Chapter 1

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Alusha was Serine’s second princess.

Because of her shyness, Alusha always hid behind the width of her sister’s skirt.

Her mother, father, and sister were very considerate of Alusha.

Her appearance is so beautiful that she almost looked like a fine painting. Her appearance was so well-known that she was rumored to be beautiful even in other countries.

The platinum blonde hair, which was thoroughly groomed every day, grew to cover her hips, and she often received praise for her blue eyes that resemble her mother.

She’s been told a lot about being smart, but she hasn’t learned practical studies.

Alusha often stuttered in difficult places like cabinet meetings, so she never showed up at all, and even though she was taking compulsory classes, Alusha thought that all the national affairs were her sister’s job.

So instead, Alusha only learned the social knowledge that aristocrats liked.

The ancient language that is good to brag about, flowers, paintings, harp and cello, piano, crafts, etc.

Such things were peaceful, they were calm and cozy.

Although she doesn’t usually appear in front of others, there were a lot of people who wanted to imitate her. Leading the trend was also Allusha’s secret pleasure.

But that happiness was only short.

The year she turned 21, a war broke out between Hortuac and Serine. In less than a year, Hortuac had completely occupied Serine, and the royal family, with the exception of Alusha, was taken to the imperial palace of the Hortuac Empire and was imprisoned in a tower.

Alusha was left separately.

At first, she didn’t know the reason behind it.

But it wasn’t long before she realized it.

She was a stupid, timid, flower-like princess who posed no threat.

At that time, Kipril, the emperor of Hortuac, was very busy with other conquests, leaving Alusha alone for more than a year.

It was impossible to meet other family members who had been trapped in the tower. She cried and begged, but it was only violence that she received.

Only then did Alusha realize that she was horrifyingly powerless and knew nothing.

What kind of talents are there in this country, how the situation is going, who can I ask for help from, and through what sources, what countries should I ask for help in order to regain my country?

As Kipril’s free time increased, Alusha was often called.

Almost every week, she had to be brought to the tea room in the outfit he designated and poured him tea.

Alusha, who is unfamiliar with such things, was trembling and restless, it seemed amusing to the emperor who was mockingly watching her in front of the servants.

Every time, Alusha’s head pounded with shame, fear, and helplessness.

The emperor often speaks of how advanced Serine is thanks to him. He also made fun of Alusha and Serine’s generals who had their knees in front of him.

Alusha would often cry and faint, when she woke up, Kipril who was beside her would have a satisfactory smile.

The same thing every day was repeated every time, Kipril said with a look like something interesting had happened.

“Alusha, marry me.”

“…what?”

“To preserve your family’s life, this is the best way. I’m gonna take care of you, so you won’t refuse, will you?”

I didn’t want a beautiful and dreamy marriage, but I didn’t want to marry a man who trampled on my country. It just sickens me to death. But what does he mean?

It didn’t matter, as long as her family’s life could be preserved.

Kipril took the ring out of his hand and stuck it out.

Alusha stared blankly at a large diamond ring that didn’t even fit her finger and thought of her sister.

I’ll do anything I can for her. Really, if this can save you.

“Do you guarantee the lives of my family?”

“Well, as long as you marry me.”

She took the ring only after receiving the pledge.

She managed to hold back her tears, thinking of her life with this big diamond ring on it.

How can she forget the face of Kipril, who instead of lowering his knees to propose, was only looking down at her in arrogance?

Red hair that stretches like a hyena, thick fangs protruding like beasts, sparkling red eyes, and a fishy smile hanging from the torn lips.

She thought it wasn’t long before she could tell someone about such a face.

This marriage will soon end, and the day will come when Serine, whose national luck was declining, will shine again.

Alusha accepted the marriage.

The wedding went fast.

The wedding was as miserable as the proposal.

In her guest seat, there was only her nanny, younger cousin, and an outside uncle.

I don’t know how many times I cried and begged to see the faces of my parents and sister. The veil covered the beautiful face stained with tears, but the wedding hall was more subdued than a funeral hall.

Kipril visited Alusha so much that it almost did not seem like she was the fifth concubine. And he kept sending gifts as if they were an actual plausible couple.

He also bedded her often. That’s one more thing she hated to death.

She wanted to kill herself, but couldn’t because she was afraid her family would die. So Alusha just cried and slept.

The Empress and the first Queen were from Hortuac, so they seemed to be unable to endure a colonial concubine like Alusha being favored more than they were.

Even they tormented her terribly. They tore her clothes open and laughed in front of her.

Still, God didn’t abandon her at all, and Vivian, the third concubine, helped her. It’s probably because she’s from the same colony as her.

Vivian, whose dark orange hair is impressive, always said this.

“Please be good to his majesty the Emperor. That way, hell will end quickly.”

