Chapter 14

Ulysses wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth: “I see… I was wondering why a beautiful lady like you would do such a lowly thing. It turns out you accepted my brother’s favor.”

He leaned against the wall, stood up, looked at Lambert, then at me, and smiled maliciously, “Miss Rose, I wonder how my brother tastes. He is almost like a beast now…”

Before he finished speaking, Lambert instantly moved in front of him, attacking his neck like lightning.

Ulysses reacted quickly, probably caught off guard by Lambert’s earlier kick to the chest. He rolled to the side, threw off his cloak, and rolled up his sleeves: “It’s ridiculous. You let our mother die, but for a lowly village woman, you attack your own brother. Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.”

I couldn’t help but explain, “He’s lost his mind. He doesn’t recognize you. You’ve misunderstood.”

Ulysses was about to respond when Lambert punched him in the abdomen, causing him to stagger back a few steps. If he hadn’t grabbed the sword on the ground in time to block Lambert’s razor-sharp claws, he would have been killed on the spot. The clash of sword and claws produced a piercing screech. Like lions fighting for territory, the two of them stared into each other’s eyes, sparks flying from their hands.

In the end, Lambert’s strength prevailed. He looked down coldly at Ulysses from above, pressing the sword down mercilessly, the blade about to cut off Ulysses’ head.

The relationship between these brothers was too complex. One saw his brother as a mortal enemy, even resorting to evil magic to turn him into a hated monster, yet wouldn’t let outsiders touch the castle’s items. The other seemed cold and unfeeling but, after losing his mind, showed no hostility towards the brother who caused all this. And now, they were fighting not because of the curse but because Ulysses hurt me. No matter what, their relationship was not as bad as it seemed.

I thought for a moment and called softly, “Lambert!”

Call me arrogant or self-deluded, but I felt that, deep down, Lambert didn’t hate his brother. If he accidentally killed Ulysses now, he would most likely regret it when he regained his senses.

Lambert squinted at me, then turned back, continuing to press Ulysses’ sword.

Ulysses gripped the hilt, his nails, hands, and knuckles straining white with effort, yet he still couldn’t resist Lambert’s single-handed strength: “I appreciate Miss Rose’s kindness. But even if my brother has lost his mind, with his proud and arrogant nature, he would never obey your command—”

I hadn’t intended to use that trick, but Ulysses’ words sparked my competitive spirit. He thought I couldn’t call Lambert over, so I had to prove him wrong. I called Lambert again, this time pointing to my lips.

Lambert looked at me, then at the nearly exhausted Ulysses. Then, under Ulysses’ incredulous gaze, he slowly released his powerful grip and walked over to me.

The knight’s sword clattered to the ground. Ulysses slumped against the stone wall, panting, “This can’t be… This is impossible.”

Now was the time. While Ulysses was in shock, I quickly kissed Lambert on the lips.

Lambert wiped his lips with his knuckle, his snake-like tongue flicking in and out between his lips, his chest rumbling with a low growl. Whether he was satisfied or not, I didn’t care. He had come over, and that was what mattered.

I walked to the basement door and listened for any sounds from above. It was quiet. The villagers must have left. Turning to look at Ulysses, I saw him watching me thoughtfully, his gaze filled with an oppressive curiosity.
From his eyes, it was clear that he and Lambert had received completely different educations. Although Lambert’s gaze was also oppressive, it commanded submission rather than the discomfort Ulysses’ gaze caused. This was likely the difference between a regular noble and a royal heir.
Not wanting to be stared at like that, I was about to turn away, but Lambert moved faster, stepping in front of me and meeting Ulysses’ gaze coldly.

Ulysses coughed lightly and laughed, “Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. The once aloof, arrogant, and celibate brother is now protecting a woman like a dog guarding its food to break the curse quickly. I wonder what those noble ladies who admire you would think.”

It was obvious he was trying to sow discord.

But this “discord” hit a sore spot and exposed my long-standing worry—I didn’t know if Lambert’s affection for me was partly due to his desire to break the curse.

