Chapter 1
O. He and Her
“She has half a year at most.”
The doctor declared with a sullen face. Instead of being surprised, Seria frowned and smiled softly.
“I see.”
It was to be expected the moment she married Kardi.
Nevertheless, Seria has never regretted marrying him.
However, I miss him like crazy right now.
She took a deep breath.
The day the end of my life was declared.
The sky was exceptionally clear, and the sun was blinding.
***
Her first memory was that of her father’s eyes, the former Duke of Ritenheim, filled with contempt.
“You’re just a dirty stain on my status as the Duke.”
His eyes were cold as he glared at his young daughter, who didn’t move an inch.
The fact that the “dirty stain” was his daughter didn’t matter at all to him.
Tsk. He clicked his tongue, and said.
“You only have the blood of a humble maid, a useless bitch.”
“…..I’m sorry.”
I’m sorry I was born. Receiving his cold contempt all over her body, she lowered her head without a word.
***
Seria was a girl who was never welcomed by anyone since birth.
Because she was born of a humble maid with low origins.
The Duchess was barely able to give birth to a son, and lost her life five years later. Since then, the Duke has touched numerous women.
Among them was Marienne, the Duchess’ beautiful maid.
“Don’t do this, Duke!”
Marienne tried to free herself from the Duke as much as possible, but she couldn’t escape from her master’s persistent touch.
Eventually, she gave birth to the Duke’s child. However, the Duke had no intention of taking responsibility for the mother and daughter, and only enjoyed the pleasure of molesting her.
In everyone’s eyes, Marienne died forlornly, whilst Seria was abandoned alone in a spacious duchy.
The little girl desperately adapted to the duchy to survive.
“No way, you can’t possibly consider yourself as the daughter of the Duke, right?”
“You need to understand your duties as a subject to get a piece of bread, don’t you?”
At the mocking voices of the maids, Seria can only nod due to her timidness.
The maids deliberately entrusted her with all the difficult chores. Due to that, her little hands were always busy.
A beautiful appearance that resembled the late Marienne, and the position as the Duke’s illegitimate child. It was no wonder that the maids did not like Seria.
“T-the Duke is dead!”
Ironically, the person who saved Seria was her half-brother, Ereun.
When she was fifteen years old, the drunk Duke was killed in a carriage accident.
The first thing Ereun did after was to acknowledge Seria as his sister.
However, people didn’t recognize her as Young Lady Seria, who was once a maid like them.
The word spread like wildfire.
“You’re still an illegitimate child, aren’t you?”
“Indeed, the housekeeper is too merciful.”
“What kind of young lady is that!”
The maids muttered loudly as if intentionally making Seria overhear their words, but she didn’t say a word.
Despite turning from a maid to a young lady, Seria still lived her life walking on eggshells.
Meanwhile, Ereun was a busy, non-affectionate brother, so Seria found Ereun difficult to be familiar with.
But she, somehow, wanted to be of help to Ereun.
‘If I don’t help, I’ll be abandoned again.’
To be discarded.
It was the horror Seria had since birth. She didn’t expect to be loved, but she wished to not be abandoned, at least.
Then what should I do to avoid being abandoned by my brother?
“Is that woman…the rumored half-baked young lady?
[TL/N: I used half-baked to represent her low origins.]
“The Duke of Ritenheim acknowledged a woman with the blood of a maid as his sister?”
“Well, a woman of her quality is enough to be sold off in a political marriage, right?”
Mainly because she is quite a beauty.
The day she first stepped into society through her debut party, Seria heard ladies giggling.
At the same time, she realized a way she could be useful.
‘Political marriage.’
To bestow fruitful benefits upon the Duke of Ritenheim through a fine husband.
The only way to avoid being thrown away.
Thus, she accepted the political marriage with Kardi Esperald, the Battlefield’s Nightmare.
***
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Seria Ritenheim.”
With a polite greeting, Kardi gently raised his eyes. In his amethyst eyes, Seria’s face was reflected.
Seria swallowed hard.
He was such a beautiful man to the point that it seemed as if he was a famous painting drawn by God.
“Kardi Esperald.”
He opened his mouth in a graceful manner.
Seria was relieved. Because she didn’t feel mocked for being born as a ‘half-baked young lady’.
