“I can’t deal with you any longer.”

Those very cold words were the first words I’ve heard from my husband in a month. Even after witnessing the pale complexion of his wife, his cold demeanor continued and my weak body began to tremble from the sight of him.

“Madam, are you okay?”

The first to worry about the anxious Anthea wasn’t her husband, but the woman in his embrace.

“I-I…”

Even as she held on to her own trembling arms, her husband did not display a hint of worry. Her overly cold husband’s reaction made Anthea’s evil eyes glister as tears welled. But Anthea’s husband’s gaze was not on her, but rather the woman in his arms. Her husband’s usually expressionless face was nowhere to be seen and a look of worry was cast on his face.

“Bianca, are you still not taking better care of yourself while in such a situation.”

All the anticipation she had for her husband diminished when she heard him speak another woman’s name.

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

The injury on Bianca’s arm caused by the items thrown at her by Anthea was now very visible. Blood dripped from her wound onto the floor.

Under Bianca’s feet laid a broken music box embedded with luxurious jewels. The music box was one of the few precious items her husband gave to her, however, in her momentary anger that she could no longer contain, Anthea threw it.

Anthea stared at the broken music box with regret. Just then her husband sighed and began to reprimand her.

“Are you not even going to apologize? How impudent.”

“No. Madam is unwell so I should have been more attentive.”

Bianca starts to defend Anthea as if she was seeking out blame. But her goodwill did not help Anthea.

Bianca remained close to Anthea’s husband which started to angerAnthea. She wanted to scream at Biana, telling her to get away from her husband, but she bit her lips and refrained.

Richard sighed as he saw their two drastically different responses.

“Bianca, you are too kind. But I saw everything so you don’t have to defend her.”

Richard always met Anthea with a cold gaze while his face was filled with nothing but kindness for Bianca. Anthea was engulfed with hatred and wanted to question Bianca as to why she was in her husband’s embrace but she was unable to utter a single time under Richard’s cold gaze.

She just stared at the white rugs filling up with drops of Bianca’s blood. Richard momentarily looked at Anthea then carefully held Bianca’s arm.

“Let’s get you treated first.”

“I’m alright, Sir Richard. Madam…”

Instead of Bianca’s kind words filled with worry for Anthea, Anthea only noticed Bianca’s use of her husband’s name. It was then when Anthea’s patience shattered.

“How dare you!”

“Ma-madam?”

Bianca, who had been shyly smiling at Richard, was surprised by Anthea’s infuriated scream and her entire body flinched in response. Her green eyes brimming with kindness were only an annoyance to Anthea. Though they both shared similar green eyes, Bianca’s seemed brighter while Anthea’s eyes were dark and full of jealousy. This matter bothered Anthea greatly…

“You, I don’t know where you’re from, but how dare a mere commoner like you speak the duke’s name?”

She dared to say her husband’s name like it was a simple matter while Anthea herself couldn’t call her husband by his name. Anthea could no longer contain her jealousy so she mentioned Bianca’s origins, a matter she had not cared about before this.

Following those words, Richard’s patience wore out.

“Ha… You don’t have any right to speak of someone’s origins.”

Richard had usually addressed Anthea as his wife, but when Richard coldly called her ‘you’, Anthea forced her mouth shut once again.

“Isn’t your true nature also a commoner?”

The difference between the ‘you’ he would call Bianca and Anthea was like heaven and earth.

“I am the previous count Leslie’s…”

“You’re his adopted daughter. But before you were adopted, you belonged to the Lenpis Viscounty. Didn’t your family buy the viscount title?”

It’s impossible that he wouldn’t have previously investigated someone that was entering his family. But he never mentioned Anthea’s bloodline, so she had thought he didn’t know.

“Since you had a weak heart, I thought you’d adjust the longer you stayed here, but I didn’t know you were hiding such corrupt intentions.”

Richard’s cold gaze was full of contempt. Slowly, Anthea’s symptoms crept up on her. She started to tremble from the loneliness and fear and fell on her knees.

