s.p.a.ce. One of the deadliest traps of any relations.h.i.+p. Give them too much, and they will forever slip out of your grasp. Don't give them enough and you weaken your appeal as a man thus leading them to lose interest and get away all the same.

　　Jasmine was currently at the border of a breaking point. A point that was likely to be reached if he pushed too hard. So, Konrad decided to give her time to cool down before working to regain her trust.

　　Dusk announced itself with the darkening of the sky, and chilling rain trickled onto the ground. Odd, it wasn't the season for it. Perhaps it echoed her feelings and wished to further sour his mood?

　　He used to enjoy the rain. But on this particular occasion, it felt really misplaced. He raised his eyes to the dark sky, and when he returned it onto Jasmine's earlier position, she was gone.

　　...

　　The rainfall didn't alter Jasmine's course. She ran until she no longer had any strength left. Until her legs gave out and she fell face first while gasping for air.

　　Suffocated…she felt suffocated. And the maid courtyard she often wished to escape from seemed like the only amiable location at the moment. So, she dragged herself back to it, hoping that the usual chatter and bickering of the new maids would s.n.a.t.c.h her attention.

　　But it didn't.

　　When she pa.s.sed the entrance of the building, the same feeling of loss followed her tracks. The same oppressing sensation that squeezed her heart and reminded her of having been nothing more than a plaything. The words spoken by her side could not reach her ears, and she sat dazed with her eyes staring into nothingness.

　　"What's wrong with her?"

　　"Did she finally lose it?"

　　"Who cares about her? Let's play a game!"

　　The maids clamored in the vicinity.

　　And seeing that this place could not help her cope, Jasmine stood up and left.

　　It still rained. The cold quickly spreading through Jasmine's body and invading her bones, but she still carried on at a slow, wavering pace, not knowing that in the shadows, she was being observed.

　　Ultimately, she reached a desolated pathway occupied by nothing but the high walls of the inner court.

　　Night had fallen, and the rain slowly subsided. But her drenched clothes outlining her body and the tragic beauty within her face only made her look more appealing.

　　At least, that's what Wenzel, the sixth prince thought has he trailed her alongside a group of head eunuchs.

　　"Is she the one your highness fancies?"

　　"Your highness' tastes are truly refined. It will be that girl's honor to become your highness' woman."

　　The eunuchs bootlicked.

　　Although they were head eunuchs, they had exhausted their potential, and their future prospects were not high so, they sought a st.u.r.dy tree to rely on. Wenzel Von Jurgen was the perfect tree. Easy to please, and always providing abundant rewards.

　　In the last three years, they had captured many low-ranked and mid-ranked palace maids for him to enjoy.

　　This time would be no different.

　　"Don't forget to give her the opportunity to struggle. You know what to do. Give me a good show but remember that I must bed her tonight."