Chapter 3.8

After the bath, the maid led Beatrice to another room filled with dresses, shoes, and accessories. 

“Excuse me, do you have a dress you’d recommend?” 

Without hesitation, the maid passed by numerous dresses and pulled out a pure white one to show her. 

“I’ll take that one. Would you mind helping me put it on?” 

The maid nodded and approached Beatrice to assist her in putting on the dress. The perfectly fitting garment seemed as though it had been made specifically for her. The maid then helped her put on shoes and accessories and began styling her hair. 

“It’s a bit lonely talking to myself. May I ask your name?”

Beatrice gazed at the maid through the mirror and asked her a question. The hands that had been styling her hair momentarily paused. The maid met Beatrice’s eyes in the mirror and opened her mouth. 

Inside the maid’s mouth, something was missing where it should have been. Her tongue was gone, as though it had been severed, leaving only a blunt lump of flesh inside. 

“That was answer enough. Thank you. Judging by how you showed me, it seems you can’t write either.” 

The maid nodded, and Beatrice let out a languid smile. However, it wasn’t her usual cheerful smile. Instead, her lips curved into a subdued expression, as though something weighed her down. 

Once the preparations were complete, the maid bowed and left the room. Beatrice pulled at the doorknob and discovered that the door had been locked from the outside. She checked the windows next, but they were installed at such a high place and similarly locked from the outside. 

“Completely trapped.” 

It felt as though she had become a bird in a cage. Taking advantage of the maid’s absence, Beatrice began exploring the room. After confirming its general layout, she examined the objects within. 

The bookshelf was filled with romance novels, and clothes tailored to her measurements hung neatly in the wardrobe. On the vanity were cosmetics and perfumes she often used, along with a single silver pair of scissors. 

Beatrice took the scissors and hid them under her pillow. It was the only thing in the room that could serve as a weapon. Feeling satisfied with her preparations, she lay down on the bed. 

The bed was soft, and the blankets were warm. Her body, weary from accumulated fatigue, made her mind feel sluggish. Beatrice glanced at the locked door and closed her eyes. 

The sunlight streaming through the window disappeared, and hours passed before Beatrice opened her eyes again. As she lifted her head, she was greeted by a familiar face smiling at her. 

“It’s been a while, my Beatrice.” 

“…Your Highness the Crown Prince.” 

The Crown Prince reached out and gently caressed Beatrice’s cheek. His blue eyes glimmered with a radiant light, reflected by the moonlight. 

“I can’t tell you how lonely I’ve been, unable to see you. Did you receive the letters I sent?” 

“Letters?” 

“Yes. I sent them along with dresses and shoes, but you didn’t reply. I waited for quite some time. It’s a good thing I prepared two sets, just in case.” 

The hand that had been stroking her cheek shifted to slowly comb through her hair. Silky white strands slipped through his fingers like threads of light. The Crown Prince murmured in a trance, unable to take his eyes off her. 

“My beloved Beatrice. I prepared all of this for you. Do you like it? Does it please you?” 

“Truly… I don’t know what to say.” 

“I knew you’d like it. After all, I know you better than anyone else.” 

That was a lie. The Crown Prince didn’t know Beatrice at all. The dress he sent had a corset that squeezed her body tightly and an exposed back. She had never worn such a style before. 

The uncomfortable outfit made her feel as though she couldn’t breathe. The Crown Prince leaned closer to inhale her scent. A low chuckle escaped near her neck. 

“By the way, didn’t I ask you to call me by my name when we’re alone? Surely you haven’t forgotten my request again?” 

“…No, Napoleone. Of course, I remember it well.” 

Napoleone Fel Caina. He was the Empire’s sole Crown Prince and the only heir to the throne. 

From a young age, he had been the pride of the Imperial Family and its most treasured jewel. The Emperor shielded all of his actions and turned a blind eye to them. 

The Crown Prince moved to sit on the edge of the bed. He examined Beatrice closely, his gaze stripping her bare. Beatrice didn’t want to meet his eyes under such a blatant stare. 

“It’s been half a year, hasn’t it? I heard your health wasn’t good, but you seem to have recovered a bit.” 

“Thanks to your special care.” 

“You knew? I was worried since Earl Delphinium didn’t seem to trust me. He promised to deliver my words to you, but it’s a relief to know they reached you.” 

