I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 286



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Fulvia Prindas was born as the youngest daughter of the United Kingdom.

To Leon II, she was a daughter so cute and lovely that he could not bear to harm her, and as the only princess of the royal family, she received much love from the people.

As she approached adulthood, concerns began to weigh on Leon II.

For Fulvia’s sake, it would be preferable to arrange a marriage with a domestic noble, but considering the complex diplomatic situation, it would be more appropriate to marry her off to a foreign noble.

Especially since the United Kingdom had long been at odds with the Empire.

Leon II understood how crucial it was to create allies.

He pondered over the suitable match for the increasingly beautiful Fulvia.

After a long deliberation, he chose Prince Valoran Ryan of the Duchy of Francesco.

Though he had heard rumors that Valoran was enamored with Eurydice, he was already married to Crown Prince Tiberius.

Moreover, the Duchy of Francesco, which had historically led the anti-imperial faction, aligned politically with Leon II, who wanted to suppress the anti-imperial faction’s attempts to venture out to sea.

Of course, the Duchy could not help but favor the United Kingdom, which supported them in keeping a powerful emperor in check.

The Duchy, possessing a strong military, had weaker economic power compared to other kingdoms, so they desired a closer relationship with the United Kingdom.

Additionally, by that time, Valoran Ryan was not particularly an odd person.

In fact, Valoran’s father was a swordmaster, known for his kindness and compassion, leading Leon II to assume that Valoran would be the same, and he sent his beloved daughter Fulvia to marry him.

And… little did he know that this would mark the beginning of Fulvia’s hell…

The dream-filled girl, Fulvia Prindas.

She certainly felt a spark of affection when she first laid eyes on Valoran.

With his long red hair, sturdy physique, and even his blunt personality.

He wasn’t as caring as the men she had met in high society, but he wasn’t particularly flawed either.

Knowing that her marriage would bring benefits to the United Kingdom, Fulvia tried to comply, and the wedding was quickly arranged.

From the start, Valoran was not cruel.

Or perhaps he was, but it would be more accurate to say he hid it out of fear of his father.

And three months after the marriage of Valoran and Fulvia.

The Duke of Francesco passed away, and Valoran ascended to the title of Duke.

Now a Duke, Valoran no longer concealed his cruel nature.

To create an army capable of rivaling the Emperor’s Golden Knights, he kidnapped tall citizens of the Empire and forced them into brutal training to form a giant battalion, or he beat his attendants and subordinates.

Pulvia, even as the Grand Duchess, could not escape his violence.

Valoran would hit her for talking back.

He assaulted her for daring to offer advice, simply because she was a woman.

– Don’t defy me. If you resist, you will be punished!

– If I say I’m right, then you should believe I’m right!

– You may have been a princess before, but here you are just a Grand Duchess. Bow your head to me!

Though it was an absurd demand, Pulvia endured and kept silent before Valoran.

Even when he insisted that white was black, Pulvia would say it was black, striving to avoid conflict, and Valoran, satisfied, withdrew his violence against her.

Valoran, who forced her to follow him completely.

Pulvia did not like it, but she endured.

A woman’s life is one of subservience to a man.

It was no different even for the nobility.

A man who resorts to violence disgraces his family, but Valoran did not care.

He was a Grand Duke wielding immense power.

At least, as long as she followed Valoran, he did not resort to violence.

During the time she lived a life of obedience, enduring violence and humiliation, Pulvia became pregnant.

Rohan Ryan.

Her first child with red hair.

Though Valoran tormented Pulvia, she could honestly say she was truly happy.

Because she had her beloved first son, Rohan.

A son who was so precious that she wouldn’t feel pain even if he were placed in her eye.

She lived each day in the joy of caring for Rohan.

Nobles usually hire wet nurses.

Newborns cry often, and it’s not easy labor to keep feeding them breast milk or changing their diapers.

But Pulvia wanted to raise her first son herself.

To her, Rohan was nothing short of an angel.

Every day, Pulvia cared for Rohan by his side.

And so, on the day that marked a year since Rohan was born.

A great trial had befallen her life.

The first birthday of Rohan, the heir of the Grand Duchy.

Valoran had thrown a grand birthday celebration.

‘Indeed… he loves his child as well.’

Pulvia felt grateful for Valoran’s effort in organizing such a large birthday event.

Occasionally, Valoran would seek her out to fulfill his desires.

Since Rohan’s birth, he had hardly seen the child, which left Pulvia deeply disappointed.

He was like a beast, craving her, yet indifferent to the child, making it impossible for Pulvia to feel any affection for him…

Regardless, Pulvia devoted herself to decorating the Grand Ducal Palace for Rohan’s first birthday feast.

