“So you were awake.”

As she slowly opened her eyes, Vivianne’s gaze met Kian’s emotionless eyes. He showed not the slightest hint of disturbance despite the deadly weapon before him.

“If this is your decision, don’t hesitate.”

She had expected him to be angry or restrain her, but why this reaction? 

When Vivianne froze in confusion, he grabbed her trembling hands and repositioned the knife upright. Then, without hesitation, he began pulling it toward his own heart.

“…!”

The sensation of the blade tip pressing into firm flesh was vivid. She couldn’t believe it. When the blade began to dampen with dark red liquid, she felt she might faint.

The sight of blood made her suddenly realize what she was doing. Killing Kian. Making him disappear from this world by her own hand. Could she really go through with this?

Only then did she understand—she could not kill him, despite hating him enough to want him dead.

The moment she realized her seemingly firm decision had been mere arrogance, she panicked and tried to withdraw the knife. But his pulling force was stronger, driving the blade deeper.

No. This isn’t right.

She began shaking her head frantically. Sobs escaped her lips, and tears flowed uncontrollably, blurring her vision.

Clang—after their struggle, the dagger clattered to the floor.

In an instant, their positions were reversed.

The lukewarm, sticky liquid that had gathered on his chest dripped onto Vivianne’s br*ast. Her white negligee absorbed his blood, releasing a sharp metallic smell.

“How unfortunate. This was your only way to leave me.”

“Hic, stop…”

Despite bleeding, he resembled a predator straddling its prey, gauging the moment to deliver the final blow.

Beneath him, Vivianne gasped desperately like a fish out of water.

“Thank you for sparing me, Vivi.”

Kian murmured dreamily as he pressed his lips like a branding iron against her forehead, the tip of her nose, and her cheeks.

“I… hate you.”

“I know.”

With their noses touching, his heated breath scattered across her cheeks.

Eventually, his breath settled on her lips before pulling away.

“Yet you can’t kill me.”

He remained calm, like someone who had always known she couldn’t kill him.

“Because you love me at the same time you hate me. Isn’t that right?”

He was also cruel. In this moment, he knew exactly which words would claw at her and leave the deepest wounds.

“No. I cannot love you. Never.”

If I could love you—no, if I could even forgive you—I wouldn’t have tried to kill you.

“Why? Because you’re a mermaid?”

He gave a sardonic laugh.

“What a dilemma. I’ve never let a mermaid live. Would you be an exception?”

Initially, he had denied she was a mermaid. Now, it seemed he didn’t care whether she was one or not.

Like a trap that dug deeper into flesh with every movement, the more she tried to escape, the more tightly he strangled her.

“The opportunity remains open. Whenever you change your mind, feel free to kill me.”

The next day, the dagger was placed precisely at Vivianne’s bedside. It had been cleaned thoroughly, with no trace of blood.

All that remained was inescapable despair.

* * *

The Larson knights returned after suppressing a barbarian uprising in the western part of the domain.

Upon their return, Theodore, the captain of the knights, was summoned not to the office but to his lord’s bedroom. Despite their close relationship, this was the first time he would deliver an official report in such a private space.

“How many casualties on our side?”

“Five in total. One serious injury, the rest minor.”

Kian, who was dressed in a night gown, was reviewing the report Theodore had handed him. Something about the atmosphere seemed different during his absence.

“Ah, sorry. I’m not in a position to leave right now.”

Sensing Theodore’s questioning gaze, Kian offered a light apology. However, Theodore’s discomfort stemmed from more than just the bedroom setting.

It was because of the woman curled up on the bed with her back turned, apparently sleeping. Though covered with a blanket, her snow-white shoulder blades were exposed. Her round shoulders and nape were marked with red bruises.

“…It’s fine. Please don’t worry about it.”

Could she be n*ked? Theodore tried hard not to direct his gaze toward her.

Noticing this, Kian pulled the blanket up to cover her shoulders.

