Rebecca's mind drifted into a dream, but it wasn't her own. It was the life of the body she now lived in—Rebecca Hellshade.
She saw herself as Rebecca Hellshade, the daughter of a fairy and a powerful minister from the demon kingdom. Being a mixed breed, she never fully belonged, though her family's status gave her respect.
From a young age, her marriage had been arranged. Her fiancé was noble, strong, and respected by both families. Rebecca had hoped that love would come with time. On their wedding day, she stood by his side, nervous but excited. His coldness, she thought, was just his nature. He was distant, but she believed he cared, even if he didn't show it.
But things began to change. At first, it was small—a glance here, a look there. Then, one day, she saw it clearly. He looked at the princess of the demon kingdom with love in his eyes. The warmth she craved was never meant for her. It was for the princess.
Rebecca realized, with a heavy heart, that he had never loved her.
Rebecca Hellshade had been heartbroken. After realizing the truth, she couldn't bear to live a life full of lies any longer. Despite her parents' high hopes and the pressure to maintain the alliance between their families, she quietly made plans to divorce him. She no longer cared about the power, the prestige, or even the consequences. All she wanted was her freedom, her dignity. Her love had been wasted, and she didn't want to live in the shadow of his affection for someone else.
But before she could act, something happened. An unknown enemy, lurking in the dark, had other plans. Rebecca was tricked, drugged one night, and before she even understood what was happening, they had slept together. The moment was a blur, her mind clouded by whatever poison they had slipped into her drink. She woke up the next morning, feeling trapped in a nightmare she couldn't escape.
After that night, everything changed, but not for the better. Her husband's coldness turned to outright anger. He blamed her, though she wasn't sure why. His temper flared, and he became even more distant, treating her with cruel indifference. He ignored her presence, barely acknowledging her existence except to show his disdain.
Rebecca's heart, already shattered, broke even more. The man she once loved now seemed to despise her, and she didn't even understand why. The marriage that had been hollow from the start had now become unbearable, yet she felt stuck, unable to escape the trap that had been set for her.
Rebecca, though heartbroken and tired, decided to take control of her life. She knew that if she told her parents about her plans to divorce, they would strongly oppose it. They had invested too much in this marriage, seeing it as a way to gain power and influence in the demon kingdom.
But Rebecca no longer cared about that. Her heart was crushed, and her husband's cold anger only made her more determined to leave. She couldn't continue living this way, and she wouldn't let anyone stop her.
Quietly, she began to plan. Every move had to be careful, and she needed to hide her intentions from her parents. She started gathering documents and seeking advice from trusted sources. She worked on the legal steps for the divorce. It wasn't easy. Rebecca had to keep her calm, pretending everything was normal while her mind raced with thoughts of escape.
She avoided her husband as much as she could, staying out of his way, not wanting to make him angrier. The house felt cold and dark, but Rebecca knew that soon, it wouldn't be her home anymore.
She had no one to talk to, no one she could trust completely. But she held onto the hope that soon, she would be free. That hope was the only thing keeping her going.
Just when Rebecca felt a glimmer of hope, everything changed again. One morning, as she went about her routine, she suddenly felt dizzy and weak. Her body felt heavy, and a wave of nausea washed over her. Before she could react, she fainted.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a dimly lit room. Her husband was sitting beside her. She tried to sit up, but dizziness hit her again.
"Stay still," he said sharply.
A doctor was called, and he rushed in to check her. The atmosphere felt heavy as Rebecca lay there, fear and uncertainty swirling in her mind. When the doctor finally spoke, his words shattered her heart.
"You're pregnant," he said, glancing between them.
Rebecca felt as if the ground had dropped from under her. Her mind raced. How could this happen now? She didn't want a child, especially with a man who had shown her nothing but disdain.
Her husband's expression changed instantly. The anger in his eyes softened, replaced by disbelief. "Pregnant?" he echoed, almost unable to believe it.
Rebecca felt trapped. The news that should bring joy now felt like a heavy burden. The divorce she had planned suddenly seemed impossible. Would her parents force her to stay with him for the sake of the child? Would she have to endure this marriage for a baby she hadn't wanted?
As her husband turned to face her with coldness fading from his face, she felt the weight of their situation pressing down on her. Hope had slipped away, replaced by confusion and fear.
After days of turmoil, Rebecca made a plan. Her husband was preparing to go to war, and she saw this as her chance to escape. She knew this was the moment she had to take. If she could leave while he was away, she might finally find freedom.
As soon as he left, she gathered her things quietly. She packed only what she could carry and left a note, hoping it wouldn't be discovered until she was far away. Her heart raced with fear and excitement as she slipped out of the house.
But her freedom was short-lived. While trying to navigate through the dark forest, she was caught by the princess of the demon kingdom. The princess, who had always been a fierce and cunning woman, looked at Rebecca with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "You think you can run away?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain.
Before Rebecca could respond, the princess ordered her guards to take her back. Her heart sank as she was led back to her home. Word of her capture reached her husband, and he rushed back, anger flashing in his eyes.
Once he arrived, he stormed through the door, his fury palpable. "What were you thinking?" he shouted, looking between Rebecca and the princess. The princess smirked, enjoying the chaos she had caused.
To punish Rebecca, he ordered that she be placed under house arrest. He stationed a few trusted maids to keep watch over her, making it impossible for her to hide any of her actions. Every time she tried to speak or argue, her husband only grew angrier. The walls of her home, once familiar, felt like a prison now.