Logan Dent, Jeremy's head servant, stepped forward, grabbing Jessica by the collar and unleashing a flurry of slaps across her face.

The first strike made her cry out in pain, but after that, she clenched her teeth and endured, refusing to make another sound.

The only noise in the room was the sharp "smack" of his hand against her skin.

The more she held her silence, the angrier Jeremy became. He was curious to see just how long she could withstand the punishment. But ultimately, it was Jeremy who faltered first.

When he finally ordered Logan to stop, Jessica's face was swollen beyond recognition, blood and saliva mixing at the corners of her mouth, staining her clothes with dark, ugly splotches.

Jeremy looked at her in this pitiful state, wanting to say something, but in the end, he simply turned and left with Logan, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words.

Once she was alone, Jessica slowly crawled to the edge of the bed, too weak to climb up. Instead, she leaned against it, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. All she wanted was to see the sky outside.

Time slipped away as she sat there, her eyes locked on the ceiling, until exhaustion finally took over, and she drifted into a deep sleep.

The next day, when Cate noticed Jessica had not come to pay her respects, Cate sent a young maid to check on her.

Knowing Jessica well after years of service, Cate understood her temperament; if something hadn't happened, she wouldn't simply ignore her duties.

The maid returned quickly, her expression filled with concern. "Your Majesty, she… I don't know what's wrong with her. Her face is swollen, and she's just sitting there, staring at the ceiling. If I hadn't seen her eyelids flutter, I would have thought she was dead."

Cate listened, a long pause hanging in the air before she finally spoke, "Who can make sense of palace matters? Let her be. Just pretend you've never been there, and I haven't heard a word from you. Remember, in the palace, it's often best to keep things to yourself."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand," the maid replied, bowing her head.

After that day, Jeremy didn't step foot in the harem for a full week. When he finally returned to Jessica's room, he found her lifeless body slumped against the bed.

She was still wearing the same clothes from that day, though the bloodstains had long since dried.

"Jessica." His heart skipped a beat as he rushed to her side, carefully checking for a pulse. A wave of despair washed over him until, after what felt like an eternity, he finally detected a faint breath.

Quickly, he lifted her onto the bed and called to Logan, "Get a doctor—now!"

Doctors from the royal hospital were summoned one after another to Jessica's quarters, but they were all at a loss.

She had lost the ability to swallow, and there was nothing they could feed her.

The outcome was clear, and no one needed to say a word.

"Bring me a bowl of sugar water," Jeremy suddenly commanded.

Moments later, a servant entered, carrying a bowl of sugar water. Jeremy took it from her and coldly ordered, "Everyone out."

The room emptied in an instant.

He settled beside Jessica on the bed, taking a sip of the sugar water before setting the bowl aside. Gently, he lifted her up, pouring the sweet liquid into her mouth, using his own strength to coax her to swallow it.

By the time he finished feeding her the entire bowl, he was drenched in sweat.

He laid her back down softly, his fingers tracing the contours of her face, a mixture of tenderness and regret flooding through him.

Jeremy remembered how radiant she looked when she gave him candy, her face alight with joy. He recalled her desperate pleas, pulling palace maids along to beg a eunuch not to subject him to castration.

He remembered her haughty demeanor in public and the tender, gentle smiles she reserved for him in private. He could still see her eyes filled with love as she called him Jeremy and declared her affection, as well as the steely resolve on her face when she drove a knife into her own body.

Jeremy was caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He loved Jessica, yet he hated her too. She had witnessed all his humiliations and vulnerabilities. Once, he believed that as long as Jessica loved him, nothing else mattered. But now, when he couldn't get the answer he desperately sought, the past felt like a dagger lodged deep in his heart.

"What am I supposed to do with you?" he murmured softly, staring at the woman lying motionless on the bed, but no one could answer him.

That day, she had called him "Jery," a name she had used since childhood, back when he was just a servant in the Unikon palace. After they fell in love, she had switched to calling him "Jeremy," never uttering "Jery" again. Hearing that name slip from her lips had jolted him back to his days of servitude, a painful reminder that he was no longer her Jeremy. It was that realization that had driven him to lash out so violently. He didn't even recognize himself in that moment, as if he had lost his mind, nearly costing her life.

Perhaps the sugar water had worked its magic, for Jessica's breathing seemed a bit stronger. Jeremy called for the doctor, who checked her pulse and prescribed more medicine.

For three days, Jeremy took care of her, but the mounting issues in the court forced him to leave her in the care of Amy, his trusted aide.

Despite his busy schedule, he made it a point to visit her every day. Each time he saw her improving, a sense of relief washed over him.

On the fifth day, when he returned, he found Jessica awake.

Seeing her lying there after so many days of silence made his heart race. He felt a wave of anxiety wash over him, unsure of how to approach her.

He had been too harsh that day, and now he wanted to say something—anything—but the words eluded him. He longed to apologize, but the damage was done, and a simple "I'm sorry" felt utterly inadequate.

Jeremy stood there, grappling with his thoughts, when he noticed Amy Stone, the maid, watching him closely.

