'You have something you must accomplish.'
I couldn't tell who the other person was, but I knew the answer to that question.
'There is! There is something I must achieve!'
It was desperate. That's why I could desperately hope, even without knowing who it was. I pleaded, "Give me a chance, give me just one more chance, and this time I'll watch over everyone."
Could it be that the owner of this voice is a goddess? Has she answered my prayer?
'Then... again...'
The sporadic voices rang loudly in my ears before fading into the distance. I reached out to catch them, but nothing touched me. It felt like I was drowning in a deep ocean, everything disintegrating between my fingers.
I struggled with all my might. I knew it couldn't end like this.
“...yla! Layla!”
Someone called my name loudly. It was a very familiar, warm voice. I desperately stretched out my arms and hugged the owner of the voice.
What is this illusion? Is it a gift to me as I face death?
“Layla, baby. Are you okay?”
A longing smell wafted into my nostrils. The owner of this voice, this smell, was none other than my mother. My mother, whom I couldn't even see off as she was dragged away as a slave...
Even if it was a dream, I would have liked it. Even if it had been a last hope before going to hell, I would have liked it.
“Mom, Mom...”
I whined like a little child, calling for my mother. She didn't scold me, just hugged me.
"Layla, did you have a bad dream? How bad could it be, my beautiful daughter?"
“It was a really, really bad dream. It was a very bad dream.”
My mother patted my back and soothed me. Her touch was warm and affectionate.
Not long after, my father came barging into the room.
"Layla, what's wrong? Why aren't you even down for breakfast..."
“What are you all doing here?”
“Sister, are you sick?”
Even the second oldest, Ruin, and the youngest, Adam, gathered in my room. Their faces were all filled with worry. They were faces I longed for. Faces I longed to see so desperately.
I ran to them and hugged them with both arms. My younger brothers were all grown now, and I couldn't even fit them in my arms, but I hugged them with all my might.
My family was taken aback by my sudden behavior, but soon they laughed out loud and comforted me.
“It looks like my sister had a terrible nightmare.”
“I see. Yes, let me hold my daughter.”
My father hugged me tightly. I heard his neck was clearly hung on the wall, and everyone was pointing at him.
But not now. My father's neck rested comfortably on my shoulder. It was so moving I couldn't bear it.
I burst into tears, even though I knew it would look weird.
I asked my father, who was looking at my face with concern.
“This isn’t a dream, is it? I’ve been having nightmares all this time, right?”
“Of course. Of course.”
How could such a terrible nightmare exist? I wiped my tears and laughed.
“Come on, wipe your tears and let’s have breakfast together.”
I nodded at my father's words. My family members left my room, each one hugging me or comforting me.
Yes, this whole thing was a horrible nightmare. From the beginning, I thought nothing had happened. Or rather, I decided to think so.
Oh my gosh.
Blood flowed from my mouth. It wasn't much, but it was definitely blood.
I was lost in thought, awkwardly covering the faint blood on my palm with my other hand.
Even in my nightmares, this definitely happened. I went to the doctor, but he told me I only had wounds in my mouth and throat. But at the end of the nightmare, I vomited a ton of blood and died.
Maybe this time too.
I sat down on the bed weakly.
I have gone back in time.
How did I come to regress?
I looked back on the last moments.
I knelt before the statue of the goddess for hours before being supported by Grand Duke Dukezan. Did the blood and tears I offered reach the goddess?
“Miss, are you still here?”
Anna, the maid, urged me cautiously. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at me.
A face much younger and more lively than my nightmare, or rather, my previous life, was facing me.
My hair, which had been growing increasingly tangled, is now wavy and beautifully golden. Furthermore, my body, engrossed in swordsmanship, was firm and smooth.
I stood there, my hand on the mirror, then quickly turned around. What I looked like didn't matter. What mattered was protecting my family.
As I descended the stairs to the dining room, I saw a family sitting around a table. Perhaps because I'd been crying since morning, they greeted me with even more warmth.
I started breakfast with the warm attention of my family.
Unlike most nobles, the Count of Winsley was busy chatting and laughing throughout the meal.
My mother was an elegant but witty woman, and my father was a man of dignity but with a gentle smile.
Born to two loving parents, it was only natural that we three siblings would cherish each other. Ruin and Adam followed me closely, and I, in turn, cherished them dearly.
