Chapter 1

I couldn't help but curl my lips into a faint smile at the system's words. But when Tabitha Stark saw that, it was just fuel to the fire.

"I can't believe you have the nerve to smile. Why would you do this? Are you trying to get back at me?" she spat.

This wasn't revenge. This was simply the ending the two of us were always headed toward.

"You're overthinking this, Your Highness," I said.

"'Your Highness'? Why aren't you calling me Tabby, like you always have? Why have you changed so much? Why do you want to get rid of this child? Are you throwing a tantrum with me because of those three rules?" she demanded.

She had too many questions. I honestly didn't have the energy to respond to them all.

I bent down to pick up the shards on the floor, my expression calm and unreadable. "You're carrying a child, Your Highness. You really shouldn't get worked up."

Tabitha opened her mouth, wanting to say more, but her gaze was suddenly drawn to an ornament hanging at a maidservant's waist.

It was one Tabitha had made herself. I used to cherish it so much that I didn't wear it often. I always stored it carefully and only took it out for important occasions.

But now, I didn't like it anymore. I didn't like Tabitha, and along with her, I didn't like our son, Anthony Fordham.

Tabitha's eyes were bloodshot as she looked over the familiar items on the maidservants. The pomander, the bracelets…

Her fists clenched tighter and tighter. Finally, she yanked the pomander from the maidservant's waist and thrust it in front of me, her fingertips trembling.

"What is this?" I asked calmly.

"I carved this myself! I spent three nights drawing that pattern! I…" She couldn't go on.

Because I said lightly, "Seems so. You have a good memory, Your Highness."

The color drained from her face in an instant. I didn't bother sparing her another glance. I had just turned to leave the room when Anthony burst in, looking excited. However, when he saw me, he shrank back slightly.

He suppressed his excitement and deliberately lowered his voice. "Mother, Jordan said I'm going to have a baby sister. Is that true?"

Tabitha's features softened, joy overflowing in her eyes, no matter how she tried to hide it. She and Anthony exchanged a smile, every detail of their expressions landing squarely in my line of sight.

She cleared her throat, her tone turning gentle. "Hugo, this child is definitely yours. You—"

Before she could finish speaking, I pointed at the rosary on Anthony's wrist. I said, "Give that to me."

He immediately clapped a hand over it, his voice shooting uncontrollably higher. "W-What do you want this for?"

"I got that blessed for you. I don't want you to have it anymore."

When Anthony was five, he was struck by a plague and nearly died.

Everyone said that Aurum Chapel was especially effective for prayers. I never believed in gods or deities, but that day, I climbed the mountain on my knees, prostrating myself with each step. I'd begged for the rosary that was supposed to turn Anthony's fate around.

After that, his illness genuinely did slowly improve. He'd never taken off the rosary since. It had been five years.

Anthony stared at me, his eyes suddenly turning red. "Who wants this stupid thing, anyway? Jordan went and got me a protective charm. It's a thousand times better than your dumb rosary!"

He yanked it off and hurled it to the floor.

Five years ago, he'd cupped that very same rosary in his tiny hands like it was a treasure. "Thank you, Father. Does it hurt? I'll blow on it for you."

Back then, he'd been heartbroken over the injuries I'd sustained for his sake. He had carefully applied medicine to my wounds and fed me my tonics. He'd taken care of me, instead of the other way around.

At the time, I'd thought that everything I'd sacrificed had been worth it.

Tabitha's gaze stayed fixed on my face. "First was our unborn child, then the pomander, and now you're coming after Anthony's rosary. Do you think acting like you've given up all hope will make me soften? You think this will push me to kick Jordan out?"

The system's notification appeared right on cue.

[You must ensure the male and female leads are both present at the moment of your death. Otherwise, it'll affect mission completion. As the villain, your plot completion rate has reached 99%. System rating is S. You're only one step away from success!]

I forced a smile. This mission really was ironic.

Even now, Tabitha thought I was just playing some twisted game. The curve of my lips carried a bitter edge as I thought of everything that had led us here.

Once, I'd stopped Jordan Corke from feeding Anthony a peach. That alone had been enough to brand me as petty, narrow-minded, and unable to stand anyone else being kind to my own child. I'd tried to explain that Anthony was allergic to peaches, but no one believed me.

Later, when the crown prince began acting suspiciously, I warned Jordan not to get too close to him. But in their eyes, that became me sowing discord and stirring up trouble.

Tabitha and Anthony had, unfailingly, been on his side each time. Naturally, I'd become the villain—the vicious supporting character in everyone's story.