"She's been like this since she woke up," Amy said quietly. "She hasn't said a word. She drinks when offered water and eats when given food, but she just won't speak."

Jeremy's gaze shifted back to Jessica. He took a few tentative steps closer, trying to sound casual. "Jessica, how are you feeling?"

Jessica kept her head down, avoiding his eyes. The moment he entered the room, she had glanced at him once, then quickly averted her gaze, refusing to look up again.

When she heard his voice, she buried her face even lower, not uttering a single sound.

"Jessica, what do you want to eat tonight?" he tried again.

Still, she remained silent. But as he moved closer, he noticed her body tense up, her small movements betraying her anxiety.

A sinking feeling gripped Jeremy's heart. Is she afraid of me?

He didn't want to believe it, but as he stepped closer, he could see her trembling. Just as he reached out to touch her, she suddenly turned and scrambled onto the bed, burying her head in the curtains, a clear sign of her desire to hide from him.

The sight of her fear pierced his heart. She was genuinely terrified of him, avoiding him like he was a venomous snake.

Jeremy hesitated, rooted to the spot, watching her shiver. Deep down, he knew that if he truly wanted to hurt her, she wouldn't be able to escape. That realization made her fear all the more painful.

He longed to pull her out from her hiding place, to comfort her, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he took a step back, turning to Amy. "Take good care of her. I'll be leaving for now."

The last part of his statement was directed at Jessica, though she couldn't hear it.

"Understood," Amy replied, her voice steady.

Jeremy cast one last glance at the figure cowering on the bed before striding out of the room.

Once outside, he didn't rush away. Instead, he made a small peephole in the paper of the window to watch her reaction. He couldn't shake his anxiety.

After a long wait, Jessica finally moved. She cautiously turned her head, peeking around the room to make sure it was safe. Seeing only Amy still present, she took a deep breath and surveyed her surroundings more carefully. Only when she was certain the coast was clear did she slowly get out of bed and return to her place by the bedside.

Jeremy watched for a while longer, noting that she remained still. With a resigned sigh, he turned and left.

For days on end, Jessica remained locked in her silence, draining every ounce of patience Jeremy had left. Just as she buried her head in the curtains again, he snapped. With a swift motion, he yanked her out.

One hand gripped her shoulder while the other pinched her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "What do you want from me?" he demanded.

Jessica's eyes darted around, filled with nothing but fear. She tried to shrink away from him, but no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't escape his hold.

"Get out!" Jeremy barked, his voice echoing in the room. Amy and the other maid quickly retreated, sensing the storm brewing.

With a furious shove, he tossed Jessica onto the bed and leaned over her. "Since you love this bed so much, let's have a little chat here."

He bore down on her, searching for any emotion other than fear in her eyes. He desperately wanted to believe that her terror was just an act, but disappointment washed over him as he realized the truth—she was genuinely afraid of him.

In a fit of rage, he slammed his fist beside her ear, the sound reverberating in the stillness. "Jessica, what do you want?" he shouted.

All he received in response was her frantic gaze and a body that trembled like a leaf. She must have been terrified out of her mind.

Seeing her like this finally calmed the storm inside him. He stood up, stepping away, unable to bring himself to hurt her any further.

When Amy entered, she found Jessica curled up in the corner of the bed, shaking uncontrollably.

Once upon a time, Jessica had never feared Amy. But now, even the sight of her maid sent her into a panic. Whenever Amy approached, Jessica would tremble violently, retreating as if trying to turn herself into a ball.

Recognizing the distress she caused, Amy hesitated to draw closer. To avoid further traumatizing her, she set the food on the table and left the room.

Once the door clicked shut, Jessica slowly lifted her head, scanning the room. Seeing that she was alone, she inched her way to the edge of the bed.

After sitting there for a moment, reassured by the absence of company, she approached the table, grabbed a piece of pastry, and darted back to the bed. But this time, instead of climbing onto it, she crawled beneath.

As she nestled herself under the bed, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. It felt like a safe haven, a sanctuary from the chaos above.

She glanced at the pastry in her hand, straining her ears to listen for any signs of danger. When she detected nothing amiss, she began to eat.

After nibbling on the treat, exhaustion hit her like a freight train. She laid her head down and drifted off to sleep beneath the bed, finding comfort in the tight space.

Meanwhile, Amy stood outside, listening intently for any sounds from within. She figured that if Jessica was alone, she might be tempted to eat.

After a while, Amy felt it was time to check in. She gently tapped on the door, but when no one answered, she pushed it open.

Relieved to see that a piece of pastry was missing, Amy felt a moment of calm. But her relief quickly turned to panic when she realized Jessica was nowhere to be found.

Knowing she wouldn't just vanish into thin air, Amy began searching the room, recalling Jessica's previous behaviors. It was likely she had hidden herself somewhere.

Moving cautiously to avoid startling Jessica, Amy finally spotted her beneath the bed, sound asleep. The sight made her heart drop—Jessica was curled up in the chilly space, and if she stayed there much longer, she'd catch a cold.

But Amy didn't dare disturb her. Instead, she decided to inform the king.

When Jeremy arrived, Jessica was still fast asleep, even letting out soft snores that filled the quiet room.