Felicia Rivers spends ten years hating me after the death of her first love, Samuel Gardner.

No matter how hard I try to please her, she merely sneers in response. "If you really want to make me happy, why don't you just die?"

A sharp pain pierces my heart when I hear that.

But when a burning roof beam comes crashing down on me, she saves me but dies. As she lies in my arms, she uses the last of her strength to brush away my hand that is holding hers.

"Michael Sommerson, how wonderful my life would've been if I hadn't met you…"

At her funeral, her mother, Lady Rivers, sobs uncontrollably. "This is all my fault. I never should have forced you to marry him. If I had let you marry Samuel like you wanted, would things have turned out differently today?"

Lord Rivers glares at me with hatred in his eyes. "Felicia saved you three times. Why do you only ever bring disaster into her life? Why wasn't it you who died?"

Everyone looks back and think Felicia marrying me is a mistake, including myself.

In the end, I leap from the top of Star Tower and return to ten years earlier.

This time, I decide to sever all ties with Felicia and give everyone the ending they want.

"Michael Sommerson, I have to applaud you. You actually got my parents to threaten me with their lives and force me to marry you. Do you think we'll have a blissful marriage like that?"

A young woman's mocking voice sounded beside me, causing me to blink dazedly and stare in surprise at Felicia Rivers.

She stood before me in a fitted red dress, a defiant spark in her eyes. Her manner of speech and demeanor were entirely different from the Felicia of ten years in the future.

This was the 18-year-old Felicia.

I had truly gone back ten years into the past.

Forcing back the bitter swell of emotions, I greedily took in the sight of her.

"You don't wish to marry me because the man you genuinely want to marry is Samuel Gardner, isn't it?"

Felicia let out a scoff. "And what if I do? Could you do us that favor?"

I answered with utmost seriousness, "I can."

My parents died on the battlefield to protect the country. Because of this, the king promised me a royal decree arranging a marriage where I could marry anyone I wanted.

However, since the written decree His Majesty had handed me left the names blank, that meant I could also use it for others.

Felicia was momentarily stunned before she burst into furious laughter.

"You're using the king's decree on me, while my parents are also forcing me to marry you. Our marriage is already set in stone, yet now you're saying you'll oblige me? How?

"Michael Sommerson, I have no time for your games. Stop playing hard to get and deliver the decree to the king yourself. I'll wait for you here."

With that, she turned to lean against the palace wall behind her.

The blatant disdain and revulsion in her eyes sent pinpricks of pain through my heart.

In my previous life, I loved Felicia for many, many years.

On two separate occasions, she had disregarded her own life to save me, which led me to mistakenly think she secretly harbored feelings for me too. Thus, I had eagerly used the king's decree to marry her.

It wasn't until her first love, Samuel, died that I finally confirmed that she actually loved another man.

My ten years of love had been nothing but suffering for her.

After realizing this, I did countless kind deeds in my previous life, ultimately using my life to exchange for a chance to go back in time, back to when Felicia was still alive.

Before returning to this time, the witch had told me, "Within 24 hours after you go back in time, you have to fulfill her three final regrets. Once you have, you need to leave immediately.

"From that point on, you two will go your separate paths, and she won't die at the young age of 30 because of you. You will each have your own place to belong.

"However, there's a price to pay for such powerful magic. Are you sure about this, sir?"

As long as Felicia could live, I didn't care about what price I had to pay.

After meeting with the king, I specifically requested that he arrange a marriage for Felicia and Samuel.

I knew what Felicia's three final regrets were, as she had written them down in her journal.

"I regret marrying Michael Sommerson. I regret not fighting back against my parents' arrangement. I regret not saving Samuel."

Now, I had technically fulfilled the first wish.

Exiting the palace with the royal decree, I handed it to Felicia.

She looked at me with such disdain, as though I had succeeded in forcing her to marry me, and reached to open the decree.

However, I pushed her hands down and smiled at her gently. "Look at it tomorrow. I'm sure you'll be surprised."

She simply glanced at me. "How childish. Whether I read it today or tomorrow, that still doesn't change the fact that I'm marrying you. Why are you acting so strange today? Has the joy of being able to marry me gotten to your head?"

I was indeed overjoyed at finally getting to see Felicia alive again.

