Chapter 22

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third person

THE GRAND DUKE’S mind was in turmoil as his gaze fell upon his daughter, lying pale and still on the bed. Even in her sleep, her tightly shut eyes betrayed the pain she was enduring, and the sight of her suffering was like a knife twisting in his heart. His fists clenched by his sides, struggling to maintain composure.

“What happened?” His voice, though stern and calm, carried a dangerous edge. His expression, however, darkened with every passing second, as if a storm brewed behind his eyes. He cast a sharp, piercing glare at the two knights standing before him, their faces tense under his scrutiny.

“She suddenly collapsed in pain while I was escorting her back to the Banquet Hall, Your Grace,” Zacharias stammered, his voice barely steady. He swallowed hard, his throat dry, as if he could feel the weight of the Grand Duke’s fury bearing down on him.

“And you?” The Grand Duke’s gaze shifted to Sebastian, his tone ice-cold, daring him to offer anything less than the truth.

“I found him carrying the lady when I arrived, Your Grace,” Sebastian replied, his voice level, unflinching. Unlike Zacharias, Sebastian held the Grand Duke’s gaze with a calm, indifferent demeanor, his cold, piercing eyes revealing no hint of fear.

“Worthless!” The Grand Duke’s voice was like thunder, each word spat with venom. “Neither of you has the slightest idea what happened to my daughter? You stand before me with nothing but excuses?” His fists trembled with rage, his entire body tense as though he might explode at any moment. “I should have both of you thrown out of my sight this instant!”

He then turned his fiery glare to Sir Kyle, who stood nearby, eyes wide with panic. “And you! I told you to watch over her, to keep her safe! Yet you let her roam this cursed place unguarded?!” His voice shook the room, the sheer force of his words sending a wave of terror through everyone present. “You’ve failed her, and if anything happens to my daughter, you will pay dearly!”

“It is my fault, Your Grace. I beg your forgiveness,” Sebastian responded, his voice calm but respectful, as he dropped to one knee before the Grand Duke, bowing his head low.

The Grand Duke’s hand flew to his face, rubbing it in frustration as though trying to dispel the overwhelming anger threatening to consume him. “Get out of my sight before I lose what little restraint I have left!” he bellowed, his voice reverberating in the room. “And bring the Imperial doctors immediately, or so help me, you will regret ever setting foot in this palace!”

The two knights exchanged a brief glance, their bodies tense with shared unease, before bowing low to the Grand Duke and quickly exiting the room, leaving behind an air heavy with dread.

Once the room was finally empty, the Grand Duke’s stern façade crumbled, replaced by an expression of deep worry. His usually stoic face was etched with lines of concern, his eyes softening as he looked at his daughter lying helpless on the bed. He walked toward her, each step heavy with sorrow, before sitting gently by her side. His hand trembled slightly as he reached out, carefully smoothing her disheveled hair.

“I’m sorry, Artemisia,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, thick with grief. “Your husband is here now. No one will harm you again.” His words faltered as he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead. His lips lingered for a moment, as though trying to transfer all the protection he had failed to give in the past.

But this was not his daughter Arthemice he was speaking to. In the depths of his heart, he wasn’t seeing the young woman lying before him. He saw her—his beloved Artemisia, his long-deceased wife. The lines between reality and memory blurred, and the overwhelming grief he had suppressed for years took hold. His hand stroked Arthemice’s cheek gently, a deep sadness welling in his eyes.

He gazed down at her with a soft smile, as though he had been reunited with a long-lost love, oblivious to the truth that his daughter lay there, not the woman he so desperately yearned to see.

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arthemice

I slowly opened my eyes as the soft warmth of the sun kissed my skin. The light made me squint, and as my vision adjusted, the system’s holograph popped up in front of me with its familiar cold glow.

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Punishment’s remaining time: 00:00:09.

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How long was I asleep? I wondered. I couldn’t remember, but the sleep had been a welcome escape. No pain, no torment—just blissful, empty darkness.

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Punishment’s done! Please don’t do it again, dear player!

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I rolled my eyes and sat up slowly, ruffling my hair in frustration while biting my lip. This system was nothing but trouble. Freedom? Ha. It dangled the illusion of choice in front of me, only to snatch it away with more punishments the moment I stepped out of line. Tsk.

“You’re awake.”

I turned my head and saw Darious sitting beside me. His eyes were puffy, dark circles framing them like he hadn’t slept a wink. His face twisted with disdain, like I had wronged him somehow. But what had I done?

“You look tired, brother,” I said, studying his weary face.

“It’s because I’ve been your servant for an entire day,” he shot back, rolling his eyes with annoyance. He stood up, smoothing his wrinkled clothes, but his irritation was evident in every stiff movement. No one asked him to babysit me anyway.

I was about to retort when he cut me off. “Are you hungry?” His voice was unusually serious, and his sharp gaze pinned me in place.

“Yes,” I admitted, though his sudden concern caught me off guard. A smirk crept onto his face, a smugness that made me want to smack it right off.

“No wonder. You’ve been playing Sleeping Beauty, so naturally, you’d wake up starving,” he said with a mocking laugh. Now it was my turn to roll my eyes.

“I’ll get the food. Don’t move,” he muttered before striding out of the room without another word. I sighed heavily and let my gaze wander around the unfamiliar surroundings.

This wasn’t my room. Everything was too small, too neat. The lavish décor was missing. I scanned the walls, the plain curtains, and the simple wooden furniture. Am I in the Imperial Palace’s guest room? I frowned, trying to piece things together. Wait, do they even have guest rooms in this era?