Even as she selected and arranged the dress, jewels, and decorative art pieces, baby Rohan was cradled in her arms.

No matter how busy she was, she didn’t want to be apart from her beloved Rohan.

Moreover, Rohan would whimper when separated from Pulvia, and with her tender heart, she held him even closer.

As Rohan’s birthday arrived, many people from the Grand Duchy gathered.

After all, he was the first son of Valoran, the leader of the anti-imperial faction.

– Congratulations, Duchess Pulvia. I have brought a gift on behalf of His Highness Johannes.

A man introduced as Alexander, a physician from Nicaea, presented a beautiful sword as a gift.

– The Grand Duchy’s joy is the Empire’s joy, is it not? His Majesty the Emperor has sent a branch of the World Tree, wishing for Prince Rohan to grow up healthy.

A branch of the World Tree sent by Emperor Tiberius of the Empire.

As numerous nobles presented their precious gifts to Rohan, Pulvia felt uneasy.

Typically, the closest family members would present their gifts first.

I had given my gift to Rohan, but he had yet to offer his.

Could it be… that he doesn’t intend to give one?

It was his first son’s first birthday, after all.

Thinking of him, who didn’t even show his face at the banquet, I felt he was truly heartless.

As all the gifts were being received,

– Creak!

He finally appeared in the banquet hall, smiling.

“I have prepared a gift for my son Rohan.”

Valoran, who usually never sought Rohan, had prepared a gift for him.

She beamed with a bright smile.

Pulbia thought that Valoran was a blunt man, clumsy in expressing affection.

“Thank you, my dear.”

As Valoran nodded, a man following behind him held a velvet cushion, upon which a small grand duchy made of gold and various metals was placed.

It looked as if it had been made specifically for a child.

“What’s this?”

Could it be that he prepared this as a future grand duchy for his heir?

I felt grateful for my husband, who had prepared such an expensive gift.

It might be hard to use right now, but later, when he grows a bit more, it will be perfect.

As I was thinking this…

“Now, let’s try it on Rohan.”

“Pardon?”

The grand duchy looked quite heavy at first glance.

Though it was small enough to fit on a baby’s head, its weight was considerable.

I smiled, thinking he was joking, and replied.

“Oh dear, that’s dangerous! He could get hurt. No way.”

But Valoran only wore a chilling expression.

“Do you think this is a joke? What are you all doing?”

At his words, the men around us grabbed my arms and seized Rohan.

“What are you doing? Give Rohan back!”

“Waaah, Mama! Mama!”

“Ha ha, I am your father, Rohan. I am your father.”

Rohan, who had never seen his father before, reached out to me, desperately searching for me, and then…

“Waaah! No! Mama! Mama!”

“Can’t you see the child is crying? Can’t you stop this?”

– What… what is happening?

– Has the grand duke lost his mind?

– The child could get seriously hurt…

The people around us turned pale at Valoran’s strange behavior.

“Don’t just stand there, stop him!”

I shouted in frustration, but he merely responded with an indifferent expression.

“Stay still, I’ll just put the crown on and let you go right after.”

As he gestured to someone nearby, that person gently lifted the crown to place it on Rohan’s head, but Balorang spoke up.

“There’s a chin strap inside; use that to secure it around his neck so the crown doesn’t fall off.”

The man placed the hidden chin strap of the crown under Rohan’s chin, just as Balorang instructed.

“What are you doing?! He could get hurt like that?!”

Rohan, who was only one year old.

A child who had just begun to walk not long ago.

To put something so heavy on the head of such a child?

Finally, as the crown settled on Rohan’s head…

“Oh my! Oh my…!”

Rohan, unable to support his neck, looked at me with tears in his eyes.

“Hehe! Do you like it too?! Let’s see…”

-Crack!

Rohan’s head twisted in a way it shouldn’t, and a grotesque sound echoed.

“Ah… Rohan?! Rohan?!”

I hurriedly snatched Rohan from Balorang’s arms…

“Ah… aaah!”

“Tch, what a failure.”

I called out to Balorang, who seemed ready to leave.

“Stop! Stop right there! You b*stard!”

I confronted Balorang, holding Rohan’s lifeless body in my arms.

“You crazy b*stard! Why did you do this?! I told you not to?! And what?! A failure?!”

His hand swung and struck my face.

-Slap!

“I told you. If I say it’s right, then you should think it’s right.”

-Thud… Thud…

I sobbed, feeling the fading warmth of Rohan and the distant sound of footsteps.

Thus, I lost my first child.