“Madam!”

“The bleeding isn’t stopping so we should go see a doctor. Let’s go.”

Bianca and Richard turned away from Anthea who crumbled down on the soft rug.

Please don’t go.

Don’t leave me alone.

She swallowed all the words she wanted to say.

No matter how much Anthea reached out her trembling hands towards Richard’s back, he kept on moving further and further away from her. Only Bianca turned around to look at her.

In the end, Anthea started to cry as her husband and Bianca walked further away.

She had married into a ducal household with nobody by her side, where even her husband, her sole chance at salvation, had turned his back on her.

At that moment, she realized she could no longer live here anymore as Anthea Gwyntead.

***

“And that’s how the villainess, who was shunned by her husband, exited the stage.”

“My lady, are you calling yourself a villainess again?”

“Kyaa! M-Mary?”

Anthea, who had been rolling around on her comfy bed, was so surprised that she crumpled the papers she was holding. The maid, Mary, was more worried about the creased dress than the crumpled papers in Anthea’s hands.

“How could our angelic, lovely, and beautiful lady be a foolish villainess?”

“I’m just talking to myself. Anyways, what about my brother?”

“I came here to tell you if we leave right now, so you’ll be able to see him.”

“Already?”

Before Mary could finish her sentence, Anthea ran out. Though, if she attempted to actually run with her weak body, she would’ve collapsed so her running was more like speed walking.

“My lady, please don’t rush so much. It would be a disaster if you fell.”

“I want to see my brother as soon as possible.”

“Oh my, you saw him this morning but you want to see him again?”

“Yeah, I miss him so much.”

Anthea is a distinguished beauty that everybody can’t help but stare at hence whenever Anthea brightly smiled, all the servants would immediately stop what they were doing no matter how busy they were.

“Our lady is pretty today as well.”

“When will she get married to the young master?”

“Their children will definitely be lovely.”

The moment Anthea heard the unchanged affection the servants held for her and realized how they treated their future madam, Anthea smiled even more brightly.

Yes, misunderstand more. So when I am married off to a foreign country, the servants will pity me and spread rumors for my benefit.

Anthea Lenpis.

The count’s servants all expected her to be the future countess but she would instead become a duchess.

In the novel, “The Duke’s First Love”, the duke’s wife was a lame villainess that wasn’t even the duke’s first love and was destined to leave the stage.

I initially thought I could change the future.

Five years ago, when Sia Kim woke up in Anthea’s body, she was aware that she was inside a novel.

It was really surprising at first, but when she realized she was fated to be a villainess, she recalled all the key events that would occur and began to prepare in advance. She prepared over and over again. But she would often collapse which caused her weak body to be utter rubbish.

And so, every time Sia Kim saw Anthea’s face in the mirror, she pledged to herself.

I’ll properly use this pretty face of mine.

I won’t make you into a lame villainess.

She often reassured herself by saying that they wouldn’t kick her out penniless.

“So I must always smile.”

The first thing I need to do is to be the complete opposite of the novel Anthea who falls into depression after losing her biological parents. I will start with a smile that’s engulfed in sadness. But as time passes, my smiles will gradually become brighter like my heart that is slowly opening up. This will relieve the count couple.

Anthea’s bright, flower-like smile had also changed the future of the count’s sole successor, Nadan Leslie.

In the novel, Nadan was supposed to have died last year. He was supposed to be swept away by Anthea’s ongoing depression and also vanish in vain. (1)

“Brother~!”

“Anthea.”

The servants, who had greeted Nadan as he got out of the carriage, smiled happily at the sight of Anthea running. When Anthea saw Nadan she started to run even faster.

“Brother Nadan~!”

Anthea ran across the garden, her clear voice causing the gardener to stop snipping and the servants to stop moving the luggage.

