Jason started to explain...
"The Astra household had two young masters—Caspian, the elder, and Caelis, the younger."
From the moment he was born, Sir Caelis carried a fate far different from his brother's. Crippled at the legs, he was rarely seen by the public. The previous masters of Astra, ashamed of his condition, kept him hidden behind the estate walls. Their affections turned instead to Caspian, who grew up spoiled and celebrated—Astra's golden heir.
This house… the one we're sitting in… it was originally built for Sir Caelis—a quiet sanctuary at the edge of the estate. But as the brothers aged, their relationship remained distant. There was no warmth, no affection. No fights either—because to Caspian, his brother wasn't worthy of confrontation. He saw Caelis as nothing more than a stain on the Astra name.
Then came Lady Serena.
Caspian met her in college. A remarkable woman—beloved by many. Gentle, kind, full of light. The kind of woman who could soften even the coldest heart. They fell in love and married soon after graduation. And for the first five years, their marriage seemed... perfect.
But time can be cruel.
As people began to whisper—"When will the first child come?"—a silent pressure grew around them. Their families, their friends, even the public had already pictured their perfect future. Yet… two long years passed, and nothing changed.
Eventually, they went to the doctor. That's when everything shattered.
Caspian was diagnosed with infertility. And though they repeated the tests in different hospitals, the results were always the same. Something broke in him that day. Serena tried—God, she tried—to hold things together. But Caspian started to shift.blamed her " you cursed me". Their arguments grew louder, more frequent. And though the walls of the mansion were thick, the servants began to overhear things not meant for ears. The truth slipped between cracks—like water leaking through broken marble.
Then came the party.
It was supposed to be a celebration—Caspian had opened a new branch in China. Everything looked perfect again. He stood tall, accepted the toasts, basked in success. But just when he thought he'd regained his pride… the host of the event clinked his glass and smiled too wide.
"Congratulations," he said, "though it's truly a shame, a man with your achievements can't pass on his legacy."
Laughter didn't follow.
Only stunned silence. A few gasps. And then—those cursed whispers.
"Poor wife."
"A single flaw crumbles a perfect man."
"Such shame, hidden behind a handsome face."
It spread like wildfire—from gossip circles to rival companies, all the way down to Caspian's own employees. The mockery bled into every corner of his life.
And he snapped.
He started drinking. Every night. Coming home drunk, slamming doors, shouting, striking and beating Serena. The gentle home they'd built began to rot from the inside. Her family tried to intervene, begged him to seek in vitro fertilization—but Caspian refused. The idea humiliated him. It made his shame public again.
Instead of listening… he sent his men.
They found Serena's family and friends. Beat the her friens to the point they never seek Serena again. Left her family to die, and dumped their corpes in the wild. No bodies were ever recovered.
That was when Lady Serena truly broke.
He confined her to the estate, forbade her from going out. Day after day, she unraveled. The light in her eyes dulled. She lashed out at servants. Caspian started bringing in other women—openly, unapologetically.
And then, one of the woman's he was seeing often said something that changed everything.
"If you want a child, why not just make your legal wife bear one for you? you can make the child yours later."
That night, Caspian returned home and walked to the farthest end of the estate—for the first time in years he came to his little brother. That's when he saw Sir Caelis again, in the small building built for him, still living alone in silence, surrounded by books.
Only one servant had been assigned to him—which was me.
Caspian came unannounced.
I remember how startled I was, seeing him standing outside. He didn't even knock—just stood there with that arrogant patience of his, as if the whole world should've known he'd arrived. I hurried out to greet him, brushing the dust off my sleeves.
"Welcome, Lord Caspian. What brings you here?"
He looked down at me like I was nothing but a bug on his windshield. He was nothing like Master Caelis in presence or soul… and yet, the resemblance was haunting. The same sharp jawline. The same deep violet eyes. But Caelis always looked softer, younger, almost ethereal.
Caspian's eyes swept over the yard. "Where's that little brother of mine?"
Before I could respond, he shoved me aside and stepped into the house.
I stumbled back—caught my footing—and turned in time to see Caelis wheeling himself in from the hall.
"Caspian, what are you doing here?" Caelis asked, his voice flat but cold.
Caspian smiled. "Let's talk, brother."
I served them tea in the sitting room. The air felt like ice—tense, thin, dangerous.
Caspian set his cup down without drinking. He leaned back in his seat and smirked.
"You're practically dead, Caelis. No one even knows you're alive. So why not make yourself useful before you rot away in this place?"
Caelis tilted his head, patient. "What do you want, Caspian?"
Caspian leaned forward, placing one hand on his knee. "I want you to bear my child."
I almost dropped the tray.
Caelis blinked. "I don't understand."
"Don't play dumb. You already know I'm infertile. But you—" Caspian waved lazily at him. "You look just like me. Black hair. Purple eyes. So will the baby. Especially if it's born between you and Serena."
Caelis's hands trembled. "Have you lost your mind?! Serena is your wife! How could you even suggest this? Isn't what you've done to her already enough?"
"I don't care about that cursed bitch," Caspian said with a laugh. "All I want is a child that looks like me."
"Cursed…" Caelis's voice cracked. "You've gone that far in your delusion?"
"Get out," he growled. "If this is all you came for, leave. I won't hear another disgusting word."
But Caspian wasn't done. He turned his gaze on me and scoffed.
"Isn't this your only little butler?" he said mockingly. I froze under his stare.
"Leave him out of this," Caelis snapped.
Caspian chuckled darkly. "He still works under my name. I can do whatever I want to him—or to you. And look at this! It's almost poetic. I needed a pawn, and here he is—standing loyally by your side."
