# 9 -
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Siret turned around when she heard Yuan's voice. After bumping into Lidya, now meeting Yuan also made her feel extremely exhausted.
“Surprising to see you here, Your Highness.”
“Indeed, this is a completely unexpected meeting place.”
Yuan took the umbrella that Siret was holding and handed it to the store employee. The employee immediately began wrapping it.
“I just wanted to see the big store—and I needed an umbrella.”
“If you had told me, I could have gotten you a much better one.”
Yuan said as he took out his wallet.
“These are actually excellent. They are from a large department store run by the Freaktwister family, after all.”
Seret replied as she accepted the wrapped umbrella the employee handed her.
“Did you have lunch?”
Yuan asked, having completed the payment.
“No, not yet.”
“Then let's eat together.”
"I'll have to decline. We've already had breakfast together."
Seret dismissed him with a slight smile. Yuan's secretary and his assistants looked shocked, while Eve and Hana looked nervously in Yuan's direction.
“As you wish.”
Yuan didn't seem upset at all. Instead, he politely stepped away to let her pass.
Seret made a polite nod and quickly passed him.
She really had no desire to have lunch with Yuan, not today.
Meeting Lidya by chance was already exhausting—having lunch with Yuan on the same day would be nothing short of self-torture.
All Seret wanted was to remove herself from their lives as soon as possible.
“Ma’am, why did you reject him? You could have had lunch together.”
Hana followed Seret, her tone tinged with worry.
“I'm just tired.”
“His Highness must have felt embarrassed. Especially with his aides present...”
“Not my problem.”
Seret shrugged. She didn't care at all if Yuan was upset.
“But, miss...”
Hana's face was filled with genuine concern.
The cut on her fiancé's forehead, the cancellation of the engagement, the rejection of meal invitations—Hannah began to wonder if her mistress might be mentally unsound.
“Eve, I would like to have a light lunch at a café.”
“I know the right place.”
Eve replied with a warm smile.
Instead of dining with Yuan, Seret chose a quiet lunch with Yves—an excellent decision.
That is, until Yuan invited her to dinner.
Siret sat staring blankly at Yuan as he cut the steak.
The way he held his knife and fork, the silent elegance with which he cut the steak—there was nothing to criticize.
This was Yuan Freaktwister. The man who embodied the title of Duke better than anyone else.
The Frecktwister family had a long and prestigious history, even said to rival the Imperial Family. Some joked that if the Empire fell, the Freaktwister family would still be standing.
Among all the dukes in this glorious lineage, Yuan was the brightest star.
His appearance was beyond description, and his intelligence? He graduated from university at the age of eighteen.
Not only was he intelligent, he had a sharp business mind. Within a few years of becoming duke, he doubled the family business.
Even as a child, his hunting prowess was so remarkable that he often embarrassed Syrett's older brother Jeremy by easily catching multiple foxes.
He wasn't just talented—he was absolutely perfect.
“Doesn't it suit your taste?”
Yuan noticed that Seret had not touched her food, so he finally asked.
“It's delicious. I would expect nothing less from the cuisine of Frecktwister Palace.”
“And yet, you haven't taken a single bite.”
"I'm just tired. It's been a long day."
Seret shrugged.
Stopping herself from spitting in Lydia's face was exhausting. Lost in thought, her eyes drifted to the scar on Yuan's forehead.
Compared to the pain she had experienced in her previous life, it was nothing—but at least it left a mark on his flawless face.
She had no intention of taking revenge on either of them.
Wasting her precious life on avenging a previous life seemed foolish. Let them burn or flourish together, she didn't care.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
If Yuan and Lidya ended up together, they would never have children. Lydia cannot get pregnant.
If they married, the lineage of the Freaktwister Biyuan family would end.
It was a breed so rare that Yuan was the only one left with the name Freaktwister.
Most of the side families were dead as well. If Lidya did not have children, the great Freaktwister family would die along with Yuan.
What will his face look like when he realizes that the lineage will end with him?
Knowing his cold nature, he probably wouldn't even think about taking a mistress.
“What fun thoughts are on your mind?”
Yuan asked, noticing Seret's smile.
“I just thought of something funny.”
Seret smiled warmly.
I thought briefly—What if I brought Yuan and Lidya together? If I stepped down and brought them together, wouldn't that be a form of revenge as well?
Lydia's infertility only became widely known after her marriage.
She was unable to have a child with her husband, Robbie Bronk. The problem wasn't him—it was her.
As a child, Lydia suffered from a skin disease and took a cure made by her mother for a long time.
Her maternal grandmother was of Held stock—a nomadic people known for their advanced medical knowledge.
The treatment her mother made, although effective for skin diseases, had the side effect of causing infertility.
Lydia tried to hide this fact, but the secrets did not last long in high society.
Although people pretended not to know, everyone knew. Even Syrett—who had few friends—was aware of this.
