In her past life, She had been an ordinary, modern woman, living a life of average responsibilities, freedom, and a predictable future. But that life ended abruptly when she opened her eyes and found herself in a completely different world. Now, she was Evelyn Grace, daughter of a prominent duke in the kingdom of Ashfell. Transmigrating into this world was disorienting enough, but adjusting to her new life as nobility with strict expectations proved even more challenging. Evelyn struggled to keep up appearances, navigate intricate social hierarchies, and grapple with the reality that she would eventually have to marry into another noble family as part of her duties and be nothing more than a man's wife.
Her dream of living happily seemed hopelessly out of reach.
Then, a new twist of fate turned her life upside down. Ashfell's kingdom was defeated by the powerful Sairan Empire, and as part of a peace treaty, Evelyn was chosen—because of her stunning appearance—to be a concubine for Emperor Thaleon, a man known for his dismissive treatment of his harem. Thaleon was reputed for keeping a large harem of concubines, each ignored like mere possessions, tokens of the empire's conquests rather than cherished lovers.
At first, Evelyn dreaded her new role. But when she realized that Emperor Thaleon was utterly uninterested in any of his concubines and treated them like decorative furniture, her perspective shifted. She found herself unexpectedly delighted by the freedom this role provided. She could sleep in, read as much as she wanted, eat the best food, and enjoy luxurious accommodations—all without any real obligations. She was basically rich and jobless. To Evelyn, being a concubine in name only was a loophole that allowed her to indulge in a life of freedom she could never have imagined in her old or new life. The emperor never came to see her, and she felt no obligation to present herself or try to impress him. She thought herself fortunate, finding comfort in her solitude.
But her reprieve didn't last. Another empire soon waged war on Sairan, defeating them just as swiftly as Sairan had once defeated Ashfell. Emperor Thaleon was killed, and his empire collapsed. Her life in the imperial harem was obliterated in an instant. Chaos erupted within the palace as the remaining women in the harem scrambled to survive. Evelyn tried to escape, only to be caught by soldiers who mistook her for a palace maid due to her disheveled appearance.
Because of her stunning looks, she was presented to the victorious emperor, who was immediately intrigued by her. He was a man of imposing stature, with fiery red red hair and piercing red eyes.
She found herself in his harem as well. But unlike Emperor Thaleon, Leonas was rumored to occasionally take interest in his concubines. Terrified by the thought of having to fulfill her duties, Evelyn scrambled for a way out. When she was finally face-to-face with him in their marriage consummation chamber, she stammered out, "Uh… I'm infertile."
To her surprise, Leonas laughed, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Is that so?" he replied, with an amused smirk. "What am I supposed to do with this information?"
Evelyn could barely think. "Leave?" she suggested weakly, half-certain she'd be punished on the spot.
To her astonishment, Leonas shrugged, "Then I'll leave." With that, he simply walked out. Alone in the empty chamber, she blinked in shock. "It's that easy?" she thought, her relief palpable.
Days passed, and Evelyn continued to live much as she had before—luxuriously but unnoticed. The emperor didn't visit her again, nor did he allow anyone to harass her. She spent her days freely, under his protection, and her confidence grew as she came to believe that her life might remain untouched. But then, she received unexpected news: Emperor Leonas had no intention of keeping her in his harem as she had no use.