Why was something that was supposed to happen a year later happening so soon? Princess Abigail was still alive and well. If my family volunteered for the operation to subdue the demons now, everyone would be branded traitors, just like in my past life.
With a pale face, I ran straight out of the tower. I had to hurry to the carriage and head to Count Winsley's residence.
"Ma'am!"
Julian called out loudly from behind, but I couldn't hear him. But I couldn't resist the force with which he stopped me, as if snatching me away.
I tried to force myself away from him, but Julian wouldn't back down this time. I pleaded with him.
“We have to go now! My family is in danger.”
"Are you talking about the Count of Winsley? If they are..."
“If this continues, they will all die!”
I shouted. Julian grabbed my shoulders tightly as I struggled to control myself in confusion. The moment I met his crimson eyes, I briefly came to my senses.
"Calm down. Send a messenger to Count Winsley's house. It'll be faster."
While I was gasping for breath, Blay, who was standing nearby, shouted.
"That's right, Your Highness. It's raining heavily outside right now. The roads here aren't properly paved, so carriages can't travel on rainy days."
“Then I will ride a horse too!”
“Madam, you must remain calm. You are not yet fit to ride a horse.”
Julian gestured to Blay. One of the wizards brought me paper and a pen, and Blay immediately prepared the horse and man. With trembling hands, I quickly scribbled down the words on the paper.
"Never volunteer for the operation to subdue the demons. They're trying to frame Count Winsley as a traitor. - Layla Duchzan"
I quickly signed and placed the letter in the envelope, as if I didn't want to waste another word. I left the letter with the person already on horseback and hurried up the stairs to follow.
“Madam, your injury is still...”
Julian spoke urgently from behind, but I strode briskly up to the top of the tower, oblivious to the pain in my legs. As I was stuffing my clothes into my bag, Julian entered the room.
“Layla.”
I wandered around the room in a panic, unable to hear Julian calling me. I couldn't even pack my things neatly, but I couldn't completely abandon everything and leave.
I couldn't quite figure out what I should do at this very moment. My mind was spinning, my vision blurring, and then becoming hyper-clear.
The past repeats itself.
The past that I absolutely wanted to prevent is repeating itself.
That was the only thought in my head.
“Layla Duchzan.”
Julian called me again. Only then, following the flow of my subconscious, did I lift my head toward him. He approached me, knelt on one knee, and grabbed my ankle.
At that moment, the pain I'd forgotten came rushing back like a tidal wave. My mind went blank, and I staggered, unable to keep my balance. If Julian hadn't held my arm tightly, I would have fallen.
“Slowly. Bend down slowly.”
Julian coaxed me like a child, and I gritted my teeth and lowered myself. He carried me to the bed.
“We have to leave quickly. My family is...”
I pleaded, grabbing Julian's forearm as if trying to scratch it. But Julian firmly laid me down on the bed and examined my feet.
"The wound is swollen. It's almost healed. You're being careless. As I said before, you can't ride in this condition."
“But Julian, I have to go to my family.”
"Calm down. Your family is the honorable Count of Winsley. Your father is the Margrave of Winsley. He has protected this empire from the demon all his life. He would consider it a disgrace to be so fearful."
I pushed Julian hard. His hard chest didn't budge even a little, but I pushed with all my might and shouted.
“That doesn’t matter!”
A look of bewilderment, confusion, and a hint of disappointment crossed Julian's face. But I didn't have the slightest ounce of heart left to be offended by such things.
“If they die now, I will lose my honor!”
As I said that, I tried to get up. But Julian held me tightly by my shoulders and pinned me down on the bed. I tried to kick him, but the wound on my leg resonated so loudly that a choked groan escaped me.
“Ugh...”
"Calm down."
Julian pressed down on my knees urgently, preventing me from thrashing in pain and worsening the wound. He looked down at me and asked.
“Layla. What the hell do you know?”