Before I could figure it out, the door creaked open, and Darious rolled in a cart piled high with dishes. My jaw nearly dropped.

“What the heck?” I blurted out, slapping a hand over my mouth in surprise.

“Are you trying to turn me into a pig?” I asked, incredulous, as I stared at the mountain of food before me.

Platters of roasted meats, fruits glistening like jewels, freshly baked bread still steaming, and delicate pastries stacked in towers. The tray itself was silver, ornate, the kind reserved for royalty—not something you’d expect to see in a guest room. My stomach growled despite myself.

Darious grinned, clearly amused by my reaction. “No, but a good stomach ache, perhaps?” he teased, trying—and failing—to stifle his laughter as he saw the look on my face.

I shot a glare at the idiot. Ugh, as if I could stand him any longer. With an exaggerated sigh, I stood up and snatched the tray from the table. If Darious was going to sit there in judgment, I might as well give him something to be annoyed about. I ate without a hint of the proper etiquette expected in this world—elbows on the table, chewing without restraint. It wasn’t like it mattered. Only Darious can see me eating, and he already despises me, so who cares?

To my surprise, I managed to eat in peace. He didn’t say a word, just sat there silently, probably plotting some new insult. I shoveled down another bite of bread, savoring the quiet.

“You said you couldn’t finish that,” he remarked suddenly, his brow furrowed as he stared at the remaining scraps of food.

“I never said that,” I replied, shooting him a smug look. He’s putting words in my mouth now.

Darious scoffed, clearly unimpressed. “Fine. I’ll take my leave then. There are servants outside the door if you need anything.” He didn’t wait for my response, already halfway out the door before I could say a word. Typical Darious, always eager to make a quick exit.

I let out a long sigh once he was gone, my eyes drifting to the wall. My mind began to wander, losing track of time as everything hit me at once. What am I even still doing here?

The system... its predicamens, its punishments—it never lets me breathe. I can’t move freely without it hanging over my head, dictating every action, every word. The constant pressure gnawed at me, wearing me down. How much longer could I endure this relentless interference?

I ran my hands through my hair, the strands slipping through my fingers as I sank deeper into my thoughts. This world—it’s suffocating.

Minutes passed in a blur. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sitting there, staring blankly at the wall, spacing out. My mind kept replaying the punishments, the predicamens, the constant interruptions. Everything felt heavy, like a weight pressing down on me, and the suffocating realization that I was never truly in control.

Enough, Arthemice. Snap out of it. I straightened, shaking my head. There was no time to fall apart now.

I stood and headed to the door, the soft fabric of the chemise gown brushing against my legs. It was far simpler than the banquet dress I had worn, but it had a regal touch to it, reminding me that I was still in the Imperial Palace. The hallway that greeted me was grand, the polished marble floor reflecting the light from the high windows, and the walls were adorned with intricate patterns.

“My lady, you’re awake!”

The voice caught me off guard, and I turned to see the Crown Prince standing at the end of the hall, he is walking toward me. His usually pristine appearance was slightly off—his hair was a bit ruffled, his uniform not as immaculate as usual. He looked... weary, as if something had taken its toll on him.

I quickly lowered my head and greeted him. “Greetings to the little sun of the Empire, Your Highness, the Crown Prince,” I said, bowing deeply. I had barely lifted my head when he suddenly stepped forward and hugged me.

What the—?!

Before I could react, he gently pulled back, his hands now resting on my shoulders. His expression, though composed, revealed a flicker of concern. It wasn’t the usual aloof, untouchable demeanor, but it wasn’t sentimental either. He was worried—just enough to show—but he remained every bit the Crown Prince. “I’m sorry, Lady Arthemice, for leaving you in such a state,” he said, his voice low and steady.

I blinked, caught off guard. The hug was unexpected, but somehow, the way he did it felt controlled, like a gesture made out of duty rather than emotion. His hands lingered on my shoulders, firm but not overly familiar, and his posture remained straight, regal, as if he was constantly aware of his station.

His eyes, however, gave away more than he intended. There was a tightness around them, a subtle sign of worry. His lips pressed into a thin line as he continued, “I did not intend for you to face such difficulties alone.”

Well, he should feel guilty for leaving me there. If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have gotten so curious about that cursed tree.

“It’s okay, Your Highness,” I replied, forcing a smile in his direction. As I spoke, he loosened his grip on me and let out a deep sigh, the weight of guilt clearly still lingering on him.

“I truly am guilty for what happened to you, my lady,” he muttered, running his fingers through his slightly disheveled hair. His brows furrowed, and for a brief moment, he squeezed his eyes shut, clearly frustrated with himself before locking his gaze back onto mine.

I couldn’t help but smirk internally. Perfect. An idea just came to mind.

“Well then, Your Highness,” I said, keeping my voice light but with just a hint of mischief. “Perhaps you could make it up to me... by escorting me to the finest craftsman in the Capital?”

His lips twitched into a slight smile, the usual composed expression now softened by amusement. “Then shall I escort you, my lady?” he asked, his tone laced with a hint of playfulness as he extended his hand toward me, the Crown Prince ever the gentleman despite his earlier guilt.

fin.

A/N: Good day, everyone! Apologies for the late update! It took me an entire week to write this chapter due to my hectic schedule, but I’m happy to say it’s finally done! I hope you enjoy it, and I’ll be posting another update tomorrow evening. Thank you so much for reading! Xoxo!♡