Chapter – 01
The death of Luciena, the daughter of a count’s family, always arrived at the peak of happiness.
That death repeated itself over and over again, without a single exception.
For the first time in five years, she was on her way back to her parents’ home.
Luciena Dymtel’s heart shook as violently as the rattling carriage beneath her.
“…Still, it feels easier to breathe now that I’ve escaped that house of chains and come out alone.”
Luciena’s husband, Fritche Jephison, had strongly opposed her visit to her family.
As she gently caressed her swollen belly, she recalled his words.
“What if something happens to the baby because you’re pushing yourself too hard? How are you going to take responsibility for that? Even after hearing this, you still refuse to change your mind… Knowing what kind of child this is, you’re truly nothing but a selfish woman who only thinks about herself.”
Luciena knew better than anyone that his concern had never been for her.
It had always been for the child in her womb.
‘You already have another woman, yet you still care about the child in my belly… What a contradiction.’
With a bitter smile, Luciena stared blankly out the window at the crimson sunset.
If she had been the Luciena who knew nothing of death, she would have admired the beauty and serenity of the evening sky.
But not anymore.
Unable to find the answer to the curse, and waiting for her 97th death, the red sunset looked no different from a sky drenched in blood.
That was why she had decided to return to her parents’ home after so long.
Since she was going to die again without being able to do anything about it, she at least wanted to see the faces of her beloved parents one last time.
‘But… I don’t want to die. No one in this world truly wants to die.’
The painful emotions tightened around her chest.
Then—
Bang!
The carriage lurched violently.
Luciena’s body was thrown hard against one side.
“Ahhh!”
Neighhh!
The horses screamed, followed by the coachman’s panicked shout.
“Aaaah!”
Unable to regain its balance, the carriage swayed wildly before tilting toward the cliff on the right.
The instant her entire body floated weightlessly into the air…
Luciena knew.
Death had come for her once again.
The inescapable curse of death stood right before her.
The carriage lost all balance and began plummeting endlessly down the cliff.
“Hng… Ah!”
At the same time, a powerful kick came from inside her womb, causing her to let out a faint groan.
As the carriage tumbled down the cliff, Luciena instinctively wrapped both arms around her belly.
Even though she knew the baby inside would die here with her.
She had always felt sorry for the child who had never once seen the light of the world.
‘This child must have died alongside me dozens of times through all these regressions…’
Although theirs had been a political marriage, this precious child had finally come after five long years.
Guilt toward her baby washed over her once again.
‘I’m sorry, my baby… It ended like this again. But next time… next time, I promise…’
If not for herself…
Then for the child in her womb…
She had to put an end to this endless cycle of death.
But her consciousness…
Her eyelids…
Slowly grew heavier.
Inside the wrecked carriage at the bottom of the cliff, Luciena lay covered in blood, waiting for the death she knew was coming.
Then…
Someone opened the carriage door.
A man she had never seen before.
He stepped inside and looked down at the blood-soaked Luciena with cold, emotionless eyes.
“Looks like you’re still breathing.”
Along with his low voice came the metallic click of a gun being cocked.
Luciena barely opened her eyes to look at him.
“…Who… sent you…?
Why… me…?”
Her body had been shattered by the fall.
She would die even if he left her alone.
The fact that he intended to make sure of it meant someone had hired him.
“Hah. Funny. Most people beg for their lives first.”
There was no reason to beg.
She was going to die anyway.
“Too bad you married the wrong man.
Goodbye.”
Bang!
The gunshot echoed through the forest beneath the cliff.
“My Lady, the Master has returned.”
At the servant’s announcement, Luciena lifted her head toward the doorway.
Her husband,
Fritche Jephison,
stood there smiling warmly at her.
“I’m home.”
“…”
Shot to death because of her husband’s assassination order—
That had been the cause of Luciena’s 97th death.
Now, having entered her 98th life, she hid beneath the blankets, barely breathing.
She had returned to the day before leaving for her parents’ home.
In other words—
One day before someone hired by her husband would point a gun at her head.
Tomorrow…
She would once again die because of her husband’s orders.
“Are you feeling sick? Should I call a physician?”
Fritche pulled back the blanket and gently brushed her hair with a worried expression.
