"Alexios...!"
"Alexios...! Alexios...! Where are you?" Elena shouted in panic. Her voice trembled with fear. She frantically looked all around.
In moments, she realized she was standing in her own home's room the one where she had spent her childhood. The pale walls, the old curtain hanging by the window, and the small wooden table in the corner. Everything was exactly as she had always known it.
Elena's eyes darted restlessly here and there. She kept glancing at the door, then the window, then every corner of the room carefully. Hope and anxiety were clear on her face. Her eyes repeatedly turned toward the door and the room's corners. She was searching for her older brother.
She was searching for her older brother. She thought she had escaped the Duke and returned home. This thought brought a bit of joy to her heart. She felt safe now. So, with hope, she searched for her older brother. But suddenly, a slow voice came from behind her. "Elena..."
As soon as these words reached her ears, Elena's entire body stiffened. Her breath stopped for a moment.
The voice was soft, but Elena recognized it instantly. It was the Duke's voice. She stood frozen for a few moments. Her feet wouldn't move. Fear and panic surged rapidly in her mind. Slowly, she mustered courage to turn around.
As Elena slowly turned and looked back, her heart seemed to stop. The Duke stood before her. He was straight and completely still. A black mask covered half his face. Coldness and cruelty shone clearly in his eyes. His gaze was fixed directly on Elena. There was no mercy in those eyes at all.
But in the next moment, Elena's eyes fell on his hand, and her body froze.
In the Duke's hand was Alexios's severed head. It was completely drenched in blood. Deep red blood covered his hair and face, dripping slowly downward. Alexios's eyes were half open.
Then her gaze slowly went lower. On the ground lay Alexios's body. It was utterly lifeless and still. His clothes were soaked in blood. Blood had spread across the floor around him.
Seeing this scene, Elena's breath caught. Her eyes widened in terror. Her face turned pale, and she stood rooted there. Her hands began to tremble. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. Disbelief filled her eyes, as if she couldn't accept what she was seeing as real.
Elena's legs suddenly weakened. She stumbled backward and fell to the ground. Her hands shook, and tears streamed rapidly from her eyes. In a trembling voice, looking at the Duke, she said, "No... no... this can't be real..."
Her gaze returned to her brother's body. Seeing him like this on the ground made her tears flow even faster. Her heart filled with pain. She shook her head repeatedly while crying, as if refusing to believe the scene.
"Alexios...!" she screamed through her sobs.
Then she looked at the Duke with trembling eyes. "Why... why did you do this...? What did my brother ever do to you...?"
Her breaths quickened. Tears kept flowing down her cheeks. "Why...? Why did you kill him...?"
She sat on the ground crying. Her tears flowed endlessly, and her breaths broke repeatedly.
Elena's sobs echoed through the room. The Duke watched her coldly for a few moments. His face showed no emotion.
Then he carelessly tossed Alexios's head from his hand to the side. It fell to the ground and rolled across the floor.
After that, the Duke began walking slowly toward Elena. His steps were slow but firm. The sound of his shoes on the floor was clear with each step. His gaze remained fixed on Elena. He advanced straight toward her without stopping.
"You made the mistake of trying to escape... and he paid the price. Those who try to run from me always meet this end," the Duke said in a cold, stern voice.
Saying this, he came right up to Elena. Hardness was evident in his eyes. Suddenly, he reached out and gripped her neck tightly. His fingers clamped firmly around her neck.
In the next moment, he lifted Elena off the ground. Her body rose into the air. Her feet dangled above the floor. She panicked and tried to grab his hand. Her breaths began to falter, and pain and fear showed clearly on her face.
The Duke's face was utterly stern. His grip didn't loosen at all. He stared at Elena without mercy. Then, in a slow but firm voice, he said, "I gave you a chance... but you lost it."
He pulled her face closer, so close that their noses nearly touched. Elena's breaths were rapid and halting. The pressure on her neck caused her pain, but the Duke's hold was strong and steady.
The Duke didn't release her neck. Elena's breaths grew weaker. Darkness began to cloud her vision. Everything blurred, and her body felt numb. Her eyelids grew heavy, and her eyes slowly closed.
Suddenly, Elena jolted awake, gasping for air. Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up straight. Her chest heaved rapidly. She tried to take deep breaths, but they were still unsteady. Her hands trembled slightly, and sweat beaded on her forehead. For a few moments, she looked around, trying to figure out where she was.
Elena looked around in panic. She was in a vast, luxurious room. The room was clean and orderly. High ceiling, light-colored walls, and soft light filtering through a large window created a peaceful atmosphere. A bed with thick, comfortable sheets stood in the center. Nearby was a beautiful wooden table and some decorative items. Everything was neatly arranged. No disorder anywhere.
There were no bloodstains in the room. The Duke was not there. Only a clean, serene environment surrounded her. Everything looked normal. Slowly, she tried to compose herself.
Then Elena took a deep breath. She realized she had woken from a nightmare.
She tried to get up from the bed. As she moved her feet, she felt heaviness in her right foot. It seemed like her foot wouldn't lift properly. She looked down in surprise.
Her right foot was chained to the bed. An iron chain was tightly fastened around her ankle. The other end was securely attached to the bed frame.
The chain looked thick and solid. Seeing it, it was clear it was no ordinary thing. Elena was stunned for a few moments. She slowly touched the chain to confirm it was real. Her heart began to race again. She placed her hand on her chest and tried to calm herself. Her breaths quickened slightly, and she sat quietly for a while.