Episode 1
1. She changed.
The once meek and obedient Duchess,
Rossi Benedict had suddenly changed.
“I don’t feel like sleeping with you tonight.”
At those words, the dinner table—meant to celebrate Duke Callios Benedict’s safe return—froze over.
Her mother‑in‑law, Isabella, gaped like a fish.
Pante, Isabella’s own son, scraped his fork against his plate.
Ashley, Rossi’s sister‑in‑law, flinched and darted nervous looks around.
Amid the chaos, only one person sat there in complete silence:
Callios, the man both praised as a war hero of the Nordval Empire and feared as a monster.
Beneath his neatly combed black hair, his pitch‑black eyes slowly twisted.
Rossi was satisfied just to see the smooth face of that iron‑willed man twitch for once.
At last, the silent Callios opened his mouth.
“…Why?”
“I’m not feeling well,” she said lightly.
Isabella slammed the table with both hands.
“Did you forget the filthy nicknames people call you? How dare you—!”
“Callios.”
Ignoring her mother‑in‑law’s shrill voice, Rossi tossed out another line.
“Even if we sleep together, I won’t get pregnant. So just give up already.”
A lie. She knew full well that if they slept together tonight, she would conceive. Because she’d lived this before.
Pante clicked his tongue, scolding her.
“Where on earth did you learn to speak like that at the dinner table? Can’t you see you’re making the Duke uncomfortable?”
But even as he spoke, his sharp eyes were on Callios a wordless jab, telling him to control his wife.
Callios’s eyes chilled, his lip curling in a faint, cutting smile.
He spoke so everyone at the table could hear.
“It’s not exactly proper manners to butt into a conversation when you’re not involved, is it?”
Pante bit his lip, staring at his younger half‑brother.
If only Callios and Ashley had never come to this mansion…
But he quickly smoothed his expression and backed off.
“You’re right. The Duke is right.”
“Relax, brother,” Callios said softly.
“…Sure. Alright.”
Outwardly, the conversation ended on a friendly note.
But since the day Callios, an adopted son, had inherited the title, Pante had been like this—pretending to yield, simmering inside.
And Callios, fully aware of his resentment, pretended not to notice.
Pante rose with a genial smile.
“Oh, I just remembered an urgent matter. Enjoy the rest of your meal, everyone. And Callios—once again, welcome home.”
Even after Pante left, the air remained tense.
Callios’s cold eyes swept over Rossi, as if weighing her mood.
“You look tired. Let’s sleep apart tonight. If we share a room, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back.”
That icy look, like he was staring at something disgusting she was used to it.
But this time, she didn’t bow her head.
Rossi lifted her chin and met those black obsidian eyes head‑on.
Callios froze, surprised.
Every other time their gazes met, she’d flinch away, lower her head like a criminal, or even tremble.
Shadowed beneath those chiseled features, Callios’s expression shifted oddly.
“…It’s like you’ve become a completely different person,” he murmured at last.
And that was it.
He excused himself and left the table.
No more dinner. No more talk.
As soon as he was gone, Isabella’s eyes turned venomous.
She never dared speak up while Callios was around, but the moment he left, her insults came like daggers.
“You ungrateful wretch! Is that what you learned in your precious family? We picked you up when no one wanted you—!”
Rossi didn’t even bother replying.
She just smiled faintly and said calmly,
“Mother, are you finished eating? Should I have the dishes cleared?”
“What? Do you think I can eat after this?”
“No appetite, then.”
Rossi rang the bell without hesitation.
A servant hurried in, and Isabella spat through gritted teeth,
“Don’t clear anything!”
“…Ma’am?”
But the servant froze when Rossi’s cool voice cut through:
“Didn’t you hear? She said she has no appetite. Clear the table.”
“You… you’ve lost your mind, haven’t you?”
“I’m perfectly fine, Mother. I’m just repeating your words.”
“When did I ever say—!”
The poor servant panicked, caught in the crossfire.
Isabella finally snapped, leaping up to strike Rossi.
