When she opened her eyes again, the surroundings had completely changed.
Instead of the snow-covered desert, she stood in a dimly lit interior.
‘Where is this?’
The first thing she noticed was the incredibly high ceiling and thick curtains.
‘That looks like a chandelier.’
There was something wrapped in black fabric hanging in the center of the ceiling.
‘That means…’
She looked around without letting her guard down.
‘It looks like a banquet hall.’
The space, as large as the banquet hall in the imperial palace she once visited, was supported by two pillars.
It smelled of dust, as if it had been untouched by human hands for a long time.
‘Is there anything here that can tell me exactly where I am?’
The banquet hall was too dark to see clearly, but there were embossed decorations visible under the candlelight.
Just as she was about to move closer to examine them in detail,
“Follow me. Lord Rehir is waiting for you.”
With a cold voice, Julios pulled her strongly.
Leticia stumbled but managed to regain her balance. Julios did not wait for her and continued walking with long strides.
To avoid falling, Leticia quickly followed, biting her lip.
Seven years ago, when she heard from Tenue about Julios’s death, it felt like the end of the world.
The hope she barely held onto amidst severe abuse shattered into pieces.
She had thought she would do anything if only she could turn back time and save Julios.
How cruel fate was. Watching Julios’s broad back, Leticia clenched her fist.
‘I must not waver. I have to stay focused.’
Her mind was in turmoil because Julios had become a completely different person.
How Rehir had managed to find such a suitable body so quickly.
How Julios must have desperately resisted while merging with that body.
Despite his efforts, how much pain he must have felt as he was finally engulfed by darkness.
The more she thought about it, the more it drove her mad.
‘I must stay calm. If I get swept up in my emotions, it will only play into Rehir’s hands.’
The reason Rehir sent Julios to Leticia was clear. He wanted to shock her greatly.
That sinister person was undoubtedly watching their every move from somewhere.
Leaving the banquet hall, the two walked down a long corridor.
Only their footsteps echoed in the high-ceilinged hallway.
After walking for a while, light seeped through a tightly closed door.
As they approached, the door creaked open.
Leticia turned her head, unable to bear the pouring light.
“Don’t try anything foolish.”
At that moment, Julios pulled her inside.
As soon as she took a few steps inside, someone burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! What a sight. It’s absolutely fantastic!”
When she slowly opened her eyes, she saw Rehir clutching his stomach and laughing.
“Leticia! To see you in such a state! It’s almost too good to keep to myself!”
Rehir laughed heartily for a while, then wiped tears from his eyes.
He chuckled as he approached Leticia.
Julios bowed his head slightly and stepped aside.
Standing right in front of her, Rehir smiled with eyes full of mirth.
“Leticia. How does it feel to be dragged here by the benefactor you missed so dearly?”
Leticia kept her gaze down, saying nothing.
Cold anger filled her heart, but now was not the time to show it.
Rehir chuckled and lifted Leticia’s chin.
“I asked you a question. You should answer, right? Have you gone mad from losing your child? Is that why you can’t grasp the situation?”
“…My child died because of you.”
Leticia glared at Rehir with reddened eyes.
“You killed my child!”
There was no need to feign sorrow.
Just seeing Julios loyal to Rehir was enough to tear her heart apart.
As a soon-to-be mother, she could only imagine how Mano must feel seeing Julios now.
“Leticia. You should speak accurately. I didn’t kill your child. That guy did.”
Rehir smirked at Julios.
Then he tucked Leticia’s hair behind her ear and whispered.
“The benefactor who saved you killed your child. So don’t feel too wronged. Think of it as paying back a life debt from long ago. Even if it was a worthless life.”
With that, Rehir grabbed Leticia’s face.
Seeing her tear-streaked cheeks only heightened his excitement.
Leticia, who had constantly interfered with his plans, was now dragged here so helplessly.
Fate had clearly chosen him.
“What should I do with you? I can’t let you die easily.”
He planned to make her suffer for as long as possible.
The thought of her begging him to spare her life, crying her eyes out, was already thrilling.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about dying right away. That would be too easy and boring. The most fun part should come later. Right?”
He intended to savor this pleasure for as long as possible.
“By the way, your eyes are quite something. Do you want to kill me? They said you went mad from the shock of losing your child, but you still have the energy to be angry at me? Seems like you have some sanity left. Well, that will end soon too.”
With that, Rehir raised his hand high.
He slapped Leticia’s cheek.
Slap!
With a sharp sound, Leticia’s head whipped to the side.
She staggered from the impact but managed to stay on her feet.
Seeing her trembling, Rehir grabbed her hair.
“How does it feel?”
“…….”
“I asked, how does it feel?”
Leticia glared at him without saying a word.
Blood dripped from her lips, cut from clenching them tight when he slapped her.
“Do you still want to kill me? Yes, that’s right. It should be fun. Leticia, never give up until the end. The more you resist, the more pleasure I get.”
Rehir chuckled and raised his hand again. Leticia squeezed her eyes shut. A moment later.
“Did she faint already?”
Rehir clicked his tongue as he nudged the collapsed Leticia with his foot.
“I suppose that’s it for today.”
It was a pity to end here, but he decided to hold back for now.
Leticia’s physical condition was worse than he had anticipated.
If she fainted after just a few slaps, he would have to adjust his strength if he wanted to torment her for longer.
“Take this woman to the underground dungeon. Julios.”
“Understood, Lord Rehir.”
Julios, who had been watching everything from nearby, bowed slightly.
He then gently picked up the unconscious Leticia.
His emotionless blue eyes briefly rested on Leticia.
Her cheek was swollen red beneath her tightly closed eyelids.
His gaze lingered for a moment on her lips, crusted with blood, before he moved.
* * *
Clang.
Clank.
The sound of the iron door closing was followed by the fading of footsteps.
Leticia, who had been pretending to be unconscious, slowly opened her eyes.
Feeling the cold seeping up from the floor, she gradually sat up.
She gently touched her swollen cheek and injured lips.
‘As expected, it doesn’t hurt at all. The shield’s effect is incredible.’
The healing power that Kailas had infused into her.
Thanks to that, she felt no pain whatsoever.
Rehir, knowing nothing, had completely fallen for Leticia’s act.
‘I can heal the wounds whenever I want.’
But for now, she decided to leave the wounds as they were.
There was no need to arouse Rehir’s suspicion by healing them immediately.
‘I need to conserve my body heat as much as possible.’
The temperature in the dungeon was much lower than in the snow-covered desert.
The shield protected her for now, but she couldn’t rely on it indefinitely.
The healing power was like water in a jar; if she kept using it, it would eventually run out.
Leticia curled up as tightly as she could.
She then grasped the elixir and infused it with her strength.
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