Mated to the Mad Lord-Chapter 98: An Announcement

The next time Violet woke, she was startled by the glare of sunlight hitting her closed eyelids. Her brow furrowed as she raised her hand to block the rays, squinting slightly before sitting up to take in her surroundings. The room was nothing like the dark, damp cell she’d been confined in. Instead, it was lavish, with soft curtains framing large windows and furniture polished to a gleam.

Her gaze fell to her clothes, and she froze. She was no longer in her tattered attire. Instead, she wore a pristine uniform, its fabric crisp as if freshly laundered and ironed. For a moment, Violet stared blankly at herself, confusion swirling in her mind. The realization that someone had changed her clothes struck her like a bolt.

Scrambling out of bed, she bolted into her own room and adjoining bathroom. Her bare feet slapped against the tiled floor as she rushed to the mirror, her heart pounding with dread. Cain’s chilling words about her being his "whore" echoed in her mind.

’He...he wouldn’t...right?’ she thought, fear gripping her.

When she finally caught sight of herself in the mirror, her breath hitched. The mark Cain had carved into her face was gone. Her skin was flawless, unmarred as though the wound had never existed. In fact, her entire face seemed to glow with an unnatural perfection, so smooth it was almost unsettling.

"What the heck does he want from me?" she mumbled, squeezing her face with her hands as if trying to ground herself. A thousand thoughts swirled in her mind as she collapsed onto the edge of her bed, her head spinning.

Her spiraling thoughts were interrupted by the low creak of massive doors opening, followed by the deep, commanding voice of the very man who haunted her nightmares.

"Viole!" Cain’s voice boomed through the room like a clap of thunder.

Startled, Violet shot to her feet, her heart hammering in her chest. She forced herself to move quickly, heading toward the sound of his voice. Delaying would only make things worse.

When she stepped into his main quarters, she wasn’t surprised to find him standing by the door, fully dressed. His blonde hair fell just slightly over his forehead, softening his sharp features, though Violet knew better than to be fooled by his appearance. His golden-brown eyes, as striking as they were, could freeze her blood in an instant.

"You called, Lord Cain," Violet said, bowing low in the most respectful manner she could muster. Her tone was calm, but inside, she was a storm of fear and frustration.

’If you want me to serve as your personal servant and sleep beside you every night until you’re tired of me...I’ll do it,’ she told herself, her resolve hardening.

Cain’s gaze swept over her, taking in every inch of her form before he finally spoke. "Follow me," he ordered, his tone curt.

Without a word, Violet followed behind him, her head bowed as she struggled to keep her face impassive. She didn’t dare ask where they were going. It wasn’t as if her opinion mattered, and questioning him might provoke his wrath.

The mansion was eerily quiet as they walked. She noticed the absence of servants bustling about, and even the workers they passed kept their heads down, offering Cain respectful bows. None of them so much as glanced at her.

Cain led her toward the servant hall, but instead of using the entrance designated for workers, he walked through the grand doors leading to the podium. Violet hesitated for a fraction of a second before following him inside.

The sight that greeted her took her breath away. Rows upon rows of servants stood at attention, their faces stoic as they immediately knelt the moment Cain entered. The collective motion sent a ripple of unease through Violet, but she kept her expression neutral, standing a few paces behind Cain as he stepped onto the podium.

"I have an announcement to make, so I won’t take much of your time," Cain began, his voice echoing through the vast hall.

Violet’s pulse quickened. What kind of announcement could possibly require her presence?

"Viole, my personal servant, has been promoted to the rank of a worker," Cain declared.

The hall remained silent, but Violet’s heart thundered in her chest. Her wide eyes betrayed her shock as she forced herself to maintain a composed exterior.

Cain reached into his pocket, producing an emblem that glinted in the light. With deliberate movements, he stepped toward her, pinning it onto the left side of her shirt. Violet kept her gaze lowered, her stomach churning with nerves as she felt his fingers linger a moment longer than necessary.

Turning back to the crowd, Cain continued. "He has also been declared innocent. The werewolf who died was killed by someone else, and the true culprit will be found and executed."

Violet exhaled a quiet sigh of relief at the announcement, though it didn’t ease her growing unease. The promotion felt more like a trap than an honor, a subtle way for Cain to pull her deeper into his web.

But Cain wasn’t done.

"Step forward," he ordered, his tone almost too calm. Violet obeyed, moving to stand beside him, her stomach twisting into knots as he addressed the crowd once more.

"I’d also like to announce that from now on, Viole is my lover and, as such, will be treated with the utmost respect," Cain declared with a smile that sent a shiver down Violet’s spine.

Shock washed over her like ice water, her face paling as she processed his words. The servants were equally stunned, though none dared to voice their thoughts. The weight of Cain’s presence kept them silent, even as Violet fought to maintain her composure.

She forced a small, polite smile, her gaze fixed on the floor to hide the turmoil roiling within her. Her fists clenched at her sides, the only sign of the frustration and embarrassment she couldn’t express.

"This message will be passed on to everyone in the mansion. That will be all," Cain concluded, turning toward the door without another word.

Violet followed him in silence, her thoughts a chaotic mess as they made their way back to his wing on the mansion’s top floor. She kept her eyes on his back, her face carefully neutral despite the storm raging within her.

’His lover?’ mentally scoffing at the words. ’Hours ago he had almost killed her! What the hell is he thinking?’ she thought furiously, biting her lip to stop herself from saying anything reckless.

Every step she took felt heavier than the last, her mind racing as she tried to figure out what game Cain was playing and, more importantly, how she was supposed to survive it.