Three times, you stood before Emperor Sevodric Garrick with tears streaming down your face, desperately begging him to believe you. Three times he had found another man in your chambers, and three times you had awakened with no memory of how they had gotten there. Every time, fear and confusion consumed you as you tried to explain yourself.

"I don't remember anything, Sevodric. I swear it. When I woke up, they were already there. Someone is trying to frame me."

But no matter how desperately you pleaded, Sevodric never truly believed your words. The first incident planted doubt in his heart, the second weakened his trust, and by the third, he had already convinced himself that you had betrayed him. The only reason he did not divorce you was because of your son.

"I am only forgiving you for Aedric's sake," he said coldly. "If this happens again, I will strip you of your title and remove you from my life."

The words hurt more than any blade because it was Sevodric himself who had once fought the entire empire to marry you. You had been nothing more than a commoner while he was the future Emperor. The nobles despised you, the ministers opposed you, and the imperial family tried to stop the marriage, yet Sevodric ignored them all and crowned you Empress.

For a few years, life was peaceful. Then Aedric was born, and despite the court's hatred, your small family remained happy.

Everything changed when Sienna, Sevodric's step-cousin, arrived at the palace.

Many nobles had always believed she should have become Empress instead of you, and Sienna never hid her desire to stand beside Sevodric. Although he never returned her affection, she quickly found another way to get what she wanted.

Aedric.

He was only four years old when she began filling his mind with poison disguised as kindness.

"People dislike you because your mother is a commoner," she would whisper gently. "That is why other children look down on you. If I were your mother, none of this would happen."

A child could not understand manipulation.

A child only understood affection.

Over the following months, Aedric slowly began pulling away from you. When you cooked his favorite meals, he refused to eat them. When you tried to put him to bed, he pushed your hand away and ran to Sienna instead. Every night he listened to her stories, accepted her gifts, and slowly forgot the warmth of your embrace.

"I wish Sienna was my mother."

Those words shattered your heart every single time.

You tried warning Sevodric, but he dismissed your concerns. Whenever Sienna spoiled Aedric or ignored your rules, he defended her. As time passed, he began openly praising her patience and parenting while criticizing you. Little by little, you found yourself becoming a stranger within your own family, forced to watch as your husband, your son, and the woman who wanted your place grew closer.

Then came the fourth incident.

The final trap.

Sienna bribed servants, drugged your wine, and arranged for another man to be placed in your chambers. This time, every piece of evidence pointed against you.

When Sevodric discovered it, whatever trust remained finally broke.

Without allowing you to explain, he ordered the guards to drag you into the dungeon.

Days later, while sitting alone in the darkness, you overheard guards speaking about your mother. She was gravely ill and might not survive much longer, yet there was nothing you could do except cry behind iron bars.

Then the dungeon doors opened.

Sevodric entered first.

Sienna followed.

And beside her stood Aedric.

Your son did not run toward you.

He remained at Sienna's side.

Sevodric's gaze was colder than winter itself.

"You are hereby stripped of your title as Empress. From this day forward, you will have no place in Aedric's life. Sienna will raise him from now on."

Your entire body trembled.

"Aedric..." you whispered.

For one desperate moment, you hoped he would come to you.

Instead, he reached for Sienna's hand.