1
Ivan had no recollection of how he had left the Tornam family's residence. All he knew was that he was constantly befuddled by the dilemma of choosing between different aspects of love.
There was no denying that Miss Fanny's tenderness had truly struck a chord in his heart, to the extent that he had unwittingly blurted out some words that he ought not to have said.
Those words were initially meant to console Miss Fanny, to let her know that he had never intended to deceive her feelings in the past. However, Ivan was well aware that his ambiguous remarks were rather prone to being misconstrued as a pledge of love.
Ivan secretly regretted that he should have sought advice from Audrey on how to handle such a situation. Audrey was a master of language, and he surely would have informed Ivan which words would yield what kind of outcomes.
While seated in the carriage, Ivan was continuously mulling over how he should handle Miss Fanny's feelings for him. This was the first time he had seriously contemplated carving out a place for Miss Fanny in his life, and perhaps it could turn out to be a good option.
Although Miss Betty was the ideal candidate for a wife in his eyes, Miss Betty was fated to bear the responsibilities that came with her birth. It seemed as if she had been born into this world precisely to carry on the bloodline of the Medin family.
Apart from Miss Betty, there was no one else who had captured Ivan's heart. And after experiencing the greatest pleasure in life from his encounters with Susanna, Ivan didn't think he could resist the allure of such pleasures.
Susanna was undoubtedly a highly successful instructor in the realm of carnal desires. She had managed to mold Ivan into a genuine libertine. Ivan could scarcely imagine giving up the immense joys that his dissolute lifestyle brought him.
Now, there was no need for pretense or concealment. Ivan was acutely aware that he was growing increasingly fond of indulging in physical pleasures. Especially after the thorough conquest he had achieved the previous day, the last vestige of shame that had lingered deep within his heart had completely dissipated.
At present, all Ivan wanted was to rush back home as quickly as possible, where Susanna was lying on the bed, waiting for him to continue his conquest.
Although Ivan hadn't forgotten the promise he had made to Miss Betty in the morning that he wouldn't torment Susanna anymore, in his view, using her body to serve him and bring him pleasure was, after all, Susanna's duty and also in line with her own wishes.
She had once confessed that she delighted in the joys that men could bring her and even regretted that no man had ever been able to fully conquer her.
Since Susanna relished the feeling of being conquered, Ivan figured he might as well conquer her completely and let her revel in it.
Ivan didn't consider what he was doing as tormenting Susanna, so he didn't feel the slightest twinge of guilt in his heart.
Upon returning to the villa, Ivan engaged in casual conversation with Miss Betty in the garden living room for a while, just as he usually did.
It was evident that Miss Betty was rather fatigued. At the ball held during the Tornam family's celebration, Miss Betty, like Ivan, had been one of the most sought-after figures.
When he returned to the bedroom, Ivan cast a glance at Miss Susanna lying on the bed with her brows tightly knitted. The effects of the hallucinogenic powder had long since worn off, and it appeared that she had endured the pangs of pain for quite some time.
The bed sheets and the soiled garments had already been replaced by the maids.
Susanna was now clad in an ordinary nightgown, something she would never have willingly worn in the past. Presumably, it wasn't her own choice at the moment.
"I'm in so much pain!" Miss Susanna exclaimed as she caught sight of Ivan entering the room. She struggled to sit up, her voice laced with agony.
"Do you want me to alleviate your pain?" Ivan could vividly imagine just how excruciating it was when the cravings for the hallucinogenic powder flared up.
Even a formidable figure like Mr. Hyde, who was incredibly powerful and had fearlessly teetered on the brink of life and death numerous times, was apprehensive about the hallucinogenic powder. After all, Susanna was merely a delicate woman, and it was quite remarkable that she had managed to hold on until now.
"Please, relieve my pain for me," Susanna pleaded as she dropped to her knees in front of Ivan with a thud and clasped his calves tightly. Her beautiful and charming face pressed closely against Ivan's ankle and gently rubbed against it, presenting a picture of complete submission.