“Oh, yes. My father…” 

“Right. Speaking of the Earl, something comes to mind. You’ll be coming of age this year, won’t you?” 

He smiled at her as though he had just thought of a brilliant idea. Then, he clasped one of her hands with both of his and pulled her closer. 

“It’s time for us to get engaged. It seems the people don’t know enough about you. That’s why incidents like this happen. If we hold an engagement ceremony and make your name known throughout the Empire, such things will never happen again.” 

“Your Highness.” 

“My father won’t oppose it. I may need to take a separate Empress in the future, but I’ll make you my Crown Princess…” 

“Napoleone!” 

Rarely raising her voice, Beatrice interrupted him sharply. The Crown Prince stopped mid-sentence and froze. His piercing blue eyes bore into her. 

Beatrice gripped the bed sheet with her free hand, the one he hadn’t seized. Instinct screamed at her to shake off his hold, but she didn’t. Instead, she tried to lift her lips into the most natural smile she could muster. 

“Napoleone. You said you loved only me.” 

“Of course, Beatrice. Look, even now, I love you so fervently. Look around you. The dress you’re wearing, the jewelry you’re adorned with, this mansion, and the servants—they were all prepared for you.” 

“…Do you know the name of that maid?”

“If it’s that maid… Ah, you mean the one assigned to you? Well, does her name matter? Did she make some sort of mistake? If there’s anything you don’t like, just let me know. I’ll have it fixed to your liking.” 

Whether the maid’s tongue had been cut off from the beginning or was severed for Beatrice’s sake, it was impossible to tell. Beatrice thought of the maid’s face, whose name she didn’t even know. 

But that wasn’t the important matter right now. Beatrice let go of the bed sheet and reached out toward the Crown Prince. Her hand grabbed at his collar, crumpling the fabric. 

“I don’t want to remain just a Crown Princess. Why should I give up my place beside you to someone else?” 

“Ha! Haha! I’m surprised, Beatrice. I didn’t realize you wanted me so fervently. I’m touched. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for any news about Earl Delphinium making a great achievement soon.”

“Then the engagement ceremony…” 

“There’s going to be a lot to prepare. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait just a little longer.” 

The Crown Prince seemed to release her hand, but instead, he lifted it. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. Beatrice maintained her smiling expression, her fingers twitching like a shy girl. 

Watching her reaction closely, the Crown Prince suddenly pulled her arm toward him. In an instant, her body lost balance and fell into his embrace. His hand brushed against the nape of her neck before slowly sliding downward. The exposed skin of her back, revealed by the dress’s design, met his cold touch. 

“Ah, Napoleone…” 

Beatrice’s shoulders trembled at the chill of his hand. The Crown Prince held her tightly in his arms before letting her fall onto the bed. In one swift motion, he positioned himself above her, gazing down. 

Through the folds of the dress, their legs became intertwined. The Crown Prince lowered his head and kissed Beatrice. It was far from the soft, romantic kiss shared between lovers. 

His tongue invaded between her parted lips, ravaging her mouth. The sound of shallow breaths mixed with the wet noise of saliva echoed in the room. Beatrice, seemingly struggling to breathe, gripped the sleeve of his clothing tightly. Seeing this, the Crown Prince pinned her wrist down against the bed sheet. 

Trapped entirely in his grasp, the kiss continued for a long time. When their lips finally parted, Beatrice gasped for air. The Crown Prince looked down at her with an affectionate expression and brushed his lips against her wrist. 

“If we keep this up, the dress will get wrinkled. Not that it matters how much it gets ruined.” 

The Crown Prince bared his teeth and bit down on Beatrice’s wrist. A soft moan escaped her lips as red bite marks appeared on her skin. 

“Remember this, Beatrice. You belong to me.” 

“Napoleone…? What do you mean all of a sudden?” 

“I heard you’ve been associating with Duke Hyacinth recently.” 

As expected, the Crown Prince knew all of her movements. Though he claimed he hadn’t responded to the report about the disappearance incident, it was more likely that he felt no need to. 

“You should be more careful from now on. You might get caught up in unnecessary rumors. Imagine how I’d feel if others misunderstood.” 

The grip on her wrist tightened. Beatrice winced in pain, her face contorting, before the Crown Prince finally released her.