After crawling out of the coffin, I pretended to faint right in front of a young scholar, who kindly took me to his home.

"I'm just escaping the famine, not some strange creature from the woods," I assured him. He believed my story.

Dealing with mortals was a pain. They aged, got sick, and died. So, every few decades, I needed to fake my death by lying in a coffin. When I emerge, it was time to 'accidentally' bump into him in his new life.

I always thought I was just a hopeless romantic, a total simp, until I stumbled upon his diary buried beneath a tree. It read, "Maybe I'll reincarnate as a scholar again next time. She doesn't seem to like the woodcutter.

I'll indulge her once more, but next time, I'm calling her out on her childish games.

Next time..."

That left me reeling.

*****

I crawled out of the coffin, gasping for fresh air.

"Ah, the intoxicating scent of nature. It's been about fifty years," I mused.

The last time Joshua Stewart died, he was forty-two.

That meant the current Joshua would be grown up by now.

I did some divination and learned that Joshua would soon be passing this way.

I camped out here day and night, playing the waiting game.

Thankfully, all that waiting wasn't for nothing. After enduring a month of being battered by the weather, I finally spotted Joshua.

From afar, Joshua approached, his strikingly handsome features slowly becoming clearer.

In the morning sunlight, Joshua trudged along, a trunk slung on his back, his forehead slick with a hint of sweat.

This life's Joshua looked like a scholar.

Looking at him, I couldn't help but be transported back to the Joshua from 142 years ago. With his sharp brows and deep eyes, decked out in fancy clothes, he was a real charmer.

Lost in thoughts of his handsome face, he suddenly appeared right in front of me, his face full of worry. "Miss, are you okay?" he asked. "I heard these mountains have been dangerous lately, with strange creatures lurking. Did you run into one?"

Catching my reflection in Joshua's eyes, I saw just how rough I looked.

I knew I had to act like I was in trouble.

I clutched my chest, let a few tears drop, and faked a cry.

Between sobs, I managed, "Sir, I've come a long way fleeing famine. I'm no creature from the woods. Don't be afraid."

Joshua nodded, looking genuinely guileless. "I can see that."

I seldom saw such a look on Joshua's face in my previous lives, and it made me want to tease him a bit.

Holding my ankle, I put on my sweetest voice and said, "I think I've twisted my ankle. Could you help me up?"

His expression twisted in conflict. After a moment's struggle, he finally extended his hand.

His hands were long and warm.

Feigning weakness, I let myself fall into his arms, and took the opportunity to cop a feel of his chest.

"Yep, just as shaped and resilient as I remembered," I mused internally.

Blushing, Joshua said, "Miss, I'm headed to Landon for the imperial test. If you don't mind, you could come with me."

His invitation was just what I was waiting for. I quickly nodded. "That would be great, thanks."

So there Joshua was, on his way to the imperial test in Landon, when he stumbled upon me, Catherine Stewart.

Joshua was twenty that year, born into a modest family.

Joshua and I had been tied across many lifetimes, though I've had to nudge fate a bit.

Centuries ago, in a white robe, Joshua stood before the Fate Stone, clasped his hands, his striking face illuminated by light as he made his heartfelt wish. "My only wish is to be with my love Kitty forever, in every life."

Inspired by that wish, I found myself faking death every few decades to reunite with his new incarnations.

Now, we were in our ninth lifetime together.

This time, I was sure the pure-hearted scholar Joshua would still soon fall for me, especially under these circumstances.

Right after Joshua took me in, I "fell ill" according to plan.

The doctor Joshua called diagnosed me with emotional upheaval combined with long-term malnutrition, draining my vitality.

I almost cried right there.

"What a brilliant doctor. He nailed the diagnosis," I thought.

After a month of waiting for Joshua, seeing him again was emotionally overwhelming.

Plus, decades in a coffin without food or drink would obviously lead to malnutrition and depleted energy.

Joshua believed the malnutrition part since he thought I was a famine refugee.

But regarding the mixed feelings of worry and joy, Joshua insisted that I had encountered the mountain monster that the villagers had been talking about recently during my escape.

That made me feel a bit guilty.

If my nightmares kicking the coffin lid had sparked rumors of a haunting creature in the hills, then I was somewhat to blame.

We checked into an inn, and had to slow our journey to Landon quite a bit because of my "illness."

