Chapter – 02
“That woman is clearly possessed by a demon.”
“How could she possibly try to poison her own husband…?!”
Cruel words flew from every direction surrounding Luciena.
Go ahead. Say whatever you want.
Luciena’s first attempt at murder had failed.
She had paid an outrageous price for what was supposed to be a deadly poison that killed within five seconds, yet whether she’d been scammed or not, her husband had stubbornly survived.
The very next day, Luciena was immediately arrested on charges of attempted murder.
Since the attempt had failed, she might have escaped the death penalty. However, her husband’s family had been waiting for an excuse. They branded Luciena a witch without hesitation.
Thus, carrying both the charge of attempted murder and the disgraceful label of being a witch, Luciena found herself standing on the execution grounds.
I thought it wouldn’t matter if I wasted this life, since I was obviously going to come back again anyway…
She had watched Fritche cough up blood and writhe in agony before dying.
Yet it hadn’t satisfied her anger as much as she’d hoped.
The pain of dying from poison and coming back to life couldn’t even compare to the misery Luciena had experienced when she had been shot to death alongside the child in her womb after surviving a carriage accident.
If another opportunity ever came, Luciena would give Fritche a proper death.
She would make him experience the exact same suffering she had endured.
That was the vow she made.
As Luciena laughed bitterly at herself, a massive blade descended upon her neck.
Execution for attempting to poison her husband.
It was the 98th cause of Luciena’s death.
“Gasp…! Haa…!”
Luciena shot upright in bed, breathing heavily.
Cold sweat soaked her entire body.
The first thing she did after regaining consciousness was frantically run her hands over her neck, as if to make sure her head was still attached.
It was the beginning of her 99th life.
Life is hell.
That was the conclusion Luciena had reached after dying ninety-eight times.
“You can’t even bear a child, yet you expect your husband not to wander outside the house? That’s arrogance.”
“You’re a wife who can’t even fulfill your purpose. Isn’t it ridiculous to expect your husband to fulfill his duties?”
“Every time I look at your face, it feels like my life is sinking into a swamp. If you can’t have children, then at least smile prettily. Hmm?”
Although it had been nothing more than a political marriage without love, Luciena had done everything she could to fulfill her role.
In front of her husband and in-laws, who treated her as a useless wife because she supposedly couldn’t conceive, she lowered her head like a sinner.
“You’re pregnant.”
The child that finally came after five years of marriage became the only salvation that could rescue Luciena from hell.
The moment her pregnancy was confirmed, not only her husband but even her in-laws completely changed their attitudes.
For the first time, Luciena believed her life was finally returning to the path it was meant to follow.
She was carrying the child she had longed for.
She was experiencing the greatest happiness of her life.
And then—
“Ple…ase… save… me…”
The curse of her life began.
Luciena died endlessly.
And she returned endlessly.
This… is hell.
Around the time she had repeated death and regression more than eighty times, Luciena realized something.
Within one month after every regression, she would die without exception.
The point to which she regressed changed unpredictably, always returning to some moment during her pregnancy.
In other words…
Luciena spent every single life repeating birth and death while carrying the same child in her womb.
She devoted herself to religion.
She desperately prayed to a god who might not even exist.
Yet the curse never ended.
Closing her weary eyes tightly, Luciena leaned her head against the carriage window.
Having begun her ninety-ninth life after being hanged, she was once again traveling to her parents’ home.
Inside her womb, she felt the child move—
The child who had died alongside her countless times.
As evening approached, the carriage carrying Luciena and the child in her womb stopped at a village.
After experiencing both a fatal carriage accident and being shot by her husband, Luciena had tried everything she could to avoid repeating the same deaths.
She changed the date she traveled to her family home.
She replaced both the coachman and the horses.
She even changed the route.
Perhaps those countless efforts had paid off.
She safely passed the point where the accident should have already happened.
“My lady, it’s gotten too late. I think we’ll have to spend the night in this village.”
Following the coachman and servant’s guidance, Luciena headed to a shabby old inn used by travelers.
The place was undeniably run-down, but it possessed a lively atmosphere of its own.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Luciena declined the servant’s offer to bring dinner to her room and instead went downstairs herself.
