Chapter 14
Very cautiously, Usagi crept back to the door through which she had escaped in the evening. The first windows were already brightly lit, and she hoped to make her way back as unnoticed as she had left the night before. With ease, she popped the lock, only to freeze in the next moment.
Behind the door, she was already expected. Kenji stood there with folded arms, a hardened expression, the vein on his neck pulsating threateningly, and his icy gaze met hers. "Where were you?" he barked harshly, grabbing her wrist roughly to lead her unceremoniously into his office. Usagi barely knew what was happening as the door slammed shut behind them.
"I was just taking a walk. In the clothes I feel comfortable in! Surprise, surprise, I didn't grow up as the heir. After all, I'm the child you didn't want," retorted Usagi defiantly. It was harder than she thought to conceal her rising anger. She desperately wanted to know where her siblings were, but she knew she mustn't show anything.
Kenji's eyes flashed with anger. "If you're away all night, with no one knowing where you are, and we can't trace you, then yes! It's not allowed, and especially not in these clothes! Heaven, you look like a burglar and not like the heir to a great empire. So, once again, where were you?" thundered Kenji.
"I was taking a stroll. In clothes that make me feel comfortable! Because surprise, surprise, I didn't grow up as the heir. After all, I'm the child you didn't want," retorted Usagi defiantly.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Usagi's left cheek as Kenji struck her with a resounding slap. The blow was painful and humiliating at the same time. Her eyes filled with tears, but she refused to cry in front of her father.
"This is how you'll never speak to me again! Do we understand each other? Otherwise, I'll change my approach. You still live under my roof, and you will damn well show me respect. I've tried the friendly way so far, but if you think you need to test your limits now, I can do otherwise! Just before I reach my goal, you will certainly not thwart my plans. Do we understand each other?!"
Usagi held her aching cheek and continued to struggle hard to hold back her tears. Her father's slap had not only hurt her physically but also deeply humiliated her emotionally. Her father was a dangerous man, she was beginning to understand, and she was just a means to an end for him. She was just a pawn in a game whose rules she didn't know. Slid in because the original heiress had died.
"I will assign you a personal guard now. Once the engagement is over, and you're pregnant, you will have served your purpose, and I don't care what you do in your free time. But as long as these conditions need to be met, you will enjoy special supervision from now on," Kenji declared coldly. He knocked twice on the door, and it opened slowly, revealing a young woman who entered. Then he continued, "This is Makoto. She will never leave your side from now on. Don't dare to take off your tracking devices again. Go freshen up now; the doctor will arrive soon."
"Doctor?" Usagi asked, still feeling as if in a trance. "Yes, the Kous' doctor, to confirm your health and virginity. We talked about it. Tomorrow is the engagement; everything must be confirmed in writing by then," Kenji explained.
Usagi swallowed hard, feeling trapped in a nightmare. Her hands trembled as she nodded, while Makoto opened the door for her. Makoto was approximately Usagi's age but a good deal taller and very slim. She seemed fit and confident. Her long brown hair was tied back into a tight ponytail, but she offered Usagi a friendly smile.
On the way to her room, Makoto followed her like a shadow, and the silence between them was oppressive. Maintaining a professional distance, Makoto finally broke the silence when they reached Usagi's room. "I'll just have a quick look around your room, then you can get ready in peace. If anything happens, I'll be waiting here in the hallway," she stated authoritatively.
Usagi nodded thoughtfully and granted her entry. The brown-haired woman thoroughly inspected the entire room, including the bathroom. Afterward, she produced a key and locked all the windows. "I'm sorry, but I have to make sure you have no other ways out of this room. So, everything is clear here. You can get ready now," Makoto said calmly, leaving Usagi alone in her room.
She made her way straight to the bathroom and ran a hot bath. The warm water was soothing after the cold night outside. She had barely noticed the cold when she was with Seiya, but now she realized how chilled she was. She closed her eyes and imagined being there again, on the bench at the edge of the forest, next to him. In his arms, in a moment when everything was good. His scent still lingered in her nose, and the feeling when he kissed her was also present again. Everything had been so beautiful.
Then her hand moved up, and she gently stroked her cheek. The spot where Kenji had hit her still hurt, and she was sure a bruise would form there. Until now, she had always considered her father a reasonable man. She wouldn't have thought he would ever raise his hand to a woman, and yet it had happened, just because she had left the house alone.
While she lingered in the bathroom, she heard soft steps outside the door. The door opened, and Tellu entered, holding a stack of fresh clothes. Her gaze was curious as she spotted Usagi. "Well, you're back on your feet. Where were you last night? I wanted to check on you in the evening, but your room was empty," Tellu asked.