Smiling, I responded, "I just think that you're the best woman in the world. Any man who has you as his wife will be truly blessed."

"Let's go home," she retorted with a snort before turning to leave.

If I weren't aware that she didn't like me, I would've assumed that she was feeling shy at my words.

Our carriage trundled along the streets, passing by a particularly lively intersection. When I opened the curtains to look, I heard several people talking.

"They say that a rare phenomenon will occur tonight—a star will shoot through the sky! That's a once-in-a-century sight that can be viewed from the top of Star Tower! Legends say that couples who view it together will remain together and in love for all eternity!"

Suddenly, I recalled how I had heard the exact same thing in my previous life and pleaded with Felicia to go to Star Tower so we could watch it together.

At the time, her beautiful and charming features had twisted into a mocking sneer as she said, "What, is pestering me for one lifetime not enough for you? You want to bother me for all eternity too?

"All that nonsense about a shooting star legend is just a ridiculous scam. You can believe it all you want, just as long as you don't drag me into it."

She had had such a frosty look in her eyes then, and even just thinking about it was enough to cause me to shiver.

I silently shut the curtains.

However, this time around, Felicia spoke up, her tone impassive, "Do you want to go? I can accompany you to Star Tower tonight. I won't have time to visit your parents' graves on the day of our marriage, so consider this my way of making it up to you."

I lifted my head to shoot her an odd look, somewhat surprised and yet not.

Felicia had always been like this. On the surface, she appeared mean and had a sharp tongue, but deep down inside, she was soft-hearted and kind.

Even though she clearly didn't love me, she had still risked her life three times to save me.

The first time was when we ran into some bandits. In her bid to protect me, she had taken a sword to the arm, leaving the talented woman with a lifetime injury.

The second time was when I was dying from a horrible disease. She had climbed a steep mountain in search of a particular herb that could cure me, only to fall and nearly break her leg.

The third and final time was when a terrible fire struck the palace. She died right in front of me after pushing me out of the way of a falling beam.

Felicia was great in all ways except for one—she didn't love me.

I knew that after today, Felicia and I would part ways. Even if we went to Star Tower and watched the shooting star, we wouldn't grow old together like in those legends.

Nonetheless, I forced back the damp wetness that threatened to spill from my eyes and shot her a dazzling smile.

"Okay, let's go watch the shooting star together."

…

Midway through the journey, someone stopped our carriage. It was Samuel's attendant, coming to say that Samuel had a headache and wished to see Felicia.

Upon hearing that, Felicia frowned and instantly exited the carriage.

"Samuel isn't feeling well, so I'm going to check on him. Go on and return to the manor first. I'll see you tonight at Star Tower."

I nodded. "Okay."

She appeared visibly surprised at my response. "Didn't you use to mind it a lot when I went off to see him? Why the sudden change?"

I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, she chuckled coldly and went on, "Then again, we're about to be married soon, so he isn't a threat to you anymore."

With that said, she left without another glance, not seeing the disappointment and bitterness in my eyes.

In truth, I had never faulted her for her favoritism of Samuel nor stopped her from seeing him. It wasn't until the marquis and I once saw him flirting with a few other women that we looked into the matter and discovered that he was genuinely a playboy. After that, I began vehemently stopping Felicia from interacting with him too much.

However, she was completely oblivious to this and continued to suffer even ten years after his death.

If I had to choose, I would rather see her get together with Samuel than have her suffer endlessly and eventually die for my sake.

I first headed for the magistrate's office to obtain my travel papers before returning to the marquis' manor.

Lady Rivers, the marchioness, had personally whipped up a feast for me of all my favorite dishes.

As was my habit, I took off my white fur coat and draped it over her. "The weather is quite chilly. Please take care of yourself, Lady Rivers."

She looked at me with a wide smile splitting her face. "You're as thoughtful and caring as always. Quick, let me see the royal decree declaring your marriage to Felicia. After waiting for so long, I'm finally going to hear you address me as 'Mother.'"

When the marquis, Lord Rivers, saw that nobody else had returned with me, he was livid.

"Did that wild child refuse to come back with you yet again? How could she still run around as she pleases when the royal decree's already come down? I'll be sure to lecture her when she returns!"

