Chapter 40: The Shadow Behind the Smile

“Remember this, Wendy,”

“No matter what happens, you must always prioritize the family’s interests above all else.”

“For you are a child of the Rhine family, and this is your inescapable duty.”

“I understand, Father.”

That year, Wendy was ten years old.

At her coming-of-age ceremony, she walked upon a crimson carpet, adorned in a gown of exquisite value and resplendent beauty.

Her skirt swayed gracefully, its delicate jeweled embellishments shimmering with a cool, ethereal glow under the candlelight, while long, pristine white gloves elegantly encased her small hands.

Pure and beautiful—no words could describe her more fittingly.

She resembled a goddess descended from the heavens; wherever she stepped, the gazes of those around her were inextricably drawn to her.

“Look there, that’s the Rhine family’s esteemed young lady.”

“Truly worthy of a noble house; not only is she stunningly beautiful, but her demeanor is also so utterly graceful, there’s not a single flaw to be found.”

“What envy I feel! To marry such a beauty, His Royal Highness the Sixth Prince is truly blessed!”

“Haha, it won’t be long now, perhaps just a few years, before we’ll be attending their wedding!”

The guests’ gazes uniformly settled upon her, their murmurs of admiration rising incessantly.

Yet, the young girl found herself utterly unable to feel any joy.

Those words, however, echoed persistently within her heart.

Duty, family, interests.

For a mere ten-year-old girl, these words were overwhelmingly weighty.

She timidly lifted her gaze, looking towards the blond-haired man standing on the elevated platform not far away.

Lyte Granshire.

His Royal Highness, the Sixth Prince of the current kingdom.

The Sixth Prince was the unexpected offspring born to the King and a favored concubine.

Though this favored concubine did not hail from an illustrious background, her exceptional beauty and keen intellect had once captivated the King’s affections.

Lyte, having admirably inherited his mother’s disposition, displayed extraordinary intelligence from a young age, earning repeated praise from the King.

However, due to his birth, he could never possess the right to inherit the throne, unlike his elder brothers.

Moreover, his awkward status meant he had been treated as a political pawn since childhood.

Within the court, many even secretly referred to him as “His Royal Highness, the Bastard Prince,” the contempt and mockery in the title unmistakably clear.

Those gazes constantly shadowed him, serving as a perpetual reminder that no matter how diligently he strove, he could never escape the shackles of his lineage.

Thus, he was compelled to form a marital alliance with a powerful family to consolidate his own influence.

Coincidentally, though the Rhine family at the time was renowned for its wealth, it lacked connections with the core members of the royal family.

The two parties immediately found common ground, and the marriage was thus easily arranged.

However, at that time, Wendy remained oblivious to the intricate matters unfolding behind the scenes.

All she knew was that after her fifteenth birthday, she would be compelled to marry that man and spend her entire life with him.

But what did it mean to be married?

The concept was utterly alien to Wendy’s young mind.

Having grown up, she had never even held a boy’s hand, let alone understood anything about romance.

Now, she was suddenly informed that in the future, she would not only become a wife but also be responsible for continuing the family’s lineage.

At the mere thought of such an unfamiliar future, Wendy’s tender heart could not help but tremble, filled with profound trepidation.

Yet, for the sake of her family, this was a path she was bound to take.

From the platform, Lyte noticed Wendy’s gaze and offered a gentle smile.

With unhurried steps, he approached Wendy and performed an elegant bow.

“Greetings, little princess of the Rhine family,”

“I am Lyte Granshire, and also your future fiancé. From this day forward, I hope you will guide me often.”

“Hello, Your Highness Lyte…”

Wendy instinctively wished to retreat, but years of rigorous upbringing held her firmly in place.

She delicately lifted her skirt and returned the bow.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lyte excused himself, as someone had come to find him.

Gazing at his gradually receding figure, a flicker of fear still lingered in Wendy’s heart, for he was a complete stranger who would soon become her husband.

Nevertheless, she had to admit that his mature and dignified conduct somewhat dispelled her apprehension, fostering a nascent sense of goodwill towards her fiancé.

Subsequently, following a series of standard rituals, the coming-of-age ceremony concluded.

As Lyte had matters to discuss with the Duke, he remained at the Rhine family’s estate for the night.

Wendy shed her heavy gown and changed back into her everyday attire, settling onto the balcony to gaze up at the stars.

What would her life be like after marriage? She found herself utterly unable to imagine.

Perhaps, every day thereafter, she would greet her husband with a reserved smile and respectful bows, then accompany him to those lengthy and intricate court events.

Following that, she would bear children, nurturing them with utmost care, and softly hum lullabies beside their cradles.

Later still, once her children matured, she would raise them to be worthy heirs, instructing them in etiquette, duty, and honor.

—Just as she herself had been taught from childhood.

At this thought, an indescribable sense of oppression suddenly welled up within Wendy’s chest.

After marriage, would she still have the opportunity to continue her beloved study of alchemy?

Most likely not, she mused, for her father always insisted that women should not meddle with such pursuits.

Yet, His Highness Lyte seemed like a gentle man; perhaps, if it were he, he might even support her…

But was he truly as gentle as he appeared?

After all, today marked their very first meeting.

What kind of person, truly, was His Highness Lyte?

Suddenly, Wendy was overcome with an intense curiosity about her future husband.

Though she had been educated since childhood to be a dignified, quiet, and refined young lady, Wendy was still, at heart, merely a child.

No matter how well she concealed it, a trace of indelible mischievousness and innocence still resided within her heart.

Thus, she resolved to sneak a peek at what her future husband was truly doing.

Wendy had always maintained amicable relations with the household staff.

Even with ordinary servants, she never adopted a haughty demeanor, but rather conversed with them as equals.

Consequently, she quickly ascertained which guest room Lyte occupied and easily slipped onto the third floor.

What, then, was His Highness Lyte doing at this very moment?

Wendy felt a surge of nervousness; in her imagination, her fiancé should have been seated upright at a desk, intently perusing books.

Creeping stealthily towards Lyte’s guest room, Wendy suddenly froze in her tracks.

She sensed something amiss.

From behind the room, a faint, jarring commotion could be heard.

It was the shriek of a woman, a heart-rending cry laced with boundless agony, chilling one’s blood to the bone.

Wendy instantly held her breath, her face turning ghastly pale in an instant.

Her heart had never pounded so furiously; she took a deep breath, finally summoning her courage, and tremblingly peered through the keyhole.

The sight that greeted her eyes the next moment sent a chill through her entire being.

It was an image she would never forget, a nightmare made real.

There, a completely naked woman was bound hand and foot, suspended from the eerie ceiling.

And Lyte, who had appeared as elegant as a gentleman during the day, now stood with a cold expression, his hand gripping a leather whip as he mercilessly lashed the woman’s body.