Usagi briefly considered whether to confide in Tellu but opted for the version she had told Kenji. Everyone in this house was on her father's payroll, so there was no one she could truly trust. "Oh, I was just taking a walk, Tellu. I couldn't sleep and thought a nighttime stroll would do me good. I used to do it often before," she explained, forcing a slight smile.
Tellu seemed not entirely convinced by Usagi's explanation, but she nodded eventually. "Well, next time, take someone with you. It could get very dangerous outside, especially for a young woman. Just think about what could have happened to you..." Tellu made a small pause and gently stroked Usagi's cheek. "Let me cover that up right away. It looks bad."
Usagi struggled not to burst out laughing. In recent years, she had almost exclusively slept outside, in a world she knew and where she had learned how to move and where the dangers lurked. In this splendid villa, however, everything seemed much more dangerous. Outwardly, an appearance might be maintained, but if even her own father was capable of laying hands on her, she didn't want to imagine what the other people in these circles could be capable of.
While Usagi dressed, Tellu remained in the room, watching her attentively. Afterward, she pulled out a tube and evenly applied the contents to the painful spot. As Usagi towel-dried her hair, there was a knock on the door, and Makoto called from outside, "Serena, the doctor is here. Please come out."
Usagi entered her room with Tellu, where Makoto and the doctor were waiting. The young assistant doctor, who had also been present during the paternity test, smiled warmly at her.
Usagi felt a slight tension as Dr. Mizuno introduced herself. "Hello, Mrs. Tsukino. I'm Dr. Mizuno. We already met briefly last week. Today, I'll conduct a complete health check on you, if that's okay with you. Please follow me to the examination room," the doctor explained kindly.
Usagi followed Dr. Mizuno into a room at the other end of the villa, which she hadn't seen before. Makoto positioned herself right in front of the door to ensure no one unwanted could enter or make sure Usagi didn't escape again. The room was equipped with modern medical instruments, and Usagi couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy in the serious atmosphere.
Dr. Mizuno conducted the examination meticulously. She measured Usagi's weight and height, took a blood sample, and performed an ultrasound of the organs. Everything seemed fine, and Usagi breathed a sigh of relief when these parts of the examination were completed. However, then came the most uncomfortable part of the examination. The doctor turned to Usagi and calmly said, "As a last step, I need to conduct an examination to confirm your virginity. Please undress the intimate area, so we can also complete that."
Usagi felt her heart race, and she felt infinitely uncomfortable with the thought. But she knew this examination was necessary; it was part of her obligation in the marriage contract. She swallowed hard and nodded, then began to undress below.
"Please take a seat here. You can put your legs in the leg rests on the left and right; it won't take long. I'll be careful, I promise," the doctor said empathetically, realizing how nervous Usagi was.
During the examination, Usagi felt her discomfort intensify. She couldn't deny that it was an unpleasant experience. She felt like an object reduced to her virginity. Her thoughts went back to Seiya and their intense encounter during the night. She wanted to think of something beautiful in this difficult moment. She closed her eyes and longed for her freedom, wishing she could decide over her life again.
Finally, after the examination was over, Dr. Mizuno explained, "Everything looks good, Mrs. Tsukino. You have nothing to fear; your virginity is hereby confirmed." Usagi breathed a sigh of relief; the procedure had finally come to an end. She quickly retreated into the small cabin and got dressed again.
However, her insecurity didn't leave her, and she couldn't prevent herself from expressing her concerns. She sat across from her doctor, fidgeting nervously with the hem of her dress. "Can you please tell me how it will be... I mean... my first time? ... Will I feel pain? And how should I behave during it?"
Dr. Mizuno looked at Usagi with understanding and explained patiently, "It's normal for you to be worried. You might feel slight pain at first, something like a strong pinch. It's also likely that there will be some bleeding, but that should only last for a brief moment. It's essential to relax and trust your partner. Communication is the key here. If there's anything you don't like, you need to speak up."
The doctor provided her with insight into what she could expect for her first time, and although Usagi was still nervous, the information helped alleviate her uncertainty a bit. "Thank you, Dr. Mizuno. I'll keep that in mind," Usagi replied. She was glad the examination was over, and now she could focus on other things, even though the prospect of the upcoming wedding and the obligations in her marriage continued to weigh on her.
After bidding farewell to the young doctor, Makoto led her directly to Tellu, who was eagerly waiting for her. "Are you ready to discuss the final selection of your wardrobe for tomorrow?"