Lord and Lady Rivers' genuine concern for me caused bitterness to well up in me.

After my parents passed away, I was left an orphan. It was the marquis and his wife who took me in. They raised me like one of their own, giving me all their love and everything I could ever ask for.

I had always been obedient, but this time, I was about to go against their wishes.

Staring them straight in the eyes, I uttered solemnly, "Lord Rivers, Lady Rivers, I don't want to marry Felicia anymore. I plan on heading to Jacaston tomorrow, so I won't be able to take care of you two from now on. I hope that you'll take good care of yourselves."

Lady Rivers instantly panicked when she heard that. "Your parents sacrificed themselves for the country, leaving us to raise you from a young age. Your true home is here, at the marquis' manor. Where will you go?

"Did Felicia do something to you because of that Gardner boy, and that's why you don't wish to marry her anymore? Michael, please don't think like that. You must hold a place in Felicia's heart. Otherwise, why would she risk her life twice to save you?

"Not just that, but every time it was close to your birthday, she would start searching long before that day for all sorts of precious gifts for you.

"I know that you love her a lot as well. You didn't mind learning how to cook and give a good massage, all so you could massage her daily to alleviate her arm's pain. If you two were to marry, it would undoubtedly be a happy and blissful marriage!

"Besides, that Gardner boy is clearly a playboy! What would happen to her if she were to marry him? Please don't leave due to a momentary fit of anger!"

This was exactly how they had talked me out of leaving in my past life. I had listened to them, ultimately leading to me losing my wife, them losing their daughter, and everyone feeling regret for the rest of their lives.

I explained softly, "Lady Rivers, a forced relationship won't be a happy one. Since Felicia doesn't have feelings for me, I really shouldn't force her to marry me.

"I had a dream last night where I married her. However, she refused to see me and spent her days in a glum mood. This eventually harmed her health, yet she refused to let me take care of her or even eat anything I cooked for her. She then told me that I brought her more suffering than joy.

"In the end, she even died at the young age of 30 after saving my life."

At this point, my heart was aching so much it was hard to breathe.

Lady Rivers was briefly stunned before she said, "But… that's just a dream. Michael, Felicia wouldn't do that."

I sighed forlornly and forced my lips into a small smile.

"Lord Rivers, Lady Rivers, a dream can serve as a warning or a prediction of the future. I don't mind if she doesn't marry me—that we can't be husband and wife. However, I do want her to live till a ripe old age.

"Besides, though she's the marquis' daughter, she doesn't get a lot of say when it comes to most matters. For marriage, at least, I wish to let her have the choice to choose for herself."

I bowed toward them deeply, keeping that pose, before continuing, "I've already obtained the travel papers to leave this city. Please oblige my wish, Lord Rivers, Lady Rivers. I will never forget you for raising me and will certainly repay this huge debt one day."

Lord Rivers pursed his lips and tugged me so that I was standing straight again. As for Lady Rivers, she wiped the tears from her face before stuffing a pouch full of money into my hand.

"Since you've already made up your mind, we'll go along with your wishes. However, remember this. No matter what happens, the marquis' manor, this place, will always be your home."

A wave of bittersweet joy swept through me, and I gave them another bow. "Thank you so much, Lady Rivers."

As long as I cut off all ties with Felicia, the tragedy of my past life wouldn't happen again. She'd get to live a long life, and Lady Rivers and Lord Rivers wouldn't hate me out of grief for killing their daughter.

In this life, everyone would get to live happily.

With that, Felicia's second regret was laid to rest.

I had to fulfill all three of her dying wishes within 24 hours, but there was still one last regret to handle. Would I succeed?

…

That night, I went to Star Tower. All around me were married couples, there to pray for a long life together.

"Michael Sommerson."

A familiar voice suddenly reached my ears.

I turned around in delight, only to be greeted with a scowling Felicia. She seized my wrist without any warning, her eyes red-rimmed and blazing with fury.

"You clearly know that I most hate people who like to throw their weight around. I simply didn't return to the manor with you, yet you went tattling to my parents and instigating them into harshly humiliating Samuel. Now, he's decided he doesn't want to live anymore and has taken poison to end his life. Are you finally satisfied?"

All the color drained from my face.