Qu Fuer rushed back to her room and dashed into the bathroom, scrubbing her body vigorously. However, the red marks that remained on her skin blatantly reminded her of what had just happened.

  On her way back, various thoughts had crossed her mind, but she couldn't understand why it was her, and even more confusingly, why it was him.

  Duke Cesare Lorenzo... the most eye-catching young man in the royal city, had just taken her virginity in such a forceful and domineering way, making her abandon even the last shred of her sense of shame.

  Qu Fuer turned her head and saw herself in the mirror—her lips, swollen and bright red from kissing, and her still erect nipples, where he had left his mark... Her hands reached up to touch her chest, and the kiss marks on her nipples filled her with shame, and even hatred. She had no grudge against him; why did he have to treat her like this?

  He mentioned a woman named Jasmine. Did he think she had some connection to that person, which was why he treated her this way?

  Who was this Jasmine? If she could, she really wanted to confront her from that year and tell her that because of her, she had suffered this unbearable misfortune!

  Cesare's appearance at the Sparrow House caused a round of exclamations. He walked up the stairs without any concern, holding the slightly soiled outer robe in his hand—yet he was still careful to hide the bloodstains on it inside, as they were his secret.

  "Goodness me, it's His Highness the Knight Commander!" The housekeeper hurried forward to greet him, and the women and men around her cautiously gathered around, maintaining a certain distance.

  The fawning, ingratiating voices and expressions filled Cesare's line of sight. He thought for a moment, then went straight to the third floor.

  Seeing him standing in front of Silver Dove's room, the housekeeper quickly said, "My lord... this is Silver Dove's room, but, but she's not quite available at the moment..."

  Everyone knew that the youngest son of the Harzaro family was in Silver Dove's room, and the ambiguous sounds drifting out made people speculate wildly. Cesare, however, just glanced at the housekeeper and said nothing before pushing the door open and entering Silver Dove's room.

  The two people who had moved to the bed seemed startled by the noise and quickly grabbed the blanket to cover themselves, only to see the unromantic figure leaning against the door. "Avenni."

  He just called his name, and Avenni felt a chill run through him—why did he have to catch him in the Sparrow House with someone? He despised Cesare, but his father, the current Duke Harzaro, had repeatedly instructed him to listen to Cesare—"You are brothers, remember, Avenni, you must maintain a good relationship with Cesare."

  The young man did not understand the meaning behind those words. He was the youngest son of the Harzaro family, with no right to inherit the title. He did not like fighting and hoped to secure a position in the seminary in the future. He naively believed that his father was trying to use Cesare's relationship with the Pope to pave the way for his future.

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  He also understood his position in the Harzaro family—just a dispensable presence.

  He had just experienced pleasure with Silver Dove, who, like a mature woman, had taught him how to enter her body and how to move to bring them both satisfaction. But... in front of his cousin, Avenni suddenly became uncertain. He glanced down at Silver Dove out of guilt and saw that the woman with honey-colored hair was staring intently at Cesare—just as he had thought, Avenni knew it would be like this. In front of his cousin, he was always the one ignored. Not just him, but his brothers, and even their generation of young men, they were all just foils in front of the bastard of the Lorenzo family!

  "My uncle asked me to pay more attention to how you're doing in the seminary," Cesare said, folding his arms and watching the couple with interest. He naturally did not ignore the surprise in the eyes of the girl with honey-colored hair, and then, the bold provocation that followed. He paid no attention, because he knew it would be a blow to Avenni. The weak Avenni posed no real threat to him. Cesare thought, and he even felt a bit of affection for his weak and incompetent cousin. "It seems you're doing quite well."

  "I'm sorry..." Avenni whispered, "I'll go back right away..."

  Cesare waved his hand, "That's not necessary. Just be more careful," he said, pointing to the window, "and try not to let too many people see."

  When Qu Fuer reappeared in the main hall of the Sparrow House, it was already late at night. She had something she wanted to ask the housekeeper, about a woman named Jasmine.

  However, she saw Silver Dove, animatedly talking to everyone about something. Silver Dove naturally noticed the dispirited Fuer and waved at her, shouting loudly, "Fuer! Guess who we saw today?!"

  That humiliation was something she would have to bury in her heart for a lifetime. Qu Fuer pretended as if nothing had happened, "What?"

  "Goodness, you poor girl, how unfortunate," Silver Dove said dramatically, "If you knew who we ran into, you'd be envious of our good luck." She twisted her waist and turned back to the other girls, saying, "Maybe our Fuer could just join the Temple Knights directly!"

  Everyone laughed, knowing full well that it was an impossibility. The standards for recruiting new members into the Temple Knights were extremely strict.

  Qu Fuer shuddered and looked at Silver Dove. Why was it that name again! He had actually appeared in front of everyone?

  "It was His Highness the Knight Commander!" Silver Dove said excitedly, "You can't imagine, he actually went into my room. Guess what? That Harzaro boy had just finished when the Knight Commander came in and took him away. I think the Knight Commander must remember me, don't you think?" She raised her arm, her graceful figure and beautiful face—

  "What's the big deal? If you're so capable, why don't you get him into your bed?" a short woman teased, only to receive a coquettish glare from Silver Dove.

  Yes, Qu Fuer thought, what kind of person hadn't Duke Lorenzo seen? He was even unmoved in front of Silver Dove... and what about herself? Her lower body still ached slightly, reminding her that it was all real. Yet, she really couldn't understand.

  The women continued to chatter and laugh about seeing the Knight Commander that day, but Qu Fuer quietly left. She heard Silver Dove and the other girls laughing from a distance, "That Qu Fuer, she's just too prudish," and she felt tears welling up in her eyes.

  The housekeeper's room was still lit. She knocked on the door and blurted out, "Mother, I want to ask you about someone."

  The housekeeper looked at Fuer curiously, "What's wrong? Fuer, you look like you're about to cry."

  "Do you know a woman named Jasmine?" Qu Fuer blinked and asked.

  The housekeeper's face did not show much surprise, "Why do you ask?"

  "Nothing, I just wanted to know, do you know her?" Qu Fuer continued to ask.

  "No, I don't know anyone named Jasmine," the housekeeper pulled Qu Fuer over, "Child, are you feeling upset? Is there something you want to talk to Mother about?"

  "No, it's nothing... I'm sorry to disturb you," after getting a negative answer, Qu Fuer turned and left. She didn't see the worried and sorrowful look in the housekeeper's eyes, which followed her until she disappeared at the end of the corridor.