Chapter 1

"Since it was well-received, this is the serialized version.

Thank you very much!"

This is a premonition.

I, Sophie, immediately recognized it as such.

"Rebecca Bernhardt! You have used your position as the prince's fiancée to harass many young ladies, and out of resentment, you even attempted to poison the prince! You will be executed for treason!"

The woman, Rebecca Bernhardt, who was handcuffed and lying on the floor, pleaded with tears streaming down her face.

"Why, why should I be executed...! I just wanted the prince's love...!"

"Is that why you harassed the young ladies? Did you think that would attract the prince's attention? You were jealous and tried to kill the prince, weren't you?"

"But I was the fiancée, and other women were talking to the prince...! The prince seemed to enjoy talking to them, but he never smiled at me...!"

As Rebecca repeated her excuses while lying on the floor, the gathered nobles sent her cold glares.

"Duke Alan Bernhardt, do you have any objections to this decision?"

Alan Bernhardt, Rebecca's stepfather and the head of the ducal family, was present.

Rebecca looked at Alan with pleading eyes, but...

"I have no objections."

At Alan's words, her foster father, Rebecca's face showed despair.

"Wh-what...?"

Rebecca then looked at me, who was standing next to Alan.

Seeing her expression, my heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

Unable to bear it, I averted my gaze.

Then the official declared:

"Hereby, the decision to execute Rebecca Bernhardt is announced! The execution will take place on a later date—"

"Ah...!"

Finally, I awoke from the terrible premonition.

"Ha, ha..."

I was drenched in sweat on a very luxurious bed, trying to catch my breath.

It had been a while since I had a premonition, but it was truly terrible.

I have a special ability called 'Gifted,' which allows me to have premonitions.

If I told anyone about this ability, it would definitely cause trouble, so I've never told anyone.

The premonitions are very accurate, and if no action is taken, the future will definitely come to pass.

In other words, the premonition I just had shows that my stepdaughter, Rebecca, will become engaged to the prince in the future, harass many young ladies, and ultimately attempt to poison the prince, leading to her execution.

I married Duke Alan Bernhardt a week ago.

I was a young lady from the Ingred Baron family, which was known for being poor.

So when the ducal family proposed a marriage, I jumped at the opportunity, and the marriage was arranged without considering my wishes.

The reason I was proposed to... was because of Rebecca, whom Duke Alan had adopted as his stepdaughter a year ago.

Rebecca was the daughter of Duke Alan's younger brother and his wife, but they died in an accident.

Duke Alan took her in as his stepdaughter, but he was not married.

With a daughter, the need for a wife became more prominent, and many marriage proposals came to Duke Alan.

However, Duke Alan said...

"Women are troublesome. I'll pay the money, but I want a young lady who can just play the role of a wife."

That's why the proposal came to me, a young lady from the Ingred Baron family.

There was another reason:

"She looks a bit like Rebecca."

But... I only met Rebecca once before, and I think we only have the same golden hair. Our facial features don't really resemble each other.

And I only met her once, a week ago.

The role of a wife meant that I would only act as a wife when Duke Alan and Rebecca attended social events; we wouldn't form a real family.

I understood this and did not object... but it would lead to Rebecca's downfall in the future.

Rebecca is only ten years old now.

After losing her parents and being taken in by Duke Alan, she has been receiving strict education as a ducal family's young lady for a year.

Rebecca's parents were terrible.

Her father, who was from a ducal family, had an affair with a baron's daughter, who was already engaged to someone else. The child from this affair was Rebecca.

Her father was disowned from the ducal family, and the baron's daughter was also disowned. They lived in the commoner's district with a severance payment.

They blamed Rebecca for their fall from nobility, even though it was entirely their own fault.

They didn't abuse Rebecca, but they ignored her, only providing her with food.

Growing up being ignored, insulted, and receiving no love, Rebecca was taken in by the unknown ducal family after her parents died.

Her life improved compared to when she was with her parents, but she suddenly had to receive the strict education of a young lady.

Duke Alan showed little interest in Rebecca, rarely meeting her and not even speaking to her during the monthly dinner gatherings.

Growing up in a harsh environment without love, Rebecca became increasingly starved for affection.

When she became engaged to the prince at eighteen, she strongly sought the prince's love, but love is not required in royal and noble engagements.

In reality, there is no love between Duke Alan and me.

For Duke Alan, marrying me was convenient, and I married him because of my parents' arrangement.

Rebecca must know this, but having grown up without love, she still sought the prince's love.

She harassed young ladies who talked to the prince, trying to win his affection.

However, the prince would never fall for such a Rebecca, and his heart only grew further away.

In the end, Rebecca attempted to poison the prince... which is the future I saw in my premonition.

"How pitiful, Rebecca...!"

I couldn't help but say it aloud.

At nine years old, she lost her parents and was suddenly taken in by the Bernhardt ducal family, an unknown place.

Her parents were terrible, and while escaping them might have been a good thing, the strict education she receives now is too harsh for a ten-year-old.

If this continues, her heart will be worn down, and she will become increasingly starved for love.

If nothing changes, she will end up being executed as I saw in my premonition.

But the wonderful thing about my premonitions is that I can take action to prevent them.

"I will definitely save Rebecca...!"

I can't just stand by and do nothing after knowing about my stepdaughter's future.

Even though I've only met her once, Rebecca and I are now family.

Even if it's a contract marriage, that doesn't change.

But it's not a loving family, and that needs to change.

If I can show Rebecca love and build a strong family relationship, the future where she is executed might be avoided... maybe.

"Since I'm the only one who knows about that future, I will definitely prevent it!"

【Author's Note】

If you would like, I would be very grateful if you could rate the story using the stars (☆☆☆☆☆) at the bottom of the main text.

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