At that question, the future I knew flashed before my eyes. The baby I gave birth to, my father and mother, Ruin, and even Adam... My family had fallen into tragedy. They were either killed or enslaved.
I wasn't present for the end of any of them. All I was left with was the finger pointing at me as the daughter of a traitor. And that life ended with my death.
I opened my eyes wide and cried. My eyes were so painful they felt like they would burst, but I couldn't bring myself to close them. I felt like if I closed them, I'd fall back into that hell, like this miraculous new life would shatter like a dream...
Julian whispered to me, who was shedding tears until my eyes turned bright red.
“Please let me help you.”
Oh, I had this guy.
The one who embraced me at the end of my hell and who protects me in my new life.
I tilted my head to the side and looked at him. Julian's eyes were infinitely affectionate,
“Will you believe me no matter what I say?”
It was a story I couldn't tell anyone because I thought no one would believe me, or because I felt like my dream would be shattered the moment I opened my mouth.
However...
“I believe.”
The moment Julian nodded and gave a short answer, I felt confident I could speak. I slowly raised my upper body and sat down on the bed. Julian was still kneeling in front of me, looking up at me. I took his hand and opened my mouth.
“I lived the same life once. This is my second life.”
Julian started to say something, but I lightly pressed my fingertips to his lips and told him about what I'd been through.
I originally married Kaiser, had a weak baby with him, was imprisoned without being able to participate in the operation to subdue the demon beasts, my family was accused of being traitors, I had to deal with a government that lived with me in the Marquis's residence, and a prostitute who came and went every day, and I died without even receiving proper medical treatment.
"I don't know why. But I came back, and I swore to protect my family in this life. That's why I married you... That's why."
Julian listened quietly to the whole story. I brought up something I couldn't leave out.
"I feel like it was my fault I gave birth to a weak baby. That's why I never intended to have a baby with you in the first place. I figured it didn't matter since I'd be dead in two years anyway. So, in a way, it was a sham marriage."
I bowed my head. I had a desperate, almost desperate reason, but Julian had his own wishes. But from the beginning, I had decided to waste two years of his life.
“I’m sorry. There’s no excuse.”
I thought I couldn't help it if he criticized me. I thought he'd be angry, whether he called me crazy or a selfish woman. But Julian gently wrapped his arms around my knee and said.
“You had no choice.”
I raised my head slightly. Julian's eyes were filled with confusion. The story I told wasn't the kind that could be easily believed. Nevertheless, Julian said he would believe me, and he was doing his best to believe me.
“Anyone who has experienced something like that would feel like they are standing on the edge of a cliff.”
He even tried to comfort me. I opened my trembling lips. Should I thank him? Or apologize?
I didn't know what to say first, so I couldn't say anything. In the end, all I could say was a shameless question.
“Do you... Forgive me?”
"Well."
Julian reached out and stroked my hair. I could clearly hear his fingers brushing against my ear.
“You’ll have to repay me from now on. This time, you won’t die.”
“But the curse still exists...”
“You can live. That’s why we ran all the way here.”
Julian spoke with conviction. That conviction instantly calmed my anxiety. I was amazed.
In this life, I've always been gripped by anxiety. It was the same even when I was smiling, and even when I was hectic. But at this moment, I was simply amazed by Julian's presence, which instantly brought me peace.
I touched Julian's cheek and whispered.
“You are a miracle to me.”
“In what way is that so?”
“Well, there’s no way a bad woman like me could have a husband as perfect as you...”
I whispered and bowed my head. As I removed Julian's mask and kissed him, my heart, which had been at peace, began to beat again.
I pulled Julian back, hugging his neck. Julian held on for a moment, then collapsed onto the bed with me.
Julian looked at me with a sullen expression. It wasn't an expression of discomfort. It was more of a feeling of impatience and heat.
Julian gritted his teeth and tried to back away from me. But I pulled him back, as if possessed.
"Julian, it's raining heavily outside. I can't even ride a horse, let alone a carriage. I'm so anxious, I can't do anything..."