Then his voice grew louder, crazier.
"I'll be taking that small hamster of yours with me."
Caelis's voice rose like a whipcrack. "Leave, Caspian!"
It was the first time I had ever heard him shout like that.
Caspian grinned, slowly rising to his feet. "You have until tomorrow. Think about it."
The door slammed behind him.
The teacup in Caelis's hand shattered against the floor.
That night, his fever worsened. His body couldn't handle stress like this. I stayed by his bedside, applying cool cloths, changing his sheets. He barely stirred.
The next morning…
I was still lying in bed, wrapped in the lingering heat of a fading fever. My breath was steady, but my limbs remained heavy, still drained. Outside the bedroom, the muffled sound of raised voices began to rise, sharp and angry.
I stirred.
A dull ache pulsed in my chest.
"…Jason?" I called out weakly. "Jason!"
But the arguing didn't stop. If anything, it grew louder—more frantic. The clamor of shouts echoed down the hallway like storm winds rattling through glass.
Then—
A woman screamed.
Her voice cracked with terror.
"No! No—leave me alone! Let me go!"
My heart seized.
Before I could even react, the bedroom door slammed open, banging violently against the wall.
Two massive men charged inside, each one gripping an arm of a woman who kicked and struggled between them. Her legs dragged limply across the floor. She was sobbing, screaming, her voice hoarse and frantic. Her body writhed with resistance, but she was no match for their brute strength.
"What—what are you doing?!" I shouted, voice trembling as I tried to push myself upright. "Stop! What is this?!"
They didn't answer.
Not a word.
Without hesitation, they marched forward and threw her onto the bed, right beside me. Her body bounced on the mattress and landed in a heap, like she was made of nothing.
My lungs felt too tight to breathe. My whole body shook in confusion and disbelief.
A familiar voice rose behind them.
"Ohhh, perfect."
Caspian.
He stood in the doorway, calm as ever, a small, satisfied smirk curling his lips. His eyes glittered with cruel amusement.
"You're awake. That fever didn't last long, huh?"
He stepped into the room, the soft click of his boots over the floor echoing too loud.
"Well then… it won't take long for the two of you to bear me a child."
My blood ran cold.
"Caspian! You can't do this!" I cried out. I tried to move again, but my legs gave out. "Where's Jason?! Caspian, this is insane—!"
I tried to reach him, to stop him, but the two guards turned and exited without a word. The heavy door clicked shut behind them.
Locked.
"Jason!" I yelled.
I heard him. On the other side. His voice muffled, desperate.
"Master, please—please don't—!"
A sharp smack.
Jason yelped.
Then—silence.
I turned my head toward the bed.
The girl was lying beside me, completely still, her face buried into the mattress. Her long pink hair spilled out around her like ribbons, spreading across the sheets in tangled waves. Her shoulders trembled with every breath.
"H-Hey…" I whispered, throat dry. "Are you alright?"
She didn't move.
Slowly, her arms pushed against the mattress. Her body wobbled, every motion strained.
She lifted herself up with quivering arms and looked at me.
Her face was flushed. Tears soaked her cheeks. But it was her eyes that stunned me—empty, unfocused, almost vacant. There was no clarity there. No sense of self. Just the haunting fog of someone not fully present.
Her limbs trembled as she crawled toward me. Every movement was slow, like she was wading through thick water. But she didn't stop—not even when her knees brushed mine.
Then—she sat on my lap.
My body froze.
"Wait—no. Stop—" I reached for her shoulders, gently shaking her. "Listen to me. Do you hear me? Are you Serena?"
She didn't answer.
Her face came closer—
Then her lips touched mine.
My eyes widened.
"No—don't do this," I whispered. "I know Caspian made you do this. You're not in control—please…"
I tried to push her back. My arms trembled, but I used all the strength I had.
She didn't budge.
She was too strong—or I was too weak.
She kissed me again.
But this time, she was crying.
Tears slipped silently down her cheeks, even as her lips clung to mine. There was nothing romantic in it. No desire. Just desperation. Just brokenness.
I pushed again. I begged her to stop. Again. And again.
But she didn't seem to hear me.
Didn't seem to know where—or whoand with who—she was.
That night, we were two pieces shattered and glued together by force.
Two broken souls, manipulated by one man.
Caspian.
The next morning, I looked at her again. She seemed… different. More lucid. Her body lay curled at the edge of the bed, unmoving. She didn't meet my eyes.
It wasn't until later I learned—Caspian had drugged her.
He'd fed her some kind of aphrodisiac before tossing her into that room with me.
She had no control.
No choice.
I tried to talk to her after that. Many times.
But she never spoke.
We just lay there, night after night.
Our backs to each other.
We stayed locked in that room for a whole week.
Each day, the two guards came in with food.
And every time, Serena refused to touch it.
She turned her face to the wall and lay still, like a ghost waiting for the final breath to come.
Then—on the seventh day—
The door finally opened.
"Master!"
Jason burst through, eyes bloodshot, face soaked in tears.
He stumbled to my side, falling to his knees at the edge of the bed.
"I'm so sorry—I'm so sorry… I couldn't protect you!"
His hands clutched at my robe. He sobbed into my lap.
I reached out with trembling fingers and placed a hand on his head.
"It's not your fault…"
Before I could say more, the guards returned—this time with a man in a white coat.
A doctor.
They surrounded Serena in silence.
She didn't react.
They drew her blood. Spoke no words. And left without ceremony.
She didn't flinch. Didn't cry.
She just… stared at the wall.
I turned to Jason.
"Can you… help her onto a wheelchair, too?"
He blinked at me, surprised. "Are you sure, Master?"
"…Yes," I whispered.