until then, keep this matter confidential.”
“As you command.”
After the noble left the reception room, I buried my face in my hands and exhaled shakily.
I had thought I had no desires, but Roman’s obsession proved that to be a lie.
Even when nothing else remained, there was a boundary I could not allow to be crossed.I wanted to exorcize that demon, even if it meant destroying myself.
‘Roman… should I kill him?’
For the first time in my life, I had such a thought. In my mind, I envisioned that repulsive body of his. A demonic man, yet still a man. If stabbed with a knife, he would bleed and eventually die! My thoughts flowed wildly, without restraint. I stabbed Roman repeatedly in my mind.
But something was strange. At the end of my imagination, Roman always smiled. As if mocking my rebellion, he pulled out the knife embedded in his body. Sometimes, before the knife even touched his body, before I could even reach him, he would grab my wrist. He would look down at me with a murderous glare and laugh.
‘Did you really think you could hurt me?’
I looked down at my hands. Pale, small hands. It seemed impossible for these hands to pierce Roman’s large, solid body. Instead of killing him, I would only lead my life to ruin without causing him any significant harm.
Certainty turned into despair, swallowing me whole.
* * *
Time continued to pass, but I still couldn’t find an escape route. The deeper my worries, the worse my sleep and meals became. Even if I managed to fall asleep, I would have nightmares about Roman. Those dreadful nights killed my appetite, and for days I could only barely manage to consume porridge.
Despite the torment, I had duties to fulfill. As I leaned back in the reception room chair, an attendant spoke to me.
“Lady Astel, the sculptor has arrived.”
“Let him in.”
“I am honored to meet you, Lady Astel.”
The sculptor, dressed in exotic clothing, twirled his long mustache as he entered. He wore a large turban on his head and loose pants, fitting his foreign origin.
Roman had brought this sculptor from abroad to create my bust.
Roman used me, Astel, to amass wealth. Since Astel was considered the deity of Schultz, my portraits and items I touched were sold at high prices.
