IWRYC Chapter 01

Chapter 1: This Is the Story of My Revenge on You and That Woman

“Haa… Haa…”

In the deep night, Elise felt like this wide and luxurious room was her grave.

No, maybe it really was.

‘How… how did I survive…’

Tears welled in her tired eyes, making her look pitiful and worn out.

Elise held her stomach and silently let her tears fall.

She cried without a sound.

No matter how much she tried to lower her body temperature—hiding away, using everything she could—the fever wouldn’t go away.

At first, she thought it was just the flu or a cold. She even took herbs for it. But those days felt distant now.

Because she knew—this wasn’t an ordinary fever.

It started not long after she arrived here. Her senses had become strangely sensitive, and her nerves were on edge. It was more than just illness.

She realized the heat was coming from deep within her body.

But she didn’t know how to stop it.

‘…It itches. Why?’

The heat swirled inside her constantly, as if her body had fallen into fire. There was no place that didn’t feel hot.

She closed her eyes tightly, still pressing a hand to her stomach.

Tears—or maybe sweat—gathered on her chin.

‘This heat… it’s not good for the baby… How can I stop it…’

Inside her stomach was a precious baby.

She had fought to protect it. She couldn’t lose the child to something like a fever.

“Colds, fevers… even minor illnesses can be dangerous to ordinary people, but especially to pregnant women like you. Fever is especially dangerous. Think of all heat-related illnesses as threats.”

“I thought that was obvious, but… why is fever so dangerous?”

“Why? Because of the strong poison still in your body. Fever only makes it worse.”

But how was she supposed to stop it?

“Do you understand now? This is serious. You must be careful, no matter what. Especially about fever! Do whatever it takes to get rid of it!”

Even now, the fever filled her body, tormenting her. She knew it was bad for the baby, but she had no way to stop it.

“Haa… Hhh…”

Elise was so overwhelmed by the heat that she didn’t realize someone had entered her room. She didn’t notice him standing there, staring at her.

Step, step.

She barely lifted her head at the sound of footsteps.

“Tsk.”

Her soft, pale face was already a mess of tears.

“I told you not to cry alone like this. Didn’t I?”

His elegant voice, each word coldly spoken, belonged to someone far above her in status.

“D-Duke… Your Grace…”

As Elise tried to bow, he grabbed her chin and lifted her face.

His grip was firm. She couldn’t escape from his strength.

“Is a greeting really the most important thing right now?”

“Your Grace…”

Another tear rolled down her cheek.

“Please… help me…”

Elise knew this man could do anything.

He had appeared in her room before, always at odd hours.

Now that she’d been caught, she had no choice but to ask for help.

The man watched her calmly, his godlike face unmoving.

“Do you really want my help?”

“Do you know a way?”

Was there truly a way to get rid of this fever? If so, she could save her baby.

“What if I do?”

“Please… please, help me… My baby might get hurt…”

At her desperate voice, the man gently stroked her chin.

“Your baby, your baby… Is that all you care about? Is the child the master of your life?”

His voice was cold and filled with something Elise couldn’t quite understand. She just grabbed his large hand, desperate.

Her small hands couldn’t even wrap around his completely. She just held onto the edge of it.

“I said I have a way. I didn’t say what it is. Think carefully.”

He was giving her a final chance.

“If… if I do it, will the fever really go away?”

“Yes,” he whispered low, his voice like a soft rumble.

For some reason, Elise felt like she was standing at a crossroads, listening to a devil whisper in her ear.

His hand moved to her delicate neck.

“Just so you know, I’m not a kind man.”

His hand moved over her skin as smoothly as if he were playing piano.

“If you nod… I won’t stop.”

“….”

“Are you sure you won’t regret this?”

“…Please… help me.”

If there was any way to save her baby, Elise would hold even the devil’s hand.

Only then did the man, who always looked at her with icy eyes, smile faintly.

“Anything?”

“A-anything. I’ll do anything.”

“What shall I do with you…”

He lifted Elise’s face.

His elegant face was as noble as ever.

But inside his golden eyes, raw desire swirled like something from the slums.

“I guess I’ll understand it in my way… since I’m not a good man.”

