chapter 03
“Do you really have no other intention besides that?”
“Of course not, Sister.”
Even though Desdemona could not see her face, Fiorentia smiled brightly as she continued.
“I only gathered the courage to say it for your sake, Sister. How would I dare go against you? I’m still alive until now thanks to your mercy.”
It was still the time to stay completely submissive.
At Fiorentia’s soft whisper, Desdemona finally relaxed her suspicion and looked satisfied.
“I’ve always thought that if someone as useless as me could ease even one of your worries, that would be enough.”
As she finished speaking, Fiorentia prayed.
Please, let that fickle Desdemona change her mind one more time.
That was the only thing she could rely on.
Desdemona thought for a moment.
“Fine. You will treat him yourself. For once, you’ve had a useful idea.”
With an arrogant tilt of her chin, she pointed at the collapsed man.
“You do nothing but idle around in this family anyway. At least this much should make you worth your keep.”
Desdemona turned to leave, then suddenly stopped as if she had remembered something.
She walked back toward Fiorentia, closing the distance quickly.
She grabbed Fiorentia’s chin roughly and lifted it up. Her sharp nails, like a crow’s claws, dug into Fiorentia’s soft skin, but Fiorentia did not even frown.
Now able to look directly into the red eyes that resembled her own, Desdemona spoke in a low voice.
“You asked for this yourself. So fix him properly. Make him useful.”
Fiorentia’s red eyes—clearer and brighter than Desdemona’s—curved like crescent moons, filled with laughter.
Feeling the grip on her chin loosen slightly, Fiorentia gently turned her head and slipped free, then nodded calmly.
“Yes, Sister. I’ll remember. I won’t disappoint you.”
She smiled with both eyes.
Desdemona’s expression twisted slightly at the sight, but she quickly turned away with a sharp sound.
Without saying another word to Fiorentia, she gave an order to the butler.
“Before she treats him, throw this brat into the breeding ground. Even if he’s going to be healed, he still needs to be punished properly for biting my hand today.”
“Yes, Head of the Family.”
The butler, the head maid, and the two guards who had been watching from the beginning bowed respectfully behind her.
The sound of her heels clicking slowly faded away.
“Take him,” the butler ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
At the butler’s signal, the guards lifted the unconscious intruder under his arms and carried him away toward the breeding ground. Fiorentia quietly followed behind them.
* * *
“Ugh! Ghh!”
Inside the breeding ground, only the man’s groans could be heard.
He had briefly regained consciousness, but the merciless cursed dolls attacked him again and knocked him down.
He was wearing restraints that constantly drained his strength, and a curse mark had been carved into his heart, making him far weaker than usual. In that state, he could not fight them all.
A mask shows no expression.
But the face hidden beneath it had already twisted like paper under the endless brutal sight.
Watching quietly, Fiorentia finally spoke when she saw the man collapse.
“Isn’t this enough?”
The butler nodded, as if he agreed the punishment had been sufficient.
“I’ll stop them.”
He pressed a control token he had received from Desdemona, which allowed him to command the cursed dolls.
The token also acted as protection, so unlike the man, both the butler and Fiorentia were unharmed despite the poisonous air inside the breeding ground.
When the grotesque creatures suddenly stopped moving, Fiorentia finally let out a small breath and walked over to the fallen man.
She crouched in front of him and poked his forehead with her finger.
His thick, straight eyebrows drew together slightly, as if he could feel it. But he did not open his eyes.
It was impossible to tell whether he was unconscious or simply too weak.
In truth, she did not care. As long as he was alive, that was enough.
After confirming he was still breathing, Fiorentia stood up.
As she passed the butler, she could feel his confused gaze on her back. But without explaining anything, she walked straight to the door, opened it, and stuck her head outside.
“Hey.”
“Ah! Shit! You scared me!”
“H-Huh? M-My lady. We’re sorry!”
The guards, startled by the sudden appearance of the white mask, swore before quickly apologizing.
Though annoyed, Fiorentia did not scold them. She simply gave an order.
“You two. Come inside and move him to the room next to mine.”
“What? But…”
The guards hesitated and exchanged looks. The one who seemed more senior swallowed nervously and spoke.
“The Head of the Family ordered that he be imprisoned in the underground dungeon.”
In other words, they could not move the man without Desdemona’s permission.
Caught off guard by the refusal, Fiorentia let out a small laugh.
She must have gotten a little excited, thinking she had secured the man according to her plan.
‘Well… who in this mansion has ever listened to me?’
That was the pitiful status of Fiorentia Marcella.
Even though her expression could not be seen because of the mask, she did not want to lose in presence. So she lifted the corners of her lips as much as she could.
“Do I look like I’m making a request?”
She opened the door fully.
Then step by step, she walked toward the guards and pressed her finger hard into the senior guard’s stomach.
Their distance became so close that she could feel his hot breath against her skin, but she did not stop.
Closer. Even closer.
Finally, her nose nearly touched his chest. She stepped onto the front of his shoe and pressed down firmly.
“Ugh…”
The guard groaned in pain.
The shoes Fiorentia was wearing were similar to high heels, meaning her weight was concentrated on a small point. It had to hurt badly.
The guard instinctively tried to pull his foot away, but Fiorentia had already grabbed him by the collar, so he could not move.
In a voice that sounded amused by the situation, she continued.
“Didn’t you hear what Sister said earlier? She told me to treat him.”
“Yes… she did.”
“Where and how I treat him is my decision. You just do as you’re told. Understand?”
She pressed down harder with her heel, demanding an answer.
Unable to watch any longer, the butler stepped in.
“The young lady is correct. Do as she says.”
Finally, unable to endure the pain any longer, the senior guard nodded quickly.
“Yes! Yes, I understand. Ngh!”
“Good.”
Seemingly satisfied, Fiorentia stepped lightly off his foot and moved back.
With a small tilt of her chin toward the inside of the breeding ground, the junior guard hurried in stiffly.
The man Desdemona had tortured was still unconscious.
After glancing at him briefly, Fiorentia gave one more order.
“Oh, right. Don’t remove the chains. Even you aren’t foolish enough to do that, are you?”
* * *
After returning to her room first, Fiorentia finally removed the mask covering her face.
“Ha…”
Breathing became easier, and it felt as if the poison that had filled her body was finally leaving.
She stared at the mask in her hand with tired eyes.
Her grip tightened at the edge, her hand trembling slightly.
If she could, she wanted to throw it away and crush it under her heel immediately.
But she did not.
‘Not yet… it’s not time.’
