Lena's Forbidden Love

Chapter 4: The Forbidden Room

"Where… are we going?"

I was both exhausted and tense, yet I had to muster the strength to remain calm and ask the person who had just saved me.

Two hours ago, these two men in black suits had come to my rescue—one piloted the helicopter while the other dropped a ladder to pull me up. Though I wanted to thank them, they had maintained absolute silence for the entire two hours, leaving me unsure of what to say.

The relief I felt upon boarding the helicopter had been completely blown away by the rotor blades. Left with no choice, I hesitantly asked them.

"…" No one answered.

All I received in response was a cold, emotionless gaze. Could it be… these weren’t the people Michael had sent to help me? Or perhaps… Michael intended to take me somewhere far away and dispose of me?

If he really wanted to do that, he wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble. He could have just handed me over to Alex. But if it wasn’t to get rid of me… then what was it for?

At that moment, I suddenly recalled his proposal.

…

“…If you marry me, I will help you.”

I stared in shock at the handsome man before me. I had just heard something utterly terrifying.

Him—Michael—the mysterious adoptive uncle of Alex, the man Alex both feared and envied—was proposing to me???

Did he have feelings for me?

Was this some kind of absurd joke?

I hesitantly asked again, "You… want to marry me?"

Michael was momentarily stunned before letting out a laugh. "Yes, because you are suitable for this marriage."

"Suitable," not "loved." I was fully aware of the implications behind his words.

Of course, it made sense. I was just an orphan, living under the care of my fiancé’s family. Someone like me had no value for Michael to truly like.

I forced an awkward smile. Though I wanted to ask Michael why—why choose me when there were so many women who would gladly marry him, even without love, just for the chance to stand beside him? Women who, according to Alex’s jealous accounts, would accept such an offer in a heartbeat.

But I feared that if I asked any more questions, I would only feel more insignificant. Even though my curiosity was overwhelming, I held back.

Michael, however, seemed unconcerned with what I thought. He spoke nonchalantly, "For now, you should focus on dealing with your current trouble…" Then, turning away, he added, "The rest—you’ll find out later."

…

At this moment, I deeply regretted not asking him why he chose me.

Did I have some naïve, girlish dream hidden deep within me? Was I secretly hoping for a fairy-tale where Prince Michael would fall in love with me—a mere Cinderella? Was it all just a ridiculous fantasy?

I sighed, covering my face. I wanted to laugh at myself.

"We’ve arrived."

The man sitting beside me interrupted my thoughts, speaking in a detached tone. "You will be staying here for now."

Startled, I turned to look at him before quickly glancing out the window to see where we had landed. But…

…That grand mansion, along with the magnificent garden… where was this place?

I was utterly overwhelmed by the sheer beauty surrounding me—a world straight out of a legendary palace.

Towering marble columns, encrusted with dazzling gemstones, shimmered under the golden glow of the lights. The garden on either side was filled with exquisite pink flowers I had never seen before—perhaps a rare and exclusive variety.

I narrowed my eyes, hoping this was not just an illusion. Could this truly be the place where I would be staying?

In any young woman’s heart—oh, who was I kidding? I might be a bit older, but my heart was still that of a young girl—I was still full of dreams. Regardless, I was certain that anyone would feel just as lucky as I did at this moment. I was merely escaping from my ex-fiancé, yet I had ended up in a place like this.

The sight of the castle became even more dazzling as I stepped off the helicopter, setting foot on its grand grounds.

"Welcome, Lord Lewis, Lord Ethan!"

A row of servants stood neatly in the castle’s grand hall, bowing to us in perfect unison. They were divided into two lines—male and female attendants—leaving an open path in the center.

Honestly, with such an extravagant reception, I was now even more intrigued by Michael’s mysterious background.

And… how did he even become Alex’s adoptive uncle?

I lowered my head, ensuring that no one could see any of my expressions.

A middle-aged woman dressed in a black maid’s uniform stood respectfully before us and said, “Lord Lewis, is there something you require? The master is not home today.”

The man sitting beside me—Lewis—gave a slight nod toward the older maid and replied, “I know. Master Michael ordered for her to stay here.”

Immediately, all eyes turned toward me. A heavy, invisible pressure bore down on my entire body. I could even feel the judgmental gazes scanning me from head to toe.

Cautiously, I lifted my face, meeting countless cold, emotionless stares.

I could even hear faint murmurs of disapproval among them.

What… was wrong with them?

The older maid was the first to break the suffocating silence. “Very well, I will prepare a guest room for the young lady in the west wing.”

At that moment, the silent helicopter pilot suddenly spoke up. “Madam Loran, this girl will be marrying Master Michael, so she needs a room in the east wing, facing the garden.”

The atmosphere, which had just slightly loosened, instantly froze once again.

I could see the shock on everyone’s faces—everyone except for the two men who had brought me here.

Lewis remained silent, but his face was filled with cold resistance.

Why were they reacting this way?

Could it be… that Michael had a secret that made it impossible for him to marry?

While I was still lost in my confusion, the older maid—Madam Loran—quickly regained her composure. She slightly bowed her head before turning to me. “Young lady, this way, please.”

I hesitated, glancing at Madam Loran, then at the two men who had brought me here. Seeing that they no longer had any intention of interacting with me, I swallowed my unease and followed her.

Each steady step of the older maid led me further away from the main hall, away from the piercing gazes, and into the vast yet eerily silent corridor.

I held back my burning questions because I knew she wouldn’t answer them anyway. Instead, I discreetly let my eyes wander, taking in the sights of this magnificent place.

Honestly, this place was extravagant beyond belief. It was the kind of setting every young girl dreamed of—a majestic castle fit for a beautiful princess. But… the more dreamlike something was, the harder it was to become reality.

Suddenly, the person in front of me came to a halt.

I, completely lost in my thoughts, failed to notice and bumped right into Madam Loran’s back.

“Ah!”

I quickly rubbed my forehead, now throbbing with pain, and when I met Madam Loran’s cold, sharp gaze, I awkwardly muttered, “I’m so sorry…”

However, the older maid paid no attention to my apology. Instead, her voice turned stern as she declared, “Young lady, you are free to move as you please. But… this room is strictly off-limits.”

The look in her eyes sent a chill down my spine.

It was the kind of gaze reserved for something repulsive, something beneath her.

After that, she simply gestured for me to find my own room and turned away.

I stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do. Watching her straight, rigid figure disappear into the distance, the questions at the tip of my tongue once again became lodged in my throat. I looked around—there was no one else in sight.

She just left… it seemed she already despised me.

I turned my gaze toward the forbidden room Madam Loran had spoken of. It looked ordinary enough—just a simple black wooden door. However, the simpler something seemed, the more dangerous it tended to be.

A faint smile flickered across my lips—so brief that no one, not even a wandering spirit, could have caught it.

I reached out, lightly touching the mysterious door, tilting my head in curiosity. Then, just as quickly, I retracted my hand as if afraid of the older maid’s warning. My expression turned hesitant, and I cautiously glanced around. After that, I timidly walked past the forbidden room.

Even without looking back, I knew invisible eyes were silently watching me.

I needed to be more careful.

Because that room… was my true goal.

In the darkness, my fingers curled into tight fists.

My gaze turned ice-cold, ready to destroy anything that stood in my way.

But…

Not yet.

At once, my face returned to its timid and apprehensive expression. I continued walking.

It was time to find a temporary place to stay.

"Where should I stay…?"