While we were eating in a pleasant atmosphere, my father coughed twice and then started talking shyly.
“Layla, the Marquis Amber said she wants to hurry up and get married.”
Mother covered her mouth and laughed, then patted Father on the side.
“It’s Layla’s wedding, why are you embarrassed?”
“But, honey, I feel quite embarrassed about sending my daughter off to get married.”
Laughter erupted again at the table. Ruin, the second oldest, beamed and raised his wine glass.
"I met Marquis Amber a while ago. He wasn't as handsome as me, but he was quite handsome. He seemed to have good manners, too."
Adam, the youngest, also stepped forward and spoke.
“And he shows a lot of affection for my older sister. That’s what I like most about him.”
The whole family agreed. Everyone nodded happily and raised their wine glasses to clink. But I didn't raise my glass.
Kaiser Amber. Just thinking about that name made my teeth shiver.
While my family was dying, he didn't even glance at me. He didn't even show me any sympathy. I couldn't even imagine sharing a bed with someone like that again.
"I don't want to marry Marquis Amber. I want to break off the engagement, Father."
It was a bombshell. Before his marriage, Kaiser had been a man who instantly captured the hearts of noble ladies with his handsome face and smooth manners.
When Kaiser proposed marriage to me, I still vividly remember the countless girls glaring at me with admiration and jealousy. I was certainly thrilled and nervous back then. Now, I'm trembling with anger.
The family looked at each other in bewilderment. The father was the first to speak.
“Has the Marquis of Amber been rude to you?”
The Count of Winsley's family, except for his mother, held knighthood, and everyone possessed a strong spirit. Because of this, once they gave their heart to someone, they never looked back.
It was the same for me. I, too, had given everything to Kaiser in my previous life. It must have been strange for me to suddenly turn around like a palm.
“Did the Marquis of Amber upset you?”
The mother also asked worriedly.
“That kid acts like a tongue in the mouth in front of us, but he doesn’t act like that in front of you, sister?”
Adam asked excitedly. I shook my head at all of his questions.
“No. He was polite to me, too.”
“But why?!”
My family all craned their necks and asked loudly. Their genuine concern for me was so evident that I almost cried. I straightened my back even more to avoid being overcome by emotion and spoke.
“I want to marry that Grand Duke of Dukezan.”
At the chaotic table, I was the only one who felt calm. I wiped my mouth with a handkerchief and calmly raised my head, only to see my family, filled with shock.
"That person is not good enough! I absolutely oppose this marriage!"
I'd expected it, but my father's opposition was fierce. His usually gentle face twisted in pain. It seemed as if he would leap from his seat and grab me at any moment.
“Layla, what are you missing that you would marry someone like that!”
I also expected my mother's tears.
"Sister! I absolutely hate this! If you don't like the Marquis of Kaiser, I'll find someone else for you!"
Ruin and Adam also shouted excitedly.
I wasn't too surprised because I knew my family would object.
It was only natural. Grand Duke Dukezan was a man known as a monster.
Rumors abounded about him. From his body being covered in stone to his teeth being as sharp as a wolf's, from his refusal to eat cooked meat to even claiming he could eat humans.
It was often said that the reason Grand Duke Dukezan settled in the north was that he was made of stone and suffered from the heat, and also to hide from people's eyes.
I thought back on that rumor.
'If such rumors spread, he won't even come out.'
I took a deep breath and clutched the hem of my skirt tightly with my hand. I absolutely had to convince my family. They put my happiness first, so breaking off my engagement with Kaiser wasn't that difficult.
However, marrying the Grand Duke of Dukezan required a lot of effort.
"It's all for the sake of my family. The Grand Duke has a lot of money and power. I want to marry him and help the family."
While the father was shocked and didn't know what to do, the mother, Ruin, and Adam all joined in shouting.
"Honey, please don't even mention that. Do you want to see your heart break?"
“Yes, Sister! That guy eats people!”
“We can live well enough without my sister marrying such a monster!”
I squeezed my eyes shut at the sound of my family's screams and cries. I wanted to get up and scream right away.
No! Our house is going to be ruined! Kaiser has a plan to ruin it! I saw it from the future!
But I couldn't say that. While I was pondering what to do, my father coughed loudly.
“Layla, let’s talk to this father.”