Holding her dress as she ran is not something a soon-to-be adult lady is supposed to do. However, Anthea’s free-spirited personality wasn’t noble-like at all. And yet, her actions were so lovely that nobody thought to stop her.

“Anthea, walk slowly. You’ll trip.”

Anthea, who ran with her soft shawl that flowed with the wind, went towards Nadan wanting a hug and Nadan gladly opened his arms.

“Brother, I missed you.”

Once a day, when Anthea would come running to greet the soon-to-be head, Nadan, the figure of the young eager noble lady looked lovelier than a painting.

“I missed you too.”

Nadan was required to wear a uniform worthy of being granted access to the imperial palace, but then a thin shawl was placed over him. Everyone watching unknowingly held their breaths and couldn’t tear away from the sight of the two of them hugging one another with intimacy and affection.

Since Anthea ran here in a rush, her golden hair that appeared to absorb the sunlight, was a mess. Nadan caressed her head as if it was a natural occurrence, and his gaze never leaving Anthea.

“I told you to only come out if it’s warm outside.”

“Greeting brother is more important than the cold weather.”

“An, how could I ever win against you.” (2)

Nadan’s gaze was filled with affection like something dipped in sweet honey.

They had yet to have an engagement ceremony, but no one in the estate doubted their eventual marriage.

This misunderstanding was greatly needed for Anthea’s future.

TRANSLATOR NOTES:

1. A vague sentence but he probably also got depressed and something happened(?)

2. Anthea’s nickname is An

“My baby~”

“Mother!”

Coincidentally when Anthea went out to greet Nadan, the countess had also just come back to the estate after an outing. Anthea immediately ran towards the countess for a hug. The countess, Hilda Leslie, naturally hugged Anthea as if this is a daily occurrence.

“Oh no, my baby. Your cheeks are all cold. How did you know I’d be coming back now?”

“Hah, she actually came to greet me.”

“Oh my, you’re here son. My baby was shining so brightly that I couldn’t see you.”

Hilda’s laugh was filled with mischievous. Hilda’s laughter made Anthea smile and she grabbed Hilda’s arm. Anthea’s loveliness was perceived to be very innocent.

“My baby, you can just greet your brother inside the house and you see him every day too. It would be really bad if you caught a cold.”

“But I was able to see mother because I came outside to greet brother.”

Hilda looked into Anthea’s pretty eyes that were filled with affection and tightly hugged Anthea, no longer able to restrain herself.

“Ha, you little cutie. Every word that comes out of your mouth is so lovely.”

It was a rather tight hug that made it difficult for Anthea to inhale but she didn’t show any discomfort, instead she snuggled her face onto Hilda’s chest.

“Hehe, mother. I really love you.”

“Me too, I love my An so much.”

The servants were already used to such a scene. Although the countess was only Anthea’s guardian, Anthea still lovingly called her mother without any hesitation while the countess called Anthea her baby and seemed to treasure her more than her own son.

“Let’s go inside, my baby.”

“Yes, mother.”

Anthea replied with adoration for the countess and the countess’s eyes were filled with affection.

Hilda’s original feelings of guilt and obligation to Anthea had gradually changed and grew into what it is now. The previous Anthea was accompanying her parents to the count’s estate on the count’s invitation. However, on their journey, there was an unfortunate accident. The count couple was filled with guilt because they believed they were the reason why I lost my parents, so as compensation, they offered to adopt me.

So far, the story has followed the novel’s plot.

Soon, the emperor will attempt to keep the duke in line by sending him a useless bride, so I will need to start changing my fate now. I will use this lowly viscount title to avoid my miserable future. (1)

Thankfully it was easy to reject the count couple’s offer to become their daughter. I made them believe that I could become their daughter without having to be adopted by having a cozy relationship with Nadan. And so, as Anthea had planned, the count couple held off on adopting her and just became her guardians.

I did pretty well.

All of Anthea’s actions so far were done to change the course of the story a bit, but because of this, the situation had changed quite a lot.

