At the front courtyard of Albrecht Castle, the quiet afternoon turned sharp with tension. A black carriage stopped at the marble steps, and Liv stepped out gracefully, her ivory gown flowing lightly in the breeze. She had come to inspect the flowers that would be used for her upcoming wedding with Duke Zareth.
But before she could take another step, a voice rang out—loud, desperate, and painfully familiar.
"Liv! Liv, wait!"
Her body stiffened. Slowly, she turned.
There—at the gates—stood Andrey Erickson, running toward her with wild eyes.
"Don't let him in," Liv said calmly without even glancing at the commotion.
Two guards immediately moved, blocking Andrey's path.
"Let me go! I need to talk to her!" he shouted, struggling until the guards pinned him down to the ground.
Liv raised her hand lightly. The guards stopped.
Andrey looked up, breath ragged, his clothes slightly disheveled.
"Liv… please, I just need to talk!"
Liv stood atop the steps, looking down at him with a cold, composed expression.
"What business do you have here, Count Erickson?"
"Why is there news in the papers—about your engagement with Duke Zareth?!" he shouted, voice trembling with disbelief. "That's not true, right? You and I… we're still together!"
Liv's lips curved faintly. "If you're smart enough, Andrey, you'll understand—it's not a lie."
"You're lying!" he yelled. "You're just angry because I didn't meet you at the rose garden that day! I was busy, Liv! I was working!"
Liv nodded slowly. Her gaze didn't waver.
"Yes, you worked very hard… and accomplished absolutely nothing."
"I did! I did! I'm going to marry you, Liv! I'll fix everything!"
Liv tilted her head slightly, her tone sharp as a blade.
"Are you stupid?"
Andrey froze.
"How could you possibly marry me," she continued coolly, "when I was born already betrothed to someone else?"
Silence. The words struck harder than a slap. Even the guards shifted uneasily but said nothing.
Liv exhaled softly.
"Go home, Count Erickson. You are… no one."
Andrey's voice cracked.
"I'm your lover!"
Liv laughed—quiet, sharp, and merciless.
"My lover?" she echoed mockingly. "Aren't you confusing me with Isabel?"
Right after those cold words left Liv's lips, the air in the courtyard thickened with tension.Then suddenly—from the direction of the gate—Isabel Inggrith appeared, running breathlessly, her pale face streaked with dust and fear.
Without a moment's hesitation, she fell to her knees before Liv, right beside Andrey, who was still being restrained by the guards.
"Lady Liv! Please, I beg you!" she cried, her voice trembling.
"There's nothing between me and Lord Andrey! It's all just a misunderstanding!"
Liv stared down at her, unmoving.Then—a soft, bitter laugh slipped from her lips.
"How amusing," she said quietly, a smirk tugging at her mouth. "A grand performance indeed—Andrey Erickson and Isabel Inggrith, putting on their tragic little play."
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze cold and mocking."You never fail to entertain me, Andrey."
Andrey snapped his head toward Isabel, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Why did you come here?!" he shouted.
"I wanted to help," Isabel stammered, still kneeling. "I thought if I begged her, maybe Lady Liv would forgive you…"
Liv's expression didn't change."I see," she murmured.
"Then before I lose my patience, leave—before I kill you myself, Isabel."
But Isabel didn't move.Instead, she bowed again—so hard that her forehead struck the stone floor, a dull sound echoing through the courtyard.
"Lady Liv, please! Don't punish Lord Andrey! I'm no one, I don't deserve anything, I'm just a foolish servant—please forgive him!"
Blood trickled down her face, but she kept bowing.The guards exchanged uneasy glances. Liv merely stood there, her gaze glacial.
"If there's truly nothing between you," Liv said slowly, her voice sharp as glass,"then why do you come to me every day showing off the ring he gave you? Saying he belongs to you, that you've already shared his bed?"
The words hit like a whip.Both Isabel and Andrey froze—faces pale, lips trembling.
"That's not true!" Andrey shouted, desperate. "My body belongs only to you, Liv! Only you!"
Liv let out a laugh—cold, hollow, cruel."I don't need your body, Andrey."
"I love you!" he cried. "Only you, Liv!"
She stopped laughing and fixed him with a chilling stare."Then take your cheap love," she said softly, "and get it out of my sight."
Her hand lifted gracefully—a signal."Guards. Throw them out. Now."
The guards obeyed immediately.Isabel screamed as they dragged her away, while Andrey's voice broke as he shouted Liv's name, helplessly.
The heavy doors slammed shut.Silence fell once more inside the Marquis's estate.
Liv stood by the doorway, her face unreadable, her eyes gleaming with quiet fury.
That day, everyone in the Albrecht household knew—it was the day Lady Liv stopped being the woman Andrey Erickson loved…and became the woman who would destroy him.
Once they were thrown out of the Marquis's estate, Andrey grabbed Isabel's arm roughly, dragging her down the stone path.His steps were fast and angry, his grip tight enough to make her stumble.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?!"His voice cut through the night, sharp and furious. His jaw was tight, his eyes burning with restrained rage.
Isabel tried to pull free, her voice trembling.
"I just… I only wanted to help you, Andrey. I thought if I explained things to her—"
"Shut up!"The words exploded out of him, loud enough to make her flinch.There was something unhinged in his expression—something that made the air itself feel dangerous.
"You think I needed your help?! Now Liv hates me more than ever!"He took a step closer, his shadow looming over her.
"I'm sorry… I only wanted—"
"Don't touch me!"He moved his hand sharply—not to strike, but the motion was forceful enough that Isabel stumbled backward, nearly falling.
Silence followed. Heavy. Suffocating.Isabel stood frozen, eyes wide, her breath shaky.
"Andrey…" she whispered, voice breaking. "I can't hide it anymore."
He narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Isabel swallowed hard, gathering the last of her courage."I'm pregnant."