She pointed a trembling finger at him, her arm shaking with the weight of her accusation. Cajetan, his face filled with feigned sorrow, sighed dramatically.

“If you need someone to blame for my brother’s death, blame me, sister-in-law.”

He said with a faint mocking smile, his arms outstretched as if inviting her to condemn him.

As he stepped closer and enveloped her in a deliberate, mocking embrace, Grace’s entire body began to shake uncontrollably. His touch felt like chains tightening around her, dragging her into despair.

“I take responsibility. For you too. I’ll bear it all.”

“Cajetan, Grace is…”

The king’s voice trailed off as he swallowed the word ‘mad’, careful not to say it out loud. Grace blinked slowly, her mind spinning in confusion.

“It’s all right, Mother,” Cajetan continued in a calm, collected tone. “If this is something I must bear, then I will gladly do so.”

“No, no… no!”

Grace cried, catching her breath. How had the conversation taken such a turn?

Cajetan, pretending to sacrifice himself for the ‘mad princess’, left her breathless with disbelief.

“I don’t want this! Please, just send me back. I’ll live as if none of this ever happened. Mother, Father – no, Your Majesties – please! I’ll forget everything and pretend it never happened!”

Sobbing, Grace clung to the hems of the King and Queen’s robes, her despair spilling out into the room. Her breathing became labored and her shoulders shook violently.

Cajetan, always the picture of calm, gently wrapped his arms around her trembling body. His voice, soft but loud enough for all to hear, cut through her cries.

“I will endure anything. I will do everything in my power to make my sister-in-law’s grief disappear completely. I will take my brother’s place and set things right.”

Grace’s vision spun. Her mind felt like it was unravelling as her body writhed, her screams tearing through the room. She could see it in their faces – they all thought she was really crazy.

“I… I…”

She gasped, but the words caught in her throat, choked by her helplessness and despair. 

Grace muttered to herself, “I’m not mad.” Cajetan, as if to reassure her, stroked her back a few times before leaning in to whisper softly in her ear. 

“Did you really think you could escape, sister-in-law?” 

“Aaaah!” 

Her scream broke the silence, echoing through the room before she collapsed and lost consciousness.

***

Despite her wishes, letters were exchanged between the two nations, discussing what to do with the princess, who had supposedly “gone mad” after her husband’s death. As expected, her homeland showed no interest in reclaiming such a princess. 

And to make matters worse, had Cajetan not “selflessly” offered to take responsibility for her? The prince was praised by all for his noble sacrifice.

Grace, now resigned to a reality that was unfolding against her will, no longer had the strength to resist. 

“Sister-in-law”

From the moment he declared that he would endure anything, Cajetan began to care for her with unwavering devotion. He no longer visited her secretly at night, nor did he subject her to harsh intimacy.

Instead, he remained at the side of the “mad” princess in public, as if to demonstrate his devotion for all to see.

“How do you feel today? The weather is lovely.”

His voice was warm and measured, a facade of concern that only deepened her despair.

“…”

“You may never completely forget the pain of losing my brother, but you must overcome it.”

Grace ignored him. Others looked at Cajetan and called him “pitiful”, even though he was the architect of this entire situation.

A hollow laugh escaped her lips. How had it come to this? Why could no one see the man for what he really was?

She looked at Cajetan, who wore a look of deep concern, as if he really cared.

“I… won’t be fooled.”

She said, gritting her teeth and forcing each word out deliberately.

Cajetan gently brushed her hair back, his touch soft and deceptively kind. He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, his tone low and intimate.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re not deceived, sister-in-law.”

“…”

“Oh, I suppose I should be calling you ‘my wife’ soon, shouldn’t I?”

A small chuckle escaped him, his lips curling into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Then, as if seamlessly slipping back into his role, he took on a face of ‘sorrow’ and spoke aloud, his voice loud enough for others to hear.

“Sister-in-law, I pray for your speedy recovery.”

The sensation of his lips pressed firmly against the back of her hand, as if branding her with his touch, sent shivers through her entire body. She wanted to pull away, but his grip and the weight of her despair kept her still.

***

Decisions about Grace’s life were being made without her knowledge or consent.

“Sister-in-law, there will be no separate wedding ceremony.”

