BPWBD 01

All Chapter

CHAPTER 01

The Imperial Palace of Dreat Empire was shrouded in darkness, but no one in the palace was asleep.

It was the day the sacred star Orphe rose—a star of the goddess, already high in the night sky, shining brightly.

Time marched toward dawn, and soon the sun would rise, breaking the night completely.

“Y-Your Majesty! The Empress… her contractions have started again…!”

With a start, the emperor rose from his seat without hesitation and rushed toward the door.

But his aide stepped in front of him.

“Move, Cedric.”

“Your Majesty, you understand how serious this situation is. What Graham sent is practically a declaration of war.”

The young emperor cast his golden eyes downward at the man blocking his path. If not for the fierce glare, one might have held their breath just from the brilliance of his beauty.

Cedric, however, held his breath for another reason—fear.

“If anything happens to my Empress, I’ll show them a hell worse than war.”

A chill of death washed over Cedric, who promptly stepped aside. The emperor strode out, and the office door slammed shut with a deafening bang.

Only then did Cedric, hand trembling, rub the back of his neck—checking, as if to make sure his head was still attached.

“Phew…”

The terrifying Emperor of Dreat never spoke empty threats—especially when it came to his wife.

Like all descendants of dragon blood, the imperial family was nearly obsessed with their mates.

Emperor Leodian’s love for his wife was exceptional. Including that, he was considered the most perfect monarch in Dreat’s history.

He had been born with immense power, as well as the majesty and dignity fitting of a ruler.

“This is no time to dawdle!”

Snapping out of his thoughts, Cedric hurried to follow his emperor. In his hand still remained the letter sent from the neighboring kingdom of Graham.

Meanwhile, the ruler of the empire burst through the palace halls, his crimson cape billowing behind him.

The imperial family of Dreat inherited the power of the ancient dragons.

Only the strongest among the bloodline inherited the throne. Leodian, who far surpassed his brothers, had naturally claimed it. He already had two sons, proving he was even blessed with children.

Children were rare in Dreat. The dragon’s blood was too potent and often too much for ordinary humans to bear. So the arrival of a third child was nothing short of a miracle.

‘And yet, before the child is even born, such blasphemous words?’

The emperor’s eyes turned cold as he recalled the letter his aide had delivered moments earlier.

The priests, as always, spoke with brazen arrogance.

Before Cedric arrived with the letter, Leodian had been at his wife’s side, helping her breathe through the pain.

He loved his wife more than his own life. But ever since she became pregnant with their third child, the Empress had grown weak and dangerously thin. Watching her writhe in pain, Leodian couldn’t help but consider the worst.

‘If Ariana’s life is in danger, I will give up the child.’

Leodian arrived swiftly at the birthing room, where a nurse from the Empress’s family—the House of Rochester—greeted him.

“How is Ariana?”

The nurse answered anxiously.

“She’s very weak… But she’s quite far along now.”

The Empress endured the pain of near-death, but the baby remained unmoving. Ten hours of labor had everyone on edge.

Leodian rushed to her side just before she passed out.

“Ariana.”

When he lifted her cold hand, her eyelids fluttered open with difficulty.

“Your… Majesty. I’m… alright.”

Her words only made Leodian’s heart ache more. She claimed to be fine, but her pale, trembling body said otherwise.

“Why is this taking so long? With Alec and William, it wasn’t this difficult.”

The imperial physician hesitated before responding.

“Y-Your Majesty, the Empress’s strength is greatly diminished, and…”

Due to prolonged morning sickness, she was too frail. Giving birth could even cost her life.

“I-I apologize, but… the baby’s condition is somewhat…”

He dared not finish the sentence, fearing it would be seen as treason.

“Somewhat?”

“The fetal heartbeat is far too rapid… while the Empress’s is growing faint.”

The emperor didn’t hesitate.

“Even if we lose the child, the Empress must survive.”

The Dreat Empire never gave up its heirs easily—but to Leodian, Ariana came first.

“Le…odian.”

The Empress called his name weakly.

“…I want to meet our child. So please…”

She must be asking him not to give up on the baby. The emperor’s eyes turned red with emotion.

“…Save them both. At all costs.”

“Agh!”

Just then, the Empress let out a sharp scream.

“Ariana!”

“Hold on just a bit more! The baby is coming!”

“Waaaah!”

Finally, after long and excruciating labor, the third imperial child of the empire let out their first cry.

I stared blankly at the man who was only good-looking at this point.

‘That’s supposed to be my dad?’

Tch.

I wasn’t impressed, but what could I do? I had already signed the contract.

‘Ugh… and I can’t take it back.’

A witch’s contract is absolute. The price of fulfilling it is great—and we stake not only our magic, but our very existence.

Even though I was reborn, I still had all my memories from my previous life—as the Central Witch, Erika.

In short, if I didn’t follow the contract, I was doomed.

‘I should’ve seen my dad before agreeing to this.’

Still, I really liked my mom, Empress Ariana. I felt lucky to be born as her daughter.

‘Even in that exhausted state, she’s so elegant and beautiful.’

Not long ago, didn’t she say not to give up on me?

That’s my mom!

‘Compared to her… tch, the emperor.’

Before I was born, I clearly heard him say—

‘What? It’s fine if the baby doesn’t make it. Just save my wife?’

Hmph! I thought this dad might be different.

To be fair, the emperor never outright said the child didn’t matter. I understood what he meant.

‘He feared my birth would cost her life. That’s why he said it.’

Even so, no matter how handsome he was, I was mad.

Do I just have terrible luck with fathers? Even if I expect nothing, I still get mad.

‘Tsk! He should’ve said, “Do everything to save both of them!”’

If I had the strength, I would’ve punched him—but I was a newborn with no muscles!

‘I can’t even lift my head.’

So instead, I grit my teeth—or tried to.

‘But I don’t even have teeth yet!’

Just bare gums clenching together.

‘You just wait. I’ll have you wrapped around my little finger!’

“Awuu… Awuung!”

At least I can babble.

‘You’ll be so obsessed with me, you won’t know what hit you!’

“Waaaah!”

You’ll be begging for my love like your life depends on it!

Hmph!

As I pictured my future emperor-dad groveling, a sly smile crept across my baby face.

Suddenly, overly enthusiastic voices broke in.

“Oh my! Did everyone see that?”
“Yes! I saw it too!”

What the heck?

“The princess just smiled at His Majesty!”
“How amazing!”

“Already? My goodness! She’s so advanced!”

Wait—what?!

Did they just think I smiled??

I was threatening him! Delivering a warning!!

“She must’ve been born with not only beauty but also great talent!”
“Normally, babies just grimace in their sleep, but our princess is exceptional!”

Ugh. I was suddenly exhausted and wanted to close my eyes. Then, an elderly noblewoman asked the emperor with a warm smile:

“Your Majesty, the baby is truly beautiful. Have you chosen Her Highness’s name?”

‘Name???’

Suddenly, I was wide awake. I liked the name Erika, my witch name—but my sisters gave me that name.

Now, I was curious. What would it feel like to be named by my real parents?

‘I bet it’ll be a beautiful name…’

With sparkling eyes, I looked at the emperor. He turned to Mom.

I struggled to move my eyes. And beyond him, I saw my mother smile and nod softly.

‘Eek! They picked a name together already!’

My heart pounded. If nothing else, I had high hopes for my name.

“I’ll take a few syllables from my wife’s name…”

Ooooh!!