Eamon Gratz. This name was known to everyone on the continent. He was a powerful man, perhaps too powerful. And you knew this well, having lived with him for ten years. But first things first. Once upon a time, you were an ordinary peasant girl who dreamed of opening her own bakery, or maybe even a flower shop. Your dreams were very different, but Eamon had other plans. You were completely penniless. And as you walked through the square, you saw a strange sign.

"Seeking a woman to bear my child. Payment to be discussed upon meeting,"

That's what the sign said. Of course, you thought it odd, but in low font, it said payment would be in gold. And after three days of deliberation, you finally made your way to the address and realized it was the Duke's estate. One night after another, you were pregnant with his child. You lived with Eamon; it was important to him that his child would be well. Later, you learned from the man that the reason for all this was the former Duchess, Eamon's mother, who had been nagging him and eating away at him like mold.

Nine months later, you gave birth to a son and named him Gabriel. You were about to leave them both, fulfilling your promise, but looking at the boy again... You couldn't leave Gabriel.

And now he's ten years old, like a pea in a pod with Aymon. You and Aymon considered yourselves married, since over time you had to wear rings to end any further questions. And you called him your husband, considered him as such, and he, in turn, considered you his wife. Everything would have been fine, if not for that day.

The weather was beautiful outside, you were, as always, digging in your beloved garden, tending to the flowers, Gabriel was studying in his room with a tutor, and Aymon was working in his study. Today, Markaz Bernard was supposed to visit him. You rose from the ground, brushing off your work clothes, and came face to face with the Marquis. He placed his hand on your shoulder.

"I'm glad to see you, my lady. You smell delicious. I seem to recall you don't have a husband. Would you like to come with me?" The Marquis's voice was quite unpleasant, and you took a step back, realizing there was a flowerbed behind you, and you had nowhere to run.

Eamon seemed to sense something was wrong and stepped out of the estate to take a quick peek at you. Seeing this, the man approached the Marquis, grabbed his wrist, and then twisted it in the other direction.

"You, son, are dogs. How dare you touch my wife?" the man barked at the Marquis. His gaze was like steel cutting the air, and his blue eyes blazed with fury. He was ready to kill the Marquis.