However, the way she looked at him was somewhat suspicious.
“She doesn’t seem to know what I am.”
After a while, Kardi sighed and muttered.
Grand Duke of Oderita, Kardi Esperald.
The only prince of Esperald with the title of a Grand Duke, a man of blinding beauty and unparalleled force.
But there was no lady who sought to marry him.
Because…
“Do you really need to be a monster’s wife?”
Kardi, who raised the corners of his lips, asked cynically.
A cold gaze unique to those who hate themselves was clearly seen.
“I’m a monster raised by Esperald.”
Kardi often defined himself as a ‘monster’.
He was the master and host of a transcendent power he inherited from his mother, the Reis’ blood, that was rarely put to use.
The power gave him enough strength that could determine the victory or defeat of a war alone, but in return, it swallowed his life moment by moment.
‘The Battlefield’s Nightmare.’
That was the reason why he had the terrible nickname of Nightmare.
What’s more, people were clamoring publicly that Kardi would die before he could reach the age of 30.
Seria, who was quietly staring at Kardi, opened her mouth.
“The power you possess, I am well aware of it.”
“And you still want to marry me?”
Kardi had a bewildered look on his face.
She nodded softly. To be exact, she wanted to marry him because of his power, but there was no need to tell him about it.
He tried to persuade her.
“Young Lady, please reconsider it again.”
“……”
Seria stared at Kardi silently.
It was the first time someone cared about her opinion.
I felt a strange sensation in the corner of my heart, as if it was rubbed with a soft feather.
It was an unfamiliar feeling.
“I’m not qualified to be with anyone. I’m……”
Meanwhile, Kardi, who was about to say something, sighed.
He had the power of a monster. Sometimes, he couldn’t control it, and it even ran wild.
I’ve already lost all of those who were precious to me. My mother committed suicide, and the imperial family is bent on using me.
So, he wasn’t sure if he could bring in a wife.
“It’s all right.”
But the beauty answered with a faint smile. Due to that, he became a little frustrated.
“Young Lady of Ritenheim.”
“Because I won’t reconsider it again.”
Seria felt a little guilty. Because right now she’s just deceiving him.
‘To keep Kardi alive for a long time, he needs a ‘companion’ to share the power he possesses.’
Before Seria met Kardi in person, the Emperor, whom she had an audience with for the first time, said to her in a cold voice.
‘Kardi is a very important man who can win a war alone for the Empire.’
So, he wanted the young lady to take the role of his companion. The Emperor only viewed Kardi as a card he could use. He didn’t have a grain of affection towards his son. Even so, she accepted the offer.
‘I will, Your Majesty.’
Those words basically meant she’d be sacrificing her life, but Seria didn’t really care.
Because in order not to be abandoned, she pursued a political marriage in the best interest of the Duke.
Through this marriage, the Duke obtained the right to mine iron ore from the imperial family. Thus, that was enough.
‘It also must be kept a secret that only the young lady and I know. Be careful not to let Kardi and the Duke know anything.’
Before he ended their conversation, the Emperor added a word with a displeased expression.
As a matter of fact, there was a reason for the Emperor to say such words. Because very few of the Reis royalty knew specific information about one’s ‘companion’.
Even the Emperor who proposed the idea of a ‘companion’ didn’t know the details.
Because the Emperor threatened Veronica, the former Empress, to come up with a way to keep the useful Kardi alive for a long time.
‘So, when it comes to one’s ‘companion’, does Grand Duke Oderita not even know himself?’
‘Yes. That’s why the young lady needs to keep her mouth shut.’
The Emperor shook his finger roughly with a hint of annoyance.
Due to the upright nature of Kardi, it would not be acceptable for others to sacrifice their lives for him.
What’s more, if the Duke finds out his sister’s life is in danger, it will become troublesome.
His ulterior motive was clearly visible, but Seria bowed her head in agreement.
‘…..I’ll keep that in mind.’
Think nothing of it.
Seria, who raised her head, looked straight into Kardi’s eyes.
“I’m also not qualified to be with anyone.”
At Seria’s firm reply, Kardi’s eyebrows twitched faintly.
Biting his lip, he said.
“…..You’ll regret it.”
It’s okay, I’m used to regrets.
Instead of saying that, Seria simply smiled beautifully.