DFL survived her dive into the lake. SML is relieved to see she’s alive as he doesn’t want her to leave him in any shape or form.

SML’s friend and informant confronts him following this latest incident with DFL.

“I know she used to like you. But under your so-called protection, how much grievance has she suffered?” he demands of SML.

He warns SML this torment called love will drive her further away from him.

Meantime, SML nurses a feverish DFL, his eyes glowing with a love barely suppressed. He seems like an entirely different man.

When DFL gets back on her feet, however, the altered man persona transforms. SML tells her to serve him that night and she promptly nods her head in agreement. It shall be as he desires.

But there’s something different about DFL. Following her dive into the water, her meekness is kind of like an act rendered necessary as part of a plan.

That night, in SML’s chamber, a woman surprises him by placing a red ribbon around his eyes. Her hand gently caresses his cheek down to his neck and chest. She guides him to the bed and he’s unable to continue with her seduction so he rips off the ribbon from his eyes.

SML’s desire suddenly turns into rage. The woman isn’t DFL but the new concubine forced onto his title. A woman he hadn’t touched nor was planning to touch.

His hand choking the woman, he demands why she’s there. The woman can only say DFL instructed her to tend to him that night.

Storming out in anger, SML sets out to find her. DFL managed to confuse him and in the process attempted an escape. However, in the end, it all came to nothing.

She suddenly starts laughing as SML confronts her about this recent escapade.

“You’re the one playing with me, but you pretend to be the victim” she bitterly tells him.

“Kill me, set me free” she yells. SML carries her over his shoulder and heads toward his chamber where he proceeds to assault her. DFL fights back in a rather messed up dance of assault yet desire. She bites his ear, he forces his hard kisses on her.

Suddenly, though, SML stops. DFL is not fighting back, she’s scared and bunched in a ball. The memory of her ex-fiance’s assault on their wedding night is on the forefront of her mind.

I want you, I need you but don’t know how to love you

SML’s wife plans to drug him and have her way with the husband who avoids her bed like the plague.

As she carries his limp figure to the bed, in his delusional state SML calls her by DFL’s name and she angrily shakes him into lucidity at which point he gets up and leaves.

Her attempts at ravaging her husband once again came to naught.

In his study, during a discussion with his confidant, SML reveals that his wife’s father poses a threat to his power as well as to DFL. SML was raised as an adopted son by that man, mistreated and barely cared for until his identity as the soon-to-be rich man in control of the city was discovered. Ever since then, it seems he plans to keep this family from turning him into their puppet.

Suddenly, his trusted servant comes to report that rumors are making their way through the streets that DFL has been played many times in the prison (she was imprisoned for a period of time when her family lost power) and is nothing more than a maid to warm beds.

“They even said she learned to dance from prostitutes to please her ex” he informs SML.

The news spread throughout the city overnight. SML learns they’re spreading from followers of his wife’s family. They’ve already started their aggressive attack on DFL.

In DFL’s room, her maid tells her of the words going around about her when DFL confronts her about bruises on her face. The poor young maid got into a fight to uphold the justice of her mistress.

Once DFL learns of the dancing rumor, she solemnly replies, “They are right”.

Unbeknownst to her, SML is right outside the door catching parts of the conversation. Once he hears DFL’s reply, he has the audacity to look hurt and leaves.

What he doesn’t catch is DFL’s devastated expression and her next words, “People only believe what they want to believe”.

SML gets drunk that night, trying to drown out his sorrows. His broken heart? Does he have one though?

He’s requested a bath and demanded DFL to tend to him. So, despite the late hour, his servant summons DFL who, always on pins and needles, doesn’t know what’s to come from SML’s moods.

As she washes his body, he suddenly grabs her and pulls her into the tub with him. A soaking, startled DFL implores him to behave himself but he mockingly states “Isn’t this your specialty?” (allegedly referring to serving man’s desire).

“You’re right. My lord, you’re noble, I’m afraid someone lowly like me will only taint your eyes” DFL replies, eyes cast down as she pulls up part of her soaking dress that slid down her shoulder.

But SML isn’t in the mood to give up on his humiliating pursuit. He’s hurt, really hurt, and resentful. He commands her to please him only to get exceptionally enraged when DFL complies by laying out a seductive dance right there in the water for him.

As her mouth hovers inches over his and his body is humming with restrained raw desire, he grabs her by her throat and DFL is knocked out.

When she awakens, she’s hovering on a swing inside a building’s courtyard with countless people, mostly men, right below her. SML perches on one of the ledges and watches as her swing slowly approaches him. He barely manages to control his anger at the catcalls of the men below. Is this petty revenge on his part?

SML’s confidant makes an appearance only to save DFL from her most recent predicament. SML’s gone too far, he has long crossed the line but this was further into the unforgivable territory.

The next morning, SML is informed DFL came down with a fever and is in recovery.

“Have I gone too far?” he suddenly asks his trusted servant. Even he has doubts about his most recent conduct. Go figure.

DFL, meanwhile, has gone eerily quiet. When SML has a drunken bonding moment with his confidant, the other man informs him that SML has hurt DFL too deeply this time around.

I know your secret, you’ve been lying to me

SML’s wife is yet again taking action to get rid of DFL.

As it was revealed, SML has yet to bed her. Their wedding night it seems was far different from what DFL heard (though, how?) and she’s getting desperate to (a) get the man she desires to want her back and (b) have his child to ensure her family’s goals of successfully controlling him.

But petty danger traps have been failing her, so she devises a plan of disclosing a secret she’s recently been privy to, one that’s bound to devastate DFL.

The wife instructs DFL to go into a secret chamber found in SML’s room that night. She will make certain the path is clear for DFL.

DFL is cautious but also realizes her need to know what it is that SML is holding over her. So she plays along, sneaks into the secret chamber, and witnesses all the letters she’s been sending to her mother and brother over the years lying atop his desk.

With a sinking feeling, she realizes that SML’s promises of reuniting her with her remaining family must be a twisted lie meant to keep her doing his bidding.

In a stupor, she makes her way to the ghostly remnants of her family’s prior estate where she finds grave mounds. She tries to flee to evade SML’s oncoming search party outside the city gate then ends up promptly tripping down the mountain.

SML finds her unconscious and bleeding. He carries her back, waiting by her bedside as her life hangs on balance. As he sits there, he thinks of all the injustices and humiliation she has suffered while in his “care”. Is this his hot minute of remorse?

If it is, it doesn’t last long because as soon as DFL opens her eyes, he adopts his indifferent persona. Turning away from her bed, he angrily demands, “Who allowed you to hurt yourself”?

When there’s no reply from her, he turns only to be smacked across the face.