Rank
Swan rescued an injured knight who had fallen from a cliff.
When he awoke, he had no memory of who he was.
After her mother’s death, Swan had lived alone for years, isolated from the village. Little by little, she fell in love with him. One day, driven by desire, he spent the night with her.
In time, Swan discovered she was pregnant, and the truth of his identity was revealed…
***
“I-I thought you had left me…”
The look he gave her was cold and heavy, like lead.
“Go inside. The rain is cold.”
It took him a long moment to speak, and his words hit her like frost. Loving him felt like a curse, like the greatest misfortune that had ever befallen her life.
“I-I think I’m pregnant.”
The confession that had been trapped inside her finally spilled out. Unable to meet his gaze, she hung her head like a sinner.
“I… I haven’t had my monthly flow for a while… I think I’m pregnant…”
Her scattered, incoherent whispers sounded pitiful. The man said nothing. Swan wiped her tear-stained face and shifted anxiously on her feet in front of him.
“So please… please take me as your wife. Hic… h-hic…”
She clasped his unresponsive hand, begging him not to leave her. His face remained the same – cold and distant. Desperately, Swan wrapped her arms around his unmoving neck, her words spilling out in a desperate plea.
“Please, I’ll be a good wife. I’ll do anything… anything you want…”
She buried her face in his chest, but he still didn’t answer. His long arms did not reach out to hold her.
***
“Did you marry Theodor? The same way you married me?”
The Emperor exhaled a puff of smoke, his words cutting through the air. A chilling numbness spread through Swan, freezing her to the core.