“What could possibly entertain you so much, Miss Enohater?”
Yuan patted his mouth with a tissue. Even that annoying gesture was annoyingly elegant.
“You won't find it very amusing, Your Highness.”
"I won't pressure you any further. Have you decided on the dress?"
"Yes. I really liked it. I forgot to thank you—thank you, Your Highness."
Seret replied with a polite smile. Yuan took a sip of wine and put down his glass.
“You ordered every dress Madam Barn showed you.”
Seret, momentarily distracted by his graceful movement, blinked in surprise.
“All of them?”
"Yes."
“Why?”
I looked at him in disbelief.
One dress was more than enough for a royal party.
“I thought it would be necessary. Your wardrobe...”
Yuan paused as if he was choosing his words carefully.
Seret could guess what he was thinking and helped him.
“You mean it's vulgar?”
“That was not my intention.”
Yuan frowned slightly. Direct speech was frowned upon in noble society, so his reaction made sense. Seret smiled coldly.
"I think it's tacky too. I used to wear modified versions of my mother's dresses—it's unavoidable."
“In that case, I'll be honest. Your wardrobe doesn't fit the Freaktwister name.”
“Then let me be more frank, Seret Inohater does not fit into the Freaktwister family at all.”
Seret seized the moment and responded. In her previous life, she had swallowed his words. But not anymore. There was no reason for that.
"You have a tendency to twist my words. That's not what I meant—but if I offended you, I apologize."
“I'm not upset. Not because of something like this.”
Compared to what she had suffered after marrying him in her previous life, his words were nothing. However, emotions surged unexpectedly.
Yuan tilted his head slightly as he looked at her.
“I'm happy.”
“Since we're on the topic, may I ask you something?”
Yuan nodded.
“Why me?”
Seret looked him straight in the eye.
“Please excuse me?”
Yuan blinked, clearly confused by her question.
She studied his face carefully before repeating herself.
“Why did you propose to me?”
“I thought I explained when I proposed.”
He looked tired as he responded.
Seret smiled bitterly, remembering the past.
Every winter, the Fricktwister family held a fishing contest.
It was during one of these winter hunting trips, just after Yuan inherited his title, that he proposed.
It came out of nowhere. A man who had always seemed indifferent suddenly proposing marriage left Seret confused and wary.
So I asked him why.
His answer was that this was to pay off a debt from his father's time.
Seret's father had once saved his father's life. Marrying her was his way of repaying this favor.
For Syrett, that didn't make sense as a reason for marriage. So I stressed more.
“Are you really okay with marrying someone you don't love?”
At that, Yuan sneered.
“I don't think love is necessary for marriage.”
This response pierced her like a dagger.
A clear and unequivocal rejection of love. But Siret loved him. Since childhood.
Every winter, she accompanied her father to Fricktwister's hunting palace.
Every time, she saw Young Master Yuan and felt her heart quicken.
She never spoke to him much, but her admiration grew with each passing year.
One day, she hoped they would talk—maybe even dance. This hope blossomed into love.
When she finally received his offer, it felt like a dream come true.
For Seret, marriage means marrying someone you love. So her answer was clear;
“Okay. I will accept your offer, Your Highness.”
She accepted, believing that her love would be enough to bridge the gap.
“Do you want me to explain again?”
Yuan asked, raising his glass emotionlessly.
“I don't think that was the only reason.”
Was it simply to defy the emperor, who opposed the marriage? But why would the emperor oppose the marriage of an ideal man like Yuan to his daughter?
Could it be that he had gone against Yuan's cold personality? Or was there something else?
An idea suddenly struck her.
“Your Highness, isn’t it your duty to continue and preserve your family lineage?”
“It is.”
“And producing an heir is part of that duty, yes?”
"naturally."
Yuan did not break eye contact.
“So…is that why…?”
Seret muttered.
Yuan knew.
Long before rumors spread.
He knew that Lydia could not have children.
The Frecktwister family owned both hospitals and medical research facilities. It was those very facilities that discovered the side effects of the medication Lydia had once taken.
They began researching it for commercial use after seeing how effective it was—only to uncover the infertility it caused.
So, naturally, Yuan would have known.
He knew all along that Lydia couldn't have children.
“Bringing an heir to the Freaktwister family is also your duty, Miss Enohater.”
Yuan touched his slightly reddened ear and cleared his throat.
“I suppose it was.”
Everything is clear now.
I have always wondered why the Emperor opposed a perfect man like Yuan marrying his daughter.
It wasn't on purpose—it was because Lydia couldn't have children.
Yuan, knowing this, chose another suitable woman. One that could continue his bloodline.
He chose Seret, the daughter of a vassal family, under the guise of repaying a debt. He married her without love.
He used her body every night like an animal until she gave birth to a child.
Then he poisoned her.
Because Syeret Enohhater has fulfilled its purpose.
In her previous life, she died giving birth to that child.
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