Ulysses, thinking I was unaware of Lambert’s curse, laughed twice and said slowly, “Miss Rose might not know, but my brother was once a noble heir, visiting several countries with our father, fluent in multiple languages by the age of ten, and outstanding enough to incite jealousy. He not only memorized military theories but also had a strong political acumen, governing the country efficiently by the age of seventeen. He was the pride and future of our nation. In our land, not just bards but even young children sang his praises. His mind was rational and clear, willing to sacrifice even his mother to win a war. So, such a smart and ruthless person, when he knows that only true love can break the curse, how much of his affection for you is genuine, and how much is utilitarian?”

These royal nobles are adept at manipulating people’s hearts, and they made me feel utterly dejected with just a few words. The reason I can’t face Lambert properly is because I’m afraid he’s using my feelings.

Thinking about this, I suddenly remembered how I once naively thought I could love him, save him, and then leave. But after truly falling for someone, I realized it’s not that simple. Just the thought of the person I like possibly using me makes my heart ache terribly.

Despite the pain, I couldn’t show any weakness: “Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness. By the way, if you don’t want to repeat the earlier embarrassment, please leave quickly.”

I pushed Lambert forward, “He doesn’t welcome you.”

Ulysses chuckled lightly: “I will leave, but please think carefully about my words. A half-human, half-beast monster will do anything to grasp a lifeline. You are beautiful, but besides your beauty, your manners, background, and knowledge. Which of these match my brother? Why do you think he likes you?”

Each of his words felt like a slap in the face. Enough. If he wouldn’t leave, I would. Reaching my limit, I turned to walk towards the exit.

I thought Lambert would follow, but for some reason, he stayed where he was, coldly staring at Ulysses. It felt like my fantasy was shattered. It turned out he attacked Ulysses not because of me, but because of their long-standing grudge. I was too self-absorbed to think I could control his every move. The more I thought about it, the more ashamed I felt, my blood rushing to my face, burning my cheeks and ears. When I used kisses to make Lambert obey, what did the real Lambert think? Did he secretly mock my self-delusion?

Not wanting to think any further, I walked from the basement to the hall, which was in disarray, clearly after a fierce battle. The furniture was busy tidying up the place. I nodded to them and hurried up to the third floor, returning to my room. Despite Ulysses warning the thieves, most of the valuables were still gone.

I filled a basin with cold water, soaked a towel, and pressed it to my cheeks. The shameful heat finally subsided, no longer as intense as before. Ultimately, the root of everything was liking someone I shouldn’t have.

Between Lambert and me, not only was there a huge disparity in status but also in knowledge and experience. His affection for me might be because he met me at a particular time. He might not have even glanced at me if we had met when he was at his peak.

There was a couple in town who developed feelings for each other while escaping a tiger together. However, less than a year after their marriage, it was nearly broken. The man found a mistress, and the woman, full of resentment, aged nearly ten years in a few months. My father told me that the more dangerous and bizarre the environment, the easier it is to foster illusory love. This couple believed in the illusion, leading to such a tragic end. Lambert and I are probably the same.

Thinking about this is really painful. I put down the towel and looked at the time; it was already ten o’clock at night. I decided to take a bath and go to bed.

Tomorrow — I’ll have a serious talk with him tomorrow. I don’t want to continue with these suspicions. I’ll tell him my doubts, and he’ll tell me his true thoughts. This will be good for both of us.

The next day, I got up early. Since I was preparing to have a frank conversation with Lambert, I spent a long time in the dressing room looking for clothes. Unfortunately, many delicate dresses had been stolen or cut up, leaving only a few plain-colored long dresses. I chose a pearl-colored dress with smooth pearls embedded along the hem and black lace embroidered on the collar and cuffs. Wearing a dress requires gloves, but after searching for a long time, I couldn’t find suitable gloves. Wearing gloves of a different color would look strange. Lambert probably wouldn’t mind if I didn’t wear gloves since it’s just a conversation between the two of us.

