"How was last night, sir? Did you enjoy it?" Venn asked, another prisoner present in Leon's mansion. The difference was that this prisoner now referred to herself as the master's favorite concubine, unlike Arren, who had not yet gained recognition.
"Not bad. She's very sweet and smells like roses," Leon said, enjoying Venn's massage. The man felt tired after spending the night and fighting together in his new lady's chamber."Okay ..."As if understanding her lover's turbulent feelings, Venn pretended to be happy. Half of her heart was wounded, though no blood was spilled. Venn couldn't accept that Leon admired the new girl in his domain so much."Do you want a second round, sir?" Venn teased, undressing entirely. Matured Venn, of course, had different skills compared to the still unrecognized Arren. They were two women of different levels."No. Just a massage; I'm quite tired from last night, battling with the wildcat," Leon refused, smiling unusually.Venn was surprised. She wasn't used to rejection, especially since, just yesterday afternoon, she had given Leon a special treatment as a birthday gift. Who would have thought that Leon had other plans beyond her knowledge?Venn canceled her carefully planned seduction."All right," Venn said, putting her dress back on. She resumed massaging Leon skillfully to relieve his fatigue. This time, her massage was firmer, reflecting the anger brewing within her.'Arren, I haven't met you yet, but I already despise you. Wait! You won't escape my grasp!'***The next night arrived. Arren, who had just received treatment, lay weak in her bed."How is she? Is she dead?" Leon asked his personal doctor."No, sir. She's fine, but ..." the doctor hesitated."Tell me. What is it?" Leon asked, observing Arren who slept like a baby."I found some old bruises. It seems she's been beaten frequently," the doctor continued.Leon was shocked. Even though he had hurt Arren as well, there was a disturbance in his heart upon hearing the doctor's words."Has Arren been abused by her father all this time? Or has she been frequently beaten by her employer?" Leon mumbled, lacking an answer.He ruffled his hair, staring deeply at Arren. Suddenly, a sympathetic feeling pierced his heart. Yet, Leon dismissed it as mere pity for a girl abandoned by her own father."Enhance her care, Doctor. Regardless of the cost of the medicine, I don't care. I want this woman to recover," Leon said firmly, gazing directly at the doctor."Very well, sir. I'll do my best. Tomorrow, I'll buy a renowned ointment from a healer to eliminate her bruises," the doctor responded."Yes.""If a surgical procedure is necessary, I will inform you," the doctor added."Fine, do as you see fit," Leon said, appearing attentive. He didn't expect the captive he brought to be so troublesome.Was Leon suddenly sympathizing with her? Or was it just a form of obsessive dominance? He couldn't understand it.Leon had lived without emotions for a long time, and cruelty was all that resided in his heart. His life principle was simple: kill or be killed. Since his mother's death, Leon lived without mercy.Leon, raised with intrigue and cruelty, transformed into a monster who even ruthlessly took his own father's life. However, it wasn't without reason. Leon's family was complex and full of revenge."Hmm... why hasn't she regained consciousness?"After letting Arren rest for a day, Leon returned to her room. Her appearance had truly changed. Arren, who was once unkempt and neglected, now resembled an angel.The doctor and servants provided maximal care. Arren's face, previously covered in street dust, now shone like marble. Leon realized that the captive he had redeemed was flawless."It wasn't in vain that I redeemed her at a high price."Still, Leon felt something different. Something unfamiliar infiltrated his body. What was this? Why did his dominant aura change to sympathy?"Um..."Arren's voice broke his confusion. Leon cleared his throat, pretending not to notice.The girl opened her eyes. This time, the bright light hurt her blue irises. Once again, Arren narrowed her gaze and scanned her surroundings. The same room. But who was the handsome man in front of her?"Y-you!"Blue eyes, strong jaw, thick lips, and tan skin made the man's appearance before Arren so captivating. His face was extremely handsome, and his gaze emitted an indescribable passion."Satisfied with staring at my face?"One thing. That voice. The voice that Arren detested so much. The voice that had been hurting her heart and her dignity for some time. "BASTARD!"Arren growled and almost thrust her head forward to push him away, but unfortunately, the man was adept at tormenting her over and over. "Calm down, or I'll remove your IV!" Leon held Arren's forehead to prevent her from banging it against him.Warm.His palm contrasted sharply with Arren's cold and pale condition."Let go!"Arren shook her head, trying to distance herself from the man's touch. For a moment, she realized that many tubes were connected to her body. Her room was no longer dim; everything seemed well-maintained. When Arren looked in the mirror, everything looked different.'Is this person taking care of me?' she
"Tell me! What happened last night?" Venn, Leon's concubine, urged the spy in the main house to tell everything. For several days, Leon hadn't been seen visiting her in the West Pavilion. The man was busy with the street mouse he had just picked up, Arren."The young lady is ill, Mistress. So... the master is taking care of her," the servant said, trembling. He was afraid of misspeaking.Venn's jaw hardened. This building felt so empty without the passionate nights with her beloved. "Why give me a house like this if we don't live in it, sir?" Venn mumbled.Her heart ached hearing that Leon seemed to forget everything about her. Initially, Leon belonged to her alone. Now? Venn had to accept sharing her lover with a strange girl she didn't even know."Tomorrow! Tomorrow, invite her to the tea party. You must convey it to the personal servant. Understand?""T–Tea party?" The servant was startled. Cold sweat immediately poured from his forehead."Yes! You understand, don't you, what I mean