Julian tried to look away from me, but I put my lips to his ear and whispered.
“Please comfort me.”
With a pale face, I ran straight out of the tower. I had to hurry to the carriage and head to Count Winsley's residence.
"Ma'am!"
Julian called out loudly from behind, but I couldn't hear him. But I couldn't resist the force with which he stopped me, as if snatching me away.
I tried to force myself away from him, but Julian wouldn't back down this time. I pleaded with him.
“We have to go now! My family is in danger.”
"Are you talking about the Count of Winsley? If they are..."
“If this continues, they will all die!”
I shouted. Julian grabbed my shoulders tightly as I struggled to control myself in confusion. The moment I met his crimson eyes, I briefly came to my senses.
"Calm down. Send a messenger to Count Winsley's house. It'll be faster."
While I was gasping for breath, Blay, who was standing nearby, shouted.
"That's right, Your Highness. It's raining heavily outside right now. The roads here aren't properly paved, so carriages can't travel on rainy days."
“Then I will ride a horse too!”
“Madam, you must remain calm. You are not yet fit to ride a horse.”
Julian gestured to Blay. One of the wizards brought me paper and a pen, and Blay immediately prepared the horse and man. With trembling hands, I quickly scribbled down the words on the paper.
"Never volunteer for the operation to subdue the demons. They're trying to frame Count Winsley as a traitor. - Layla Duchzan"
I quickly signed and placed the letter in the envelope, as if I didn't want to waste another word. I left the letter with the person already on horseback and hurried up the stairs to follow.
“Madam, your injury is still...”
Julian spoke urgently from behind, but I strode briskly up to the top of the tower, oblivious to the pain in my legs. As I was stuffing my clothes into my bag, Julian entered the room.
“Layla.”
I wandered around the room in a panic, unable to hear Julian calling me. I couldn't even pack my things neatly, but I couldn't completely abandon everything and leave.
I couldn't quite figure out what I should do at this very moment. My mind was spinning, my vision blurring, and then becoming hyper-clear.
The past repeats itself.
The past that I absolutely wanted to prevent is repeating itself.
That was the only thought in my head.
“Layla Duchzan.”
Julian called me again. Only then, following the flow of my subconscious, did I lift my head toward him. He approached me, knelt on one knee, and grabbed my ankle.
At that moment, the pain I'd forgotten came rushing back like a tidal wave. My mind went blank, and I staggered, unable to keep my balance. If Julian hadn't held my arm tightly, I would have fallen.
“Slowly. Bend down slowly.”
Julian coaxed me like a child, and I gritted my teeth and lowered myself. He carried me to the bed.
“We have to leave quickly. My family is...”
I pleaded, grabbing Julian's forearm as if trying to scratch it. But Julian firmly laid me down on the bed and examined my feet.
"The wound is swollen. It's almost healed. You're being careless. As I said before, you can't ride in this condition."
“But Julian, I have to go to my family.”
"Calm down. Your family is the honorable Count of Winsley. Your father is the Margrave of Winsley. He has protected this empire from the demon all his life. He would consider it a disgrace to be so fearful."
I pushed Julian hard. His hard chest didn't budge even a little, but I pushed with all my might and shouted.
“That doesn’t matter!”
A look of bewilderment, confusion, and a hint of disappointment crossed Julian's face. But I didn't have the slightest ounce of heart left to be offended by such things.
“If they die now, I will lose my honor!”
As I said that, I tried to get up. But Julian held me tightly by my shoulders and pinned me down on the bed. I tried to kick him, but the wound on my leg resonated so loudly that a choked groan escaped me.
“Ugh...”
"Calm down."
Julian pressed down on my knees urgently, preventing me from thrashing in pain and worsening the wound. He looked down at me and asked.
“Layla. What the hell do you know?”
At that question, the future I knew flashed before my eyes. The baby I gave birth to, my father and mother, Ruin, and even Adam... My family had fallen into tragedy. They were either killed or enslaved.
