Back in the drawing room, Antonius was seething with rage. As soon as Valeria stormed out, leaving him alone, his control snapped. With a violent motion, he overturned the table, sending tea and cake flying across the room. His breaths came out ragged, his chest heaving as he stormed toward the door, intent on showing her exactly what happened to those who rejected him.
He threw the door open, only to find his right-hand man, Theodore, standing there with an unflappable expression.
"Out of my way, Theo. Now," Antonius snapped, his voice a sharp, commanding growl.
"You shouldn't go after her right now," Theo said, his voice calm yet firm. "You'll only make everything worse, Antonius."
Antonius' hands clenched into fists at his sides, trembling with suppressed fury. "I already listened to your advice once, and look where it got me! She ran away again, Theo. That brat doesn't see how good I am to her—how much mercy I show her!"
Theo's gaze didn't waver as he held his ground. "You didn't follow my advice. I heard what you said to her, Antonius, and frankly, I'm surprised she didn't do worse. If I were in her position, I'd have kicked you in the balls by now."
Antonius glared at him, his expression darkening further. "I did what you told me! I didn't take her by force last night, and I even put her pleasure above mine. And yet, she had the audacity to be mad at me for it!" He stomped back into the drawing room, his words spilling out in a frustrated tirade. "This morning, she escaped her chambers, and I didn't punish her. I tried to talk to her—be civil—but she was nothing but stubborn and ungrateful!"
Theo followed him inside, his expression growing more amused. Antonius threw himself into an armchair, his anger still simmering.
"She doesn't know how good she has it," Antonius grumbled, slumping further into his chair. He glanced at Theo, who only raised a knowing eyebrow.
Theo gave a half-smile. "You're not getting it, are you? Look, Antonius, let me lay it out for you—again. If you want her to stop fighting you, you need to stop acting like a tyrant. You're scaring her. People don't fall in love because of fear."
Antonius huffed, glaring at his friend. "She should've already been broken by now. Everyone else breaks. That's how it works." He ran a hand through his dark hair, exasperated. "I've waited so long for this—to have her, to have her in my grip—and now, all I feel is…" He trailed off, his tone darkening. "I feel like I'm losing control."
Theo studied him for a moment before speaking. "So that's it. You don't know how to handle her because she's not like the others. You enjoy seeing people break, seeing them submit to you. But with her? It's different, isn't it?"
Antonius looked away, his jaw tightening. "She drives me mad, Theo. When she cries, it's unbearable. And yet…" He swallowed, his hands gripping the armrests tightly. "I still want her to fight back. I don't want her to be broken. I want her to smile at me. To talk to me. But no matter what I do, she only looks at me with hatred."
He leaned back in the chair, resting his head against the backrest as his gaze fixed on the ceiling. His voice softened, barely audible now. "I had nightmares after I killed that maid. Nightmares of Valeria's face—how devastated she looked. I hated how much she cared for that woman. It made killing her satisfying in the moment, but after…" He let out a long sigh. "I didn't expect her to react like that. I can't get that image of her out of my head."
Theo's expression softened for a moment, though the faint amusement still lingered. "Maybe that's the problem. You're trying to force her into submission when what you really want is her trust."
Antonius scoffed, shaking his head. "I've already held back more than I ever have. I wanted to kill those incompetent guards, but I didn't. I wanted to punish her for running away, but I didn't. How much more do I have to hold back, Theo? How much more can I?"
Theo crossed his arms, leaning casually against the wall. "Holding back isn't the same as showing trust, my friend. If you want her to stop running, you have to give her a reason to stay. Why not ask her to take a stroll in the gardens? Let her breathe."
Antonius let out a bitter laugh. "A stroll in the gardens? She'd bolt the moment I let her out of that room. You don't know Valeria like I do. If you loosen the leash, she'll slip away."
"And yet, you expect her to give you a chance. You want her to stay, but you've made it impossible for her to choose you." Theo shook his head, his tone laced with pity. "It doesn't work like that, Antonius."
Antonius didn't respond, burying his face in his hands. Women had always been easy to handle—predictable, pliable. But Valeria? She was like trying to tame a storm. She made him question everything about himself, and he hated it.
After a long silence, he waved a hand dismissively. "Enough. I'll think about it later."
Theo smirked but didn't press further. "Suit yourself."
Antonius straightened in his chair, his expression hardening. "Now, what about the rebels? Any word?"
Theo's demeanor shifted immediately, his tone turning professional. "Nothing new. It's been over a month since the rebel leader's son escaped, and the trail has gone cold. As for the rat, we've identified a few suspects, but nothing concrete."
Antonius' jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists. "Unacceptable. I won't tolerate a traitor in my midst. We'll flush them out if we have to tear this palace apart brick by brick." He turned to face Theo, his dark eyes blazing. "Start with the servants. I want a full report on my desk by tomorrow."
Theo nodded, bowing slightly. "Yes, Your Majesty."
With that, Theo exited the room, leaving Antonius alone with his thoughts. He lingered by the window, staring out into the distance as his mind churned. The rebels would be dealt with—each and every one of them crushed beneath his heel. And Valeria? She would bend to him.
She would learn to love him.
He always got what he wanted.