I couldn't tell who the other person was, but I knew the answer to that question.
'There is! There is something I must achieve!'
It was desperate. That's why I could desperately hope, even without knowing who it was. I pleaded, "Give me a chance, give me just one more chance, and this time I'll watch over everyone."
Could it be that the owner of this voice is a goddess? Has she answered my prayer?
'Then... again...'
The sporadic voices rang loudly in my ears before fading into the distance. I reached out to catch them, but nothing touched me. It felt like I was drowning in a deep ocean, everything disintegrating between my fingers.
I struggled with all my might. I knew it couldn't end like this.
“...yla! Layla!”
Someone called my name loudly. It was a very familiar, warm voice. I desperately stretched out my arms and hugged the owner of the voice.
What is this illusion? Is it a gift to me as I face death?
“Layla, baby. Are you okay?”
A longing smell wafted into my nostrils. The owner of this voice, this smell, was none other than my mother. My mother, whom I couldn't even see off as she was dragged away as a slave...
Even if it was a dream, I would have liked it. Even if it had been a last hope before going to hell, I would have liked it.
“Mom, Mom...”
I whined like a little child, calling for my mother. She didn't scold me, just hugged me.
"Layla, did you have a bad dream? How bad could it be, my beautiful daughter?"
“It was a really, really bad dream. It was a very bad dream.”
My mother patted my back and soothed me. Her touch was warm and affectionate.
Not long after, my father came barging into the room.
"Layla, what's wrong? Why aren't you even down for breakfast..."
“What are you all doing here?”
“Sister, are you sick?”
Even the second oldest, Ruin, and the youngest, Adam, gathered in my room. Their faces were all filled with worry. They were faces I longed for. Faces I longed to see so desperately.
I ran to them and hugged them with both arms. My younger brothers were all grown now, and I couldn't even fit them in my arms, but I hugged them with all my might.
My family was taken aback by my sudden behavior, but soon they laughed out loud and comforted me.
“It looks like my sister had a terrible nightmare.”
“I see. Yes, let me hold my daughter.”
My father hugged me tightly. I heard his neck was clearly hung on the wall, and everyone was pointing at him.
But not now. My father's neck rested comfortably on my shoulder. It was so moving I couldn't bear it.
I burst into tears, even though I knew it would look weird.
I asked my father, who was looking at my face with concern.
“This isn’t a dream, is it? I’ve been having nightmares all this time, right?”
“Of course. Of course.”
How could such a terrible nightmare exist? I wiped my tears and laughed.
“Come on, wipe your tears and let’s have breakfast together.”
I nodded at my father's words. My family members left my room, each one hugging me or comforting me.
Yes, this whole thing was a horrible nightmare. From the beginning, I thought nothing had happened. Or rather, I decided to think so.
Oh my gosh.
Blood flowed from my mouth. It wasn't much, but it was definitely blood.
I was lost in thought, awkwardly covering the faint blood on my palm with my other hand.
Even in my nightmares, this definitely happened. I went to the doctor, but he told me I only had wounds in my mouth and throat. But at the end of the nightmare, I vomited a ton of blood and died.
Maybe this time too.
I sat down on the bed weakly.
I have gone back in time.
How did I come to regress?
I looked back on the last moments.
I knelt before the statue of the goddess for hours before being supported by Grand Duke Dukezan. Did the blood and tears I offered reach the goddess?
“Miss, are you still here?”
Anna, the maid, urged me cautiously. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at me.
A face much younger and more lively than my nightmare, or rather, my previous life, was facing me.
My hair, which had been growing increasingly tangled, is now wavy and beautifully golden. Furthermore, my body, engrossed in swordsmanship, was firm and smooth.
I stood there, my hand on the mirror, then quickly turned around. What I looked like didn't matter. What mattered was protecting my family.
As I descended the stairs to the dining room, I saw a family sitting around a table. Perhaps because I'd been crying since morning, they greeted me with even more warmth.
I started breakfast with the warm attention of my family.
Unlike most nobles, the Count of Winsley was busy chatting and laughing throughout the meal.
My mother was an elegant but witty woman, and my father was a man of dignity but with a gentle smile.
Born to two loving parents, it was only natural that we three siblings would cherish each other. Ruin and Adam followed me closely, and I, in turn, cherished them dearly.
