Chapter 1: The Man Who Killed Me

Chapter 1: The Man Who Killed Me

In a grand corridor adorned with all sorts of jewels, showing just how much money was spent on it,

Slap-

The man who ruthlessly slapped me across my face was none other than my fianc, Damian Keane Daeus, the Grand Duke.

His emerald green irises went along well with his sharp eyes that angled upwards.

They seemed to stare at me, not as his fianc, but as a complete enemy. The deep animosity towards me was clearly visible in his eyes.

You dare make Lilian cry?

I tasted the bitter blood in my mouth and felt my cheek begin to swell. But I, the one who had just been slapped, didnt feel anything.

There was once a time when I believed that the man in front of me, who was currently convinced I had done something I hadnt, was my destined soulmate.

But not anymore.

The only feeling left in me was not love, hate, or resentment but mere annoyance.

Without saying anything, I slowly shifted my gaze to the slender woman Damian was holding, Lilian.

Lilian, a woman with lovely, long orange hair. Her large and beautiful, deep pink eyes were filled with large, round tears.

With an appearance so beautiful that one would think of her as a painting, she gently lifted the corners of her mouth while holding onto Damians arm and said,

Im alright, Damian.

After saying so, Lilian gave me what was clearly a mocking smile. As if she were the victor.

I looked at Lilian expressionlessly and shifted my gaze back to my fianc.

Then I called his name softly,

Damian.

With his jet-black hair, distinctive nose, dazzlingly white skin, and bright emerald eyes, he was undeniably handsome.

Just a few years ago, there were days when I would follow him around after falling in love with him at first sight.

But, of course, he never spared me a single glance. So in order to attract his attention, I used the healing ability that had been passed down through the Earl Serkia family and cured his long-term illness.

After witnessing my ability, Damian proposed to me, and despite knowing that he was using me, I foolishly accepted his proposal.

I was just a nominal fianc, but I thought if I put in the effort, he might look back at me at least once.

Aren.

The only times my fianc called me in a sweet voice was when he had injuries, but to me, those were the only moments I could touch his body.

His treatment towards me was somewhat bearable until one day, after continuing to delay the marriage through various excuses, he suddenly brought a woman named Lilian.

Aren, heal this woman. Please.

At the request of my fianc, I saved the life of a woman who was on the brink of death with my healing abilities.

Where is this?

Are you awake now?

When the woman, who seemed to be on the verge of death, opened her eyes, Damian was overjoyed.

Naturally, all of Damians attention shifted to Lilian.

Well, Ive witnessed Damian and Lilian sharing love in my own bedroom, so she was essentially the true mistress of the dukes house.

Hah

With that, all my emotions began to fade away.

I had lived with Damian in the dukes mansion for three years.

Through the three years that could be considered a long yet short period, I realized that all my efforts had been futile.

Why did I only realize this now?

No. In fact, I had known this for a long time.

It was just that I loved the man before me so much that I chose to turn away and deny the truth.

Damian. If that is what you wish

Im giving up on everything.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Lets break our engagement.

What?

Upon hearing my words, Damian made a dumb expression, as if he had heard something he shouldnt have.

The intruder will now take their leave, so the two of you can now live happily ever after on your own.

Aren!

Damian shouted my name in anger. I could see a reflection through his green eyes.

It was the reflection of a platinum-haired woman who was devoid of any emotion.

I briefly gazed at my reflection in his eyes before removing the engagement ring from my left ring finger.

It was the diamond ring that I had never taken off since I got engaged to him. Pulling off what I once believed to be a symbol of our love, I threw it onto the floor without any regret.

Ping-



Because of his stubborn daughter, he had given every sort of gift one could give to the Grand Duke, but then went to the battlefield and didnt make it back.

But my father, who should have passed away two years ago, is well and alive before my eyes right now.

Father!

Even forgetting that I was still in nightwear after just opening my eyes, I jumped into my fathers arms, and his body stiffened in surprise.