The first floor of the inn wasn’t just a dining hall for guests.
It also served as the village’s tavern.
Everyone from adventurers drinking ale to mothers eating dinner with their children had gathered there.
Ordering the establishment’s famous beef stew, Luciena sat down at an empty table and quietly observed the people around her.
She liked the lively atmosphere.
“Here you are. Enjoy.”
The stew, already simmering in the kitchen, arrived almost immediately.
Just as she lifted a spoonful toward her mouth—
“…Luciena, that bitch.”
Luciena froze.
Turning her head, she saw a middle-aged couple loudly venting their anger.
“Luciena, that damned woman! Ugh, it’s already hot enough without thinking about her!”
“Why isn’t she rotting in hell already? Damn Luciena! Even tearing her apart wouldn’t be enough!”
Luciena knew perfectly well that the Luciena they were talking about wasn’t her.
Even so…
Hearing her own name cursed like that still left a bad taste in her mouth.
“…Excuse me.”
“Hm? What is it? Didn’t expect someone as elegant as a noble lady to come into a shabby place like this.”
Luciena spoke cautiously.
“Who is this Luciena that you’re criticizing so fiercely?”
“Oh, is that all?”
The husband handed her a worn old book and raised his voice again.
“She’s the main character of this book—and a woman who deserves to burn in hell!”
Embossed across the cover were the words:
『The Life of the Villainess Luciena』
So that’s what it was… The heroine of a novel.
Realizing that the person sharing her name was merely a fictional character, Luciena finally relaxed.
“This has been one of the most popular novel series for years.”
“I just watched the stage play today after only reading the novel before. Seeing Luciena’s wicked fox-like tricks with my own eyes made me even angrier than when I read about them. So I just had to let out a few curses!”
The husband and wife enthusiastically took turns insulting the novel’s Luciena.
Perhaps because they shared the same name, Luciena found herself growing curious.
“Would you be willing to lend me this book for just one night?”
“Hm? Absolutely not! That may look like an old book, but it’s a first edition. It’s worth over ten times its original price now. I can’t just lend it to anyone—even if that someone is an elegant noble lady.”
Luciena thought for a moment before silently raising her left hand.
“How about this?”
She slowly twisted off the diamond ring on her left ring finger.
“Isn’t… isn’t that your wedding ring?”
Instead of answering, Luciena simply smiled faintly.
That bastard Fritche deserves to die a thousand times over. Besides, I don’t even know when or how I’ll die next. I have no attachment to a ring like this.
The couple’s eyes widened at the dazzling jewel placed before them.
Whether the diamond was real or fake, it was undoubtedly worth far more than an old book.
“Here! Just take the book!”
Acting as though they were doing her a great favor, the couple handed the book over.
Smiling once more in return, Luciena placed the diamond ring into their hands.
Taking the book, she abandoned her meal and returned to her room.
Beneath the title 『The Life of the Villainess Luciena』 was the author’s name.
SYANULE
It was a name she’d never seen before.
Once upon a time, Luciena had read every book she could get her hands on.
Yet now, even the names of popular authors were unfamiliar to her.
The realization left her strangely bitter.
After her marriage, the only books she had been allowed to read were classical literature brought by her husband, along with philosophy and etiquette books considered essential reading among nobles.
She had long since lost touch with the latest trends among ordinary people.
“So, the Luciena in this novel is the daughter of a farmer… What on earth did she do to earn such hatred and be called a villainess?”
Luciena opened the book and carefully turned the pages.
The story began with the childhood of the novel’s protagonist, Luciena.
“…Huh?”
While reading, Luciena suddenly froze.
An overwhelming sense of déjà vu washed over her.
“Wh… what is this?”
Several episodes from the novel’s Luciena’s childhood matched her own memories perfectly.
This was undoubtedly the story of herself and her family.
Only the setting and social status had been changed—from a noble household to a farming family.
It was the story of Luciena Dymtel.
Her own story.
The only difference…
Was that unlike reality, Luciena was portrayed as the very embodiment of a villainess.