Witnessing this once-arrogant and haughty woman now transformed into such a docile and obedient figure, Ivan was overcome with excitement. His chest swelled with an indescribable emotion, as if the whole world were now at his feet.
Ivan felt an overwhelming surge of power coursing through his body, an irresistible force.
"I can relieve your pain for you, but I must reiterate that although the pain will subside this time, it might be even more intense the next time. It's like quenching thirst with poison. Are you willing?" Ivan inquired, his tone tinged with amusement, for he knew full well that Susanna couldn't possibly turn him down.
Sure enough, Susanna nodded vigorously and even went so far as to kiss Ivan's instep. This was a gesture of such deference that even a king might not receive. In Ivan's memory, it seemed that only devout believers would perform such a solemn act when they came face to face with the pope.
It appeared that Susanna had come to regard Ivan as the arbiter of her fate.
This only served to heighten Ivan's excitement, yet the streak of tyranny that had been festering within him wasn't satisfied by this.
Ivan proceeded to inject the medicine into Susanna once again.
The medicine took effect promptly, and it was evident that Miss Susanna was no longer in the same state of extreme agony as before.
Once freed from the clutches of pain, Miss Susanna reverted to her usual demeanor, which was precisely what Ivan detested. Miss Susanna wasn't foolish; she was well aware of her current predicament.
She knew full well that she had fallen into Ivan's clutches and that she had no choice but to submit to this cruel and deranged young man. Only by being obedient could she hope to endure less torment.
Miss Susanna was also quite cognizant of what awaited her next.
In any case, she didn't seem to care about such matters.
Ivan's heart was now filled with panic and remorse. In a flurry, he used a silk ribbon to tightly bind Miss Susanna's mouth. It wasn't that he disliked Susanna's voice. On the contrary, those charming moans and pitiful pleas that had once enchanted him had now become the source of his fear. He knew full well that once these sounds reached Miss Betty's ears, it would trigger a tempest that would be impossible to contain. After all, he had sworn to Miss Betty that he wouldn't torment Susanna anymore, and now, all those promises had been shattered.
After everything was prepared, Ivan, like a maddened beast, launched a fierce and violent "conquest" on Susanna, like a storm. Although there were no more pitiful pleadings, Susanna's tears, which rolled down her cheeks like broken strings of pearls, were like sharp swords that deeply stabbed Ivan's heart while also arousing an even stronger desire for conquest within him. He sank into this crazy vortex, forgetting everything, with only the endless desires and the pleasure of conquest filling his soul.
When the night was deep and everything was quiet, Ivan once again tightly embraced the exhausted Miss Susanna, who seemed to have lost her soul, and fell into a deep sleep in extreme fatigue. He felt as if he were in a dark abyss, wandering in chaotic dreams, unaware of what time it was.
It wasn't until a violent push woke him from his slumber that he slowly opened his sleepy eyes. What came into view was Miss Betty's face, distorted with anger. She stood beside the bed, and her usual gentleness and docility had disappeared without a trace, replaced by a face full of anger and shame. Her cheeks were flushed red, the color like a burning flame, as if it could devour everything around it. Her body trembled slightly, her eyes were wide open, glaring angrily, and the look in her eyes contained not only anger but also a trace of regret and sadness that couldn't be concealed, like lightning in a storm, making one tremble with fear.
And the one who had just woken him up was clearly the maid beside Miss Betty. The maid's eyes were tightly fixed on the place where Ivan and Susanna were intertwined. There was no anger in her eyes, only an indescribable curiosity and surprise, as if she were witnessing a farce that defied common sense.
"Come out quickly. I have something to say to you," Miss Betty said in a cold and stern tone, like the cold wind in winter, making Ivan's heart shiver. He seemed at a loss at this moment, like a child lost in a dark forest, unable to find his way.
"Don't wake Miss Susanna up!" Miss Betty gave the order again. With that tone that brooked no argument, Ivan had no choice but to obey. He quietly climbed down from the bed, moving with great care, for fear of disturbing the seemingly calm yet turbulent atmosphere.