Originally, I wouldn’t have received the countess’s affection. Had I not received it though, I would’ve had a difficult time constantly smiling for five years in an attempt to win her affection, and my health would have deteriorated.

“Madam, the master has requested your presence.”

Hilda, who had held onto Anthea like she would continue to do so forever, slowly let Anthea go as the maid whispered in her ear.

“My baby, my husband is looking for me. I don’t know why he asked for me instead of coming to look for me but I’ll be right back. You two should go to the dining hall first.”

“Yes, mother. You have to quickly come back, okay?”

“Of course, I wouldn’t want my baby to starve.”

Anthea is way past the age of being called a baby, however, because of Anthea’s sickly body, she grew very slowly. So even though she is too old ‘baby’, her lovely appearance didn’t make it awkward to call her that.

Hilda held onto Anthea’s hand as if she didn’t want to leave, but then Anthea smiled lovingly in return which had caused Hilda’s heart to tighten.

Hilda watched as Anthea left, her light body gracefully walked away from her and Hilda let out a sigh.

“Since she’s so pretty, I can’t let her go outside where it’s dangerous.”

For better or worse, Anthea’s body was so weak that she rarely left the count’s estate. Also because of her parent’s accident when she was a child, Anthea doesn’t like riding carriages. Anthea has a lovely appearance and personality, but whenever Hilda thinks about the emotional trauma Anthea has, she smiles bitterly.

If only they didn’t invite Anthea’s parents to the count’s estate, then perhaps her parents wouldn’t have died.

Whenever Anthea’s parent’s death anniversary approaches, Anthea pretends that everything is fine. So whenever Hilda looks at the lovely yet pitiful Anthea, her heart painfully aches.

***

No matter how much we waited for the count couple, they didn’t come.

“It seems something has happened. I’ll send a maid to check on them.”

Nadan summoned for a maid but then a question popped into Anthea’s head.

At a time like this, would the count couple neglect their precious son and Anthea?

It may just be a meal but there has never been a time when the couple didn’t participate or notify beforehand that they couldn’t eat with them. It is also about time for that to happen. (2)

“No, brother. I’ll go get them.”

I didn’t want to miss the chance to eavesdrop, so I smiled brightly and stood up from my chair.

“Then let’s go together.”

Nadan placed his arm forward and Anthea immediately grabbed his arm.

Just because Nadan is here, it didn’t mean I couldn’t eavesdrop. If we get caught, Nadan is with me so maybe they’ll forgive us quicker. The servants smiled looking at Anthea and Nadan who resembled both siblings and lovers. (3)

Anthea headed towards the count’s office and noticed the door was slightly open and thought that this was her golden opportunity. Anthea let go of Nadan’s arm and quietly walked like a cat to the door. Nadan was puzzled by Anthea but just quietly followed behind her.

Anthea placed her ears close to the door to eavesdrop. Nadan was flustered seeing Anthea eavesdropping but smiled at the mischievous and cute Anthea. Nadan contemplated whether or not to stop Anthea from eavesdropping but then Anthea gestured Nadan to come closer.

He slowly went up to the door and eavesdropped with Anthea, the count couple’s conversation was very easy to hear.

“He may be a duke but this is far too rude. She has a fiance who grew up with her!”

“Sweetie. I told you many times, they’re not engaged.”

“We just didn’t hold an engagement ceremony because Anthea was too young then.”

“An may look young but remember she’ll be having her coming-of-age ceremony in a few months.”

“Ah, I know. We even prepared a location for her to get married after her coming-of-age ceremony. That’s if Anthea wants it of course.”

The count insisted more on the engagement than Hilda and held onto an expensive-looking paper in his hands.

They prepared a location for my marriage?

Anthea was truly surprised. She wasn’t surprised that the duke still sent her a marriage proposal even though she wasn’t adopted by the count.

This happened because she failed to break the course of the novel.

Rather she was surprised to find out that the count couple had already prepared a wedding location for her despite her always avoiding the question with a smile whenever the couple had asked.

