Luciana sat on the balcony, looking up at the brilliant sunlight she longed for. Behind her stood the maid responsible for watching her, while she reflected quietly.
Perhaps one day, in the end, I too will live like them, like a walking corpse. All my life I have been fighting hunger. In the past, all I wanted was a mouthful of water. Yet I would lose consciousness from thirst, and could only survive by barely relying on the grass on the ground. But strangely enough, now everything is different. I have a soft, comfortable bed to lie on. Delicious food and drink are also within arm's reach. But why am I still searching for a reason to live? Heavens, I do not want to merely stay alive. I want freedom, something a slave should never dare hope for. When I was little, you gave me false hope. And because of that, I even resented you.
One day, you will be free. Even after I die, I will pray for you. May you live the life I could not finish, like the only light in the darkness.
A lively voice interrupted Luciana's thoughts. "Look at this. Guess what Nicole brought you?"
Nicole hugged a huge bundle of papyrus, her eyes full of anticipation that seemed to say, Praise me quickly.
But Luciana did not show the happiness Nicole had expected, and only said with a worried face, "But Nicole, if his highness finds out that you brought me papyrus, you will—"
"She has my permission."
Hearing Orizio's voice, Luciana immediately turned to look. Her little face showed surprise and she parted her lips, but no sound came out. She only stared blankly into the man's eyes. Standing in the sunlight, Orizio smiled brilliantly and dazzlingly. "You wanted this?"
He was the seemingly cold and heartless sun prince. But in private, he was hopelessly lovestruck and had no principles when it came to love. As long as the girl he loved was unhappy, he would compromise immediately. Even though he had said that papyrus was completely useless, he still had piles of papyrus delivered in front of the girl.
Seeing this, Luciana was utterly confused. Why are you bringing me so much papyrus?
Before she could even ask, Orizio could no longer hold back. "What do you think?"
Looking at the man's usual radiant smile, the girl looked bewildered and even thought this was work Orizio had arranged for her. So she immediately thanked him, but got no response. Then she secretly glanced at the man. She saw Orizio frown slightly, seeming somewhat dissatisfied. The girl was so frightened that her eyes grew hot, and she thought in panic, Should I say something else, too?
Seeing this, Orizio decisively reached out with that dangerous big hand and gently cupped the girl's face, carefully wiping away her tears for her. He said, "When expressing gratitude, you should smile."
But when Luciana heard this, she cried even more heartbreakingly. At that moment, even the all-powerful sun prince was at a loss and could only helplessly move his hand away from the girl's face. He spoke coldly. "You said you wanted to live."
Hearing this, Luciana was instantly startled and said tremblingly, "Could you say that again? I mean, I want to live."
Orizio tilted his head playfully and said in feigned confusion, "How strange. Those who want to live usually beg me to spare their lives."
With a thud, Luciana was already trembling as she knelt on the ground, shivering. She bowed her head and said, "I beg you. Please end my life completely."
Seeing the girl's unexpected reaction, Orizio was so angry he laughed. "Do you want to die that badly?" He suddenly grabbed the girl's shoulders and threw her into the pile of papyrus. Under Luciana's shocked gaze, he said, "Just as I told you before, I value etiquette very much. After all, I am the radiant sun prince."
This time, the girl was completely panicked. She hurriedly said, "I know you are kinder than you appear. You are gentle and kind."
Hearing this, the man let out a low laugh. "If you beg me to kill you again, I will make you my woman right here at once. For a woman like you, that would probably be more painful than death. Of course, you can also beg me to spare your life. If you do, during the time I possess you, I will do everything I can to keep you alive. That way, you can be my woman forever. I can tell that thoughts are turning in your head. If you truly wanted only death, you would not be silently thinking."
With that, Orizio domineeringly lifted her chin, slowly moving closer to her soft red lips. Only then did Orizio reluctantly pull away. Looking at the girl with her flushed little face and disordered breathing, he said with some amusement, "It was only a kiss, and you're already this exhausted."
But Luciana said nothing, only feeling as if her heart was about to leap out of her throat, and her body felt as if it had been set on fire.
So Orizio softened his voice and said, "Let's stop here for today. You need to become stronger before you can endure me."
As he spoke, he grabbed the girl's little hand and brought it to his lips, gently biting it open. He then took out the pure white handkerchief he had prepared long ago, and let the bright red blood drip onto it. Then he instructed the maid at the side, "Tell Gino to send this to my father's palace."
After that, he kissed the girl's palm as if she were a treasure, and told her to rest well. Soon, he disappeared from before the girl, leaving only Luciana behind.
Blushing, she lay on the papyrus and only then belatedly realized that the servants had been standing nearby the whole time, watching the intimacy between the two. Did Nicole see it, too? How am I supposed to face her from now on?
But before Luciana could keep thinking, Nicole, with her survival instincts in full force, appeared. "I'm sorry. His highness suddenly came. Are you all right, my lady?"
Hearing this, Luciana blushed and shed tears of relief. She didn't see it. That's wonderful.