Of course I was happy. I was finally seeing Caspian alive again.

I smiled. "I think you're the best man in the world. Whoever marries you will be very happy."

Caspian snorted softly and turned away. "Go back to the manor."

He walked off without looking back. If I had not already known how much he disliked me, I might have thought he was embarrassed.

The carriage rolled through the streets on the way home. When we passed the flower district, I lifted the curtain.

Laughter spilled into the air, mixed with excited voices.

"Tonight the Matchmaker descends! If you climb Starfall Tower, you can witness a once-in-a-century meteor shower. They say couples who watch it together will love each other for three lifetimes!"

The words loosened something in my chest. In my previous life, I had heard the same rumor. I had clutched Caspian's sleeve, eyes bright with hope, begging him to take me to Starfall Tower.

Back then, mockery had curved his lips. "Binding me for one lifetime isn't enough for you? You want three? Meteors and blessings. What a childish lie. If someone has to fall for it, let it be you. Don't drag me into it."

The cold look in his eyes still made me shiver, even now.

I lowered the curtain.

This time, Caspian spoke, his tone flat. "Do you want to go? I can go with you to Starfall Tower tonight. After the wedding, I won't have time to accompany you back to pay respects to your parents. Consider this compensation."

I looked up at him, startled. The offer was unexpected, yet not entirely so. Caspian had always been like this. His words were sharp, but his heart was softer than anyone's.

He did not love me. Still, he had risked his life for me three times.

The first time, bandits attacked us in the mountains. He took a blade through his right hand while protecting me. From that day on, the hand that could once split a leaf at a hundred paces could no longer draw a bow.

The second time, I contracted a deadly epidemic and hovered between life and death. He climbed a sheer cliff to find Eirwen’s Bloom for me and nearly shattered his leg when he fell.

The third time, he died saving me from the palace fire.

Caspian was good in every way. He simply did not love me.

I knew there would be nothing left between us after today. Even if we climbed Starfall Tower and witnessed the once-in-a-century meteor shower, we would never love each other for three lifetimes, no matter what the rumor promised.

Still, I pressed down the heat stinging my eyes and smiled as though it cost me nothing.

"All right," I said. "Let's go watch the meteors together."

Partway there, the carriage came to a stop. Amelia's maid stood outside. She said Amelia had a headache and wished to see Caspian.

His brows drew together at once. He stepped down from the carriage without hesitation.

"Ames isn't well. I'm going to check on her," he said. "You should go back to the manor first. We'll meet at Starfall Tower tonight."

I nodded. "Okay."

He paused, clearly surprised. "You used to hate it most when I went to see her. What changed?"

I opened my mouth to answer.

He scoffed before I could speak. "Never mind. We're about to get married anyway. She can't threaten you anymore."

He left without another glance. He did not see the loss or the bitter smile I could not quite hide. The truth was that I had never tried to stop him from favoring Amelia.

There was only one exception. After I heard rumors from the Marquis and others that Amelia was entangled with court officials, I investigated and found the rumors true. That was the only time I desperately tried to keep Caspian away from her.

He never knew. After her death, he suffered for 10 long years.

If I had to choose, I would rather see him with Amelia than watch him endure endless torment and die for me in the end.

-

I went first to the city registry and completed the formalities to leave the city. Only then did I return to the Marquis' manor.

Marchioness Derya Stormcrown had personally prepared dinner. The table was filled with dishes I loved.

Out of habit, I slipped the white fox-fur cloak from my shoulders and draped it over her. "It's cold. Please take care of yourself."

She looked at me, smiling so widely she could not close her mouth. "My girl is always so thoughtful. Come, let me see the royal marriage decree for you and Ian. I've waited so long. Soon, you'll be calling me Mother."

The Marquis, Valdrin Stormcrown, glanced behind me, saw no one, and immediately bristled.

"That brat didn't come back with you again?" he snapped. "The decree is already issued, and he still doesn't know how to cherish you. When he returns, I'll give him a proper scolding."

The Marquis and Marchioness' concern was sincere, and it made my chest ache.

After my parents died on the battlefield, I was left alone. It was the Marquis, Lord Valdrin Stormcrown, and the Marchioness, Derya Stormcrown, who raised me. They gave me a home, affection, and everything I had.

I had always been obedient. But this time, I was going to defy them.

I looked at them and said seriously. "My Lord. My Lady. I will not marry the heir. Tomorrow, I will leave for Willowreach. From that moment on, I will no longer remain at your side to serve you. Please take good care of yourselves."

Derya froze, then panic swept over her. "Your parents died for the country. You grew up here with us. This manor is your home. If you leave now, where will you even go?"

Her voice sharpened with worry. "Did Caspian bully you because of that Greenvale girl? Is that why you no longer want to marry him?

"Don't think like that. He has you in his heart. Otherwise, he would not have risked his life to save you twice.

"Every year on your birthday, he begins searching early for rare gifts. I know you love him too. You learned to cook for him. You massage his arms every day to ease the pain in his hand. If you marry, you will be happy. You truly will.

"And that Greenvale girl is no good. We cannot let her win. You must not leave in anger like this."

In my previous life, they had said these exact same things. In the end, I lost my husband, and they lost their son. Everyone lived with regret.

I gently wiped the tears from Derya's eyes and spoke softly. "My Lady, forced love is never sweet. The person Ian loves is not me. I truly should not force him to marry me."

I continued, "I had a dream last night. I dreamed that he and I married. But he refused to see me. He worked himself to the bone every day, ruined his health, and came home covered in injuries. The porridge I cooked for him went untouched. When he fell ill, he would not allow me to care for him. He said the pain I brought him outweighed any happiness."

My voice faltered, and my chest tightened until breathing became difficult. "In the dream, he even died at 30 while saving me."

