Bubbles rose steadily to the surface. Diana Aquitaine, the lady of the western territories, slowly drowned in the lake. The water felt warmer than expected, and even the sensation of her lungs filling completely wasn’t unpleasant once she accepted it. Air bubbles filled her vision once more, expelled from her body.

‘Is this how I die?’ 

The maid who had been so kind to her turned out to be the Grand Duchess’s spy. Pretending to hand her a shawl, the maid pushed Diana straight into the lake.

When the air bubbles cleared, the last thing she saw was the Grand Duchess kneeling down, grinning from ear to ear.

“Farewell, dear.”

The Grand Duchess offered her final greeting to the sinking woman. Darkness slowly consumed Diana.

‘Even if I die, please send me to his side…’ 

All she wanted was to be with him quickly. The man she had loved in solitude—Calliope Aquitaine.

With her final prayer, Diana peacefully closed her eyes. Her body sank into the black water.

* * *

Ten years ago, Diana Cloud, the noble daughter of Count Cloud’s house, entered into an arranged marriage like any ordinary noble lady. Her marriage partner was the Marquis of the frontier who ruled the desolate and vast western territories.

Marquis Calliope Aquitaine. 

The Aquitaine family, who had been defending the borders, didn’t stop at mere defense but actively expanded their territory, their power rivaling that of a Duke. So from Count Cloud’s perspective, it was a very satisfactory marriage.

“Before you bind yourselves in matrimony, seal your eternal vow of love with a kiss.”

At the officiant’s words, the Marquis carefully lifted the veil with gentle hands and met Diana’s eyes.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Marquis Aquitaine had silver hair and gleaming golden eyes. She felt like she was looking at a truly beautiful and imposing beast.

“I’m not afraid.”

When Diana smiled softly in response, cool lips touched hers. Diana went to the Aquitaine territory, and their married life began.

Diana found this marriage wasn’t bad at all. To the nobles of the capital, women were family property—once purchased, they could be used however one pleased. 

However, the common abuses and violence from husbands that frequently occurred in noble society didn’t apply to Calliope. He never treated his wife like jewelry, never shouted threats at her.

“I ask nothing of you. My adjutants will handle most matters.”

When she first met Marquis Aquitaine, he seemed indifferent and cold. But as time passed, Diana began to think that while he might have a cold exterior, his inner self might not be cold at all.

“There’s nowhere in this castle you cannot go. My office, the treasury where heirlooms are kept. Anywhere.”

Compared to the nobles of the capital, the west was a peculiar place that treated people like human beings. Among them all, Calliope Aquitaine, though blunt, always respected and considered Diana. Falling in love happened in an instant. But that was as far as it went.

“I’d like to… have tea together.”

“I’m sorry, but deployment orders have come down. I can’t join you.”

“Maybe next time…”

“Diana, don’t trouble yourself. I ask nothing of you.”

There was respect but no interest. There was consideration but no love. Still, it was fine.

“Young master.”

Her beloved son Leo was born. Yes, perhaps gentle consideration was better than the feverish love burning inside her. She comforted herself this way. Though her one-sided love was sometimes miserable and painful, she could endure it.

However.

“New baby, how wonderful to meet you.”

Hell began when the previous Marquis and his wife came to Aquitaine Manor, offering to help raise the child.

“I’ll take care of the child.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

This shouldn’t have happened. The previous Marquis and his wife tried to regain power by using Diana’s son, Leo. Unfortunately, this happened after Calliope had departed on imperial orders due to the demon beast surge incident.

“Leo! You were here…”

“Waaah!”

Their methods were cunning. The former couple raised Leo like he was their own child. Diana had no place in that harmonious scene.

“I heard you grew up entirely in the capital, so you know nothing about the west.”

“I’ll learn diligently.”

“Diligently? Listen carefully. Diligence isn’t needed. You must do well. Very well. Understand?”

The balance of power had already shifted. No matter how hard she tried to reclaim her rights as the lady of the house, it was futile. They blamed Diana whenever Leo did something wrong.

“Why did you educate Leo this way?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Take it off quickly. A child’s sins should rightfully be borne by the mother, shouldn’t they?”

From time to time, Helena, the former Marquis’s wife, raised the whip against her. Eventually, Diana would obediently remove her dress and turn around, baring her back, at just a glance from Helena. 

The isolation deepened, and even Leo began to avoid his mother Diana. Naturally, the servants also turned away from her, and the manor seemed to exist only for the former couple and Leo.

“Diana! I told you to use red for Aquitaine family banquets.”

“Mother, you clearly said green…”

“Diana, what’s the point of being jealous of me? I’m just a Grand Duchess who has stepped back. Now you should be able to handle the manor’s affairs on your own.”

“Mother…”

“I’m saying this for your own good. You won’t get upset over something like this, will you? If you had done well yourself, you wouldn’t have heard such words. There’s no need to feel inferior for no reason. I had a long life as a Marquis’s wife, you know.”

She couldn’t say anything. Suddenly Diana had become a petty woman who became jealous of the Grand Duchess.

“Diana, come see me.”

Days of being summoned by the Grand Duchess and lectured in front of the servants became frequent. It always ended with ‘for your own good.’ 

Gradually, Diana lost herself.

“Mother, you can’t do this! The ledger authority belongs to me!”

“Diana, you’re too emotional. Please get control of those mood swings first. Do you think I enjoy taking over your work? How can you shout at me, the Grand Duchess, like that!”

The Grand Duchess’s words felt like they were striking her from all directions. She couldn’t collect herself, and as time passed, Diana became increasingly intimidated and began watching everyone’s reactions. Red whip marks were branded on her back like scars.

Strangely, her husband, who should have returned quickly, didn’t come back. She missed him while also resenting him. She spent each day in self-loathing, feeling pathetic and stupid.

“Diana?”

“Y-yes?”

“Why are you stuttering? How uncouth.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Just as the Grand Duchess intended, Diana lost all her will. She had become a fool who would cry gratefully just for not being bothered. Diana’s eyes, which had wept through every night, eventually dried up completely.

“Cal. Calliope.”

Diana sat precariously on the window ledge, murmuring the Marquis Aquitaine’s nickname. Still, the Marquis didn’t appear.

“I… you right now, right now I’m so…”

She had to admit it—Diana was slowly dying. She had fallen into the black depths of loneliness, and no amount of struggling helped.

“I can’t endure anymore. Cal, I miss you…”

Every day felt like drowning. She drowned and died again in solitude. Diana’s only hope was Calliope Aquitaine, her husband.

But whether God had abandoned Diana, what arrived for her was her husband transformed into a cold corpse.

“Ah… Cal! No, open your eyes! Calliope!”

Despite her desperate cries, Calliope didn’t wake up. Heavy rain fell on the day of the funeral, and no one offered an umbrella to Diana, who stood completely soaked. 

Diana looked at the dead Calliope with empty eyes that had lost all hope.

The corpse was so brutally mutilated it was unbearable to look at. She quietly reached out and touched the long wound across his chest. Demon beast claws tear people apart, but the wound on her husband’s chest was a cut mark—clean.

“Cal…”

Who killed you? 

Rage boiled in her hollow eyes.

Diana hid her emotions beneath the black veil and picked up a white flower from the pile beside her.

“In our next life… let’s be born in peaceful times.”

Not in an empire built with blood and swords, but in a peaceful place. Not in these western territories swarming with demon beasts, but under flower-filled meadows. 

But, Calliope, if I can’t forgive those who killed you, wouldn’t it be a bit difficult to be reborn in peaceful times?

Her back touched the ground. Diana, reflecting on her brief life, sank to the bottom of the lake and closed her eyes.