Olessia's eyes widened in disbelief, her breath catching as fear coiled in her chest. She had no idea who this Lady Eirene was, but one thing was clear... the woman held power, the kind that could destroy someone with a word.
Olessia suddenly wondered if she should have just apologized, even if she wasn't at fault. Maybe it would've saved her from whatever was coming next. Everyone seemed to bow to this woman as if she were royalty herself. The way she spoke, the way others reacted to her… it made Olessia's stomach twist. Just who was she to Kaive?
"Zalia… don't move an inch." Kaive's voice sounded commanding. Zalia froze instantly, her head bowed in obedience. The authority in his tone made even the air feel heavy.
Then, his piercing golden eyes shifted toward Olessia, holding her in place. "I said go to my room and wait for me," he ordered, his voice sounding dangerously firm. "Don't make me repeat myself."
Olessia's lips parted as if to speak, but the words died in her throat. Something in his gaze told her not to argue. She turned quickly, her heart racing as she walked away, leaving the suffocating silence behind her.
She didn't know what they were discussing or what would happen next, but she knew one thing for sure... disobeying him wasn't an option. She hurried straight to his room.
Olessia paced the room restlessly, her thoughts a storm of fear and uncertainty. Would Kaive punish her for what happened with Lady Eirene? Would his anger burn hotter than hers? Each possibility gnawed at her nerves.
The silence of the room pressed in on her, amplifying every sound of her footsteps. She kept pacing until her legs grew tired, then finally stopped near a table she hadn't noticed before.
Something about it drew her closer. When her eyes landed on what rested there, her breath caught... shock freezing her in place. What she saw was enough to steal every word from her throat.
Her reflection stared back at her from the page. A drawing... no, several of them. Kaive had drawn her. Olessia's fingers trembled as she turned each page, finding her own face captured again and again, every expression perfectly detailed.
A shiver ran down her spine. Why would he draw her? The thought made her uneasy. She was lost in confusion until she turned, and nearly screamed. Kaive stood just inches away from her silently, her golden eyes fixed on her.
She hadn't heard him come in, hadn't sensed a thing, and the sudden closeness sent a jolt of terror straight through her chest.
Her scream faded, replaced by a sharp inhale as she stumbled back, one hand instinctively pressing against his chest. His muscles tensed beneath her touch, and for a moment, neither of them moved.
Her heart raced wildly, fear and shock twisting inside her. Kaive hadn't meant to frighten her... he had simply been watching, caught off guard by the way she lingered over his sketches.
But now, seeing her fear, something flickered in his expression.
For a brief second, Kaive wanted her to stay that close... her touch still lingering like a spark on his skin. But he blinked, breaking the thought, and pushed her back slightly.
Only, his slightly was too strong. Olessia stumbled, losing her balance and falling onto the floor with a soft thud. The sound made something tighten in his chest, but he didn't move.
He just stood there, expression unreadable, watching her. Olessia's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she quickly stood, brushing the dust from her dress, refusing to meet his gaze.
"I promise… I didn't even know who she was," Olessia said, her voice trembling with anger and fear. Her brows knitted together, and she clenched her fists tightly at her sides.
"She poured her drink all over me... and then had the nerve to demand an apology?" Her tone rose as she spoke, frustration burning through her composure.
Her lips quivered, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. Kaive said nothing, only watched her quietly.
"I'll go back and apologize to her," Olessia finally stammered, her voice breaking under the weight of fear. "Please… don't let me be whipped. I—I'm sorry."
The word sorry felt like a stone in her throat, scraping against her pride as it came out. Her hands trembled, clutching the fabric of her dress tightly. She lowered her gaze, unable to look at him.
The image of Dino's whip flashed in her mind, and her stomach twisted in dread. Kaive's silence stretched on, making it worse.
He smirked dangerously, liking the way she mouthed the apology. He sank back into the chair and crossed one long leg over the other with slow, and casual grace.
Then he produced the knife and fork again. Her body tightened, a tremor ran through her limbs. Their gazes locked, her wide brown eyes against his golden ones. He drew a slow lick across his lower lip, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Here... take it and stab me with it, then," he said, extending the fork and knife toward her as if offering a choice. His voice was carelessly cold, the metal pointing at her.
She inhaled sharply, her palms damp, and her mind scrambling at the impossible demand. How could she do such a thing?
Could she raise her hands and hurt him, and then what... would she walk free or fall deeper into ruin? The fork trembled in her fingers as she considered the cost.
"You are free to leave this place if you can do what you wished" he added, his voice even and cold. "But if you fail, you remain my prisoner."
She felt courage and nausea war inside her, the choice was a knife-edge. Stab him, and escape... simple in theory, monstrous in practice. Her breath hitched as she reached out, her fingers shaking to take the knife and fork.
When the knife and fork were finally in her trembling hands, something inside Olessia snapped. Without a second thought, she turned the blade toward herself and slashed her wrist.
Kaive's eyes widened in shock... his composure breaking as he rushed forward to snatch the knife away. But it was too late. Blood spilled freely down her arm, staining the pendant around her neck.
She pressed her bleeding wrist against it, whispering a desperate plea under her breath. Her vision blurred, the world fading at the edges. All she wished for was for the pendant to take her home. Then, darkness claimed her.