Chapter 2

About 200 years ago, the Queen of the Spirits descended upon the northern land of the Brann Kingdom.

She made the grass and trees sprout in this land, known as the 'Land of Death,' and created a paradise, calling many spirits to this place.

When the king of Brann Kingdom at the time heard of this, he begged the queen to stay in exchange for many offerings.

Then, the whimsical queen said,

"For as long as I don't get bored."

The king joyfully accepted her words and built a temple for her in the capital.

Afterward, he bestowed her with a nominal title and the land that had become a paradise, and instructed the other nobles to treat her with respect, granting her extraterritorial rights.

Since then, the area has been governed by the Seiford family, who are descendants of the Queen of the Spirits, and the lush forest has come to be known as the 'Queen's Forest.'

-----

Arthur had been made to memorize the Seiford family's fairy tales and traditions ever since his engagement to Olivia was decided.

His father, Rodry, continuously told him how important the Seiford family was to them and how honorable it was to be engaged to Olivia.

"Always respect Lady Olivia's will in everything you do."

These words, repeated over and over, gradually sank into Arthur's heart.

Arthur has an older brother who is five years his senior, excelling in both academics and martial arts, and is the promising heir to the marquis family.

No matter how hard Arthur tried, he could never match his brother, and he was merely a spare, never recognized by his father.

However, when his engagement to Olivia was decided by royal decree, Arthur saw his father nodding happily at him, and he felt a sense of elation he had never experienced before.

Finally, he thought, someone would acknowledge him.

But Arthur's joy was short-lived. Whenever his father spoke, it was always:

"Lady Olivia, Lady Olivia, Lady Olivia."

Rodry never paid any attention to Arthur himself.

Am I even inferior to a mere countess?

Why must I respect a family with a lower title than mine?

Why is Olivia, a woman, more important than me?

As Arthur repeatedly asked himself these questions without finding answers, he began to develop dark feelings towards Olivia.

---

"Anna, you're so cute. You're so different from Olivia."

While looking at the roses blooming in the beautiful garden, Arthur muttered.

Anna laughed and leaned into Arthur's chest.

She was quiet, lacking in charm, and their conversations never really took off.

Even during their first meeting, Arthur found Olivia unsettling.

Indeed, she was a lovely girl with a doll-like appearance, but her vacant eyes, which seemed to look at nothing in particular, gave off a distinctly different aura from other children her age.

Arthur found her frightening as a child.

When she stared at him with those eyes, he felt as if she could see through everything, causing an indescribable unease.

Even the weekly tea parties, which were held out of duty, were a source of pain for him.

However, two years ago, the situation changed when Olivia's biological mother passed away.

Anna, who became Olivia's step-sister, began to grow close to Arthur.

She was a carefree girl whose emotions were very clear, and being with her made him feel very at ease.

Seizing this opportunity, Arthur began to include Anna in the tea parties with Olivia.

Thanks to this, the awkward tea parties became more pleasant, and he could enjoy conversations with Anna.

"Poor Lord Arthur. To have such a creepy fiancée..."

Anna looked up at Arthur with a lowered brow.

"Yes, really... If only you were my fiancée..."

Arthur sighed heavily.

"Don't worry. Mother will surely do something. I am a Seiford, after all."

Anna smiled happily.

However, Arthur well understood that this was impossible.

Nobles place the utmost importance on bloodlines.

Arthur had to marry Olivia, the direct descendant of the Seiford family.

This was the intention of the Nolundi marquis family.

But...

What if...

What if Olivia were not there?

If only Olivia were not there...

If Anna were his fiancée, perhaps he could live a much easier life.

Arthur couldn't help but think this.

"Sorry, Anna. I appreciate your feelings, but as long as Olivia is here, it's impossible."

Arthur whispered, gently stroking Anna's head with a pained expression.

As Arthur's mood began to plummet, he shook his head lightly to change his thoughts.

In four years, when Olivia comes of age, he would have to marry her and become a son-in-law to the Seiford family.

This was an unchangeable fact.

If so, he would make the territory he would govern a place that would surprise everyone.

He would undertake many projects, make the Nolundi territory even more prosperous, and finally earn his father's recognition.

With this renewed determination, Arthur's mood gradually improved.

However, he did not notice the terrifying expression on Anna's face beside him.

---

"Miss, please go to your room."

After the two left, a servant called out to Olivia, who was still sitting alone in the gazebo.

However, Olivia remained motionless, her head bowed.

"Miss, please return to your room. It's Lady's order."

When the servant spoke sternly, Olivia slowly stood up and returned to the attic where her room was located.

Once inside, the door was locked from the outside as usual.

Olivia's room was a small, six-tatami room in the attic of the third floor of the mansion, containing a simple bed, a dilapidated desk and chair, an almost empty closet, and a full-length mirror.

Opening the door at the back revealed a small built-in toilet.

On the tray at the edge of the desk, there was moldy bread and a soup with a distinct foul odor, but she ignored it and opened the drawer to take out a piece of paper.

On it were several names, and she marked an 'X' next to 'Arthur.'

"Ah, no good. Well, can't be helped. But it seems he really dislikes me."

Olivia sat on the desk, crossing her legs, and flicked the paper with her fingers.

Glancing out the window, she could see the beautiful roses blooming in the garden below.

When she opened the window, a gentle breeze blew into the room, and she leaned out, taking a deep breath.

At the corner of her eye, she saw Arthur and Anna embracing, but she paid no attention and slowly returned to her seat.

"But still, I'm amazed I could endure this situation for so long."

Olivia muttered, then hopped off the desk and walked to the full-length mirror.

Olivia, who was once an incredibly beautiful girl with silver-blue hair and eyes inherited from her mother, now looked nothing like her former self.

Her hair was dry and lifeless, and her body was emaciated.

Her neglected skin and chapped lips made her look far older than her twelve years.

She wore a yellowish-brown dress that was too big for her, and lifting the hem revealed several bruises.

"Poor me..."

Olivia whispered, tracing the surface of the mirror with her fingertips.

About two years ago, when her mother, Shera, passed away, Olivia's life changed dramatically.

Within ten days of the funeral, her father, Alex, brought in a new family, including Laura and Anna.

Initially, Laura and Anna were kind, but they soon began to find Olivia annoying, calling her 'irritating' and 'creepy,' and locking her in the attic, which was then locked from the outside.

The servants who had been with the family since Shera's time disappeared, and the mansion was filled with people Olivia did not know.

Recently, the servants had been intentionally pushing her down the stairs or tripping her, and the situation had become uncontrollable.

Her meals were often rotten, and sometimes she was deprived of food for an entire day.

Her father, Alex, who worked at the royal palace, spent most of the year in the capital, and he was unaware of Olivia's current situation.

Even if he knew, he would stubbornly refuse to meet her.

Olivia looked at the paper in her hand again.

Alex (father) • Shera (mother) • Sirius (mother's acquaintance) • Laura (stepmother) • Anna (stepsister) • Arthur (fiancé)

Due to her near-imprisonment, her social circle was abnormally small.

"Ah, only Brother Sirius is left."

Olivia sighed heavily and plopped down on the spot, sitting cross-legged.

Now, the reason for her unusually large attitude can be traced back to the night before.