When That Door Opens - Chapter 30
At that moment, I forgot the sculptor was sent by Roman. I raised the piece as if to strike him. Unlike Roman, the sculptor looked dull and stupid. Even with my lack of strength, I could at least cut his scalp!
However, I failed to crack the sculptor’s head. Realizing I was serious, he fled in a panic. The other slaves hurriedly followed him.
All except one.
The pale-skinned slave, who had been kneeling until then, slowly stood up. He clasped his hands together and bowed his head respectfully.
Despite having been severely beaten, his face remained calm. Still breathing heavily, I threw the piece of plaster sculpture irritably. Seeing the slave standing there quietly made my irritation boil over.
“Why are you standing there idly like that?”
I knew my irritation towards the slave was unjust. The person in front of me was merely a victim. It was unfair to project my foolish past onto him.
Ha! What did it matter?
I was in dire straits myself. When Roman returned, my life would be plunged into a cesspool worse than that of a slave, so why should I care for a slave I had only met today?
Ironically, even as I thought this, I found myself throwing a handkerchief at the slave.
“If you have the leisure to stand there dazed, wipe off your blood!”
For a brief moment, those previously indifferent blue eyes wavered.
Seeing that made my anger flare even more.
“Were you planning to go out looking like that? People would think I beat you! Get proper treatment!”
Though still irritated, I couldn’t bring myself to lash out further at the injured person.
Damn conscience! Cursing my soft-hearted nature, I stomped out of the reception room.
* * *
As soon as I returned to my room, a deep sense of depression washed over me. Once my anger subsided, I realized the enormity of what I had done.
Roman had planned to sell that bust to a foreign noble for a high price. To extract the most value, he had brought one of the top five sculptors on the continent and paid a hefty advance.
I had just wasted all that money.
With the last of my energy, I ordered the sculptor to be brought back. The servant, looking incredulous, spoke up.
“Lady Astel, that man has likely left the capital by now.”
This servant, too, was a loyal dog of Roman. His expression clearly conveyed his disdain for my mistake.
I felt intimidated for a moment but then, out of defiance, I raised my voice.
“If he has left the capital, then send people to the border. Must I personally give every single command? Truly incompetent!”
“…I apologize. I will immediately inform His Excellency as well.”
“Enough! I will write the letter myself. I have such a headache from all this. Bring me some headache medicine. I need to rest. Let no one enter until I say otherwise.”
Contrary to what I told the servant, I didn’t even touch the paper and pen. I was half resigned to let things unfold as they would. If everything was going to hell anyway, I might as well live as I please until Roman returns.
I must have drifted off to sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I saw was the full moon filling the night sky. I stared at it for a while before closing my eyes again. Sighing softly, I buried my face in the pillow.
It had been a long time since I last dreamed of my sister.
After becoming Astel, I often dreamed of her. In my dreams, she enjoyed all the happiness of being the real Astel. In the dream I just had, it was the same.
My sister, with a face identical to mine, was blessing the people of the capital. Roman did not dare to make a sound. The elegance with which my sister overwhelmed Roman’s presence was unforgettable.
“If only I weren’t here… No. It’s too late for that.”
I shook my head to clear away the self-reproach.
There were headache pills on the table left by Roman’s servant. Despite the lingering headache, I threw the pills out the window instead of taking them. I began to get dressed to go out.
I was preparing for a night walk.
Unlike during the day, at night I could escape from the eyes of Roman’s people. To Roman, I was nothing more than a leashed dog. No one in their right mind would assign guards to watch a guard dog.
Thanks to that, I often went for night walks like this. Walking through the temple in the dead of night made me feel, if only for a moment, like I wasn’t just a puppet. These brief moments were the only solace in my life.
As I grasped the doorknob, it suddenly struck me that there weren’t many days left where this would be possible.
Once I became Roman’s wife, I would be controlled not only by day, but by night.