Arren walked with a slight limp to reach the greenhouse, following Poppy's instructions. Somehow... everything in this mansion seemed so strange.Firstly, the owner of this house is a kidnapper and rapist. Arren must put him behind bars!Secondly, a jealous concubine? Arren could sense that a woman named Vennina seemed to feel threatened by her presence. "I will tell her that I am not her rival!"Hearing the word 'rival' made Arren's hair stand on end. Only a fool could love a vile man like Leon. No. Arren is not that kind of person."Welcome, Miss...."A servant seemed to welcome Arren as she entered the greenhouse.A table was beautifully decorated, surrounded by rose petals. Their fragrant aroma added elegance to the room. Arren immediately liked the feast that was being held."Hello," Arren greeted warmly.A woman in her thirties rose from her chair. Her face was beautiful, with fiery red hair. The emerald green dress that enveloped her body contrasted with her fair skin.Arren was
A startled servant witnessed one of her mistresses coughing up blood.Immediately, Venn summoned someone to assist the helpless Arren. "Call the doctor!" she yelled, feigning panic. Only one servant knew it was Venn's trick, while the others didn't dare to think in that direction.Shortly after, Leon's personal doctor rushed into the greenhouse. "What's going on?" the doctor asked quickly, examining the patient's vital signs."She suddenly vomited blood and fainted," Venn said, having previously injected a hallucinogenic substance into Arren to blur her memory of the preceding events.The doctor appeared alarmed, finding signs of poisoning in Arren's body. "Move her to the room!" the doctor ordered the guards who had accompanied him.The guards quickly carried the unconscious young lady back to her room on the third floor. The doctor immediately provided the first aid he could, but unfortunately, there was no more effective way than extracting the poison through an oral method."How is
The search process for the suspect became a heated topic in the mansion. Everyone appeared anxious and doubtful— who could have provoked their master to such an extent?"Idiots," muttered a servant passing by the master's office. After delivering two cups of tea to her mistress, the servant returned to the kitchen, where she should be. She then continued spreading gossip and rumors about the comprehensive search by the security team for the perpetrator of the poisoning of the master's new love.***"Could it be Miss Venn who did it?" asked Ford, Leon's newly joined aide, after completing a reconnaissance mission at the Napoli headquarters, Leon's business rival who had recently disturbed the peace of his club."Venn? Hmm..." Leon seemed to consider the possibility. For men, competition in the power domain might be common, but does the same apply to women?"I'll find out," said Leon seriously. Ford burst into laughter. "Oh God. What happened to this polar monster? Why do you seem so con
The guards tasked with Arren's safety asked her to come down from the tree. This situation could lead to punishment and even a reduction in their pay if their employer were to get injured."Calm down, I'm good at climbing," Arren responded confidently. She moved her feet slowly, climbing up one by one until she reached the end of the branch.At the end, there was a nest of sparrows missing one of its chicks."There, there, little bird," Arren said gently, placing the fallen bird back into its nest.Arren was about to descend the sturdy but slippery tree trunk when, unfortunately, she slipped."Aaaaaaakkkhh....."Arren slipped and nearly fell. Her leg could have been sprained, but luckily, someone caught her just in time. Arren was truly grateful. It seemed the guard assigned by Leon had a purpose after all."Who is saving whom?" Leon retorted, displeased because Arren was in danger once again. The guards exchanged worried glances, realizing they wouldn't be getting overtime pay that da
"Before that, explain first, why did you suddenly drag me into the warehouse?" Arren asked, bowing her head to hide the fear and embarrassment she felt.Leon raised an eyebrow, considering the question foolish from the girl who had captured his heart. "Are you foolish or just don't understand?" Leon retorted."What do you mean?""I already warned the guards to keep you safe. And what did I witness? You almost broke a bone!" scolded Leon while gripping Arren's frail arms."Aww...."Instantly, Leon released his grip as he knew Arren winced in pain. The girl's face looked pale and frightened."Sorry, I mean it. Don't endanger yourself! Understand?" Leon emphasized so that Arren would be more careful in the future."Okay, Master," Arren obediently replied. Somehow, Leon's behavior seemed different. He wasn't as arbitrary as before. What was this? Was Arren starting to melt toward him? Arren quickly slapped her face hard to snap out of the hallucination she created for herself."Just call m
"Your final task is to become the scapegoat. I will create a story to protect myself and blame you for the poisoning," Venn said with a threatening tone.Hillis knelt led with Venn not to trap her like that."Have mercy on me, Madam. I would never dare to lie like that." Hillis's tears flowed freely, and her body trembled irresistibly."You will take the responsibility, and I will ensure the safety of your family. It must be done!" Venn insisted without giving room for negotiation."Oh, God!" Hillis cried out in desperation.Hillis paled, feeling the weight of despair in her heart, but she knew there was no other option.Her family and her life are in Venn's hands. She could only follow her master's orders."Remember, Hillis," Venn added sharply. "If this plan succeeds, your family will have a better life. If it fails, you will face the consequences."Hillis nodded sadly, lowering her head. She felt an immense burden, but she had no choice.Venn looked at Hillis with satisfaction, know