About

The Arden Empire, located in the western part of the continent, possesses a long history and tradition of aristocratic society. Centered around the Imperial Family, a strict hierarchy of Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, and Baron exists, and bloodline and succession are regarded as the most important values for noble families. --- Among them, Leopold von Kreuzen is a Count from a prestigious noble family, and I first encountered him at a banquet. He and I fell in love at first sight and shared a love so warm that even other lovers envied us. We eventually held a dream-like wedding amidst blooming flowers. We promised to devote our entire lives to each other. But, After spending our first night together, all the cracks began to form. No matter how hard I tried, I could not conceive a child. His attitude changed drastically after he learned that I had a body incapable of bearing an heir. Before that, he always prioritized me over himself, and I always felt loved when we were together. Roses in June, zinnias in July—whenever flowers bloomed each season, he would offer them to me with all his heart. Now, as if mocking those memories, He spits out thorny words he had never uttered before. "Useless woman." "Marrying you was the only blemish on my life." He was no longer the man who had wooed me by sending flowers every single day until three years ago. Dining with him eventually became a mandatory chore. I always had to walk on eggshells even within the mansion. If our eyes accidentally met, he would sigh and leave the room. Just as our conversations were about to cease entirely, On the evening of my birthday, he called my name in that gentle voice of old. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. "Madam, it is already your birthday." "Before I knew it, you have turned 27." "...What do you think about bringing in a surrogate?" It felt as if my heart had dropped to the floor. "A surrogate...?" "...Because I am infertile?" He simply nodded and stood up from his seat. As if he didn't care about my opinion at all. Only the empty dining table and my existence remained in that spot. The next day, when he returned to the mansion after finishing his work, he had his arm around another woman's shoulder. "I just need to bear the child well, right?" I wasn't too worried since she was just a surrogate. But what was this girl in front of me? She was a girl far more lovely and full of life than I. A girl with brilliant blonde hair flowing down to her waist that was blinding to behold. Compared to her, I felt like a witch hiding in the mansion and couldn't lift my head properly. The girl spoke with a cruelly beautiful smile. "Are you the wife?" "I've heard so much about you from the Count!" "Is the rumor that you can't have children really true?" "I was worried it might just be a mean rumor..." I couldn't bear to face her as she looked at me with wide eyes and an innocent expression. "Lillia." Leopold warned Lillia as if telling her to shut her mouth. Ha, is he saving my face in his own way? Because I am his wife? --- His plans always unfolded exactly as he desired, And Lillia became pregnant. After that, Leopold became even more indifferent to me. As if treating a weed growing by the roadside, he didn't spare me a single glance.