: Rebirth

My younger sister went on a trip to Mirewood and came back clamoring to marry their Saint Heir.

I had heard horrifying rumors that they only take foreign wives to use them in Refining the Human Effigy Hex. On top of that, it was so far from home, so I tried to kindly persuade my sister to reconsider.

I never expected her to turn around and tell the Saint Heir, "My sister won't let me marry you. She said your traditions are Archaic Superstitions and that you're all just out to hurt people."

The Saint Heir of Mirewood flew into a rage, knocked me unconscious, and took me back with him to be tortured, killed, and burned.

After I died, my soul lingered, and I watched as my sister, covering for him, told the police through a flood of tears that I had killed myself over a broken heart.

When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the moment my sister was starry-eyed about her plans to marry and move to Mirewood.

This time, I sneered, "Love overcomes all distances. One look at you two and it's clear you're a match made in heaven. No one could possibly break you up!"

1

"Sis, Kaelan says he can't wait to marry me, take me back to Mirewood, and start a new family with him. He must love me so much.

"Sis, I feel so happy right now.

"But… isn't Mirewood a bit too far? I'm not so sure I want to go."

Willa Aveline's words rang in my ears, just like in my past life.

In my past life, I thought she was asking for my advice. I was also genuinely terrified of her going to such a faraway place all by herself. If something were to happen, I might never see my sister again.

So, I painstakingly tried to persuade her not to go.

Besides, the rumors surrounding Kaelan Valerius were horrifying. I didn't know if they were true, but 'what if they were?'

I showed her the terrible rumors I found online and told her, "Willa, he's just a man. It's not worth leaving your family and going to such a faraway place for him."

Willa Aveline tossed my phone aside and complained that I was promoting Archaic Superstitions. She even accused me of fabricating rumors.

Right in front of me, she called Kaelan Valerius. "My sister says where you're from is a terrible place, and she warned me that you're not a good person. She doesn't want me to marry you. Kaelan, tell me, are you a bad person?"

Her tone was obviously flirtatious.

In a fit of rage, Kaelan Valerius tortured, killed, and burned me.

But Willa Aveline tearfully told the police and the media that I had a secret crush on Kaelan Valerius, and since he was going to marry her, I had killed myself out of unrequited love.

The police couldn't find my body and ruled my death a suicide.

She and Kaelan Valerius lived happily ever after.

Recalling the events of my past life, a chill spread through my entire body, and my insides trembled.

Taking a deep breath, I forced a smile and patted Willa Aveline's shoulder.

"Love overcomes all distances. One look at you two and it's clear you're a match made in heaven. No one could possibly break you up!"

2

My words clearly delighted Willa Aveline. Her face lit up with a sweet, happy smile, tinged with a hint of smugness, because she was about to become Mrs. Valerius.

"I'll call Kaelan right now and tell him I'm willing to marry him!"

Once again, right in front of me, Willa Aveline dialed Kaelan Valerius's number.

Except this time, what she said was...

"Kaelan, I told my sister, and she supports me marrying you!"

I couldn't hear what Kaelan Valerius said on the other end, but Willa Aveline blushed, glanced at me, and then asked, "Sis, do you want to come to Mirewood with me, too?

"Kaelan says since you're my sister, you're his sister too, and that he'll take good care of you."

A chill ran through me.

'So Kaelan Valerius had planned to kill two birds with one stone from the very beginning. I was his prey, too.'

'In my past life, even if Willa Aveline hadn't said those things to him, he wouldn't have spared me.'

'Good.'

'Now that I'm living this life again, I had no intention of letting Kaelan Valerius off the hook in the first place.'

"Thank him for me, but it's too early to talk about that. If he wants to marry you, tell him to come and make a formal proposal first."

I smiled faintly, adopting the air of an older sister. "Willa, Mom and Dad are gone. You're my only family in this world, my little sister. I have to make sure you get the very best."

Willa Aveline shyly lowered her head, covering the mouthpiece to whisper, "Kaelan is already the best. Don't worry, sis. He loves me so much; I know he'll be good to me.

"And I'm confident I can make Kaelan completely devoted to me."

She turned back to the phone, speaking to Kaelan Valerius. "Did you hear what my sister said?

"The Betrothal Gifts, Kaelan Valerius! I have a sister who dotes on me, you know. If you don't offer any Betrothal Gifts, she won't let me marry you."

