prologue

Prologue:

“All you do is eat, sleep, and laze around the house. I am tired of that, you barren woman!” My husband, Lord Patrick Gattar, shouted as he forcefully grabbed my hair. Pain shot through every inch of my scalp, and my eyes welled up with tears. He dragged me across the room, pinning me against the wall. I couldn't plead; I tried to speak, but no words emerged. Pleading would only lead to more beatings, worse than before.

I could feel my pale skin reddening as he tightened his grip on my hair. Tears streamed down my face, and I bit my lip to stifle my cries of pain. He released me briefly and then—

Smack.

His palm struck my face, and I couldn't hold back the sobs any longer. Servants watched with pity or smirks, and I couldn't blame them. The lady of the proud House of Gattar was being humiliated by her husband in the most degrading way possible. I didn't blame them for their expressions.

“Useless wench! Why are you dolled up? Hoping to entice me to waste my seed inside you again, huh?” He taunted, pouring salt on my wounds. He breathed heavily as he ruthlessly removed the silver hairpin from my bun, surely taking countless strands of hair with it. My hair fell, and he ripped away other accessories.

“I don't want to see this on you ever again! No rouge! No accessories! No jewelry. I want to see the ugly ogre I married. The ogre who won't give me an heir!" He shoved me away, and I crashed hard onto the unforgiving floor. The fancy rug and multiple layers of my dress did nothing to cushion the fall. Every part of my body ached as my sobs grew louder.

I sobbed, not only from the physical pain but from the emotional torment inflicted by the man I had fallen in love with a decade ago. The man who once cherished me and promised me the world had transformed into a monster because I couldn't bear him a child. My eight-year-long marriage remained childless.

Miss Marilyn Rusé, once renowned as the golden maiden of Ruqgu. That was my nickname when I was sixteen—the most beautiful maiden in the entire city. Marrying into a powerful family like Gattar was expected, given my background.

The House of Rusé ranked among Ruqgu's five most prestigious families, and I was their beloved daughter, pampered and spoiled to excess. Abuse was a foreign concept during my upbringing, and I was too noble to mistreat anyone, even servants. While my friends bullied their servants and slave girls, I befriended them, raised by a maid myself. I lost my mother at a tender age, and servants became my family. When I turned ten, Eria, my handmaid, became my best friend.

At sixteen, I was betrothed to Lord Patrick of the House of Gattar. We were childhood friends, and love blossomed, hastening our marriage. Recollections of his former kindness fueled my hope amidst the torment.

Initially, he stood by me in the face of our childless years, defending me against the branch families who bullied me. However, as our marriage reached its fifth year without a child, he resorted to desperate measures. He filled me with fertility herbs, hired countless doctors, and forced me to ingest endless concoctions that practically became my daily sustenance.

Now, he had reached his breaking point, morphing into a hateful stranger. I wondered at times if he ever truly loved me. He drank excessively, abused me, and frequented brothels, leaving me untouched for months. When he did desire me, it was a violent, unwanted act. He taunted me mercilessly about my barrenness, weaving the word 'barren' into every sentence.

If his younger brothers welcomed a child, he'd get drunk, lash out at me, and take me forcefully throughout the night. I couldn't leave the Gattar Manor; news of my barrenness and his actions had spread throughout Ruqgu. I accepted my fate, trusting Eria to manage my businesses. She went to the market and tended to the cosmetics shop I had established with my dowry. If I couldn't bear a child, at least my finances thrived.

Eria offered me a sympathetic look as my husband stormed out of the room. The two servants hesitantly opened the door and left, fearing becoming his next targets. He paid them no heed; his primary victim was me.

Eria moved closer, dismissing the servants with a stern glare. She couldn't do that earlier; my husband delighted in having them witness his cruelty. He chased them away only when he wanted me against my will.

As for me, I no longer knew how to cry. Eria ran her fingers through my hair in a soothing gesture while I stared blankly ahead.

“It won't always be like this, Lina. I promise,” she assured me, enfolding me in her comforting embrace.

“This is my destiny, Eria. I have nowhere to turn. The House of Rusé has forsaken me. You don't understand; I'm alone,” I replied, my voice void of emotion. I had become a hollow shell, devoid of feeling.

“Before Lord Patrick arrived earlier, I had a message for you,” she said in a hushed tone, her eyes scanning for any prying ears.

“A message? What kind of message could possibly change my barrenness? I'm exhausted. Keep your message, Eria,” I said, rising slowly with her assistance. She guided me to my vanity table, where I gazed at my reflection in the mirror.

“She claims to have the solution to your problems,” Eria revealed, leaving me bewildered as she massaged my temples.

“Who is she?”

Eria's words hung in the air, shrouding the room in suspense. My curiosity overcame my despair, if only for a moment."Who is she, Eria?" I asked again, my voice steadier this time.

Eria hesitated for a second before replying, her voice barely above a whisper. "I met her on my way to the market this morning, She is from Nayak and she claims to know your mother”

“ She knows my mother? she is From Nayak? How did she know about my predicament?” I murmured confused about the entire situation. Why would a total stranger be interested in me?

Eria's gaze bore into mine with unwavering determination. "She has heard of your plight, Lina. She believes she can help you, offer you a chance to break free from this torment."

I almost laughed but I didn't, I trust Eria but this? I'm not so sure.

“Eria, what if this is some kind of trick or deception?" I voiced my fears, unable to fully silence the nagging doubts.Eria's gaze bore into mine, unwavering in its sincerity. "I believe in her, Lina. And if there's even a chance that she can change your fate, isn't it worth the risk?"

“ How can I meet her“ I asked.

Eria's lips curled into a sly smile. "She gave me this," she whispered, revealing a small, ornate envelope concealed within the folds of her dress. The envelope bore an intricate seal, unlike anything I had ever seen.

“ We are to meet her before midnight. my lady”

I never expected that this mysterious stranger would alter the course of my life. But will I truly find a solution, or will my situation worsen?

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