Aren?

Father Father This isnt a dream, is it?

I continued calling out to my father. Although startled by my sudden behavior, Father soon patted my back with his big hand.

My beloved daughter.

Father

It seems like you had a scary dream.

My fathers warm voice reached my ears.

Dream?

Those painful memories were all just a dream?

It couldnt have been just a dream that I lost my life at Damians hands.

The miserable days at the dukes mansion, the pain of being stabbed in the heart, his cold face looking down at me as if I were a mere slab of meat, my final moments as I collapsed and writhed on the floorthey were all so vivid.

I slowly loosened my hands from hugging my father and held his hand instead, then asked,

Father, you said today is my birthday, right? What year is it now?

Huh? Isnt it Imperial Calendar Year 829?

Imperial Calendar Year 829? Not 833?

Hahah, Aren, its the Imperial Calendar Year 829. Youre still half-asleep. Hurry up and get ready, then come to the dining room. I told the chef to prepare all your favorite dishes.

After hearing what Father said, I was at a loss for words.

The year 829 in the Imperial Calendar. June 15th. My twentieth birthday.

By some twist of fate, I had come back to the past. Back to my birthday four years ago.

Was this an opportunity given by God, who felt pity for me being thrown away after being used?

Whatever happened, I couldnt miss this opportunity. I needed to make sure I didnt die at Damians hands again.

One fortunate thing was that at this time, Damian had a disease that even a renowned doctor couldnt cure, and he didnt know that I was the only one who could cure it.

Can I use this to lead him to his downfall?

However, there was nothing more foolish than approaching Damian without any preparations. If so, the one who would be at the wrong end of the blade would be me.

So in order to bring Damian down, I must prepare thoroughly.

I need someone strong enough to protect our family and go to the battlefield in place of my father.

Then a person who met all these conditions flashed through my mind.

Among the people I knew in the empire, there was only one person stronger than Damian.

Cassadin.

Despite being a slave, he became the Commander of the Royal Knights after being chosen by the Crown Prince. It was also a name I had often heard when I stayed at Damians Duchy.

The God of War, the closest aide of the Crown Prince, beauty blessed by the Gods, the Genius of Swordsmanship that only appears once in a millennium

There were countless words that described Cassadin, but that was in my past life.

During this time, Cassadin was neither the Commander of the Royal Knights nor the closest aide of the Crown Prince, but just a gladiator slave.

I cant lose my father to the war again.

In the Seville Empire, it was a national law that, regardless of social status, one man from each family must go to battle when there was a war.

There was an exception if there were no men in the family, but otherwise, regardless of age, they must go to war. Violation of this could result in the loss of nobility, confiscation of property, and even death.

In this sense, I decided to make Cassadin a member of our family.

He would be the one who would go to war in place of my father and return alive, and he was the only person in the entire continent who was stronger than Damian, the man who killed me.

I would snatch him before the Crown Prince could get his hands on him, raise him well, feed him well, and tame him, then make him a blade to protect me and my father.

After leaving a message that he would be waiting for me in the dining room and that I should change before going out, Father left my room. I changed my clothes with the help of a maid and stared at myself in the mirror on my dressing table.

Wavy platinum hair, blue eyes just like my fathers, and skin without a single blemish or wrinkle.

My twenty-year-old self, looking much younger than before, had regressed and was clearly reflected in the mirror. I once again realized that I had returned to the past.

Youre so beautiful, my lady.

My personal maid, Sasha, admired my face. Eyes curling into crescents at Sashas words, I smiled at her.

I always had high self-esteem when I was living in the counts mansion with Father, but that self-esteem plummeted after I got engaged to Damian.

My three years of engagement with him were hell. I was like a puppy wagging its tail to get affection from its owner.

Back then, I continuously craved his love, even as I was constantly used by him like a tool.

However, that old me is now gone. If its to protect my father and me, I would thoroughly use others.

Gazing into the mirror, I made a vow to myself.