Derya stared at me in shock. "This… This was only a dream, my girl. Caspian would not…"

I sniffed quietly and forced a faint smile. "Dreams can be warnings. My Lord. My Lady. He does not have to marry me. We do not have to be husband and wife. I only want him to live a long life.

"He may be of noble status, but too many things remain beyond his control. At the very least, his marriage should be his own choice."

I knelt and bowed deeply three times, my forehead striking the floor with solid, echoing thuds.

"I have already obtained travel documents to leave the city. I beg you to grant me your blessing. Your kindness in raising me is something I will never forget. I will repay it for the rest of my life."

Valdrin pressed his lips together and helped me to my feet. Derya wiped her tears and pressed a heavy sack with coins into my hands. "If this is truly your decision, then I will respect it. Remember this. No matter what happens, this will always be your home."

Tears spilled over. I wrapped my arms around her. "Thank you, my Lady."

As long as I severed all ties with Caspian, the tragedy of my previous life would not repeat itself. He would live long, and Valdrin and Derya would never fall into despair or hate me so deeply.

This life would end well for everyone.

The second regret written in Caspian's journal, his regret at failing to resist his parents' arrangement, should count as resolved as well. Should it not?

I still had one final regret to fulfill. Would everything go smoothly?

-

That night, I went to Starfall Tower. Couples filled the place, arriving in pairs to pray for a love that would last forever.

"Evelyn."

A familiar voice reached my ears.

Joy surged on instinct. I turned at once, only to meet Caspian's dark, furious expression.

He grabbed my wrist with brutal force, his fingers biting into my skin like iron. Red crept into the corners of his eyes, a sign of barely restrained rage.

"You know I despise people who use power to bully others," he said coldly. "I only failed to accompany you back to the manor, and you went straight to my parents, stirring trouble until they publicly humiliated Ames."

His grip tightened. "She could not take it anymore. She poisoned herself. Are you satisfied now?"

Pain exploded up my arm. It felt as though my wrist might snap, and the color drained from my face.

In my previous life, my marriage to Caspian had driven Amelia to despair. A month later, she swallowed a Parasitic Curse and ended her own life. Caspian could not find compatible blood to counter it. He could only watch as she faded, breath by breath, until she was gone.

That was when his hatred for me truly took root. He carried it with him until his death.

But this time, I had not married him. So why had Amelia still chosen to die?

I had been wondering how I was supposed to fulfill his third regret. Now it had delivered itself to me.

I looked at him calmly. "So you came to take my blood. To neutralize the Parasitic Curse?"

Caspian froze. He had clearly not expected those words. When he spoke again, his voice had turned glacial. "You think I wouldn't dare?"

His grip tightened. "You humiliated Ames until she drank poison. You owe her. This is your penance."

-

Caspian dragged me straight to Amelia's residence.

She lay on the bed, barely breathing. The physician drew a dagger and sliced my arm. Sharp, fine pain bloomed, and I let out a muffled groan.

The physician's eyes lit up. "The Parasitic Curse is reacting. This young lady's blood is indeed compatible."

Then he hesitated. "But to save her, we need blood from the heart. I can't guarantee this lady's body can endure it."

"No." Caspian's expression changed at once. His brows drew tight. "Someone who loses heart's blood loses half their life. She can't withstand that. Is there no other way?"

The physician looked troubled.

"Other blood will have limited effect. If the heir refuses, then you must prepare yourselves. Taking heart's blood will not kill this lady," he said carefully. "But the woman poisoned by the Parasitic Curse will certainly die."

Caspian pressed his lips together, his gaze fixed on Amelia. Pain showed clearly in his eyes.

I turned to the physician. "I'm willing. Take it."

The physician looked back at Caspian. "But this will severely damage her vitality."

I smiled faintly. "It's fine. I can recover. Saving her comes first."

Caspian stared at me, hard and unblinking. At last, with a frown, he tore a strip from his white robe and covered my eyes.

"I owe you," he said stiffly. "I will repay this debt."

After he left, the physician began. The blade pierced my flesh. With each fraction deeper, the pain sharpened, clear and merciless. As it cut in, memories rose without warning.

When I was eight, my parents died. Noble children bullied me and said I had no father, no mother, and no one to protect me.

Caspian had driven them off. He then rested a hand on my head and said, "Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."

He had kept that promise. Even at the moment of his death, he had shielded me. There had been no way for me not to love him.

But I knew that from the moment I was reborn, I had to sever our bond, no matter the cost.

When the heart's blood was taken, warm liquid flooded my throat. Blood spilled from the corner of my mouth. Pain tore through me, and I fell into darkness.

Dimly, I remembered the last thing he said to me in my previous life. "Evelyn. How much better would my life have been if I had never met you."

Tears burst free. I smiled weakly and whispered, "Ian, this time, I won't cling to you anymore."

-

When I woke again, daylight filled the room. I had been moved to a side chamber.

Agony twisted through my chest. The room stood empty. My body felt hollow and powerless, unable to move.

I looked toward the window. It was nearly noon.

"Time to leave," I murmured.

Outside, maids chatted as they passed.

"Did you see the meteor shower last night? It was a once-in-a-century one."

"I did. It was beautiful. They say if lovers watch it together, they will stay together for life."

As I listened to their satisfied voices, regret pricked softly.

What a pity. Such beautiful meteors, and I had still missed them.

Not long after, Caspian pushed the door open with a bowl of food in his hands. It was something I had loved as a child: Royal Grand Potage, prepared by the royal kitchen.

For a moment, I felt dazed. I had not expected him to remember.

He studied me, his voice gentler than it had been in a long time. "Does your chest still hurt? Should I call a royal physician?"

He added quietly, "Thanks to you, she's no longer in danger."