Alusha was already tired of life and didn’t even know what it meant at the time. She thought it was just about taking the side of the emperor.

The hellish marriage continued without her meeting any of her family members.

At the age of 26, she became pregnant. It was a daughter.

When the child was born, more things changed than she thought.

Alusha thought that she would hate to see a child of Kipril and would wanna kill it, but it was her blood, and that child looked so cute that she thought it probably wouldn’t hurt even if she looked after it.

Alusha named her daughter after Bianca, her older sister’s name, who has a strong sense of responsibility, unlike herself.

Alusha, who lived like a corpse, had been given at least a will to live. She wanted to do everything she could for Bianca.

Alusha who had never even spoken more than a word a day gradually increased in front of Bianca. Also, her eating habit, which used to only be a spoonful, had improved little by little.

However, the sky is indifferent. Alusha’s destiny of having one, then two will disappear; having 2, and four will disappear. Did not even leave that little happiness alone.

By the time Alusha was 28, the short spring had come to an end. A two-year-old child disappeared as if it evaporated on a sunny spring day.

She thought it was an accident.

Alusha searched for the child like a madman. She didn’t understand how the child could disappear from the palace.

The child whose smile was bright loved blue flowers so much.

The child found a blue tulip on the walk and so she left the child to the nanny and her maids. The child disappeared for while to pick flowers.

Surprised by the scream, she ran towards it, but Bianca wasn’t there. She saw all the maids were unconscious, and one knight collapsed with severe injuries.

She looked for the child in all directions.

She was the daughter of the Emperor. It couldn’t have disappeared this easily. Alusha thought that whoever kidnapped her child for whatever purpose, was going ask for demands and tell her the requirements.

But there was no indication. Time passed by without contact, and no witnesses have been reported.

She looked for the child, crying and shouting. The emperor helped her for a few days, but gradually, as time passed, he appeased Alusha.

He said that time will fix it, and suggested for them to just have another baby.

Alusha thought the emperor was also shocked and struggling. Thinking that there was someone who shared the same pain, to her, the terrible and disgusting man became bearable.

It’s been 3 years again.

Alusha visited the place where she lost her child every day for three years.

The maids, who are now used to it, urged her to go in quickly. But Alusha rejected all the maids. She had no idea whether they were placed for protection or surveillance, but she was sick and tired of it.

She lay down on a brush under the shade of a big tree. Her eyes were cold in the clear blue sky without a cloud.

“That day, why did the blue tulips have to stand out. Like a fool….”

Tears that had never dried up for the past three years have flowed again.

Did I fall asleep after crying for a long time? A whispering voice could be heard.

“Is Serine’s forces all sorted out now?”

It was a voice that she didn’t want to hear and the content that she also didn’t want to hear. I felt nauseous. Still, I haven’t gotten used to such conversations even though it’s been years since the country went over and I became like this.

“Of course.”

The voice of the respondent was familiar to me too. Originally, he was the servant of Serine, who enshrined my father, but now he was a man named Koran who had completely averted.

Alusha closed her eyes trying not to blame anyone. It isn’t any different from me who’s also holding on to Hortuac.

“What about the Duke of Caspian? Didn’t you say we could suppress him this time?”

The closed eyes flashed open.

The Duke of Kalad Caspian joined the rebellion?

I never imagined that. It was rumored that he was the first to bow down to the empire and the man who took my family.

But weren’t the nobles and the Duke trying to preserve their lives by being loyal to the empire?

“Well, I thought I’d be able to suppress it this time, but the damn Kalad Caspian is running wild this time.”

“Even if the opponent is a Sword Master, you have so many people, but you can’t even catch one of them?”

“I can’t stand offensive magic, and he’s still an insane man.”

My heart was pounding. I thought all that was left for me was despair, but is there really hope?

Alusha wanted to squeeze her head.

How did you live without paying attention to the story going around the world?

Then Koran’s quiet voice continued.

“Well, we have hostages anyway. You don’t have to worry too much.”

Hostage? Who?

As I asked myself, I could vaguely think of the answer.

My stomach was filled with the betrayal of Koran. How can you say such a thing even though you’re a renegade? I resent the time when I followed him around and calling him uncle.

Biting her lips painfully, she heard Kipril said.

“Yes, because the Serine thinks that my bloodline is terrible.”

Now I knew for sure what Serine’s stumbling block was.

I don’t know anything, I can’t do anything, but it was only Alusha herself, who had only lived up until now.

I shouldn’t have listened.

I suddenly felt nauseous.

Alusha tried to raise herself up to leave, but the emperor lowered his voice as if he were telling a secret story.

“Yes, so I killed Bianca.”

Bianca? Which Bianca?

No way… my child?

Alusha clasped her mouth.

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