Elise felt her nightgown slipping down slowly. His lips touched her neck, his teeth grazing her skin.

She trembled.

“Maybe you should be grateful to your baby.”

Strangely, the moment his hand touched her deepest point, the fever vanished—replaced by a strange sensation.

She felt no more heat. That alone was enough.

He paused, as if giving her one last chance to back out.

But Elise grabbed his hand and placed it back.

His eyes narrowed. Looking at her thin body and sorrowful face, he finally leaned in, consuming her completely.

“Don’t regret this.”

Only the flickering candlelight saw the shadow of a man tearing through fabric like a beast.

***

Six years earlier.

The morning birds chirped, and Elise was being dragged somewhere.

She hadn’t fully woken up yet. Her body had no strength.

“Get her out!”

She gave up struggling. The arms holding her finally let go.

“Ugh…”

She fell to the floor, pushed by rough hands. Her face hit the ground.

No one reached out to help her.

She looked up weakly under cold stares.

It was a parlor filled with portraits and paintings.

A woman sat with her legs crossed like a statue.

“…Mother.”

Elise spoke, her voice trembling in confusion.

The woman looked down with cold eyes.

“Elise. Why didn’t you get up on time and make me go through all this trouble?”

“I’m sorry… Please forgive me…”

Her mother—the Marchioness Fitzroy—ignored the apology and examined her nails.

“You didn’t attend the meeting with Count Taras.”

Her tone was uninterested, but Elise turned pale and looked up.

Her shoulders trembled, though she tried to stay calm.

“Please reconsider… He’s too old for me…”

Her mother had been looking for a marriage for Elise even before she became an adult.

Most of the suitors were looking for second wives.

Count Taras was over sixty. Everyone knew he had cruel tastes.

There were rumors that his last three wives died young.

“Silence.”

Slap!

Elise’s cheek was struck hard.

The Marchioness brushed off her hand as if she had touched something dirty. No one in the room reacted.

This kind of violence was common in the mansion.

Usually quiet and pitiful, Elise raised her voice in panic.

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Who said you could speak?”

The Marchioness remained cold.

“You’re still not awake, I see. I told you many times—just because you carry the Fitzroy name, don’t think you belong.”

Every time she looked at Elise, there was hatred in her eyes.

“You have your father’s eyes. I hate them.”

Splash!

Icy water poured down Elise’s head.

Her body and clothes were instantly soaked.

The Marchioness looked disgusted.

“You should never have been born.”

Elise looked up weakly.

“I don’t even want to keep you here. Do you understand?”

The Marchioness was stunning—brown hair, red eyes, and elegant lines, even in her wrinkles.

With her beauty, she had seduced the emperor and become his courtesan.

To such a woman, having an adult daughter was just a burden.

She was dressed in extravagant clothes, ready to go out.

Compared to her, Elise—just woken up—looked pitiful.

Her hair was messy, face pale, and her sorrowful look only made her seem weaker.

Her real father was Count Carote.

About ten years ago, her parents divorced at the Marchioness’s request.

Her father agreed only if she raised Elise.

That’s why Elise still lived here.

Neglected.

“Just go away already.”

But even that neglect had its limits.

“I personally arranged this marriage for you, didn’t I?”

Elise tried to live quietly. Otherwise, her mother would get rid of her.

But it wasn’t enough. Even her existence was bothersome now.

“Madam, the Duke is here to see you.”

Unlike other noble ladies who started their day at noon, the Marchioness began early.

Because she often had to receive guests as a messenger from the emperor.

In this house, the Marchioness held more power than the Marquis.

No matter the time—dawn, midnight—Elise had to come when called.

This was the power of the emperor’s courtesan.

“I’m coming.”

The Marchioness passed Elise and walked away.

Just before she opened the door, Elise whispered,

“…Am I really your daughter?”

The Marchioness glanced back and smiled coldly.

“I wish you weren’t.”

Click. The door shut.

Elise stood alone, wiping the water from her clothes.

Around her, the maids stared and whispered.

Snicker.

She heard them laughing.

“Isn’t she the illegitimate child from an affair?”

Even the new maids said such things openly.