"Put on your clothes first. I'll wait for you in the living room," Miss Betty turned her body away in disgust, as if just looking at Ivan would make her sick. She didn't want to see Ivan's embarrassed and shameless state, which was a desecration of the good image in her heart.
The maid still stared intently at Ivan's male part, a trace of amazement in her eyes. It seemed that in her perception, Ivan's physique was as magnificent as the rumors said, which was quite astonishing.
Ivan's eyes inadvertently swept over Susanna lying on the bed. Even in her sleep, Susanna still had sad tears on her face. Those tears were like strings of crystal, telling the pain and helplessness deep in her heart. Her hair was messily scattered, and the silk scarf stuffed in her mouth seemed to be a silent witness to the torment she had suffered. Ivan's heart was now in a tangle like a mess of threads. He was racking his brains to think of how to explain all this to Miss Betty, yet his mind was blank. Unfortunately, Audrey had never taught him how to handle such an embarrassing and thorny situation, so he could only face the impending storm alone.
Miss Betty walked out on her own. Her steps were heavy and hurried, and each step seemed to step on Ivan's heart. From her back, Ivan could truly feel her anger and disappointment, which was the heartache and helplessness after being betrayed.
Ivan began to put on his clothes in a flustered manner. His hands trembled slightly, and his heart was filled with fear and uneasiness. However, what made him feel strange was that the maid didn't seem to have any intention of leaving. She still stood quietly in place, as if waiting for something.
"I'll clean up here," the maid said in a low voice. Her voice was calm and indifferent, without a trace of emotion, as if she were dealing with a trifle that had nothing to do with her.
After putting on his clothes, Ivan walked towards the garden living room with a nervous and uneasy heart. Those few short steps seemed like a long and thorny road in his eyes. Every step made him feel as if he were walking with great difficulty. Various thoughts kept popping up in his mind, like wild horses running wild. Without exception, they were all about how to prevaricate Miss Betty, how to quell her anger and make everything go back to the way it was before.
When he entered the living room, he found that Miss Betty was looking out of the window with her face turned away. There was no trace of anger on her face anymore. Instead, there was endless sadness and loneliness. Her expression was like that of a lonely person who had lost something precious, making people feel pity for her.
"Miss Betty, are you angry? Are you angry because I didn't follow your instructions?" Ivan asked cautiously. His voice was weak and trembling, like a candle in the wind that could be extinguished at any time.
Miss Betty didn't respond. Silence hung between them like a heavy mountain. After a long while, she slowly turned around and stared at Ivan with piercing eyes, as if those eyes could penetrate his soul and see all the secrets deep in his heart.
"You seem to have forgotten your promise," Miss Betty said in a low and hoarse voice, with a trace of disappointment and heartache that couldn't be concealed.
Ivan was at a loss for words and didn't know how to answer. His heart was filled with guilt and remorse, but he didn't know where to start, so he could only stand there blankly, like a child waiting to be punished for doing something wrong.
"Your behavior makes me feel disgusted, and what makes me even more disgusted is myself," Miss Betty said sadly. There was a choke in her voice, as if she were trying hard to suppress the pain and sadness in her heart.
Ivan was confused by her words. He didn't understand why Miss Betty blamed herself so much. In his opinion, it was all his own fault and had nothing to do with Miss Betty.
"I deeply regret that I didn't tell you some things that I knew before," Miss Betty continued. There was a deep sense of self-blame and helplessness in her eyes.
"I once met Miss Susanna. That was when you were still a child. I'm not even sure if I had met you before. After that terrible plague broke out in South Port and the danger passed, I went to South Port with your 'second uncle' to visit your 'family'. That plague was like a fierce beast, ruthlessly cutting off all connections. We didn't know whether your aunt and you 'father and son' were safe or not."