I put on the dress and found a comb, perfume, and hair wax in the dressing box. I intertwined my hair with the pearl crown shaped like olive leaves. When applying the hair wax, I accidentally used too much, and the scent was so strong that I smelled like a moving jasmine flower, spreading the fragrance wherever I went. I wanted to wash my hair and start over, but it was almost noon, so I decided to leave it as it was.

As I walked to the door, I suddenly heard the castle’s main door being pushed open. Someone was here? Could it be Ulysses again?

I opened my room door and walked to the third-floor railing. In the hall stood a person, but it wasn’t Ulysses; it was a beautiful and noble woman. She wore a royal blue gown with a wide skirt, her hair was styled high with matching feathers, and she was adorned with luxurious and expensive jewelry on her earlobes, neck, and wrists. The three crystal chandeliers in the castle reflected a romantic glow, highlighting her elegant, swan-like demeanor.

I realized she must be the woman Ulysses mentioned, who matched Lambert in “appearance, manners, background, and knowledge.”

At that moment, Lambert came down the stairs and met her gaze. His beastly transformation was always unpredictable, but after a night, he returned to his human form with shortened nails and slender, elegant fingers. Except for the black scales on the back of his neck and his snake-like vertical pupils, it was hard to tell he had ever transformed into a fierce beast. His vision was still poor, and he seemed to be deep in thought, almost bumping into the woman. He stopped, took out gold-framed glasses from his coat pocket, placed them on his nose, and looked at the woman. Throughout this process, the woman kept smiling slightly, her sky-blue eyes brimming with tears.

After seeing her face clearly, Lambert paused for two seconds: “Ophelia.”

Seeing the two of them looking at each other made me feel strange, my heart burning with jealousy. I wanted to go downstairs and separate them or cover Lambert’s eyes to stop him from looking at her. But I had no reason to do so and couldn’t, so I held my breath, quietly walked behind a pillar, and gloomily watched them, listening to their conversation.

Ophelia’s voice was as soft as a cloud: “If Ulysses hadn’t told me you were cursed by a witch… were you planning to keep it from me forever?”

Lambert walked to the side, took off his glasses, and wiped the lenses with a handkerchief: “Ulysses?”

“Don’t be angry with him. He said you were cursed by a witch and that only true love can break the spell. Why didn’t you tell me? After all, we grew up together, I…” Ophelia’s cheeks turned red, “I am willing to help you find a way.”

“Is that so.” Lambert’s tone was neither cold nor warm, but I felt he was passionate, his ambiguous attitude almost suffocating me.

Unexplained jealousy filled my heart, and I wanted to stomp my feet. Why didn’t he just reject her directly?

“Do you think I lack the courage to save you? Ulysses told many noble ladies, but they hesitated when they learned you would turn into a beast. Only I secretly drove here behind my parents’ backs.” She smiled nostalgically, “I remember this castle. The rose field used to be a horse farm, right? When I was a child, I often came here with my parents to race horses. Back then, although you were young, you were quite imposing. The girls didn’t dare talk to you, only whispering about you in the corners. Your Highness, after so many years, I finally gathered the courage to confess my feelings to you. Please don’t reject my bravery. Let me stay here to help you, okay?”

Lambert placed his glasses on his nose and looked at her again but remained silent for a long time, seemingly undecided.

I couldn’t watch or listen any longer. If I continued, I might die of anger. Looking at my simple yet formal attire, I was filled with regret. Why did I dress up like this for dinner with him? Why not just wear the shirt and pants I had when I first arrived?

At that moment, Ophelia’s voice sounded again: “Your Highness, please have mercy on me and grant my request.”

The thought that Lambert might agree made me furious and jealous. I stomped my foot hard, not caring if I was noticed.

Just as I was about to return to my room to change into a shirt and pants, I heard Lambert’s voice, not too loud or soft: “Rosa, come down for dinner.”