Joshua stood at the bedside with a bowl of medicine while I lay there looking pale and weak. "You've already saved my life," I said. "I'd hate to be the reason you miss your imperial test in Landon, Mr. Stewart."

Joshua frowned at how pitiful I looked. "Miss Stewart, how can you even say that? I can't just leave you here alone."

"It's just..." I coughed a few times, my face turning even paler, "I can't even take my medicine by myself now."

Joshua stood there, clearly wrestling with what to do next.

Finally, he clenched his teeth, grabbed a stool, and sat down by my bed.

I figured he was thinking, "Screw the rules about men and women. This is life or death."

Joshua scooped up some medicine and brought it to my lips.

Gazing at Joshua's handsome face, I couldn't help thinking he must be heaven's favorite.

His ears turned red down to his neck, but his hand was steady as he held the spoon.

Still, there was a look of resignation in his eyes.

Knowing that pushing him further might scare him off, I obediently took the medicine, ready for the next spoonful.

The room was silent except for the routine: he fed, I drank.

During this, Joshua asked, "Miss Stewart, aren't you worried I might be a bad guy, maybe even poisoned this?"

I gave him a soft smile and looked straight into his eyes, "You're a gentleman. I'm not worried."

I knew exactly how to get to Joshua's heart.

Joshua didn't say another word, but I noticed his hand shaking slightly as he held the spoon.

But I still felt it wasn't enough.

As dusk fell, I crept up to Joshua's door and poked a tiny hole in the paper window to sneak a peek.

Joshua was inside, his back to me, his hair draped across his chest. He was slowly peeling off his robe to reveal a broad back, apparently getting ready for a bath.

I found myself swallowing hard.

Just as he was about to drop his underwear, I heard footsteps behind me.

Panicked, I pushed open the door and slipped into Joshua's room.

Our eyes met, and we froze in silence.

Startled, Joshua clumsily tried to cover up, his hands darting back and forth.

Lucky me, it was the perfect moment. I lunged at Joshua, grabbing his waist and crying my eyes out.

Joshua stood there with his arms out, unsure what to do next.

Watching me struggle for breath between sobs, he let out a deep sigh and started to pat my back to help me catch my breath. "What happened?"

With my face buried in his chest, I whimpered, "Someone broke into my room, trying to... you know."

Joshua gasped, "What? That happened?"

I nodded furiously, my cries growing louder as I clung to his waist. "Mr. Quincy, I'm so frightened. Can I stay in your room?"

"Miss Stewart, that's not appropriate," Joshua said, his body tense, his voice strained. "If people found out, it would ruin your reputation."

"But..." I looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, gripping his hands tighter. "I'm still sick. I barely escaped today. Who knows if I'd be so lucky next time."

My fingernails gently traced his skin, causing him to shiver slightly. "You wouldn't want to find me dead next time, would you, Mr. Quincy?"

So, I ended up moving into Joshua's room.

I took the bed, and Joshua made do with the floor.

At night, I used a spell to shift Joshua up onto the bed.

When Joshua woke up the next morning, the first thing he saw was my face.

I opened my eyes slowly and caught his bewildered look.

He scrambled off the bed and checked that his clothes were in place, breathing a sigh of relief. Stammering, he said, "Miss... Miss Stewart, I... I have no idea how I ended up on the bed. I..."

When I didn't react, Joshua got flustered. He held up his right hand and swore, "Miss Stewart, I swear I didn't think anything inappropriate."

I nodded slightly. "Don't worry, I believe you. It was just too cold last night."

Joshua wasn't expecting that answer. He might have been ready to take responsibility. He hesitated, then asked, "Miss Stewart, why do you trust me so much?"

He had asked me this once before.

My response was the same as before. "Because you're a gentleman."

Then I got up, grabbed a basin, and left the room.

Left alone, Joshua sat on the bed in a daze. His ears turned red, and he yanked a blanket over his face. He cursed himself silently, murmuring, "I'm no gentleman."

With Joshua taking care of me, my "illness" cleared up quickly.

We prepared to continue on to Landon.

Checking out of the inn, the innkeeper's suggestive glances bounced between Joshua and me. Pulling me aside just before we left, she advised earnestly, "Miss, keep an eye on your man. He's quite the catch, and you don't want anyone stealing him away."

I turned back to see Joshua, catching his warm gaze.

Then, with a chuckle, I grabbed Joshua's arm. "Of course, I will."