Then he set the used cloth aside. He picked up the bowl of water and placed it to one side on the table. Then he took a clean cloth. First he wiped his fingers, then his palms, and cleaned thoroughly up to his wrists.
Meanwhile, on the bed, Elena was still sitting like that, knees pulled to her chest. Her bare skin shivered from the cold air without clothes, her entire body trembling. Just then, Elena slowly raised her gaze and looked toward Duke. His face still wore that mask. Half his face was covered. Elena could only see his eyes. Reading the rest of his expression was impossible.
Elena watched him silently, but many questions swirled in her mind. She couldn't figure out if this man was good or very bad. After all, he had just stripped off all her clothes, so he could do anything to her. Her mind held just one thought: she had to get out of here. She didn't want to stay with him. She needed to go back home and find her family. Her condition was weak right now, so she couldn't do anything. But she resolved in her heart if even one chance came, she'd get away from him and try to reach her family.When his hands were almost clean, he kept looking at Elena while wiping his fingers with the cloth. Elena was still shivering from the cold. As the chilly air hit her skin, a shudder ran through her body. Unconsciously, she wrapped her arms tightly around herself.
A short while later, there was a knock at the door. A maid entered. She carried clean clothes in her hands. Without a word, she stepped forward and carefully placed the clothes on the nearby table. Then she turned and quietly left.
Duke stood there for a few moments. Then he moved toward the table. He picked up the clean clothes placed there, glanced at them, then turned and approached Elena. Elena was still sitting on the bed, her body trembling. She clutched her hands tightly together, as if trying to hold herself together.
Duke came close and sat on the bed beside her. Elena sat on the bed with her head lowered. Her hair had fallen over her face, half-hiding her eyes.
"Raise your arms." Then Duke said in a calm voice,
Elena hesitated. She felt shy. She didn't want to bare her naked body in front of Duke. So even after he said it, she didn't raise her arms. Seeing she wouldn't obey, Duke took her hands himself and began dressing her.
He raised Elena's hands. Then he slowly pulled the cream-colored loose gown over her head from above. The fabric was very soft, sliding easily without rubbing her face. The gown settled properly on her shoulders. Then Duke pulled it down to cover her fully. The gown was long, hanging a bit below her knees. The sleeves were loose and fit comfortably. There was no need to put anything else underneath this gown was enough on its own. Then Duke picked up the woolen shawl. The shawl was light but warm; he first draped one end over Elena's left shoulder. He adjusted it gently so it wouldn't slip. Then he fixed the other end on her right shoulder. He spread it evenly on both sides.
Just then, two sharp knocks echoed from the door. Duke turned his head.
The door creaked open, and a young man stepped inside Lucian, Duke's younger brother. A strange mask covered his face, deep black but distinct from Duke's, with subtle engravings along the edges that gave it a sharper, more menacing edge.
His gaze locked straight onto Elena. He scanned her from head to toe: her head bowed low, stray locks clinging to her cheeks, a shawl draped neatly over her shoulders, the clean bandage on her thigh, and her fingers still trembling faintly. Seeing the bandage on her thigh, a crooked smile tugged at Lucian's lips beneath his mask. A faint glint sparked in his eyes as he took in the scene with keen interest.
When Elena's auction was underway, Lucian was there alongside Duke.
Lucian advanced slowly, stopping beside Duke.
"You have the power to heal her wounds in an instant... so why all this?"
His voice was low, laced with clear mockery. "You don't need bandages. No ointments either. A mere gesture would suffice... so why act like one of them?"
His crooked smile deepened. "Or is it something else? Is this just pity... or are you actually feeling something for this fragile girl? Healing her like a mortal doesn't fit you, brother."
His eyes flicked back to Elena.
Duke and his brother belonged to an ancient, otherworldly race. They dwelled in their own realm, apart from humanity, governed by their own strict rules and hierarchies. Their presence was striking, far from ordinary.
In this world, humans were mere mortals lacking supernatural powers, relying on wits, labor, and technology to survive.
Duke could have used his powers to heal Elena instantly, but he chose not to. He wanted to draw closer to her, to truly understand her. He wanted to test the limits of her endurance to pain. But she proved far weaker than the other girls.
When Lucien asked why Duke was handling her like an ordinary person despite his immense power, Duke's face showed no change. It was clear from his expression that the question didn't faze him at all. Looking straight at Lucien, Duke replied in a cold, measured voice, "You don't need to worry about this. It's my personal matter. What I've done is enough. No need for more questions. Focus on your work."
Lucien's face registered surprise at Duke's words. He stayed silent for a moment, studying Duke intently. A question kept swirling in Lucien's mind Was his brother really doing all this for a mere ordinary human? Could he actually be starting to like her? Lucien knew Elena was stunningly beautiful, and perhaps that's what had caught his brother's eye. At the same time, he feared that if Elena stayed longer in his ruthless and harsh brother's life, her situation could only get worse. He knew all too well how dangerous and cold hearted Duke could be.
Elena sat at a distance, unable to hear their conversation. Confusion clouded her face as she glanced at them, trying to figure out what they were discussing.
In her mind, she thought, "Are these two plotting something against me? Are they talking about harming me? What if they're teaming up to do something terrible? I need to be careful around them."
These thoughts made Elena deeply uneasy inside.Elena was completely oblivious to their powers.