•?••? ? ?••?•

 

 

 

“Iva Blanche is sentenced to death on charges of poisoning Third Prince Claude Elihu for treason.”

 

 

 

Again.

 

 

 

And Again.

 

 

 

Another death.

 

 

 

My knees stung as they were forced to the earthen floor.

 

 

 

“The Blanche Viscount Family will be expelled from the Empire of Bergen.”

 

 

 

Execution and a sentence I’d grown accustomed to twice.

 

 

 

While the executioner slowly approached, Iva barely raised her heavy head and looked around.

 

 

 

Nobles gathered to witness the execution of the only daughter of Count Blanche.

 

 

 

It was quite a spectacle. Although I cursed him inwardly and wished ill upon him, my eyes quickly searched for that man.

 

 

 

But once again, he remained nowhere to be seen.

 

 

 

‘Ray Castello, you’re not here this time either.’

 

 

 

Even though we broke off the engagement, he was still my fiancé. But in the end, he’s not on my side.

 

 

 

Well, he always disliked me, so this was the expected outcome.

 

 

 

‘Please, just leave me alone! How many times do I have to say it for you to understand? I hate you!’

 

 

 

‘Engagement is an order from His Majesty, but don’t expect love from me. If you become unnecessary, I will break off the engagement immediately.’

 

 

 

‘Don’t touch Julian. If you lay a finger on her one more time, I won’t stay quiet.’

 

 

 

‘Iva Blanche, I despise you terribly.’

 

 

 

The painful words she had heard from him still filled Iva’s heart, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

 

 

 

“If you hadn’t been greedy, you could have chosen to live a long life.”

 

 

 

The executioner, who had come close, spoke to Iva in a pitiful tone.

 

 

 

“Ha…”

 

 

 

Iva lifted only her pupils and glared at the executioner.

 

 

 

Damn it, I tried so hard to live a long life this time. It was a life of complete destitution.

 

 

 

“It’s all your fault, so don’t feel unjust.”

 

 

 

How can I not feel unjust when I didn’t do anything wrong, you bastard?

 

 

 

I wanted to grab him by the collar and shake him, telling him to shut up right away, but my body was so exhausted that I couldn’t even twitch a finger.

 

 

 

“…Shut up and get it over with, you noisy bastard.”

 

 

 

Her head, which had been looking up at the executioner, weakly drooped and fell downward.

 

 

 

In response to her final request, the executioner drew his sword.

 

 

 

Swish.

 

 

 

He raised the sword high towards the sky and swung it towards the back of Iva’s neck.

 

 

 

Iva Blanche.

 

 

 

It was her second death.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

The third life, forcibly initiated. She thought it wouldn’t be much different from her past life.

 

 

 

It no longer mattered to her that everyone hated and despised her.

 

 

 

Well, since things turned out like this, I’ll live my life as chaotic and messed up as I want! If I don’t meet the protagonist and the others, it will all end!

 

 

 

But wait! Why are you, the male lead, in my bed!

 

 

 

Ray was sleeping on Iva’s bed, his face deeply flushed.

 

 

 

“Why? Why are you here? Why are you in my bedroom! Duke, why are you here? This is my bedroom.”

 

 

 

“Bedroom…?”

 

 

 

“Ugh, the smell of alcohol. Have you been drinking? Where is the Duke’s bedroom? Tell me quickly.”

 

 

 

Still groggy, Ray was slow to realize the meaning of Iva’s words. Nevertheless, he muttered slowly.

 

 

 

“On the third floor of the southern palace, second room on the left…”

 

 

 

“The third floor of the southern palace… Huh? That’s my bedroom.”

 

 

 

Did he unconsciously mention my room? Flustered, Iva grabbed her head.

 

 

 

“…I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

 

 

 

The pronunciation was a bit muffled as he spoke with a low breath, but it was heard clearly in Iva’s ears.

 

 

 

Lowering her hand that was clutching her head due to the unexpected apology, Iva looked at Ray.

 

 

 

“I thought you were mad at me?”

 

 

 

“How…how dare I get angry with you.”

 

 

 

“When you were with the Princess, you treated me like I was invisible.”

 

 

 

I asked, taking the opportunity to say what had been on my mind the whole time.

 

 

 

Ray sluggishly held Iva’s hand in his and looked up at her.

 

 

 

“Iva, when you collapsed… I thought my heart died.”

 

 

 

Ray’s eyes began to redden slightly as if tears were about to flow sideways at any moment.

 

 

 

“You…you were worried about me?”

 

 

 

“I was scared. I was afraid I would never see you again.”

 

 

 

Ray’s lower lip trembled. Iva caressed his cheek.

 

 

 

He pressed a little closer to her, feeling the warmth of her touch.

 

 

 

“I’m perfectly fine. I was examined by Bridget, and he said I’m okay.”

 

 

 

As soon as Bridget’s name was mentioned, Ray, who had seemed on the verge of tears just moments ago, immediately became grim.

 

 

 

“Please, look at me. Even though you’re in my arms, I feel like you could disappear at any moment. It’s too unsettling.”

 

 

 

“…”

 

 

 

Within his firm embrace, Iva’s pupils shook.

 

 

 

“How can I make this unease go away? Would it be better if I take you and run away so that nobody can find us?”

 

 

 

“What?”

 

 

 

“We’ll be the only ones there. Where those who covet you can’t find us.”

 

 

 

“D-Duke…?”

 

 

 

“Iva, stay by my side forever.”

 

 

 

After finishing his sentence, Ray immediately leaned toward Iva’s face.

 

 

 

This is not the third life I had envisioned!

 

 

•?••? ? ?••?•