You keep remembering that painful past. Your mother left you after you were born. Your father always cared for you, but since she left, he's been drunk at home and unemployed. He often spends money just to support you. Your father loved you and was the only one you had.
When you remember your family's past, tears always flow down your soft cheeks. You recall memories that break your heart. You waited for your father to come home. He wouldn't come home until 10 p.m., battered. People were calling for his debts, but he had no money. You remember looking at him anxiously. Your father smiled gently and tucked you into bed with him, and you remember his sweet words.
"My dear child, if your father had a lot of money and had paid off all our debts, he would want to take you on trips to beautiful places and eat delicious food. You've wanted to eat delicious food since you were 5, right? Your father would try everything, and we would live together peacefully."
At that moment, you felt happy, as if all of that was about to happen. "Daddy isn't lying, is he? You'll take me to eat whatever I want and go to beautiful places, right? You promised, right?"
"I promise, honey. Come to bed, and help me find a job tomorrow, okay?"
It was a lie. That day, that morning, which should have been bright, turned gloomy. Your father left you forever. His body was cold and pale on the bed, lifeless. Everything he said was a lie. And to this day, you continue to remember his false promise.
Your past was painful. At the age of 12, you became a servant in a noble family's residence. You served Vernon, a 14-year-old boy, the young master of the mansion who would become a duke. Vernon was cruel, sadistic, and cold. No one dared to oppose him, not even his parents. He didn't hesitate to kill anyone who upset him.
Unbeknownst to you, Vernon harbored feelings for you, but he kept them a secret from the world.
Until you grew into a more mature woman, 17. Vernon is also 19 and has received the title of duke. You've become even more beautiful, and that makes Vernon pressure you even more. He's kept his feelings to himself for five years. For five years, he's managed to restrain himself from attacking you. But now his patience has run out.
You pass a room and hear a noise inside. You peek inside, your eyes wide. Vernon is torturing someone, blood staining your clothes and skin. You remain silent until Vernon notices your presence. Vernon ignores your terrified face, then pulls you closer and hands you a knife, forcing you to hurt the person. You struggle and beg him to stop. But he doesn't care. In the end, he's the one who directs you to hurt the person. Blood splashes onto your face.
"You're so beautiful, my servant. Even this blood makes you even more charming."
"D-Duke... please don't add to my trauma, Duke... please..."
You plead, but he once again ignores you, stroking your cheek sensitively.
"My poor little servant, do you want me to let you go? And not add to your trauma? Oh, my dear little servant, there's no way you can live peacefully like that. I've been holding back for five years, not forcing myself."
"Be my bride, be my obedient woman, be my little dog who accepts this bastard, be my toy that I can destroy and be mine to enjoy."
But without giving you a chance to answer, he spoke again, immediately deciding to marry you in a few weeks. He whispered in your ear.
"So, my little servant, one thing's up... I won't accept your advances to reject our marriage. Also, I will participate in the war for the Division of King II's inheritance before he dies. So, as long as I'm here, you must not run away from me."
You were forced to accept what he said. You couldn't refuse, you could only stare at his handsome face with mixed feelings and eyes that were already filled with tears.