Grace didn’t even look at him. The garden to which she had been forcibly taken was the same place where he had assaulted her once before, during a brief absence of Velenus.

“After all, this is a remarriage for you, and it’s not exactly an event that needs to be widely publicised.”

“…”

“Please understand, Sister-in-law.”

Those nearby who overheard began to praise Cajetan for his ‘depth of character’. They praised him for his respectful treatment of his mentally unstable sister-in-law, even going so far as to emulate the kindness and gentleness of his late brother. His seemingly magnanimous behaviour was hailed as proof of his noble nature.

Grace glared at him, anger burning in her eyes. Cajetan met her gaze and smiled faintly.

“It hasn’t been long since my brother died, but I thought it best to settle this quickly, sister-in-law.”

Taking her hand, Cajetan slipped off the wedding ring Velenus had placed there. Despite her best efforts to twist her hand away, to resist in any way she could, she couldn’t escape his grip. He replaced it with another ring – a cold, alien weight on her finger that seemed to seal her fate.

Grace’s struggles were in vain, her helplessness tightening around her like a noose as Cajetan’s control over her life became more absolute.

Finally, he slid the small ring firmly onto her finger, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

“I’ve already informed mother and father, sister-in-law.”

“…”

“Or should I start calling you my wife?”

He said, twirling a strand of her golden hair around his finger and planting a kiss on it.

Grace bit her lip hard. Was she really going to be Cajetan’s wife? No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape. No matter how much she screamed, no one would believe her.

“I will do my best to help you forget him, my wife.”

He said it loud enough for others to hear, before gently lifting her into his arms. Once again, no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t break free.

***

Grace stared blankly at the ceiling. Cajetan, his lips pressed to hers, moved slowly down – to her neck, her collarbone, her br*ast.

Her clothes were gradually removed, revealing her skin, which had regained its pale, flawless glow.

As if tasting something sweet, Cajetan licked along her white skin, the sound of kisses echoing as he smothered her in them.

He pressed his lips to the soft curve of her br*ast, his tongue swirling around the hardened n*pple before taking it fully into his mouth.

“Hngh.”

She stifled a sound, biting her lip hard. His touch was far too skilled to resemble anything one might associate with a ‘first night’. It awakened her senses, forcing her lips to part despite her best efforts to resist.

“Haa, ah…”

As Cajetan gently bit and sucked on her n*pple, he moved his lips down to her flat stomach, leaving a trail of kisses. Grace, her breaths shallow and quick, gripped his hair tightly.

“Murderer.”

Her words did not deter him as he continued down, his movements slow and deliberate. When he reached the space between her legs, already wet with love juices, a small chuckle escaped his lips. His fingers grazed her wet folds, teasingly exploring the sensitive area as her inner muscles involuntarily tensed in response.

“No matter what anyone says, you’re a murderer… and trash. Ah…”

Each word was spat out through clenched teeth, her back sinking into the mattress as her wrists were roughly pinned to the bed.

“Do you know why? Hmm?”

Grace looked at him with her piercing blue eyes. Was he saying it was all her fault? It was nothing but an excuse – a useless, incomprehensible excuse.

“Sister-in-law.”

Cajetan’s face fell slowly. As their breaths mingled, Grace flinched and squeezed her eyes shut. His warm lips pressed against her forehead.

“You make me cruel.”

“Hngh…”

Her body shook with fear.

“Do you know what it feels like to think you can do anything, sister-in-law?”

Grace opened her eyes slightly, her gaze cautious and uncertain.

“Killing my brother was nothing.”

“Murderer,” she spat, her voice shaking as the weight of his confession sank in. Why did he confess now?

Cajetan smiled brightly, the expression almost mocking. 

“It means I really can do anything. If it meant consuming your beautiful body piece by piece, I’d gladly become a tyrant.” 

She didn’t answer – no, she couldn’t. 

Slowly, his lips met hers. 

“So from now on, make sure I don’t lose control, sister-in-law,” he murmured, his voice a disturbing mixture of sweetness and menace.

Grace squeezed her eyes shut again as his teeth grazed her lips before Cajetan thrust himself deep inside her without hesitation.

“Hngh!”

Only then did she realise that she was trapped in a giant cage from which she could never escape. A sobbing moan escaped her parted lips.

-The End-