I laughed out loud. "The most important thing is that Brother-in-law Valerius loves you. As long as he loves you, I'd let you marry him even if he gave nothing at all.

"Love is all you need, after all. You must be drowning in Brother-in-law Valerius's love by now, aren't you, Willa?"

Willa Aveline grinned from ear to ear. "What are you talking about, sis? Kaelan's still on the line."

After listening to Kaelan Valerius, she immediately turned to me. "Sis, Kaelan said he'll prepare everything and come make a formal proposal in a few days."

"Good."

...

Before Kaelan Valerius delivered the Betrothal Gifts, I burned the stock transfer documents I had prepared for Willa Aveline.

After our parents passed away, I took over the company.

Those shares were the Dowry I had prepared for Willa Aveline.

'In this life...'

'Someone like Willa Aveline doesn't even deserve to live, so how could I possibly still give her the shares?'

Willa Aveline even asked me, "Sis, I'm getting married soon. How much of a Dowry have you prepared for me?

"I'm marrying into the Valerius Family. If my Dowry is too small, people will look down on me."

I sighed. "You know the company is having difficulties right now. I really can't spare any extra money."

Upon hearing this, Willa Aveline's expression faltered. "But..."

"Besides, Brother-in-law Valerius loves you so much. He would never demand a Dowry from you. He won't let you suffer after you're married, either. I have faith in Brother-in-law Valerius's character."

'In this life, I was going to praise Kaelan Valerius to the high heavens, making Willa Aveline jump willingly and eagerly into that fiery pit.'

'And I certainly wouldn't give her the opportunity to use my words to prove her loyalty to Kaelan Valerius.'

Only then did Willa Aveline's smile return. "You're right, sis. Kaelan won't let me be mistreated.

"He said he's coming tomorrow with the Betrothal Gifts."

3

The next morning at nine, Kaelan Valerius arrived at our home with three carloads of Betrothal Gifts to propose marriage.

The man was handsome and tall, his identity mysterious and noble. It was no wonder Willa Aveline was so set on marrying him.

But what I saw was the demonic true face beneath the man's perfect mask.

In my past life, just because I opposed Willa Aveline's marriage to him, he drugged me, knocked me unconscious, and abducted me to Mirewood.

He had worn that evil expression as he asked me, "Noelle Aveline, do you think I'm a bad person?"

I begged him to let me go.

He held a Combat Knife, its cold blade lightly tapping my cheek as he clicked his tongue.

"Such a beautiful face. It would be a real shame to ruin it."

Then, with a flash of his blade, he dug out my eyes, my organs...

Finally, he threw my empty husk of a body into a great fire, burning it to ashes.

The Saint Heir of Mirewood?

Raising Gu-insects?

Nothing but legends.

He was just a demon who built his fortune on human hearts, livers, spleens, lungs, and kidneys!

A chill ran down my spine. I forced myself to snap out of the terrifying memories of my past life.

Willa Aveline came up to me, holding Kaelan Valerius's arm.

"Sis, this is Kaelan. Your future brother-in-law."

Kaelan Valerius's dark gaze swept over my face, so subtle it was almost imperceptible. He smiled and extended his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Sis."

I took a silent, deep breath to calm myself, then smiled and extended my own hand. "Nice to meet you."

Once we were seated, one of Kaelan Valerius's men immediately presented a list of the Betrothal Gifts.

After I finished reading it, I revealed a satisfied smile. "Brother-in-law, you are very thoughtful. It is Willa's good fortune to be able to marry you."

Kaelan Valerius pulled Willa Aveline into his arms and looked at her with deep affection. "To be able to marry Willa and make her my wife—the good fortune is all mine."

'I nearly threw up from disgust at Kaelan Valerius's clumsy acting.'

Willa Aveline stared blankly at Kaelan Valerius, her eyes actually welling up with tears.

"Kaelan, you spoil me too much."

...

'A love-drunk idiot. To think I was killed by someone like this in my past life... it was such a frustrating, ignominious death.'

'But thank heavens I was given a chance to start over.'

Kaelan Valerius stayed for lunch and then left. Before he went, he said to me, "Sis, after Willa and I are married, I hope you'll come with her to Mirewood. After all, you're the only family she has, and I have a duty to help her take care of you."

Willa Aveline smiled and nodded. "Yes, Sister, you should come with us."

'But her smile seemed a little fake.'

"I have a company to manage here. I can't make a decision just yet. Let me think about it for a few days."