Usagi nodded somewhat reluctantly. She was aware that this was an important moment for Tellu, who always wanted everything to be perfect. While Usagi tried on the clothes, her thoughts kept drifting back to the previous night spent with Seiya. The tender kisses and the passion they had shared still brought a smile to her lips, and she needed that.
Tellu, as usual, had gone overboard, and Usagi spent several hours trying on the clothes she had prepared. From traditional outfits to elegant cocktail dresses to extravagantly adorned princess gowns, everything was there. Usagi knew that Tellu valued her opinion, but in the end, Tellu would make the decision. So, she went through the whole procedure mostly silently, listening to Tellu's monologues.
Usagi emerged from the dressing room countless times, stepped onto the small podium, and turned slowly under Tellu's watchful eyes. The breathtaking dress she wore was a masterpiece of tailoring. It gleamed in a deep blue with white accents, made from an amazingly high-quality fabric that felt as soft and smooth as silk.
The top of the dress was carefully crafted, embracing Usagi's upper body while subtly highlighting her feminine curves. The sweetheart neckline was adorned with delicate embellishments of silver beads and shiny sequins that sparkled like stars in the night sky. The dress's narrow straps flowed gracefully over her shoulders, adding a graceful elegance to the design.
The skirt of the dress was voluminous, flowing down in gentle folds. It reached the floor, moving lightly and gracefully with every step. The dress created an aura of grace and elegance, transforming the wearer into a true dream. In this dress, Usagi felt like a princess, and she could see the excitement in Tellu's eyes.
"I think we've got it, Serena! This is it! It's just perfect, as if it were made specifically for your engagement," Tellu exclaimed excitedly after circling Usagi a few more times. Her pride in the choice of the dress radiated from her.
Usagi examined herself more closely in the mirror and agreed, "It's truly beautiful. I also think it will be a good choice." An employee knocked and stuck her head in, interrupting the moment, "Mrs. Tsukino, Mimete would like to speak to you in her office as soon as you're finished here. She said it's important."
Usagi nodded. Tellu noted down a few more details about changes she wanted to address. After all, everything should fit perfectly and securely tomorrow. Then, Makoto escorted Usagi to Mimete's office.
Mimete warmly greeted Usagi as she entered her office. Rising from her desk, Mimete extended her hand to Usagi. "Serena, it's lovely to see you. We still have so much to prepare, I don't know where my head is at. But I'm sure tomorrow will be perfect. Trust me."
Usagi returned the smile and took a seat in front of Mimete's desk. "Thank you, Mimete. I'm sure you can handle it. What did you want to discuss with me?"
Mimete began to rummage through her piles of papers until she found what she was looking for. "It's about the schedule for tomorrow. It's going to be a busy day, and I want to make sure you're well-prepared. The important guests are expected by 10 a.m. Around 11 a.m., the registrar and the notary with the pre-signed marriage contract will arrive. We've prepared the small salon for this part. After that, we'll all move to the dining room for lunch."
Usagi listened attentively as Mimete further explained the schedule. "In the afternoon, the celebrations will begin in the grand hall, where we'll welcome the additional guests. I've prepared a wonderful program, and I'm sure it will be an unforgettable day for you and Taiki. Remember what we practiced; all eyes will be on you, always wear a friendly smile. Good posture is also crucial, and pay close attention to whom you're talking to and about what, always choose safe topics. I've put together a list for you as well." Mimete flipped through the folder and handed Usagi a stack of papers. "Schedule, guest list, topic list. If you need anything else, let me know. It would be nice if you could read through it again tonight."
Usagi nodded and bid farewell to Mimete.
When Usagi finally returned to her room, she felt completely exhausted from the day. She collapsed onto her bed and enjoyed a moment of peace. It was already late, and she felt hungry, but she didn't want to risk running into Kenji. Instead, she opened the drawer of her nightstand and retrieved her phone, two messages blinked on the screen.
The first message was from Taiki.
Hello Serena, I probably won't make it tonight. I hope that's okay for you. See you tomorrow. Taiki
Usagi replied briefly, Okay, see you tomorrow
Then she read the second message, and her heart instantly skipped a beat when she saw the sender, Seiya.
Hey sweetheart. Even though you'll be in different hands from tomorrow, I just wanted to tell you again how beautiful I found it last night. What I said to you was sincere, even if things are as they are. I love you.
She closed her eyes and pressed her phone tightly against her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes, and this time, she couldn't hold them back. Her heart ached with longing for all that she had left behind. She missed her siblings so much that she couldn't describe it.
And then there was Seiya. The love that should never have been but was so deep and sincere that she couldn't deny it. Her heart cried out for him, and she wept for the impossibility of their love. She clutched her pillow tightly, the only comfort she had in this situation, and eventually cried herself to sleep.