chapter 13
“…!”
However, this time was different from what had happened with Desdemona.
His blue eyes, which had seemed empty and unfocused, slowly followed Fiorentia’s face.
‘He’s okay. That’s a relief.’
Finally letting out a small sigh of relief, she lightly patted Theodore’s shoulder as if to say he had done well.
“Endure it just a little longer.”
She whispered so softly that only he could hear, then left him and headed out of the enclosure.
First, she needed to call the guards.
“Ugh.”
“Hoo…”
Different groans slipped from the lips of the guards as they carried the stiff Theodore on their backs.
Fiorentia pretended not to hear their sighs and pointed to her bed with her chin.
“Put him down here.”
The senior guard frowned and asked cautiously,
“On the bed…?”
Fiorentia stared at him as if asking what the problem was.
“Why?”
“But he’s a man, my lady.”
He awkwardly explained his hesitation.
Fiorentia lifted her chin slightly.
“So? What does that matter? He can’t move anyway.”
Her tone subtly implied that she saw Theodore as nothing more than a doll—nothing else.
The guards exchanged glances.
As she said, Theodore hadn’t moved at all. They would know best—after carrying him all the way from the enclosure to her room, he hadn’t even twitched.
He had been so stiff it felt like carrying a slightly curved tree trunk.
“Well… that’s true.”
“You’re right, my lady.”
They gave embarrassed smiles and laid Theodore’s rigid body at the edge of the bed.
“My lady, what about the restraints and chains he was wearing?”
At the question, Fiorentia pretended to think.
She rolled her red eyes toward Theodore. His tightly clenched jaw caught her attention.
‘He still doesn’t fully trust me.’
There had been a reason Desdemona had briefly focused on his clenched jaw back in the enclosure.
Desdemona had let it pass, but Fiorentia’s heart had nearly stopped when she realized what it meant.
What if Desdemona had grown suspicious and tried to force his mouth open?
Then Theodore wouldn’t have fallen into her hands so easily.
If he didn’t trust her, it meant she needed to keep at least a minimum leash on him for now.
If she gave him freedom too soon, it would likely ruin her plan.
‘With that personality, he’d try to escape immediately.’
A warrior like Theodore could easily overpower someone as frail as her.
‘It’s not time yet.’
She had to keep him longer.
It was true she had helped him once—but that wasn’t enough.
She planned to make him owe her more.
Only then would he properly repay that debt someday, and her own destined death would move a few steps further away.
‘I wish he’d just trust me and stay still.’
Then she would release him herself when it was safe.
“Hmm.”
Fiorentia disliked unpredictable situations, and her mind quickly settled.
Without much hesitation, she ordered the guards,
“Keep the handcuffs on for now. Give me the key and the chain.”
“Yes, my lady.”
After bowing respectfully, the guards left and closed the door.
Fiorentia quietly walked to the entrance and opened the door just a crack, peeking out.
The guards were already near the end of the corridor, walking quickly—probably eager to rest.
She carefully checked her surroundings.
As always, no one passed in front of her room.
Only after confirming that did she finally shut the door.
‘He’s finally in my hands.’
From now on, Theodore would be confined in this room.
No—more precisely, she would pretend to confine him while actually protecting him from Desdemona.
Ignoring her racing heart, she walked back to him and let out the long breath she had been holding.
“So half-hearted.”
It was directed at Theodore.
She even clicked her tongue.
If he was going to trust her, he should trust her completely. Otherwise, he should doubt her entirely.
After glaring at him once more, she reached toward his mouth.
This time, his lips opened obediently—something Desdemona had never been able to achieve.
Fiorentia let out a dry laugh.
“Should I say you’re strong… or just stubborn?”
With a faintly mocking smile, she parted his lips and pushed her finger inside without hesitation.
Her slender finger moved through his mouth like a swimming fish.
It was hot and wet.
Unbothered, she lifted his tongue.
Soon, crushed and torn pieces of mushroom came out.
As expected.
“I knew it.”
The mushroom she had given him in the underground prison was poisonous.
But Theodore had only chewed it—he hadn’t swallowed it.
‘Good thing I gave him a strong one, just in case.’
If she had naively given him a mild mushroom, thinking he would obediently chew and swallow it, he would have been able to move—and she wouldn’t have gained custody of him.
“Well, I guess the result is what matters.”
At least he had chewed it.
Because of that, his body had stiffened as if he were poisoned, allowing him to avoid Desdemona’s suspicion for the time being.
Fiorentia tossed the mushroom remains into the fireplace to destroy the evidence.
Then she slowly and carefully wiped the saliva from her fingers with a handkerchief, studying Theodore up and down with a detached gaze.
He still couldn’t move at all.
She let out a soft snort.
“You seem a little dirty. Should I wash you first?”
Maybe clearing the first stage safely had made her feel relaxed.
Even though she knew it wasn’t the time, she felt like teasing him.
Or perhaps she was annoyed that he hadn’t obediently followed her words.
“Even if I remove the poison now, you won’t listen to me anyway. Should I just wipe you down with a wet cloth? What do you think?”
She asked mischievously, knowing he couldn’t answer.
Veins rose on his forehead and neck.
Proof that he could hear and understand everything she was saying.
“Oh my, you’ve got spirit.”
He should barely be able to move a finger under the poison’s effect, yet he still showed his will—just like he had in the enclosure.
‘No wonder he’s the male lead.’
Smirking, Fiorentia avoided his gaze and moved behind him.
She had to hide the handcuff key she’d received from the guard.
‘Since he doesn’t trust me yet, he might try to take it by force.’
After a moment’s thought, she remembered the saying that the darkest place is under the lamp and hid the key in an unexpected spot.
Then she returned and plopped down beside him.
Her body was so light that the bed barely reacted.
“Don’t waste your strength. You need to recover right now.”
Deciding to stop teasing him, she gently stroked his back.
She could feel the poisonous energy still spread inside him.
“I’ll undo the paralysis.”
Now that she had learned how to handle it, it was much easier than the first day.
Fiorentia drew the poison out of his body.
A rough breath burst from Theodore’s mouth.
“Haah—!”
Life returned to his once-empty eyes.
“Cough! Cough!”
Maybe he exhaled wrong. His breathing tangled, and his upper body bent forward.
His coughing was harsh and relentless.
Fiorentia frowned slightly, thinking he looked strained.
When the coughing wouldn’t stop, she gently patted his back.
Each time her hand touched him, she felt his muscles tighten firmly.
“Are you okay? Should I get you some water?”
After a long moment, he finally calmed down and turned to her with sharp eyes.
It was hard to believe he had just been gasping for breath.
“You…!”
As if deeply offended, Theodore suddenly twisted his body and shoved her shoulder with his large hand.
Overpowered by his strength, Fiorentia was pushed back and fell onto the bed.
Before she could react, Theodore had already climbed over her body.