Anthea turned to look at Nadan as he quietly coughed and his face turning red from hearing about Anthea’s future wedding location and coming-of-age ceremony. Anthea was still very curious so she put her ear even closer to the door. Although Nadan is very well-mannered and strict, he accepts all of Anthea’s schemes and complaints.

“But so what?! If you ask anyone in the world, they’ll agree our children are made for each other! They should have already been viewed as husband and wife at this point.”

The count said to Hilda with a dejected face while Hilda stood firmly on her feet.

The count, who usually had the demeanor of a typical civil servant, had completely disappeared and seemed very agitated. However, thanks to his agitated state, Hilda was able to calm herself down.

“Right. An is already my daughter and my daughter-in-law. Yet he dares to try to take her away from me. He better prepare his neck.”

“That’s right! How dare he try to touch my daughter!”

I’m not his daughter. I’m also not his adopted daughter, and yet the agitated count crossed the line and called me his daughter-in-law. I thought I knew the couple’s opinion of me but this was too much.

It was a great misjudgment. (4)

Anthea put her hand to her heart in an attempt to calm her beating heart.

The agitated count threw the paper he was holding to the ground. He had thrown it with all his strength and the paper landed near the door.

Anthea grabbed the paper and both Nadan and her read it. Anthea was shocked by its contents.

“I need to go to the palace immediately.”

“To the palace? Not to the ducal estate?”

“The emperor ordered it so I must ask him. How dare he try to offer our daughter to a barbarian when she already has a fiance. I need to ask him for his reasoning and I won’t back down until he tells me.”

I am only under his guardianship but his words were heavy as if he was talking about his own biological daughter.

“Then I shall help as well. My swordsmanship hasn’t gone rusty.”

The countess spoke of treason like it was a minuscule matter. She was also very upset, though I knew that she wouldn’t actually go to the imperial palace with her sword in hand. Hilda’s eyes seemed calm on the outside but within those calm eyes held an unstoppable fire.

My choice to prevent them from making me their actual daughter was more catastrophic than I originally thought. I was just confirming the fact Anthea would get married to the duke. I was treating the count couple like they were my parents to break the course of the story, but I have to stop them from getting swept up in the danger.

I had planned on coming back here after I got divorced, so I wouldn’t want them to kick me out when I come back.

“Mother, father.”

After a short silence, Hilda looked at Anthea with a kind smile and her agitation was nowhere to be seen.

“My baby, you should have started to eat before us… An!”

Hilda wanted to change the subject in case Anthea might have overheard, but Anthea had already begun to cry which flustered Hilda.

For Anthea, it was easy for her to produce those tears since she grew up receiving the couple’s goodwill and love. Anthea forced a smile as her lips and hands, that was on her chest, trembled.

She blinked slowly, to fill her eyes with tears. Those tears then fell from her eyes and straight down her cheeks.

TRANSLATOR NOTES:

1. Even though her parents died in an accident\, her title is still ‘a viscount’s daughter.’

2. The marriage proposal between the Duke and Anthea.

3. SIBLINGS AND LOVERS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT…

4. She somewhat expected the count to ship her and her son but she didn’t expect them to be this invested.

“Mother…”

“An, my child.”

Hilda felt excruciating pain when she saw Anthea crying, so much that she could barely breathe.

“There is no need for you to worry. As your mother, I will protect you.”

The countess already thought of Anthea as her family. The lovely child got along very well with her one and only son, so if they were to get married, they’d be able to forever live a happy life. But that lovely child, Anthea, was trembling and crying.

“I’ll do everything I can to protect you so there is no need to cry.”

Hilda’s heart was in severe pain; she thought it would be ripped apart to shreds. She contemplated going to grab her sword right then. But then Anthea, who was always so happy, shook her head with tears still in her eyes.

“I heard there was a marriage proposal from the duke.”

“W-who said such things?”

I already know from reading the novel, but I’ll act as if I had just found out from the letter.

