The news that Yuri Hsien had come up to the capital’s townhouse to attend the Crown Prince’s return banquet soon reached Heathcliff’s ears. But Heathcliff showed no movement whatsoever.

“You must eat.”

“Then unlock these handcuffs.”

Heathcliff showed his gathered hands. The wooden square and heavy handcuffs that were worn looked like it was difficult to even rotate the wrist. But the maid, who was expressionless as if all emotions were stolen, showed no shred of sympathy and spoke directly.

“The Empress has not given any permission yet.”

“Then how do you expect me to eat!”

Heathcliff tried to rise from his seat at the impudent reply that was just as severe as the indictment. But the sound of the creaking and heavy iron chains getting tangled was heard, and Heathcliff soon slumped back onto the sofa.

“Ugh…!”

It felt as if the whole body was bound to the sofa with an unseen solid rope. Although Heathcliff contorted his face in pain, the emotionless maid only pushed a spoon towards him.

“Excuse me.”

Heathcliff was speechless. The act of bringing the spoonful of soup to Heathcliff’s mouth was too precise, even though she was sketching the empty air like a fool without looking at him.

So Heathcliff felt even more chilled. The clearly living maid felt like a doll.

“Get away!”

Struggling was useless. The more he did so, the unseen string that entangled him only grew stronger. It was not even a method to tilt his head to the side.

“Ah!”

Something gripped Heathcliff’s face and fixed it forward again. By now, the problem was not the misery of not being able to control his own body.

‘I’m going crazy.’

It was terrifying. The whole situation was so scary that he was just terribly worried about himself. Really, he feared he might lose himself like that maid.

“You must open your mouth. Eat the soup.”

The maid said bluntly. Although he wanted to refuse, his cheeks were pressed, and his mouth was forcibly opened. It was excruciatingly painful. The only thing reflected in Heathcliff’s mysterious eyes was sheer horror.

“I…… Hate……!”

A spoon held by the maid came through the forcibly opened lips. The touch of the lukewarm silver spoon was utterly gruesome due to the cold, cooled soup.

The soup in the concave part of the spoon flowed into the mouth as the angle of the silver spoon tilted. The tepid and viscous liquid gurgled down the throat.

“Uh, cough!”

Though he coughed painfully due to a slight misdirection, the maid paid no mind. The unknown force that pressed his cheeks to open his mouth was the same. This act was repeated until Heathcliff emptied an entire bowl of soup.

“Ugh……!”

It was natural to vomit as he was forcibly fed. Heathcliff was more stunned by something else than the sour smell of vomit widely spread on his pants.

“You’ve thrown it all up. The meal was not properly consumed.”

It was because the maid, showing not even a little remorse, brought another bowl of soup.

“No, please, stop. Stop it. I don’t want to eat, I don’t want to!”

Heathcliff’s pleading was in vain. In the maid’s mind, repeating only the command ‘Feed the soup to Prince Heathcliff,’ there was no room for tearful pleas to seep in.

“Please……!”

Again, the silver spoon held the soup, the mouth was opened, and the tepid liquid flowed down the esophagus.

It was a repetition of that.

(This is a time delimiter.)

Three days later, the longawaited Crown Prince’s return banquet.

Nobles gathered to celebrate the return of the Crown Prince, who left for the temple for recovery due to a frail body fifteen years ago, entered in twos and threes. They greeted each other and shared stories.

“I wonder what he looks like now that he’s grown. I couldn’t see him last time when he briefly showed his face on the official fleet.”
“I share the same thought. Even when she was recuperating in the temple, she interfered with the state affairs.”

“She concealed herself but imposed her opinions. Many called her cowardly, but it all led to the right result, so no one could say anything about it.”

“Now that she’s stepping forward, I wonder what remarkable actions she will show us.”

Afterward, their eyes naturally focused on the Second Prince Hiscliff Offenhyde, who had entered first and was waiting for his cousin.

“I am very thankful for everyone gathering here. It’s difficult to see your faces unless on such occasions.”

Now, the beauty resembling the moon, which would eclipse the sun, with silver hair neatly swept back, did not fade even under the largest chandelier in the palace. Not even a hint of discomfort in the way she constantly adjusted her long white gloves while engaging in conversation.

The nobles on the other side sneered at Hiscliff.

“So, what happened with that matter? I heard the Prince tried to force the Windsor Princess to, well… marry him.”

“Hmm, well. Now that you mention it, there hasn’t been a single story about that. Was that even true in the first place? I doubt it.”

“I feel the same way. If it were true, could Windsor remain so silent?”