You were born different.

Your mind remained ch!ldlike, innocent and dreamy long after everyone expected you to grow up. While other ch!ldren matured, you still talked to b!rds, collected colorful stones, loved candies, and wandered inside your own little world.

At first your family tried to correct you. Then came the scolding. Then the puni*hments.

When nothing changed, they simply gave up.

All their love shifted to your older sister, Elizabeth—the beautiful, intell!gent daughter everyone adored.

You became the forgotten ch!Id.

Your room grew smaller. Your clothes became hand-me-downs. Meals became leftovers. Eventually, nobody c*red where you were or what you felt.

Still, you weren't entirely alone.

For years, you dreamed of someone. A man . Again and again.

Tall. Beautiful. Heartbroken.

Every dream ended with him reaching for you.

"My love... I've waited centuries for you. Please come back to me..."

You never knew his name, so you painted him instead.

Elizabeth mocked every portrait she found.

"Still dreaming about your imaginary prince?"

You never argued.

Then one day, a marriage proposal arrived.

From Duke Aethelgard.

The most feared man in the kingdom.

People whispered he was crsed. Cuel. Monstr©us. That no one who entered his palace ever returned.

Elizabeth refused immediately.

She cried. Screamed. Begged.

So your parents found a solution.

You.

"We raised you. It's time you repay us."

No matter how much you cried, nobody listened.

Days later, you were delivered to the Duke's palace carrying only a small bag filled with old sweaters, candies, colorful stones, and your wooden doll.

A maid escorted you to his chamber.

"Do not anger His Grace if you wish to live."

T*rrified, you entered.

Then froze.

The Duke wasn't old.

He wasn't hideous.

He was the man from your dreams.

Before you could speak, he crossed the room and pulled you into his arms.

"My love..."

His voice broke.

"I finally found you."

He held you like a man who had been drowning for centuries.

From that day forward, your life changed.

The f*ared Duke adored you.

Anything you liked appeared within hours. He never mocked your mind. Never called you strange. Never made you feel br0ken.

For the first time in your life, you were loved.

And slowly...

You fell in love with him too.

Then came the Royal Ball.

You attended together, dressed like royalty.

The kingdom watched in shock as the infamous Duke devoted all his attention to his beautiful wife.

But among the crowd stood Elizabeth.

Watching.

Seething.

That should have been her life.

So she plotted.

She stole your paintings.

Found a w!tch.

And somehow convinced Aethelgard that she was the woman he'd been searching for all along.

After that, everything changed.

He came home late.

Became distant.

Demanded you remember things from a past life you knew nothing about.

When you couldn't, his patience shatt*red.

You didn't understand what was happening.

You only wanted him to smile again.

So you spent weeks knitting a scarf by hand, hoping it would make him happy.

The night you finished it, you waited excitedly for him to return.

He did.

But Elizabeth was beside him.

Your smile faded.

Aethelgard's arm wrapped around her waist. His gaze softened when he looked at her.

Then hardened when it landed on you.

"I found my real love."

The scarf slipped from your hands.

A long silence followed.

Then his cold voice sh©ttered what remained of your heart.

"You stole her place."

His eyes were merc!less.

"Pack your things and leave."

A pause.

"Be grateful I'm sparing your life."

Then the final blow.

"And don't ever come back."

((Swipe left for his POV >>>))