“You are hereby divorced! Pack your things and leave!”
That was the first conversation Emilia had with her husband, Duke Bell Ordon, in a long time.
“…I understand.”
Emilia, who had been his wife, quietly accepted those words. She had a bad feeling about this for a while now.
“I will give you only tonight. Take the child and leave by tomorrow morning.”
With no room to argue, the conversation was cut short. Emilia quietly returned from the parlor to her bedroom, walking down the dimly lit corridor of the duke’s estate, lost in thought.
From the very start of this political marriage—no, even during the engagement—Bell’s affection had been weak. But when had things really begun to change?
It was probably after she gave birth four years ago.
Their child, Ford, had an exceptionally low amount of magic power at birth. This greatly disappointed Bell.
He never held the child, nor did he speak to him.
To Bell, Ford was not worthy of his affection.
“This is not my child.”
“A failure like this cannot inherit the Ordon family name.”
How many cruel words had been thrown her way? But Emilia endured.
(Magic power isn’t everything… just because someone has little magic power…)
In this world, spiritual magic is not solely determined by innate ability—training is just as important. Many people contribute to the country even with little magic power.
Besides, Bell himself had only an average level of magic power.
She had heard from the maids that as a child, Bell had very little magic himself.
Perhaps that was why he couldn’t accept the fact that his son was just as ordinary. He couldn’t bear it.
(But this child… he is our child… yours and mine…)
Emilia’s thoughts never reached her husband.
First, his cologne changed. That was something she couldn’t have failed to notice.
Yet, as she held baby Ford in her arms, she said nothing to Bell.
She couldn’t say anything.
Their marital life had ceased, and on some nights when Bell returned from social gatherings, there was a faint scent of women’s perfume lingering on him.
(…Bell… you don’t care about me anymore, do you?)
Even then, Emilia endured.
Even when the maids whispered behind her back, even when her in-laws ignored her.
Because Ford was her child.
Even if the Ordon family did not acknowledge him.
Raising and protecting her son was her only reality.
But reality was cruel.
In the end, she had been told to leave.
She had spent five years in the Ordon family. Ford was now four years old.
And now, their marriage was over.
Returning to her bedroom, Emilia collapsed onto the bed.
Her delicate black hair spread out around her. Her dark eyes turned to the couch.
There, her beloved son Ford lay fast asleep, a picture book in his hands.
“…Ford.”
His shining black hair, his sharp yet gentle eyes, his angelic soft cheeks.
She could never tire of looking at him. He was the most adorable thing in the world.
It seemed that Ford had fallen asleep while reading.
He was quite articulate and intelligent for his age. She was sure he had a bright future.
His tiny lips moved slightly as he murmured, “Mama…”
Perhaps he was dreaming.
(…What should I do now?)
She had been divorced and cast out. She had no answers for what was next.
And Ford’s future… what would happen to him?
Emilia clenched the bedsheet tightly.
“Why did it have to end up like this?”
“Emilia is always so absent-minded.”
That was the common opinion about Emilia Serido, the duke’s daughter.
Of course, this was not a compliment.
Emilia was not slow-witted. In fact, she was quite sharp.
However, she was bad at expressing her will, and her thoughts and words often did not align—almost as if the gods had overlooked a detail when creating her. Because of this, both her family and peers often underestimated her.
At the noble academy, she was always the top student.
Her talent in spirit magic was unmatched, earning her the admiration of the instructors.
But because she spoke little, people saw her as passive and slow.
She never bothered to correct them.
After graduating, Emilia married Duke Bell Ordon.
At that time, she was seventeen.
And at their wedding, Bell sneered at her.
“This is nothing more than a political marriage. Never forget that.”
Bell loved drinking and women. He was the exact opposite of the reserved Emilia.
She had never been particularly concerned about a man’s looks, but he was considered attractive.
But that didn’t matter.
To Emilia, Bell was merely the first man she had ever been with—there was never any dream of love.
Before she knew it, she was pregnant. She gave birth to Ford.
Now, Emilia was twenty-one, and Ford was four.
It was painful and heartbreaking.
She didn’t care what happened to her.
But—Ford. Her son.
She just wanted him to have a normal, happy life.
Was that even possible?
She had no family to turn to. After her marriage, both her parents had passed away, and her brother had inherited the family.
Their estate was small, and Emilia knew they had no financial means to help her.
(I will do anything. As long as Ford can be safe…)
So, she wished for strength.
The strength to protect her child.
And just as that wish formed—
A flood of memories surged into her mind.
A blue planet. Towering skyscrapers. Another life entirely.
“…This is…”
A headache pounded in her skull as she grasped the pillow tightly.
Overwhelmed by the storm of information, Emilia suddenly understood.
These were memories of a past life.
On the night she was cast aside, Emilia remembered everything.