When That Door Opens - Chapter 29

“Lady Astel. You’ve become even more beautiful since I last saw you. As a foreigner, I dare not even look up to you.”

I scoffed at the sculptor’s flattery. Over the past few days, I hadn’t become more beautiful; I had become noticeably thinner. How shameless he was with his nonsense.

“What are you all doing! Lady Astel is waiting! Move quickly! Set up the sculpture now!”

At the sculptor’s shout, the bronze-skinned slaves began to move swiftly. As they moved, the chains around their necks clinked.

After placing the long rectangular pedestal, they set up lamps around it for lighting. One of the slaves carefully took out a cloth-covered lump from the box.

I watched that slave for a moment. Curiously, unlike the other slaves, this one had pale skin. Puzzled, I quickly dismissed it. I couldn’t afford to care about the origins of another’s slaves.

“Lady Astel, what do you think? I hesitate to say this myself, but this work will be the masterpiece of my life. Those who see my sculpture might cross the borders of Schultz just to behold your face.”

I smiled bitterly at the sculptor’s exaggeration. The sculpture was indeed excellent. The curly hair, the confident curve of the lips, the lively smile in the eyes—it seemed that people might indeed cross borders to see the woman in the sculpture. But that would be it. They would never meet the woman in the sculpture. By the time they arrived, my body and spirit would be shattered under Roman’s tyranny.

I sighed.

I bit my lip and tried to focus on the sculpture. It was no use. Seeing my face smiling brightly made me feel sick.

Come to think of it, the reason I couldn’t escape from Roman was also because of that damned sculpture. More precisely, it was because of the artworks depicting me.

Schultz is adorned with my face. It was everywhere. Everyone in Schultz knows my face. So, I didn’t even dare to think about escaping.

For a moment, I imagined breaking that sculpture, screaming that I wasn’t Astel, that this wasn’t my place.

Of course, that was impossible. For whatever reason, I had deceived people all my life. Revealing the truth would only lead to ruin.

I chuckled bitterly. Even in this situation, I hated myself for desperately clinging to life. Moreover, the sculpture in front of me seemed like proof that I was nothing but trash, and anger surged within me.

The sculptor, noticing my hostility towards the sculpture, cautiously asked.

“Lady Astel, do you not find it to your liking?”

“Yes. It’s the worst.”

I finally snapped, unable to contain my irritation. At that very moment, the sculptor suddenly struck one of the slaves standing nearby.

“You bastard! It’s all your fault! How many times have I told you to apply the glaze properly!”

It was the only slave with pale skin. I was startled by the force of the blow, which made the chain around his neck rattle, and I stood up from my seat.

“You ruined Lady Astel’s sculpture! Get down and beg! Beg for your life until Lady Astel forgives you!”

The slave didn’t even groan, as if he was used to it. Only the twitching corners of his mouth betrayed his pain. Blood streaked across his still face.

I was breathless. Over the sight of the beaten slave, I saw my younger self.

Before I knew it, I shouted.

“Stop it! What on earth are you doing?”

“Lady Astel! I beg your pardon, but this man is the one responsible for ruining your bust. Just give me a moment. I will punish him properly!”

“What nonsense is this? How could a mere slave possibly ruin my bust?”

“Stop at once, you fool! Do you still think you’re a grand noble? You, a lowly s*x slave who served under noblewomen, dare to…!”

“I said stop immediately!”

“Beg! Beg for forgiveness now!”

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. What kind of foreign custom allowed such blatant disregard for a superior’s orders?

Unable to bear it any longer, I jumped down from the platform. I ran to the pedestal holding the bust and pushed with all my might. Despite being weakened from lack of food, somehow, I managed to tilt the pedestal, causing my likeness to sway precariously.

Crash!

The bust fell to the ground with a loud noise, shattering into pieces.

The reception room fell silent instantly.

Breathing heavily, I looked down at the shattered bust, then turned sharply. I kicked a piece of the sculpture towards the sculptor, who stood frozen with one hand raised.

“I ordered you to stop several times! How dare you ignore my commands! Get out immediately! I don’t want to see your face for another second!”

“But, Lady Astel…”

“I said get out! Disappear! Or do you intend to defy this order too? Do you want to see your own blood spill to be satisfied?”

I picked up a piece of the broken sculpture. They say that when you’re furious, you’re blinded. That was precisely how I felt.