"South Port after the plague was like a ruin, in a state of devastation. There were burned-down houses everywhere, and fires lit to dispel the plague. The thick smoke was like the tentacles of a devil, shrouding the city that had just suffered misfortune. The most tragic and heart-wrenching scene for me was that on the hillside on the outskirts of South Port, countless orphans who had lost their relatives gathered there. They lived in simple tents built with the unburned wood and roof tiles of houses, and lime was sprinkled on them. I think you should be quite familiar with that scene."
Hearing Miss Betty say this, Ivan's thoughts were instantly drawn back to that unforgettable and painful experience. At that time, he and every child around him were struggling on the verge of death. Being able to survive had become the most noble wish in their hearts. Every day, children died of illness and hunger, and their bodies were mercilessly dragged to the bottom of the hillside and burned. And the surviving companions had already been numbed by this endless suffering, with no trace of sadness in their eyes, only the longing and perseverance for survival.
Miss Betty saw that Ivan was lost in thought and knew that she had hit the young man's sore spot. She continued, "In my impression back then, those children were as thin as sticks because of hunger, had swollen limbs because of lime, and were dirty because of the lack of water."
Miss Betty's voice trembled slightly as she said with self-blame, "At that time, I wasn't very mature. So, in my impression, my view of those poor children was that they were dirty. Looking back now, such a thought is truly unforgivable."
Miss Betty lowered her head, and her lonely figure seemed to be telling the remorse and pain deep in her heart, which was really heart-breaking.
Ivan's heart was now consumed by deep self-blame and remorse. Unable to help himself, he took a step forward, attempting to console Miss Betty, "Miss Betty, this is by no means your fault. Anyone in that situation might have had similar thoughts. Back then, even the residents of South Port thought of themselves as a heavy burden, as useless and as potential sources of the plague that could break out again at any time."
"However, there was at least one admirable girl who didn't see us that way. As far as I know, she brought rice flour buns and clean water to those children every day. It was these meager yet precious provisions that enabled the children to cling to life on the verge of death. Otherwise, they would have died miserably from hunger," Miss Betty said slowly, with a hint of complex emotions in her eyes.
Instantly, Ivan's thoughts were drawn back to the bygone days. Whenever the afterglow of the setting sun bathed that land full of suffering, that young lady would appear beside them like an angel descending from heaven. In the basket beside her, there were always rough rice flour buns made by mixing barley and bran and baking them. Although these buns seemed cheap and simple, in the eyes of Ivan and the other children at that time, they were undoubtedly the most delicious food in the world, exuding an irresistible fragrance and sweetness. Thus, dusk became the moment they eagerly looked forward to every day.
He seemed to see that gentle and serene sister again. She would dip the rice flour buns into the clean water, stir them gently until they turned into a porridge-like paste, and then carefully distribute this precious food evenly to each child. She would also take meticulous care of her frail and sickly younger brother. Meanwhile, she would clean the wounds and feed medicine to those children who were injured or ill. At that time, a strange longing arose in Ivan's heart. He hoped that he could fall ill too so that he could receive the meticulous care of this sister.
"Miss Cister was a saint in the eyes of us children," Ivan said sincerely, looking straight at Miss Betty with a glint of reverence in his eyes.
"Really?" Miss Betty looked directly into Ivan's eyes, and there was a barely perceptible tremor in her voice. "But you've been brutally treating the saint in your heart with vicious means and repaying your benefactor with cruel abuse."
"That's impossible!" Ivan felt as if the world was spinning around him and the whole world seemed to collapse in an instant. He couldn't believe what Miss Betty had said. In his perception, Susanna, that fallen prostitute, was worlds apart from the pure and kind-hearted Miss Cister. They couldn't possibly be the same person.
"But it's an absolute truth. When I first saw Miss Susanna, I had a sense of déjà vu. The impression she left on me was too profound. Moreover, Miss Medin would never let someone with an unknown background live in the villa. Mr. Hyde had already informed Miss Medin of everything about Miss Susanna. With the mutual verification of these two, Miss Susanna is undoubtedly the Miss Cister who was like a saint in your heart."