Elise’s status in the house was lower than a stable dog.

‘…Let’s go back.’

She stood up, pretending not to hear.

“Oh my, poor thing… I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“She didn’t say a word even after getting soaked. I guess the Marchioness really wants to get rid of her.”

As Elise walked away—

“She keeps saying she’ll sell her off.”

“Who’s getting sold?”

Smack!

“Ah!”

A maid screamed.

“You brat. How dare you.”

Elise turned her head at the sound and saw the maid on the floor.

It was one of the gossiping ones.

Another maid gasped.

“L-Lady Lydiana!”

The young woman who had just entered the house dusted her hands.

Then she stepped on the maid’s hand.

“Hey, girl. Say that again?”

“L-Lady Lydiana…”

“Go on. Say what you said to Elise. Say it to me.”

The maid struggled, but Lydiana didn’t move her foot.

In the end, the maid cried and bowed her head.

“I-I’m sorry!”

She knew Lydiana wasn’t someone to mess with.

But Lydiana didn’t stop there. She glared around the room.

“Anyone else want to say something?”

The other maids flinched.

No one dared speak.

The Marchioness didn’t even stop Lydiana from doing these things.

Who would dare stop the daughter of Count Clotilde?

Elise called her.

“Lina.”

“Elise!”

Lydiana immediately dropped her scary expression and rushed over.

She held Elise’s hand.

“Oh no… You’re freezing…”

“I’m okay.”

Lydiana Clotilde was Elise’s closest friend.

She was always furious about how Elise was treated and stood up for her.

“What are you doing here this early?”

“I knew you’d be up by now. Let’s go to my house.”

She wrapped a shawl around Elise.

“…Sorry, I’m late. I wanted to come earlier…”

Lydiana knew how violent the Marchioness could be. She had gritted her teeth in frustration.

“It’s okay. I’m glad you came at all. And… Mother’s always like this.”

Lydiana looked at her friend’s sad smile and felt pity and anger.

People often asked if the Marchioness was Elise’s stepmother—but no, she was her real mother.

‘She’s insane.’

It was unbelievable that someone could be this cruel to their own child.

Lydiana just wanted to get her friend out of there as soon as possible.

So much that she forgot she hadn’t come alone.

Elise noticed the unfamiliar person first.

“By the way, who’s that?”

“Oh! Sorry, I forgot to introduce her.”

Lydiana tapped her cheek as if she’d just remembered.

“…Say hello. She’s my friend.”

She pointed to a girl around their age.

“I was actually going to introduce you two today.”

She had planned to do it before the Marchioness hurt Elise—but things didn’t go as planned.

Lydiana frowned.

‘This isn’t how I wanted her to meet her…’

Even though she rushed, she was still late.

Now, someone else had seen a side of Elise she probably wanted to hide.

Elise smiled at her apologetically.

‘Still… she seems like a good person.’

Even if she pretended to be fine, Elise couldn’t relax completely.

“Hello. I’m Iris Abecherene.”

The guest was a beautiful woman with red hair.

She smiled warmly, as if she hadn’t seen anything strange.

“Hello. I’m Elise Fitzroy… but I guess you already knew that.”

“Yes. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Iris stepped closer and offered a handkerchief.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

Elise took it and gave a faint smile.

“…Thank you.”

The three headed to Lydiana’s house.

Wrapped in dry clothes and a warm blanket, Elise finally had time to talk.

Lydiana didn’t usually get close to others, so Elise was curious.

“Um, Miss Iris… Does your name mean ‘iris flower’?”

“Yes.”

Iris smiled gently.

“It’s my favorite flower.”

She looked elegant and well-mannered, even though she was quite striking.

She didn’t look down on Elise for her messy appearance, nor did she pity her.

For Elise, who was always looked at with scorn or contempt, this kindness made her heart flutter.

“What about you, Lady Fitzroy? Do you have a favorite flower?”

“I like irises too. Um… because someone I care about loves them.”

Elise smiled softly, lost in a memory.

“…I see.”

Because of that, she didn’t notice Iris watching her with an unreadable gaze.

Back then, Elise thought Iris might be a good person.

She had no idea what that woman would do in the future.