Regan struggled desperately to regain control, but it seemed impossible. Whenever he tried, everything appeared different, and his thoughts were muddled. He felt like something else was taking over, and no matter how hard he fought, it only got worse. Now, another power had completely consumed him, leaving him lost within his own body. Even the beast inside him remained strangely silent.
As he watched the woman undress before him, wearing only her undergarments, a strange feeling stirred within him. She walked towards him in a seductive manner.
"Do you want me to undress you?" she said in a seductive tone, pulling at his robe. With the little control he still had, he grabbed her hand and gave her a stern look.
She seemed surprised for a moment, but quickly covered it up with a wide smile. "Oh, I see. You want me to undress completely. No worries, I get it," she said, a strange smirk appearing on her lips. She started removing her undergarments, and at that moment, the remaining control he had slipped away as the overpowering force took over completely.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, then released her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, pressing her lips against his. She kissed him hungrily, and he kissed her back, consumed by desire and under the influence of the mysterious force.
She pulled him towards the bed, and he willingly followed. He felt an intense desire for her to take control. He found himself on top of her, and she giggled underneath him, her face flushed with anticipation, patiently waiting for that moment. Strangely, she seemed oddly familiar to him.
"Nora," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her again. She slid her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. However, a small part of him cautioned against it, and he broke away. She didn't taste as sweet as Nora. Her scent was different. Her touch didn't feel the same. She didn't ignite the same passionate fire within him like Nora does, nor make his heart race and his body burn while he felt his body changing and his beast jumping in excitement.
Something was off. He tried to separate himself from her, but she pulled him back and kissed him once more. The awakening part of him vanished without a trace, as he removed his jacket, then his shirt.
"Your face," she inquired, her expression growing serious. "I want to see the real face, without the mask," she urged, her eyes filled with curiosity.
He couldn't help but smile sheepishly at her request. Slowly, he reached up, his hands moving to the back of his head, and with a gentle motion, he strove to remove the mask that had concealed his true identity.
But something clicked in his mind. Nora would never ask him to remove his mask, even though she was his wife. This woman before him was different from his wife.
Summoning what little strength he had left, he distanced himself from her and climbed off the bed.
"Your highness, where are you going?" she hastily said, her voice tinged with trouble.
Ignoring her question, he stumbled towards the door, and she followed closely behind. She grabbed his arm, turning him to face her once again. She attempted to kiss him, but he abruptly halted her and stormed out of the room. She didn't follow him out, since she was still naked.
He moved unsteadily through the dark hallway, unsure of where he was and where he was heading to, until he stumbled upon a door. He opened it and staggered inside, his breathing rapid and uneven.
Feeling disappointed, she walked back to the bed and collapsed onto it. She ran her hand through her hair, releasing a frustrated scream.
Why couldn't she have him? Even though she had drugged his wine, he still refused to do anything with her. His spirit continued to reject her. She knew she had to come up with another plan, find a way to make him marry her.
Exhausted and filled with anger towards herself, she lay down and angrily covered her body with the sheet.
****
The next morning, sunlight seeped in through the cracked window, streaming into Regan's eyes. He struggled to open them, as the pounding headache affected his vision. It felt like a drum festival was taking place in his head. His gaze fixed on the ceiling and scanned the room. He struggled to sit up and realized he had slept shirtless on the cold concrete floor of an empty storeroom without any recollection of how he got there. He glanced at his bare chest and surveyed the room. What had happened? How did he end up like this?
The last thing he remembered was drinking in the grand hall, but what else? Did he get himself drunk? No, it was unusual for him to be in such a state.
He stood up and left the storeroom, making his way back to their chamber. Nora wasn't there when he reached their room. She must have gone for breakfast.
He entered his personal room and removed the remaining clothes before stepping into the bathtub. Closing his eyes, he let the steam help him relax a bit.
"Do you want me to undress you?" The small memory flashed through his mind, causing him to flutter his eyes open.
"Oh... you wanted me to undress completely..." He squeezed his eyes shut as everything began to sink in. What had he done? Not wanting to dwell on it any longer, he quickly stepped out of the bathtub, put on a robe, and hurriedly left the room to search for Nora. What if she found out and decided to leave him? He forcefully pushed away that agonizing thought, even though it was impossible for a married woman to leave her marriage, it still cause his heart to ache.
"Your Highness," Darius called out from behind him.
Regan let out an irritated sound, trying to hold back the sudden anger that surged within him. "What?" he snapped, turning to face Darius.
"The emperor wants to see you," he said, bowing slightly.
"I have other things to take care of," Regan replied firmly, attempting to walk away. But Darius moved and blocked his path.
"Your Highness, it's really important. Please," he pleaded.
Regan let out a deep sigh and reluctantly turned toward the emperor's quarters.
"Don't tell me you're heading there looking like that, Your Highness," Darius said sternly, giving him a critical look. He had just stepped out of the bathtub, his hair still wet, and he was wearing a loosely tied night robe that revealed a glimpse of his broad chest.
"That's none of your business," Regan retorted, his tone sharp, as he walked away, leaving Darius frustrated.