Just then, as she curled up more and shifted slightly, there was a clink of metal, and her ankle became visible.

He actually has her chained up?

Theodore could hardly believe what he was seeing.

Rumors had spread among the staff that the master’s woman wore shackles. It seemed the gossip was true.

Some said she had been caught trying to escape, while others speculated she had caused a disturbance.

He had heard but hadn’t believed it, thinking it was complete nonsense.

Vivianne was a woman who knew only her master. Even during walks, she would talk only about him.

She always waited for her master and stayed obediently in her room except for occasional strolls, never going out otherwise.

Theodore, who had been her escort, knew this better than anyone.

He had thought the rumors couldn’t possibly be true since they didn’t match the Vivianne he knew.

Now, seeing it with his own eyes, he felt confused, realizing that what he knew wasn’t the whole story.

Though he didn’t know the details, keeping someone n*ked and shackled, regardless of the reason, was something done to slaves, not to a cherished woman.

“You seem to be the one who’s concerned, Theo.”

Kian covered Vivianne’s ankle with the blanket again and handed back the document he had been reading.

“…Are you really alright with this?”

“I am. Though I’m not sure who you’re asking about.”

Theodore’s face darkened.

* * *

After leaving the master’s bedroom, Theodore immediately sought out his mother and pulled Matilda into an empty room.

“You knew about this, Mother.”

“What are you talking about, Theo?”

When he confronted her, breathing heavily, Matilda’s face filled with bewilderment.

“You knew exactly what was happening to Vivi in that room.”

“That’s…”

Matilda lowered her gaze, hesitating momentarily before looking up directly.

“Theo, I don’t know what you saw, but calm down first. Vivi’s situation is not your business to meddle in.”

He had thought his mother would be more reasonable, but she was saying exactly the same thing as the master.

She clearly knew about it.

How could she make such an irresponsible statement knowing what was happening? It was unbelievable.

“Not my business to meddle in?”

“That’s right. As I’ve told you many times, please don’t do anything that might cause misunderstandings. You know the master was lenient with you that day when you came in soaking wet like a drowned rat after playing in the water.”

“A person is n*ked and in shackles. Even for a mistress kept for pleasure, she’s being treated completely like a slave. Is that normal?”

Seeing her son’s agitated state, Matilda squeezed her eyes shut and let out a soft sigh.

“I also find Vivi’s situation pitiful and unfortunate. But, Theo, you need to know your boundaries.”

“That’s absurd! Kian is the one who crossed the line first.”

“Kian…! Someone might hear you. Watch your words.”

Matilda, realizing her voice had risen involuntarily, bit her lower lip firmly before continuing.

“The master must have his reasons. As you know from watching him grow up, he’s certainly not a bad person. Remember whom we serve.”

Until now, his position had been identical to his mother’s.

Because they had known him for a long time. Because he wasn’t a bad person. Because he was someone they served. He had kept telling himself to trust him, that everything would be fine.

But after what he witnessed today, he began to doubt all of this.

“I admit Vivi is lovable. Even a woman would find her breathtakingly beautiful, let alone men. But Theo, Vivi is the master’s woman. If you happen to have other feelings for her…”

“What if I do? Is that not allowed?”

“Theo!”

“That’s why I’ve stood by all this time. Simply because she was Kian’s woman. But I can no longer do so.”

“You’re talking madness! Unless you’ve lost your mind, please…”

“Would you have remained silent if Sophie had been treated like this, Mother?”

Theodore cut off his mother’s words. At the mention of ‘Sophie,’ Matilda suddenly fell silent.

“At least I never thought of Sophie when looking at Vivi.”

“Theo…”

“Don’t try to make excuses. You’re nothing but a hypocrite after all, Mother. Though I was one too.”

After hearing her son’s words, Matilda’s eyes wavered before dropping downward.

“I’m sorry, Mother. From now on, I won’t live like that anymore.”