"That terrible plague back then not only took away your parents but also took away Miss Susanna's parents. She also had a frail and sickly younger brother. Fortunately, he survived the plague, but the illness mercilessly destroyed his health. Losing the protection of her parents and shouldering the heavy responsibility of raising her younger brother, and with the rich people and the church in South Port being unable to take care of themselves at that time, what other options could a weak girl like her have except selling her own body? Miss Susanna originally only needed to take care of her younger brother, but her kind nature made it impossible for her to abandon the other children in need of help. She used the money earned from selling her body to buy food so that all the children could fill their stomachs. Her kindness moved the merciful Father God. You should know that under the radiance of this virtue, all the children survived that terrible plague safely."
"Besides the lofty gods, I and your 'second uncle' were also touched by this young lady's kindness. After returning to Thorsburg, we asked the old count to transport the remaining grain in Thorsburg to South Port and sent the priests of the church to help those in need," Miss Betty poured out all the things that had been deeply buried in her heart and hadn't been mentioned to Ivan before.
Hearing all this, Ivan's heart was overwhelmed by endless remorse. He seemed to hear thunder rumbling in his ears, which was the voice of Father God, full of wrath and majesty before the judgment of heaven. He knew deep down that he had committed an unforgivable sin.
"What can I do to atone for my sins?" Ivan lowered his head, his voice low and hoarse. He didn't even dare to look directly into Miss Betty's eyes, as if the gaze contained a power that could penetrate him completely.
"I don't know either. I'm not even sure how much harm you've caused Miss Susanna. I've witnessed the physical wounds, but the pain in her heart is immeasurable. I only know one thing. Miss Susanna has suffered a huge blow. Her younger brother, whom she cared about and loved the most, left her because he was ashamed of her identity, which made her extremely painful. Can you imagine how it feels when the person closest to you leaves you and abandons you?" Miss Betty said sadly, unable to help sighing in her heart about the injustice of fate towards Susanna.
"Please, Miss Betty, show me a way. Tell me how to compensate Miss Susanna. I really don't have the face to face her," Ivan pleaded bitterly, tears streaming down his face, mingling with his remorse and sliding down his cheeks.
Miss Betty stared into Ivan's sincere eyes. She could sense that brutality hadn't completely taken over the young man's soul. This turmoil might bring unexpected results. Perhaps Ivan would always remember how much harm brutality and cruelty could cause to others.
Perhaps this young man would still be a cold-blooded killer, a majestic and unforgiving lord, but at least, he wouldn't become a tyrant who took pleasure in cruelty and brutality.
Miss Betty sincerely hoped that Ivan could become an outstanding lord. In fact, even Miss Medin no longer opposed making Ivan the true lord of Thorsburg instead of just a transitional and temporary lord.
The great-aunt had to admit that Ivan was the most outstanding lord since the establishment of Thorsburg. With each additional day he sat on the lord's seat, the prestige of the Medin family would increase by one point.
And Miss Betty also had her own selfish motives. Although she was destined to devote everything to the Medin family, after all, she was a woman and also yearned for a husband who loved and cared for her by her side. Moreover, compared to power and authority, as a woman, her desire for these wasn't that strong. She was more willing to stand behind her husband and handle some trivial matters.
The marriage arranged for her by Miss Medin was purely out of consideration for continuing the bloodline of the Medin family. And she herself had initially accepted this much younger husband in front of her with a sacrificial mindset. For this little husband who was originally regarded as a successful con artist, she hadn't had any feelings of love or even any good impression at all. However, as time went by, she gradually realized that the all-powerful Mr. Hyde obviously hadn't trained Ivan according to the standards of cultivating a con artist. Obviously, he had long planned to make Ivan the true master of Thorsburg. Miss Betty gradually found that she had been attracted by the infinite charm shown by this young man.
However, the tyrannical side that Ivan occasionally revealed truly worried Miss Betty. In this land, no one would expect to see a tyrant firmly seated on the lord's throne, dominating the fates of everyone. Similarly, as a wife, who would be willing to spend a lifetime with a tyrant, living in constant fear every day?
