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Chapter 1
A woman stepped down in front of the main gate of the Prsilin Count’s mansion, wearing a comfortable dress.
Under her beautiful blonde hair, her clean skin was slightly red from the sunlight, but above all, her bright blue eyes, shining with intelligence, made anyone who saw her admire her.
In her arms, she held a graduation certificate proving she had graduated at the top of the academy.
Libenya Prsilin. She was beautiful, intelligent, and highly respected—a truly outstanding talent.
However, her return was not grand at all. Neither the butler nor the few maids showed themselves.
Only the maids she was close with hurried out to greet her.
“Miss! You’re finally here!”
Even though the maids approached her casually, Libenya only smiled warmly.
“Long time no see, everyone. Here’s my diploma. I look like a mess right now, so I want to take a bath.”
“You look like a mess? You always look like a fairy!”
At the maid’s praise, Libenya gave a refreshing smile.
But that warm atmosphere didn’t last long.
As soon as Libenya entered the mansion alone, the butler blocked her way.
“Miss, the master is calling for you. Please come with me.”
“Sir butler, the young lady just arrived. She should rest a little—”
At the maid’s words, the butler shot a sharp look.
The maid shrank back, and Libenya lightly tapped her shoulder as if it was nothing.
“Let’s go.”
“I will guide you.”
Unlike the flustered maids, the butler walked ahead with a cold attitude.
It was natural. The butler belonged to Libenya’s stepmother, the Countess of Prsilin.
Eight years ago, after Libenya’s mother died, the new wife changed many things in the mansion. From the butler to the heads of servants, even small roles like the stable keeper.
Libenya’s father, the Count, was completely obsessed with his beautiful new wife and treated his only daughter like an unwanted burden.
Libenya didn’t care much. She already knew her father wasn’t a great man. She found it ridiculous, but not disappointing.
She thought she would eventually be sold into marriage and leave this house anyway—so why bother with affection?
The butler led Libenya to the reception room.
Inside, the Count and Countess were sitting together, talking. They cleared their throats when they saw her.
“You’re here.”
Libenya walked in smoothly and said,
“Welcoming a family member who lives in the same house in a reception room doesn’t make sense.”
“But nowadays—”
“That is the culture of the Kivan Kingdom. Even if cultural exchange has increased, blindly following their manners is not right.”
“Libenya, you just came back after a long time, and instead of being happy, you start lecturing us.”
“I’m not lecturing. I’m telling Father that this is improper.”
Libenya’s voice was cold, very different from how she spoke to maids. The Count and Countess looked displeased, but quickly forced gentle smiles.
Libenya sneered and sat on the sofa.
“You seem to want something from me.”
It was strange enough that they even called her.
They had sent a fine carriage to the academy and prepared expensive tea, which felt suspicious.
“You’re impatient. At least have some tea.”
“No. Please just get to the point quickly. I’m tired. I rode a carriage for three days straight and just arrived.”
The Countess laughed fake-like.
“My dear, didn’t we send you the best carriage? Please spare some time for your parents.”
Libenya sighed. She kept asking them to get to the point, but they kept delaying.
When she started to stand up, the Count quickly pulled her back down.
“Libenya, listen to your father. You have received many marriage proposals! From very prestigious families! Two of them, in fact!”
“Marriage proposals…”
Libenya repeated in a dull voice.
She was only sixteen—an age where girls usually dreamed of romance.
But Libenya had already learned too early that marriage was reality.
She wasn’t against marriage itself.
Even though she graduated top of the academy, noblewomen couldn’t easily get jobs in the imperial palace or merchant companies.
To leave this miserable house, marriage was the only way.
“Go on.”
“First, Marquis Kamil…”
“An old man in his seventies. So he wants me to live like a doll and be thrown away later. Next?”
Libenya showed no intention of being polite.
The Count’s face turned red with anger, but he didn’t dare raise a hand.
“Next… well… it’s from the Baldwin Ducal House.”
“…What?”
Libenya looked shocked.
“There’s only one son in the Baldwin Ducal House. I don’t think I’ll marry a dead duke or a widowed duchess.”
“Of course not. Your partner is that son…”
“That child who is only eight years old? You want me to become a disgusting person marrying a child?”
Libenya looked at him in disgust.
“Marriage at eight is normal in noble society.”
“I’m sixteen.”
“Eight years difference is nothing. Look at Marquis Rai’s wife—she’s twenty years younger.”
“She’s still an adult. There’s a difference between a child and an adult.”
The Count shouted,
“Then marry the seventy-year-old man!”
The Countess gently intervened, already knowing how to persuade her.
She stroked the Count’s shoulder and spoke softly.
“Libenya, listen carefully. This marriage is not as unfair as you think. The former Duke Baldwin died in an accident, and his only son is just eight. The Duchess is also sick and may not survive.”
Libenya’s sharp gaze softened slightly.
The Countess continued,
“She asked me personally to raise a smart and kind daughter to manage the ducal house.”
“So you want me to become a ‘fake duchess’ through marriage, just to gain authority in the house.”
“That’s right! When the boy turns twenty, you will receive a large payment and then divorce. It’s not a strange marriage at all, hoho.”
Now Libenya understood.
The reason they brought this proposal was money—the “large payment” the Duchess promised. They planned to take a share of it.
Libenya remembered the Duchess of Baldwin. She had once been her mother’s close friend.
“She was kind and wise… and good to me too.”
Libenya decided.
“Alright. I’ll do it.”
She didn’t want a life of marrying a stranger, having children without love, and attending endless tea parties.
She thought:
I’ll repay the kindness she showed when my mother was sick. And after the child turns twenty, I’ll divorce and live freely.
The Countess smiled.
“Good choice. If you wait until the Duke turns twenty, we will gain great wealth.”
“…Yes. I’ll wait for that time.”
But I will never come back to this house again.
Wedding Day
Libenya met her young groom.
She was worried he might cry or refuse the marriage because of the age gap.
But Heinrich, the groom, was surprisingly calm and mature for an eight-year-old. His ruby-colored eyes were bright and adorable.
As Libenya leaned down to exchange rings, Heinrich whispered:
“Madam, I will take responsibility and make you happy.”
Libenya almost screamed from how cute he was.
“I… I will too. I will make you happy.”
She firmly decided that after 12 years, she would ensure this boy’s bright future by divorcing him.
But that promise collapsed in an instant.
“Hi…ni…”
Libenya felt her breath fading, her body growing cold.
She smelled death rising from the soil beneath the cliff where her fallen carriage lay.
It was eight years after the wedding—on Heinrich’s academy graduation day.
She had been in a carriage accident on the way to the academy.
She wasn’t afraid of death.
“I have graduated at the top. Please attend the ceremony and honor me.”
—Your husband, Heini.
She only felt sorry that she could not attend Heinrich’s graduation ceremony.
And with that thought… everything faded.