While we were eating in a pleasant atmosphere, my father coughed twice and then started talking shyly.
“Layla, the Marquis Amber said she wants to hurry up and get married.”
Mother covered her mouth and laughed, then patted Father on the side.
“It’s Layla’s wedding, why are you embarrassed?”
“But, honey, I feel quite embarrassed about sending my daughter off to get married.”
Laughter erupted again at the table. Ruin, the second oldest, beamed and raised his wine glass.
"I met Marquis Amber a while ago. He wasn't as handsome as me, but he was quite handsome. He seemed to have good manners, too."
Adam, the youngest, also stepped forward and spoke.
“And he shows a lot of affection for my older sister. That’s what I like most about him.”
The whole family agreed. Everyone nodded happily and raised their wine glasses to clink. But I didn't raise my glass.
Kaiser Amber. Just thinking about that name made my teeth shiver.
While my family was dying, he didn't even glance at me. He didn't even show me any sympathy. I couldn't even imagine sharing a bed with someone like that again.
"I don't want to marry Marquis Amber. I want to break off the engagement, Father."
It was a bombshell. Before his marriage, Kaiser had been a man who instantly captured the hearts of noble ladies with his handsome face and smooth manners.
When Kaiser proposed marriage to me, I still vividly remember the countless girls glaring at me with admiration and jealousy. I was certainly thrilled and nervous back then. Now, I'm trembling with anger.
The family looked at each other in bewilderment. The father was the first to speak.
“Has the Marquis of Amber been rude to you?”
The Count of Winsley's family, except for his mother, held knighthood, and everyone possessed a strong spirit. Because of this, once they gave their heart to someone, they never looked back.
It was the same for me. I, too, had given everything to Kaiser in my previous life. It must have been strange for me to suddenly turn around like a palm.
“Did the Marquis of Amber upset you?”
The mother also asked worriedly.
“That kid acts like a tongue in the mouth in front of us, but he doesn’t act like that in front of you, sister?”
Adam asked excitedly. I shook my head at all of his questions.
“No. He was polite to me, too.”
“But why?!”
My family all craned their necks and asked loudly. Their genuine concern for me was so evident that I almost cried. I straightened my back even more to avoid being overcome by emotion and spoke.
“I want to marry that Grand Duke of Dukezan.”
At the chaotic table, I was the only one who felt calm. I wiped my mouth with a handkerchief and calmly raised my head, only to see my family, filled with shock.
"That person is not good enough! I absolutely oppose this marriage!"
I'd expected it, but my father's opposition was fierce. His usually gentle face twisted in pain. It seemed as if he would leap from his seat and grab me at any moment.
“Layla, what are you missing that you would marry someone like that!”
I also expected my mother's tears.
"Sister! I absolutely hate this! If you don't like the Marquis of Kaiser, I'll find someone else for you!"
Ruin and Adam also shouted excitedly.
I wasn't too surprised because I knew my family would object.
It was only natural. Grand Duke Dukezan was a man known as a monster.
Rumors abounded about him. From his body being covered in stone to his teeth being as sharp as a wolf's, from his refusal to eat cooked meat to even claiming he could eat humans.
It was often said that the reason Grand Duke Dukezan settled in the north was that he was made of stone and suffered from the heat, and also to hide from people's eyes.
I thought back on that rumor.
'If such rumors spread, he won't even come out.'
I took a deep breath and clutched the hem of my skirt tightly with my hand. I absolutely had to convince my family. They put my happiness first, so breaking off my engagement with Kaiser wasn't that difficult.
However, marrying the Grand Duke of Dukezan required a lot of effort.
"It's all for the sake of my family. The Grand Duke has a lot of money and power. I want to marry him and help the family."
While the father was shocked and didn't know what to do, the mother, Ruin, and Adam all joined in shouting.
"Honey, please don't even mention that. Do you want to see your heart break?"
“Yes, Sister! That guy eats people!”
“We can live well enough without my sister marrying such a monster!”
I squeezed my eyes shut at the sound of my family's screams and cries. I wanted to get up and scream right away.
No! Our house is going to be ruined! Kaiser has a plan to ruin it! I saw it from the future!
But I couldn't say that. While I was pondering what to do, my father coughed loudly.
“Layla, let’s talk to this father.”
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