The cruel means that Ivan had used when dealing with Miss Susanna made Miss Betty's heart skip a beat every time she thought about them, as if an invisible hand were tightly gripping her heart. Although it was impossible for Ivan to use such means on her at present, Miss Betty's worry hadn't diminished in the slightest. She was afraid that as time passed and the tyrannical emotions lurking in Ivan's heart grew and spread wantonly, one day, he would become completely reckless and act without restraint. By then, everything might fall into a terrifying abyss.
Therefore, it would be best to find a way to completely uproot those seeds of tyranny from Ivan's heart before they took deep root and grew into towering trees, so that Ivan could return to the appearance worthy of everyone's trust and respect.
"Ivan, I can't guarantee that you will definitely obtain Miss Susanna's forgiveness, but you must understand that the only person who has the ability to free you from this heavy crime is Miss Susanna herself. You can only sincerely repent to her, touch her with your heartfelt and sincere apology, and beg for her forgiveness. Besides that, I really can't offer any other suggestions," Miss Betty said with a solemn expression and a heavy tone. Each word seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight, hoping to make Ivan deeply aware of the seriousness of the matter.
"However, the harm I've caused to Miss Susanna is truly too great. It can't be easily healed overnight. I don't even know what to do to make her forgive me. I'm even afraid that as soon as I appear in front of her, her heart will be instantly filled with hatred for me. Miss Betty, perhaps you can do me a favor and explain to Miss Susanna on my behalf, telling her how painful and remorseful I am in my heart right now," Ivan said nervously, his voice trembling a little. His hands unconsciously clenched tightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, showing his uneasiness and anxiety all over his face.
"I can't do this for you," Miss Betty refused without hesitation. She looked firmly at Ivan and continued, "You must bravely face Miss Susanna by yourself. Only you can prove your remorse to her in person. I really can't help you with this matter at all. You have to bear it alone and seek her understanding."
As she spoke, Miss Betty slowly stood up. She gently took Ivan's hand and led him towards Ivan's bedroom. Each step seemed to carry an unquestionable determination to make Ivan face the mistakes he had made.
When they reached the door of the bedroom, Miss Betty paused for a moment, then pushed Ivan into the room with a shove. Immediately after that, she beckoned to the maid who was busy cleaning the room, signaling her to come out. After the maid walked out of the room, Miss Betty closed the door tightly behind her. The sound of the door closing was particularly heavy in the quiet atmosphere, as if it also temporarily cut Ivan off from the outside world, leaving him alone to face the difficult moment that was coming.
Ivan slowly walked to the bed and his eyes fell on Miss Susanna lying on the bed. At this moment, Miss Susanna was obviously awake, but her eyes were still tightly closed. However, her long eyelashes were trembling slightly, as if revealing that her emotions inside were not calm at the moment.
Miss Susanna, who woke up in the morning, still felt extremely uncomfortable because the effect of the medicine hadn't completely worn off yet. It felt as if countless tiny insects were crawling inside her body. That discomfort made her brows furrow slightly. Fortunately, the time for the real onset of the drug addiction hadn't arrived yet. With the last bit of willpower left, she could still barely endure this torment.
There was a basin of hot water placed in front of the bed, and a trace of warm steam filled the room. The stains on Miss Susanna's body had already been wiped clean, and the originally soiled sheets had also been replaced with new ones. Ivan knew in his heart that Miss Susanna had endured a lot of torture at this moment and was physically and mentally exhausted. She definitely couldn't bear any strong stimulation. Even the slightest disturbance might make her already fragile nerves on the verge of collapse.
Miss Susanna lying on the bed looked extremely helpless, just like a wounded lone bird, having lost her former liveliness and vitality. Her face was as pale as paper, and the rosy and shiny complexion she used to have had disappeared without a trace, as if the colors of life had been gradually drained away along with these encounters. Her hair was randomly scattered on the bed, looking messy and limp. Her originally snow-white, charming, and alluring body also seemed to have lost its vitality at this moment, looking like a cold and soulless beautiful statue instead of the once lively and charming woman.