Chapter 11
She didn’t have the time to patiently teach him like a child, so she quickly said only what needed to be said.
“If you don’t want to be poisoned by the cursed doll, do exactly as I say.”
At that moment, faint sounds of a door opening and closing came from above.
It seemed the guard she had sent away earlier was returning after eating.
Fiorentia grew even more anxious. She lowered her voice further and whispered.
“I know you can’t trust me right now.”
Theodore stared at her intently.
The only thing he could learn about her was from the red glow of her eyes.
His throat moved slowly. Unlike Desdemona’s eyes, these eyes shone brightly even in the dim light behind a candle.
It was mesmerizing.
For a moment, it felt like time could stop, and that would be fine.
Fiorentia spoke again, and Theodore snapped back to reality.
Suddenly, she grabbed his collar and pulled his head close to her face, placing her lips near his ear.
“So, I’ll give you a chance to trust me.”
“……”
“When you’re left alone in the enclosure, take what I gave you, chew it, and swallow it.”
Only then, when meeting Desdemona in the enclosure, could he pretend to have been poisoned by the cursed doll.
The footsteps on the stairs grew louder.
“Remember: take it, chew it, swallow it. That’s all. Got it?”
Fiorentia’s eyes flickered urgently, seeking a clear answer from Theodore for the first time.
“Answer me. Do you understand?”
He could see her red eyes trembling slightly, as if flickering in the wind.
Theodore unconsciously nodded.
“…Yes. I understand.”
Only then did Fiorentia let go of his collar and stand.
“Wait a little. I’ll get you out of this filthy place soon.”
She muttered quickly, then struck Theodore across the face with her hand as she sealed her lips.
Smack!
His head snapped back in a wide arc.
“Don’t get cocky.”
With a cold voice, she turned and left the cell.
At that moment, the guard returned.
He paused, stunned by the commotion as he approached, staring at the bars.
Fiorentia moved past him without looking back, creating a chill in the air.
The guard quickly regained composure and approached her with a stern face.
“Miss? Is something wrong?”
“No. Nothing. I just taught him a lesson about knowing his place.”
Fiorentia’s purpose was done, and she passed by with the wind, not looking back.
Theodore, still bound, watched her retreating figure and let his gaze drop, a small smile forming.
He flicked his tongue across the cheek she had hit.
Why?
Even though he was hit for no reason, it didn’t feel bad.
Strangely, it only made the spot she touched feel ticklish.
Clap! Clap!
“That’s enough.”
Desdemona clapped, and the cursed dolls that had been attacking Theodore froze.
“Return to your places.”
The dolls obeyed their master obediently.
Once the dolls moved away from Theodore, Desdemona approached him.
She checked his condition slowly while walking with her hands behind her back.
Fiorentia followed with the butler into the enclosure, stopping near the entrance, holding her breath.
Theodore’s broad shoulders blocked much of Desdemona’s face, making it hard to read her expression.
She worried quietly: Did he take what I gave him?
Even after repeating her instructions several times, she wasn’t sure if he had followed them.
If Theodore hadn’t obeyed because he doubted her, he would have been poisoned by the doll again.
She needed to remove the cursed doll’s poison to keep his mind intact—but how would she explain it to avoid Desdemona’s suspicion?
Just imagining it gave her a headache.
Then Desdemona’s voice cut through.
“Why are you clenching your teeth like that?”
Her sharp tone showed irritation.
She stepped closer to inspect Theodore’s state.
Fiorentia could finally see her fully and fixed her eyes almost obsessively on both of them.
Desdemona reached out, gripping Theodore’s jaw to force his mouth open, but he clenched his teeth stubbornly.
“Even in this state, he’s strong.”
Desdemona, who lacked patience, soon lost interest and instead examined his face closely.
Unfocused eyes, pale skin, and stiff features made him look almost dead.
Had it not been for his breathing, he could have passed for a corpse.
Displeased, Desdemona turned away from him.
“I expected more from Beringham’s bloodline… tsk.”
Her frown deepened, showing how unhappy she was with the situation.
“Why is his condition deteriorating faster than the others?”
She tilted her head, staring at Theodore, but he didn’t move.
“Does the bloodline get ruined if it’s mixed with filth?”
She glanced at Fiorentia while saying this with a smirk.
“Hmm… this won’t work.”
She made her decision quickly.
She signaled, and the butler standing quietly beside Fiorentia bowed slightly.
“Yes, Lady.”
Desdemona, no longer interested in Theodore, gave a cold order.
“Take care of him. Such a waste of a face… but he’s too damaged now to be useful.”
“Yes, understood.”
“You know what to do—quietly, without making noise. Right?”
“Of course. We’ll take care of it carefully so you won’t have to worry.”
“Good.”
Desdemona nodded briefly and snorted.
Fiorentia, standing quietly at the entrance, inhaled sharply.
Her voice was barely audible, unnoticed by the butler nearby.
Finally, the words she had been waiting for came from Desdemona.
I can’t miss this chance.
She relaxed her face and spoke.
“Sister.”
Her voice didn’t tremble.
Desdemona frowned at the sudden address.
“What? Why?”
Fiorentia bowed politely, pressing her hands together, and spoke with urgency.
“If… you no longer need that beast, could you give him to me?”
“What? To you?”
“Yes. Please.”
Her voice was hoarse from the tension.
Desdemona asked sharply,
“Why would you need him?”
“Well…”
Fiorentia hesitated briefly, lowering her eyebrows.
Though her mask hid her expression, she acted as convincingly as possible.
Finally, she gained courage and added,
“I get lonely being alone all the time…”