“T-this is…”

“If it’s an order from the Emperor then you can’t refuse.”

“No. We can’t just follow such an unreasonable order. Don’t worry, An. No matter what happens we’ll protect you.” (Nadan)

“But what about your dream, brother?”

Anthea’s words silenced everyone. The count couple was only thinking about ways to protect Anthea, that they had forgotten about Nadan.

They all watched as Anthea wiped away her tears. Anthea smiled awkwardly and stepped forward.

“Brother just got accepted into the ministry of finance.”

While the count couple was flustered about what to do, Nadan hugged Anthea.

“An, I’m fine. Don’t worry about that.”

“You said you enjoyed your work. You were so happy telling me about the important tasks you were given… And even though they always gave you odd jobs since you’re the youngest, you said that it was worth it.”

“An. There’s nothing in the world more important than you.”

Even in this unexpected situation, Nadan put Anthea first. He acted as if his work was nothing and continued to wipe away Anthea’s tears.

Anthea had intentionally wanted Nadan to show affection towards her, but this was far more affection than she had expected. Even though she had planned to be a part of their family, this was too much.

“Anthea.”

“Brother.”

“I would rather lose everything I have than send you away.”

This was similar to what the countess had said. The count couple nodded in agreement in Nadan’s words that he had said without hesitation.

Still, as Anthea thought, the count family loved her too much to the point that she wanted to stay with the count family forever.

Nadan, who was willing to take Anthea as his bride despite her broken body, and the count couple, who had naturally accept Anthea. They made Anthea’s heart wavered a bit because she wanted to continue receiving their love and returning love back to them. But, if Anthea remained at the count’s estate, the emperor would think the count family ignored his orders and would tear this family apart.

The world was still following the novel’s plot so Anthea had to continue with her plan. She must continue to smile so the count family won’t take dangerous measures to protect her.

“I love you dearly, brother. However, that is… familial love.”

They all loved and treated me like I was more than family.

Anthea watched the count couple’s expression as they reminisced about their happy days together. It’s obvious that they would misunderstand.

I once thought being engaged to Nadan was the best way to break the original novel’s plotline.

This is a world where political marriages are common and Nadan would’ve been a good candidate for my husband. Since I was the current Anthea, I definitely would’ve been helpful to the count household in the future so a political marriage wouldn’t be so bad between us.

I knew that my body would improve at the count’s estate which is why I showed affection to Nadan and relied on him. But my body was more of a mess than I had originally thought.

Anthea’s adoptive parents wanted her beauty to last forever so they fed her pills that would make her skin white every day. Those pills were too expensive for commoners to buy so they bought cheaper alternatives that were just poisonous herbs instead.

It’s a miracle I’m still alive. They needed to save money so they would break the pills into little bits and fed Anthea those bits every day. That’s probably the only reason Anthea is still alive right now.

That’s also probably why Anthea had so few childhood memories. Since her body was always in pain.

I didn’t think much of it when I read about this in the novel since I’m wasn’t the one going through the pain.

But a body that grows slowly and is so small to the point where it might be difficult to even bear a child, Anthea knew that she would not be useful to the count’s future.

Anthea, who had nothing, really only wanted one thing. It wasn’t power, authority, or treasures, but to have a normal family. So, getting married to Nadan and having his child was Anthea’s view of a normal life. But since I couldn’t possibly have kids, I gave up on breaking the course of the original story.

My Plan A ‘to be married before I received a marriage proposal from the duke’ was then canceled.

Plan B was to get married to the duke and then like the original story ‘get divorced as a villainess.’ I needed to make sure that even when I get kicked out of the duke’s estate, the count family would be willing to take me back in.

The count family’s obsession was sometimes flustering but I had to maintain this relationship with them for this purpose.

So even though she was crying, Anthea was acting decisively for Plan B to work.

“If I wanted to be brother’s bride then I probably begged you for it.”