I wasn't present for the end of any of them. All I was left with was the finger pointing at me as the daughter of a traitor. And that life ended with my death.
I opened my eyes wide and cried. My eyes were so painful they felt like they would burst, but I couldn't bring myself to close them. I felt like if I closed them, I'd fall back into that hell, like this miraculous new life would shatter like a dream...
Julian whispered to me, who was shedding tears until my eyes turned bright red.
“Please let me help you.”
Oh, I had this guy.
The one who embraced me at the end of my hell and who protects me in my new life.
I tilted my head to the side and looked at him. Julian's eyes were infinitely affectionate,
“Will you believe me no matter what I say?”
It was a story I couldn't tell anyone because I thought no one would believe me, or because I felt like my dream would be shattered the moment I opened my mouth.
However...
“I believe.”
The moment Julian nodded and gave a short answer, I felt confident I could speak. I slowly raised my upper body and sat down on the bed. Julian was still kneeling in front of me, looking up at me. I took his hand and opened my mouth.
“I lived the same life once. This is my second life.”
Julian started to say something, but I lightly pressed my fingertips to his lips and told him about what I'd been through.
I originally married Kaiser, had a weak baby with him, was imprisoned without being able to participate in the operation to subdue the demon beasts, my family was accused of being traitors, I had to deal with a government that lived with me in the Marquis's residence, and a prostitute who came and went every day, and I died without even receiving proper medical treatment.
"I don't know why. But I came back, and I swore to protect my family in this life. That's why I married you... That's why."
Julian listened quietly to the whole story. I brought up something I couldn't leave out.
"I feel like it was my fault I gave birth to a weak baby. That's why I never intended to have a baby with you in the first place. I figured it didn't matter since I'd be dead in two years anyway. So, in a way, it was a sham marriage."
I bowed my head. I had a desperate, almost desperate reason, but Julian had his own wishes. But from the beginning, I had decided to waste two years of his life.
“I’m sorry. There’s no excuse.”
I thought I couldn't help it if he criticized me. I thought he'd be angry, whether he called me crazy or a selfish woman. But Julian gently wrapped his arms around my knee and said.
“You had no choice.”
I raised my head slightly. Julian's eyes were filled with confusion. The story I told wasn't the kind that could be easily believed. Nevertheless, Julian said he would believe me, and he was doing his best to believe me.
“Anyone who has experienced something like that would feel like they are standing on the edge of a cliff.”
He even tried to comfort me. I opened my trembling lips. Should I thank him? Or apologize?
I didn't know what to say first, so I couldn't say anything. In the end, all I could say was a shameless question.
“Do you... Forgive me?”
"Well."
Julian reached out and stroked my hair. I could clearly hear his fingers brushing against my ear.
“You’ll have to repay me from now on. This time, you won’t die.”
“But the curse still exists...”
“You can live. That’s why we ran all the way here.”
Julian spoke with conviction. That conviction instantly calmed my anxiety. I was amazed.
In this life, I've always been gripped by anxiety. It was the same even when I was smiling, and even when I was hectic. But at this moment, I was simply amazed by Julian's presence, which instantly brought me peace.
I touched Julian's cheek and whispered.
“You are a miracle to me.”
“In what way is that so?”
“Well, there’s no way a bad woman like me could have a husband as perfect as you...”
I whispered and bowed my head. As I removed Julian's mask and kissed him, my heart, which had been at peace, began to beat again.
I pulled Julian back, hugging his neck. Julian held on for a moment, then collapsed onto the bed with me.
Julian looked at me with a sullen expression. It wasn't an expression of discomfort. It was more of a feeling of impatience and heat.
Julian gritted his teeth and tried to back away from me. But I pulled him back, as if possessed.
"Julian, it's raining heavily outside. I can't even ride a horse, let alone a carriage. I'm so anxious, I can't do anything..."
Julian tried to look away from me, but I put my lips to his ear and whispered.
“Please comfort me.”
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