What she realized was that though they craved her body, she’ll latch onto the position of a noble wife with her status as an illegitimate child haunting her.

Though men praised her for her beauty endlessly, mouthings words of love, they were only willing to give her the position of mistress and nothing more. She had nothing, no noble family backing her nor riches. Her position meant that she’d be thrown away soon as she ages and loses her beauty.

It was why she sought so desperately to gain the title of a viscount’s wife. And now, she was a mistress to a count. She thought she’d be satisfied with...