“You barren fool!”
Ashley and the servant squeezed their eyes shut, unable to watch.
But the blow never came.
When Ashley peeked through one eye, she saw Rossi gripping Isabella’s wrist, holding it firm.
Isabella tried to yank free, but it didn’t budge.
“You dare not let go? Show some manners and release me!”
Everyone stared in shock.
Was this really the once‑docile duchess?
Rossi let out a cold, mocking laugh and tilted her head, tossing Isabella’s wrist aside as if her insults were nothing.
“Mother… it doesn’t matter how well I was raised in my family.”
“What did you just say?”
“All I’ve learned here is this.”
Isabella’s face turned crimson with rage.
“…Clearly you need to be re‑educated. Come to my room later.”
Rossi ignored her and calmly returned to her seat, slicing into her steak.
“I’m afraid I’m busy these days. Sorry, Mother.”
Isabella stormed out, clutching her skirts.
Ashley remained, eyes wide with worry.
“Sister… why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
Rossi silently spooned up a mouthful of rich beef stew.
It tasted better than ever.
“I’m only speaking the truth.”
Ashley stammered, pale with fear.
“W‑what are you going to do? If Mother really calls you to… to that room—”
“I just won’t go, dear.”
“…What?”
Rossi set down her spoon and smiled sweetly at Ashley’s nervous fidgeting.
“Just because someone calls you doesn’t mean you have to go.”
Ashley could only stare as Rossi dabbed her lips with elegance.
Yes, she should have done this long ago.
Being part of this household didn’t mean she had to endure every injustice.
I will never go to that horrible room again.
Her hands trembled slightly.
She remembered that “education” room—days locked inside, starved, abused.
Even when she’d been pregnant.
[If you lose the baby, blame your own weak body. Don’t you dare blame anyone else.]
[I’m correcting you out of a mother’s love. Do you know how hard this is for me? But don’t let the Duke find out, or he might misunderstand, and then what a mess that would be…]
Isabella always said it was all Rossi’s fault.
And Rossi believed it—repeated so many times, it felt like truth.
Her hands, folded on her lap, trembled with rage.
Ashley’s soft voice broke through.
“…Mother too, but… I just wish my brother would be kinder to you. If you ever left for good, what would we do…?”
Rossi smiled faintly, hiding the truth in her heart.
I already left once.
She had died.
From a mysterious illness, three months bedridden, alone in her room—
carrying his child for six months.
No one came. Not his family. Not even him.
She died small and forgotten.
Her loyal maid, Jenny, had wept and held her frail hand.
[Just hold on a little longer, my lady. The Duke will find a way. Please, just endure a little longer…]
Such a silly lie. That man?
He’d be glad she was gone.
He’d find a new wife.
One who could bear a strong heir.
And Rossi herself—she would die again in six months.
It wasn’t just any illness. It was genetic.
Inevitable.
She thought she’d escaped this place in death, but when she opened her eyes again, she despaired.
She screamed, cried, cursed God.
And when her grief passed, she decided:
If I’m going to die anyway, then I’ll live however I want.
She would leave this beautiful, terrible prison.
She’d take only the one loyal maid who truly cared for her.
And before that, I’ll stop another death I know is coming.
Her eyes lingered on Ashley—freckled, sweet Ashley.
In her previous life, Ashley had died before Rossi.
Seeing her alive now left Rossi with a strange feeling.
Ashley, unaware of all this, smiled shyly.
“It surprised me when you brought up… you know, sleeping together, at the table. Did my brother say something awful again?”
In this hellish mansion, Ashley’s presence had been one of the few things keeping Rossi sane.
Timid, tearful Ashley, who always tried to help in her own way.
“…Sister? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Time was short.
Half a year wasn’t long enough to fix everything.
Rossi smiled deeply.
“Ashley. I’m not going to live like I used to.”
“…What? What do you mean…?”
Watching Ashley’s confused face, Rossi’s smile widened.
It means I’m getting out of this wretched place.