The scent of another woman lingered on his hand.
It made her skin crawl.
“Let me see your face.”
He carefully turned Luciena’s head toward him.
Her eyes were empty.
Soulless.
“They said you weren’t feeling well, and it really does look serious. But tomorrow you’re finally visiting your family after so long. You should cheer up, shouldn’t you, my dear?”
Fritche smiled softly.
The moment she saw that smile…
The lifeless look in Luciena’s eyes vanished.
A sharp light returned.
‘You know I’ll be murdered tomorrow on the way to my parents’ house because of you…
And yet you’re pretending to worry about me?
You’re smiling because you’re happy?
Is that it?’
Seeing him act as though nothing had happened filled her with uncontrollable rage.
‘Fine. Maybe you hated me.
But I believed that at least you genuinely loved our child—the child we finally conceived after five years.
Then what have I been living for?
Who have I endured all these countless deaths for?
What was my life?
What was my child?’
She had regretted marrying him countless times.
But never—not even once—
Had she regretted becoming pregnant.
Until today.
For the first time in her life…
She questioned everything.
The realization that her husband had wanted both her and their child dead made it feel as though her heart would burst.
“Well then, get some rest.”
Just as Fritche turned to leave…
Luciena grabbed his arm.
Looking up at him with desperate eyes.
“…What’s gotten into you?”
“If you’re free…
Would you have a glass of wine with me?”
His eyes widened slightly.
It was something she had never asked before.
“Once I leave for my parents’ house…
We won’t be seeing each other for a while…”
“Well, I don’t mind. But you’re pregnant. Is wine really alright? You don’t look well either.”
Luciena simply smiled.
She already knew Fritche never refused alcohol.
“I’ll be drinking fruit juice, of course.
Please wait on the terrace.
I’ll bring everything.”
“Very well.”
She silently watched his back as he walked toward the terrace.
‘…What a fool.’
A short while later…
Luciena arrived on the terrace carrying a glass of wine.
Fritche greeted her with the same familiar smile.
Apparently thirsty, he raised the glass toward his lips almost immediately.
Luciena didn’t touch her own drink.
She simply watched him.
“…Why are you staring at me like that?”
He stopped, eyeing her suspiciously.
“A toast…”
“Oh, right.
A toast.”
With a grin, Fritche clinked his glass against hers before savoring another mouthful of wine.
Luciena stared intently at his throat as it moved with each swallow.
“Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since we’ve shared a drink together, but this wine tastes especially good.”
“I think so too.”
She took a sip of her own drink.
Beneath the table…
She slowly folded one finger after another.
One…
Two…
Three…
Four…
“Tomorrow, when you see your father, be sure to give him my regar—”
Cough…!
Five.
The moment all five fingers of her left hand were folded…
Fritche clutched at his throat and chest before collapsing.
“Cough…! Ack…! Cough…!”
Foamy blood poured from his mouth.
The wine he had drunk…
Contained poison.
Poison that Luciena herself had prepared.
“Lu… Lu… Luciena…
What… is… this…?”
“I never imagined that the poison I bought to end my own life…
Would one day be used on you instead.”
This was the first murder attempt across all of Luciena’s countless regressions.
Around her seventieth death, she had obtained a deadly poison just in case.
She never imagined it would be used like this.
By then, the blood vessels in Fritche’s eyes had burst, turning them bright red.
Luciena looked down at him without the slightest emotion.
“Gh… Cough…!”
“Even if you hated me enough to want me dead…
You should have left the child alone.
At least our child.”
Fritche’s entire body flinched violently.
His expression clearly asked,
“How do you know about that?”
Realizing that Luciena had discovered his plan, he abandoned any thought of making excuses.
Instead…
He desperately begged.
“P-Please…
Spare me…
Please forgive me!
I’m sorry!
I was wrong, Luciena!”
Gathering the last of his strength, Fritche struggled upright and clung to the hem of her dress.
“Unfortunately…
I’m not doing this just to hear your insincere apology.”
“Lu… ci…”
“I’m so tired of this.
Enough.”
Luciena bent down and pried his hand away from her skirt.
“Please…
Just die quietly.”
The moment she turned away…
Fritche could no longer support himself.
His body collapsed heavily onto the floor.
