Chapter 3 The Trap in the Dark
900 Words
Near dusk, Lenora pushed open the door to her bedroom. Inside, it was completely dark.
She frowned and reached out to light the lamp.
Suddenly, a sticky, greasy hand grabbed her wrist and squeezed hard. A stranger's foul breath rushed toward her.
"Pretty lady, your hands are so soft!"
A beggar who had appeared out of nowhere wrapped an arm around Lenora's waist. Panting heavily, he hurriedly groped toward her thigh.
Startled, Lenora felt a surge of fear that quickly turned into furious humiliation.
"How dare you! I am the general's wife. How dare you behave so rudely!"
"What general's wife? The general himself brought me here! Once you're in my room, you're my woman!"
Before she could even process what he meant, the beggar lifted her up.
"Help! Someone! There's an assassin!"
Lenora cried out in panic, but the servants in the courtyard seemed deaf. Not a single one came in.
In her panic, she struck the beggar, but instead of breaking free, she only angered him.
His rough hand suddenly clamped around her throat and slammed her down.
The sharp corner of a table struck her lower back, sending a shudder of pain through her body.
Her body, still weak from the recent miscarriage, suffered another blow. Blood began to flow between her legs again.
"Already bleeding, huh? I like it rough like this!"
Not only did the beggar not stop, he even lifted her skirt and reached for her undergarments.
Humiliated and furious, Lenora felt despair surge through her. Her heart hardened.
She pulled the hairpin from her hair and stabbed forward with all her strength.
Hot blood splattered everywhere, followed by the beggar's furious scream.
"My eyes! You b***h! I'll kill you today!"
His grip on her neck tightened instantly. Lenora's face turned red from suffocation as she raised the hairpin again, aiming at his throat.
If that was the case, then let him die!
Just as the hairpin was about to pierce his throat, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Cedric's cold voice sounded above her.
"That's enough. A lesson is enough. When did you become so vicious that you'd actually try to kill him?"
Lenora froze and looked up in disbelief.
The lamps in the room were lit by servants. Cedric stepped forward with Selene in his arms.
He stood before Lenora and looked down at her casually, without the slightest ripple in his eyes.
Selene was dressed like a young servant. When she saw the beggar whose eye had been stabbed blind, her face filled with concern.
"Cedric, this is all my fault. I felt sorry for him when I saw him begging, so I brought him back. I never imagined he'd lose an eye because of it. If anything worse happens to him in the future, I'll never forgive myself."
"It's fine. Hawthorne Manor will support him for the rest of his life."
Selene blinked.
"In that case, why not let him stay in Orchid Court? There are so many rooms there and only Lenora lives there. What a waste. Letting the poor beggar stay there will even save some expenses."
Cedric nodded and tapped her nose indulgently.
"My Selene is both clever and kind."
Hearing this, the beggar was overjoyed. Ignoring the blood pouring from his eye, he repeatedly bowed in gratitude.
Only Lenora stood there in shock, her eyes wide. Her heart felt as if it had been cut into countless pieces by invisible blades. Her face turned deathly pale, and she swayed as if about to collapse.
"Cedric… you're going to keep this beggar in the house?" Tears filled her eyes as her body trembled with anger. "Didn't you just see what he was doing to me?"
Cedric only frowned slightly.
"Lenora, why do you lack even the slightest sympathy? He was a guest I brought to Hawthorne Manor. Not only did you fail to treat him properly, you even blinded his eye. Supporting him will count as good karma for you."
Lenora's heart pounded painfully at his twisted words.
She clutched her aching chest and looked at the man she had once loved with all her heart. The situation felt so absurd it was almost laughable.
Blood was still flowing between her legs, and the heavy metallic smell made her dizzy. Lenora pinched the soft flesh of her thigh hard to force herself to stay conscious.
Her heart ached as she asked through tears, "Fine. Then tell me this. Who exactly is this servant?"
Selene froze for a moment. Her charming face quickly showed a trace of anger and embarrassment.
"How dare you! You foolish woman. What gives you the courage to speak to the general in that tone?"
Selene raised her hand and slapped Lenora across the face.
She was an imperial consort. Sneaking out of the palace was already a grave crime, not to mention secretly meeting Cedric. If even a hint of it spread, damaging the royal reputation, both she and Cedric would die.
So, the moment Lenora questioned her identity, she panicked.
Cedric's expression darkened as well, his face full of displeasure.
"Lenora, have I spoiled you too much all these years, letting you speak without restraint? You will kneel in the chapel and copy the scriptures one hundred times. Until you finish, you are not allowed to eat. "
After saying that, he didn't even glance at Lenora again. He simply left with Selene.
- Writer
