CHAPTER 4 Part 1

Alena froze.

But then, just as suddenly as they had opened, those eyes shut closed once more.

She blinked. He definitely opened his eyes and stared at her, right? He’s just pretending to be asleep again right now, right?

Carefully, she lowered her hand and leaned over the duke until her face was so close to his.

She waved her hand above his face, her fingers mere inches from his nose.

He did not react. Not even a subtle twitch of his facial muscles.

She dangled the cold, sharp edge of her dagger just above his throat. Still, the duke didn't react at all. He continued breathing steadily.

Eyes narrowed, she studied his face closer. He seemed truly asleep. And why is this bloody duke's eyelashes so incredibly long and thick? His brows too looked flawless! And those jawline and lips and... moles.

There was one just below his right eye and there was another beneath the corer of his lips. It's like a god strategically placed those tiny dots to make his already perfect features even more beautiful!

Looking at him really felt like staring at a work of art. His face bore none of the scars of his malicious deeds, no lines of cruelty or malevolence.

How dare he look this divine? How could this world make someone so evil so beautiful?

Berating herself for getting distracted, she refocused.

"Isn't it too kind of me to just kill him off like this?" She began to mutter. "I should play with him a little first, shouldn't I? Just like how he played with my life." Right... ending his life now is too merciful. This man deserved to feel the same dread that I felt in my final moments.

Extending her hand towards his blanket, she glided the sharp point of the dagger over the fabric. Deliberately, she tugged, almost playful, like a cat toying with a mouse.

Finally, she elicited a reaction. His face twitched into a frown. And when his eyes fluttered open, Alena quickly snuffed out the candlelight using her dagger.

"Will I finally get to see the almighty Duke scream with fear, hmm?" She grinned mischievously.

But he merely closed his eyes again and... slept.

Speechless and frustrated at the duke's almost maddening nonchalance, knocked over the candelabra, causing it to clatter loudly to the floor.