The count couple was flustered since Anthea continued to stick close to Nadan and Nadan continued to hug Anthea. Anthea’s rejection did not match with her attachment to Nadan.

Hilda carefully held Anthea’s hand and pulled her closer. When she brought some distance from the count and Nadan, Hilda held Anthea’s hand tighter and softly whispered to her.

“My baby. Did you not want the engagement because of your body?”

Anthea was speechless.

Because the countess figured out Anthea’s Plan A to break the course of the story. Because the countess hit the bullseye, Anthea couldn’t say anything.

She couldn’t reply to the countess’s question and she bit her lip. Hilda smiled as if she was relieved.

“If it’s that, there is nothing to worry about.”

“What? But…”

The doctor at the count’s estate had carefully examined Anthea so Hilda also knew that her body wasn’t perfect for a woman. (1)

“There is no need to worry about such things for the next 10 years. I’ll get a better doctor for you and medicine.”

“Mother.”

The count’s motherly kindness made Anthea momentarily forget about the plan. Her words made Anthea calmer.

“Even if you don’t have a child 10 years later. An, my baby. It’s fine.”

“R…really?”

“Of course. Nadan can bring in a second wife and you will have a child.” (2)

Anthea who seemed happy became stiff, which made the countess hold Anthea’s hand tighter, to reassure her.

“There’s nothing to worry about. In the end, we won’t bring in a lady Anthea dislikes.” (3)

Hilda’s considerate words made Anthea remember that the world inside this novel isn’t like the modern world she lived 20 years of her previous life in. No matter how kind and good-natured they are, they are still nobles. They’re still the household of a count. Anthea couldn’t say that she would still be happy without a child.

That even if we remained as we are now, caring for and loving each other, we would all eventually meet a bad end.

“An, my baby. Lift your head up. We can always wait for you. It’s alright so please smile.”

Anthea was happy with the sweet affection she received from them but she would be sad every time she remembered that this is just a world inside of a novel. (4)

Why is my heart hurting over this now? Didn’t I act all sweet just to depart from them in the future?

Anthea got control of her feelings.

“Mother, I-”

“An.”

“Ah, brother.”

Nadan couldn’t hear Hilda’s whispers but he felt that the atmosphere around Anthea had changed so he approached her.

Nadan probably has the same thoughts as the countess. But even if he wasn’t thinking the same thing, he was still Count Leslie’s successor. It would just be delaying the inevitable. (5)

From the beginning, it wasn’t love for Anthea. The most important thing was to minimize the chances of danger even with her horrible body.

So, she erased all her hesitations and began to speak.

“I don’t want anyone to face difficulties for me.”

“Difficulties? Anthea, the most difficult thing would be to send you away.”

“I wish for nobody to get hurt.”

All of their expressions changed.

“Mother. Please don’t say such scary words like storming the imperial palace with a sword.”

“Ah… An, my baby.”

“The most important thing for me is that mother, father, and brother don’t get hurt.

Hilda, who finally figured out what Anthea was most scared of, knit her brows.

Anthea was afraid that the count would run to the imperial palace and get hurt. That the countess might get hurt after carrying a sword for the first time in a dozen years. Or that Nadan’s future would be difficult.

So she smiled as she cried like she should be the only one to get hurt.

“Since it’s a marriage proposal for me, please give me the permission to accept or decline. I beg of you.”

The count couple went silent because Anthea had basically said she would listen to the emperor’s order.

Nadan let go of Anthea and he looks into her eyes. His eyes were still filled with kindness for Anthea but they trembled from seeing Anthea’s pitiful tear marks.

TRANSLATOR NOTES:

1. Meaning there is a chance Anthea might be unable to have a child.

2. She’s suggesting that Nadan has a child with his second wife and then Anthea adopts the child as her own.

3. ‘Lady’ as in the 2nd wife.

4. That their emotion might be fake/they’re just following the course of the novel.

5. He will end up being forced to bring in a 2nd wife eventually.