The first image to appear within the orb belonged to Duke Charlie Willow.

He was walking through a carefully maintained garden filled with flowers surrounding a small manor, modest compared to Willow Estate. His hair was a darker, shinier black than it was now, and his movements carried a restrained excitement he seemed determined not to show. He looked much younger than he did in the present.

He had come with a delegation arranged for Lilith Petunia. Her family had informed him that the young lady had locked herself inside her greenhouse and refused to come out all morning. Charlie had decided to persuade her personally.

He rushed into the greenhouse.

As he closed the glass door behind him, the vibration knocked over a flowerpot, which shattered on the floor. Charlie didn't even spare it a glance. The greenhouse appeared empty, but he could hear muffled sobs coming from deeper inside.

His chest tightened.

He ran toward the sound.

Lilith was sitting on the floor at the far end of the greenhouse, leaning against the wall. Her knees were pulled to her chest, her face buried in her arms as she cried.

"Lilith..." Charlie whispered hoarsely. "Did something happen?"

Instead of calming down upon hearing his voice, she became even more agitated.

She jerked her head up.

Her pale green eyes were dark with anger.

"G-Go away," she hissed, her voice trembling from crying. "I don't want this."

"What?" Charlie asked helplessly.

"You. And marrying you."

Charlie sighed quietly.

He had expected this reaction.

Lilith had never loved him.

Charlie lowered himself to the ground in front of her. For a duke, it was an astonishing display of vulnerability. He studied her swollen eyes and reddened cheeks. He reached out, hoping to tuck those beautiful golden curls behind her ear and perhaps wipe away the tear stains on her face if she allowed it.

Lilith seemed to sense his intentions.

Before his hand could touch her porcelain-like skin, she moved away.

"D-Don't touch me," she muttered weakly.

"Then I won't," Charlie replied softly.

Silence fell over the greenhouse.

Neither of them spoke.

Eventually, Charlie lowered his head slightly and spoke in a gentle tone.

"I heard from your family that you're interested in botany. They said you've even entered competitions. Is that true?"

"Yes," Lilith answered quietly.

Charlie thought for a moment.

"That greenhouse should belong to you."

"My father gave it to me for my twentieth birthday."

"Don't you think it's a little small?"

"I've spent years improving it."

"When we marry, I can build you a bigger one."

"This one is enough for me."

"I think you should learn to be greedy."

Charlie smiled jokingly and shifted slightly closer.

The moment Lilith's hand protectively covered her stomach, he froze.

"Is something wrong?" he asked with concern.

Lilith quickly shook her head.

"My stomach just hurts."

"You shouldn't be sitting on the floor."

Lilith lowered her head shyly.

Charlie sighed.

He didn't want to pressure her.

Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a magnificent crimson flower.

Its petals remained perfectly pristine despite having been tucked inside his coat.

"A Fire Flower," Charlie said, offering it to her. "It symbolizes an eternal flame and everlasting love. Even a Phoenix will submit to someone carrying this flower."

He gently placed it into her hand.

"And this flower tells you that my love for you will never fade."

Lilith looked down at it.

She knew a great deal about botany.

This wasn't a Fire Flower.

A true Fire Flower always had golden markings on its crimson petals.

The flower in her hand was simply a rare variety known as a Blood Tulip.

"Thank you," Lilith murmured.

She didn't have the strength to argue.

The scene shifted several months forward.

Long after the wedding, Lilith was tending to flowers inside the greenhouse built specifically for her while Charlie watched from nearby.

Her pregnancy had become obvious.

"Are you really not going to rest?" Charlie asked softly.

"Spending time with my flowers makes me feel better."

"How many times do I have to tell you, Lily? Stay in your room. I'll have any flowers you want brought to your bedside."

"You make it sound like it's only about flowers. Besides, you know I'm against keeping flowers trapped in vases."

"And you make it sound like you regret marrying me," Charlie snapped at last. "Honestly, if it weren't for the baby, you'd probably run away."

Lilith offered neither agreement nor denial.

The vision shifted again.

Several months after the baby's birth.

Duke Charlie Willow stood alone beside a white crib, holding a toy.

The baby was absent from his arms but sleeping inside the crib.

Charlie absentmindedly shook a rattle while watching the chubby infant.

The baby's eyes were closed.

Tiny fists were clenched.

Its face looked unusually serious for a child so young.

"She's still avoiding me," Charlie murmured. "Your mother. No matter what happens, she never leaves that greenhouse."

He gently touched the baby's short golden hair.

Immediately, pale green eyes snapped open.

The infant stared curiously at the man beside her crib.

"You already look so much like her, Beatrice," Charlie said, his voice growing heavier. "I hope... I hope your heart doesn't resemble hers too. Your mother has never loved me."

Baby Beatrice lifted a tiny hand toward him.

For a brief moment, Charlie softened.

Then footsteps sounded from outside.

As if burned, he stepped away from the crib.

"I... I should go. She shouldn't see me here. At least..."

He lowered his gaze.

"At least she loves you."

The memories accelerated once more.

Years had passed.

Lilith sat behind the bars of a prison cell.

Charlie stood before her, his expression a mixture of heartbreak, sorrow, and fury.

"Did you really do it, Lilith?" he spat.

Lilith merely lowered her head.

Charlie rubbed his face in frustration.

"Fine. You don't love me. But at least for Beatrice's sake..."

His voice hardened.

"You even brought my daughter with you while meeting that bastard Leonard! How dare you? Do you know the punishment for adultery is death? You'll be executed, Lilith!"

The woman remained silent.

Realizing he would receive no answer, Charlie shook his head bitterly.

"We'll discuss this properly tomorrow. Unlike you, I truly love you. I don't want you executed. Wait for me tomorrow. I'll fix this."

The vision shifted to the following day.

The prison seemed darker.

The cell door stood open.

Charlie Willow knelt before the lifeless body of his wife.

Lilith Willow.

Her head rested in his lap.

Charlie stroked her beautiful golden curls.

Perhaps for the first time in his life, the duke was crying.

"Why?" he whispered weakly.

"Why would you do this to yourself?"

"My lord, may I come in?"

The moment the duke heard the butler's voice, he hurriedly pulled his head away from the orb and shoved the now-dark sphere into his desk drawer.

"Come in, Owen," he called, his voice trembling.

The butler entered.

The duke clasped his hands together.

"Has the delegation arrived?"

"They have, Your Grace. However, there's a problem."

"What problem?"

Owen slowly lowered his head.

His gaze fixed on the floor.

"I went to fetch her from her room. I also had the greenhouse and gardens searched, but..."

He hesitated.

"Lady Beatrice is nowhere to be found."