Really, I am so curious. Suddenly, the girl quietly opened her eyes. Why does the sun prince insist on keeping me alive?
Drowsy Luciana thought it over and over, yet still could not fall asleep. She suddenly sat up, and sure enough, after idling all day and then trying to sleep, it was simply too unbearable.
Just then, Nicole walked in. Seeing that Luciana was already up, she smiled and said, "You're awake. His highness has gone out hunting. Shall I help you bathe, or would you like to eat something first? Today's figs are sweet and fresh."
Orizio had begun to become obsessed with prolonging Luciana's sleeping hours. He said this was the only way for her to survive in the heavenly palace, but it also left Luciana in a constant daze, and only holy water could clear her mind from that haze.
"I feel a little dizzy. Excuse me, Nicole. Is there anything I can help with?"
Hearing this, Nicole asked blankly, "Do you feel bored? Then would you like to dance with me, or would you like to sing?"
"I want to work. I don't care what kind of work it is. Cleaning, wiping, preparing fruit. I'm willing to do anything. I have to do something. If I don't—" At this point, the girl stopped and continued in her heart. I will go mad.
Hearing this, Nicole explained, "Ladies of royal blood do not work."
"But I do not have royal blood."
Nicole looked utterly puzzled. "But as his highness's partner, you are practically like an empress."
Before she could finish speaking, Nicole suddenly let out a scream, so badly frightened that she instantly turned into water droplets and disappeared before Luciana's eyes.
Orizio had appeared at the doorway of the room. As always, he wore a radiant smile. "You're awake."
Hearing this, the girl gave an awkward smile. He seems to really enjoy watching my reactions.
Seeing this, Orizio walked over. In a gentle voice, he asked, "Do you have something on your mind?"
"Nothing at all."
"Is that so? I dislike liars."
The girl hesitated for a moment, but in the end still said, "Actually, I want to know if there is any kind of work I can do."
Orizio was somewhat stunned and did not understand the girl's thinking for a moment. So he asked, "Work? You want me to find something for you to do?"
"My hands are very skillful. If you give me papyrus, I can weave a sturdy basket or a box."
Hearing this, Orizio only found the girl unbearably adorable and could not resist reaching out with that restless hand to rub the top of her head. He laughed softly under his breath. "Papyrus. How interesting."
Then he lifted the girl's chin and stared intently into her eyes as he slowly said, "But Luciana, you do not need papyrus, and you do not need to do any work. I will always provide you with everything you need. So the only thing you need to do is stay where you are. That is your work."
Looking at the domineering man before her, Luciana thought silently in her heart. He stares at me so obsessively with that gaze, yet reveals a sorrow and cruelty that are hard to describe.
"You only need to sit obediently and wait for me. That is the only thing you need to do. You are mine, and I am the reason for your existence."
He can do whatever he wants. So why does he seem so unhappy? Gino, hiding by the palace entrance, could not understand at all.
Gino noticed Nicole in the distance rummaging through a pile of papyrus, so he shouted loudly, "Hey. How is that human woman doing?"
Nicole broke out in a cold sweat from the sudden voice. "You startled me. Are you talking about Lady Luciana?" Looking at Gino walking toward her step by step, Nicole stood up and said hesitantly, "She is well."
Who would have thought that a mortal could remain safe and sound in the heavenly palace? At this moment, Nicole's thoughts were in a mess, and she weakly said, "Maybe she is not doing that well after all."
Hearing this, Gino looked shocked. "She actually deigned to say something like that to you. What exactly is making her so unhappy?"
Nicole answered timidly, "It's like this—" But before she could finish, Orizio interrupted. "You must be Nicole."
Nicole instantly broke into a cold sweat. She stiffly turned her head and cried out. At the side, Gino also spoke with a trembling voice. "I almost had a heart attack."
But Orizio's eyes darkened and he looked coldly at Nicole. "So insolent. It seems you do not cherish your life."
Nicole trembled all over in fear. "I don't know what you mean."
Resting his chin on his hand with interest, Orizio said, "You dared to appear before me after taking linum, using it to stop yourself from thinking about Luciana. That is truly outrageous."
As it turned out, linum was a mental shield made from sulfur, aged gold, and ancient magic. It allowed the user to temporarily block Orizio's prying into their thoughts, and their souls would also briefly draw away from Orizio's dark gaze because of it.
Hearing this, tears of fear streamed down Nicole's face as she tremblingly explained, "I had no choice. I was only worried that your highness would be troubled because of Lady Luciana."
"How dare you say such a thing?"
Hearing the man's abnormally icy words, the two elves present were instantly horrified. And at this moment, Orizio was thinking, Should I kill her? If that human girl discovers the daffodil elf is dead, she will surely faint again. I finally understand why I have been so irritable these past few days.
At this thought, Orizio suddenly raised his hand, and a cluster of blue flames ignited in his palm. Nicole stared blankly at the dark blue flame before her. In an instant, as if she had lost her soul, she opened her mouth with vacant eyes and muttered softly.
"I, Nicole, I feel very sorry for Lady Luciana. I worry that she may jump from the balcony at any moment. My heart aches for Lady Luciana. She is forced to eat food, and sometimes she vomits everything back up. She does not even dare risk stepping out of the palace, because your highness has sealed all the entrances. I want to help her too, but Lord Gino warned me. If I anger your highness, he will burn down my home. Lady Luciana is not happy. She is terrified of the third prince, yet still forces herself to smile. Nicole. I, Nicole—"
As she spoke, her body fell backward with a thud. She dropped into the pile of papyrus.
Looking at the ill-tempered man before him, Gino asked timidly, "Was this the reason for that thunderstorm last month? Did that human girl make you angry?"
"I merely happened to instruct Gino to erase that daffodil elf's memory and bring me some more papyrus."
Hearing this, Gino shot Orizio a quick glance and asked in confusion, "Your highness, do you still want more papyrus?"
"Yes. Enough to fill her entire room."
"What exactly is this obsession of yours with this human girl? Your family has been asking around the whole time whether you have lost your virginity, and I'm caught in the middle now."
"In that case, why don't you go to the royal palace tomorrow?"
"Please tell me what reason I should use for the visit."
"Go show them evidence that I have finally brought someone into my bed."