C6
Bianca, who was born the daughter of a nobleman, was immature and ignorant about how to desperately protect what was hers. She therefore, she had been kicked out of her position, completely clueless. Bianca withdrew into herself as she spent her days in the cold convent and harbored strong regrets regarding her life.
Why did I believe in Fernand's love? Why didn't I have a son? Why was I so miserably dumped?
The cause behind all of Bianca's regrets was Zachary.
Her husband, Zachary de Arno, to be more exact.
If a child had been born to her and Zachary, then it was likely that she would never have been kicked out like that.
No. If she had been on good terms with Zachary from the beginning, then Fernand would never have used her.
No, not that. She never would have been caught up in the viscount's plans if she had never married Zachary in the first place.
Bianca wondered what would have happened if she hadn't returned to her 16-year-old self, but to her 7-year-old body before marrying Zachary. But she knew that she would still have ended up marrying him. After all, her marriage was chosen by her father after much deliberation, and it was the best political marriage for the Blancheforts.
Even though she had returned to her 16-year-old body, Bianca was grateful that she had been given another chance at life. She had spent many years brooding over her regrets on the cold floors of the convent, so at least it was clear what she had to do from now on.
Bianca swore never to suffer the same degradation and humiliation that she faced before.
If marriage was ultimately a business, he realized the wisest choice would be to secure his own share of the profits. Bianca's pale green eyes gleamed with determination as she pushed aside thoughts of trivial matters, focusing instead on what was most important.
To her knowledge, Zachary's death would occur during the war. He would be 36 years old and Bianca 23. That meant there were still seven years left until then. In order not to be expelled after her husband's death, Bianca needed to make sure she didn't lose any interest in Fernand or other men and focus on getting pregnant with Zachary's child. Then her son would become Arno's heir and Bianca would do her best to run the affairs of the county and hold out until her son became an adult. It was a perfect plan. Once her son came of age, he would surely take care of her.
But there was a problem. Bianca and her husband weren't exactly on terms that would easily open up the possibility of her having a child.
"If I'm still 16... Then that means we still have to consummate our marriage..."
Bianca sighed, feeling puzzled. There were still two years left until her marriage was consummated and Zachary would never approach her first on her account. She never seemed to be in a hurry. They probably never would have slept together, even until his death, if his vassals hadn't bothered him so much.
In that case, Bianca couldn't just sit back and wait. Seven years might sound like a long time, but considering that Zachary would be constantly leaving the castle to go to the battlefield, it would be appropriate to say that the length of time Bianca would actually have with him was only half that amount. Although it was possible to get pregnant after just one night together, it wasn't guaranteed. People said that pregnancy came easily to those who wanted to avoid it, while it evaded those who yearned for it.
In other words, seven years was already too short a period to try to conceive a child, so Bianca couldn't let two of those years go by just lazing around.
Whether using seduction or persuasion, she would have to make the first move.
A blush colored her cheeks. How would he do it? Should she proceed with a light seduction and wait for him to respond? But Bianca was not a sensual beauty. The chances of success were low.
Or should I be bold and confidently demand it? Zachary can nod and agree if she uses the approach her vassals used, arguing that it was natural to have an early heir for the sake of the Arno family.
Bianca let out another sigh. Even if she were to make the first move, it didn't mean that Zachary would like it, but that she would be suspicious. Her eyes would scan him for underlying motives, wondering when she had begun to worry about the future of the Arno family. They were a couple whose relationship was no different from that of strangers, no, it could even be said that it was worse.
Looking back, it was surprising how Bianca was able to maintain her position as the lady of the castle until Zachary's death. If she was Zachary, she would have kicked her out a lot sooner.
Perhaps Zachary had wanted to get rid of her, but he pitied her because the Blanchefort family had perished, leaving her with nowhere to return to. Or it was possible that he wanted to seize Blanchefort's territory.
Bianca saw the latter option as more likely. If it wasn't for that, she couldn't think of any other reason why he would have tolerated her misbehavior.
Their marriage was political from the beginning and there was no love or loyalty between them. Besides, it wasn't Bianca that Zachary needed to be loyal to; it was not she he married but the Blanchefort family. In return, Zachary strengthened political cooperation with the Blancheforts and led the battles in the war for the first prince.
That's how it is. Bianca and Zachary's relationship was nothing more than contractual. Their goal was to unite their families and achieve mutual prosperity. Surely he wouldn't object if she brought up the idea of an heir.
Even if he may have someone else in his heart.
Bianca couldn't forget the words of the maids who speculated that Zachary might have a mistress. At that moment, she shuddered and pretended not to have heard him. The idea of her husband, whom she didn't love, having a mistress only caused irritation, so she didn't even want to waste another second on it. She didn't even try to confirm if Zachary really had one or not. Frankly, Bianca thought it would be weird if she didn't have one.
An image of her husband gently caressing another woman's cheek and pressing his body against hers came naturally to Bianca's mind. She wondered what kind of woman her lover would be. A servant? Or the daughter of another noble? Would Zachary have loved that woman?
A bitter smile marred Bianca's lips. Regardless of whether Zachary liked another woman or not, Bianca's goal remained unchanged. Of course, the idea of having to be held by a man she already had another was humiliating and disgusting, but she was better than being used and cast out while everything was stolen from her.
I'm just running a business. After all, marriage is essentially a business. Zachary's son will be the perfect source of financial support. I'm sure the child will protect my dowry and I won't have to lose the Blanchefort and Arno territories to that bloody viscount either.
Bianca closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them again, they were burning with rage. Thinking back, this had all been because of Viscount Hugues. Zachary's death had been an opportunity for that cruel and deceitful man to come in and line his own pockets. Rather, it was possible that he also played a role in Zachary's death, since he was the only one who would benefit from it.
Furthermore, given the moment Fernand had first approached Bianca, it was clear that the viscount's instigating plot had been long in the making, like a gathering of dust. He must have been planning to get rid of her all along and that was why he had sent Fernand. He had used Fernand to hurt her and extort money from her. The viscount must have been over the moon when he took possession of everything she had, including her future and tokens of her past. Just thinking about it made anger well up inside her.
If things end up going well between her and Zachary, successfully conceiving and finally giving birth to Arno's next heir...
His next move would then be revenge.
Vengeance against Viscount Hugues and Fernand. No matter when or how, she swore that she would pay with the same humiliation and pain that she had been given.
Bianca was the daughter of an earl, and although her husband was a baron, he eventually became an earl, and thus she also became a countess. She had an immense amount of pride, and that pride would surely have played a part in preventing her from being able to maintain a friendly relationship with Zachary. But to think that a mere viscount would dare to interfere and mess with her life. He only added to Bianca's fury.
At some point, the sun had completely set, which darkened the outside environment. The night sky was a perfect representation of how Bianca felt. The darkness was endless and it was hard to even see what was coming. But just as the night would vanish when the sun rises, the darkness would vanish as well.
His revenge would fulfill the role of dawn. Looking forward to that day, Bianca fully accepted the fact that she had returned to the past. She put her hand to her chest and murmured a prayer.
“I am forever grateful for your mercy, for forgiving me of my sins and granting me the wish to be revived. My faith in you is unshakeable and I promise to act according to your will… With all sincerity, I swear on this second life that you have given me.
Bianca's lips curved up in an odd way. Her eyes sparkled like fresh spring flowers, but there was also a burning flame reflected in her pupils. A flame of desire tinged with obsession that she refused to be easily extinguished.
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