I Was Told 'No One Would Miss You,' So I Became the Empress of Another Country - Episode 1

When I stepped into the grand hall of the palace, a small unease flickered in my chest.

The dazzling light from the ornate chandelier reflected off the marble floor, shining brilliantly, yet my heart remained strangely cold.

My father stood silently beside me.

His short, neatly trimmed black hair was streaked with gray, and his deep blue eyes held a strict intensity.

As the head of the Kreutzfeldt ducal family, he was a figure of respect among everyone present.

And yet, today, for some reason, he could not hide the stern expression on his face.

In my line of sight stood Crown Prince Leon, his golden hair gleaming.

Bright green eyes and a confident smile.

I should have felt proud to see him, as I always had—but today, for some reason, my heart wavered.

“You came,” he greeted, smirking.

His arrogance seemed even stronger than usual.

“I’ve always been grateful to you, but unfortunately, I’ve found someone else.”

The air around us instantly froze.

My father stepped in front of me, his sharp gaze locked onto Leon.

“…Explain yourself,” he said, his voice low, razor-sharp like a predator closing in on its prey.

But Leon showed not a hint of hesitation.

“Exactly as I said. I’ve found a more suitable woman. So, our engagement is over.”

He spoke as if discarding a toy he no longer wanted.

At that moment, a heat should have flared up in my chest… yet before I could even feel anger, I was overcome with sheer disbelief.

Leon and I had been engaged since childhood.

The union of the kingdom’s most prestigious ducal house and the crown prince had been celebrated by all.

And now, he was casting it aside so one-sidedly?

“You… are not needed.”

His green eyes looked down on me as he spat those words.

At that moment, something inside me shattered.

No denial, no apology—just discarded at his convenience.

“How dare you…”

My father muttered under his breath, clenching his fists in an effort to contain his anger.

I forced myself to stand tall, maintaining my composure.

“…I understand.”

Unforgivable.

That much was clear.

But no matter how much I yelled here, Leon wouldn’t change.

His arrogance and selfishness had always been the same.

Swallowing my frustration, I bit my lip and lowered my gaze.

Leon turned on his heel without a second glance, walking out of the grand hall as if mocking us.

Beside him stood a woman with a strangely seductive smile.

Soft brown hair and a flashy dress that clung to her figure.

She must be the “suitable woman” Leon spoke of.

In the dim light, she—Flora, I heard—gazed at me like a predator eyeing its prey.

Her smirk, filled with disdain, sent a strange chill down my spine.

I would never surrender.

Even if I had to accept the annulment, I wouldn’t simply cry and let it end.

I glanced at my father’s back. There, I saw unwavering determination.

I felt the same.

Even if my heart froze with sorrow, I would not give up here.

As Leon disappeared from the hall, I silently pressed my lips together.