The Wrong Soulmate

The empire's most beloved princess suddenly fell victim to a mysterious illness, slipping into a deep coma that no physician could cure. In the end, the royal astrologer delivered a chilling prophecy: only the man destined to be her true soulmate could awaken her with a kiss of genuine love.

In the first lifetime, my eldest brother, plain-looking and desperate for the enormous reward promised by the crown, volunteered to go to the palace and kiss the princess awake.

However, the moment she opened her eyes and saw him, she let out a horrified scream. Calling him a fraud, she ordered the guards to drag him into the royal fountain and drown him alive.

"You liar! How could someone who looks like you possibly be my fated one?"

In the second lifetime, my second brother listened carefully to the warning left behind by our reborn eldest brother. Determined not to repeat the same mistake, he sought out an underground black-market surgeon and took on the face of the most handsome man in the entire country before going to awaken the princess.

This time, everything seemed perfect. The princess fell deeply in love with him, and for an entire year they lived in bliss.

However, on the day their child was born, she took one look at the baby and completely lost her mind. In a fit of rage, she ordered my second brother to be beaten to death on the spot.

"How dare you deceive me? Die!"

By the third lifetime, after witnessing the horrific deaths of both my brothers, I hid silently in the corner, too terrified to say a single word.

Unfortunately, the queen had other plans. She ordered her servants to forcefully hold me down and make me kiss the princess awake.

I never expected that on the very night of our wedding, the princess would suddenly go mad, rush out of the castle, and accidentally fall into the lake, where she drowned.

The queen was furious beyond reason. Believing me responsible for her daughter's death, she ordered my public execution, leaving not even my bones behind.

Then came the fourth lifetime.

Once again, the Royal Chamberlain arrived at our home with a line of armed guards surrounding the estate.

"The astrologer has confirmed it," he declared calmly. "The princess's destined soulmate is one of the three sons of the Lynch family.

"You have three days to decide. Whoever succeeds in awakening the princess will marry into the royal family and enjoy limitless wealth, power, and honor."

This time, the three of us only exchanged uneasy glances.

The fortune and status being offered were enough to tempt anyone in the empire, yet not a single one of us dared take a step forward.

The Royal Chamberlain stood in front of the three Lynch brothers with a stiff smile that never reached his eyes.

"I won't waste time talking in circles with you.

"The Royal Astrologer has already made the calculation. The person destined for Princess Shirley is among the three sons of the Lynch family."

At that, his voice sharpened. "This is a blessing beyond comparison."

Meanwhile, the three of us only exchanged stiff, nervous glances. None of us dared take a single step forward.

My oldest brother, Bryson Lynch, who had died first in our previous life, instinctively took half a step back. He looked like he wanted the floor to split open and swallow him whole.

"I... I'm way too average-looking!" he blurted, waving frantically. "If I get anywhere near Her Highness, forget waking her up. I'll probably scare her soul right out of her body!"

The second brother, Griffin Lynch, covered his mouth and shook his head like crazy.

In our last life, he had been beaten to death with clubs.

"I recently got a terrible mouth infection," he mumbled through his hand. "The Royal Physician said it's extremely contagious. One kiss could kill someone. Absolutely not."

The Royal Chamberlain slowly lifted his eyelids, and that eerie gaze slid toward me.

He raised one perfectly manicured finger and smiled leisurely.

"Well, since both young guys seem to have their difficulties… I suppose this fortune and glory can only fall to Mr. Joseph Lynch."

The moment my name was called, my entire body went rigid. My mind raced desperately, trying to think of a way out.

However, before I could come up with an excuse, the smile on the Royal Chamberlain's face had already begun to fade.

My heart tightened instantly, and I dropped to my knees.

"Sir, this concerns the royal bloodline and Her Highness's safety. I truly wouldn't dare act recklessly.

"Please give the three of us some time to discuss things properly so we can identify the person truly destined for the princess. We cannot risk delaying Her Highness's recovery."

An icy snort came from above my head.

"I'll give you three days.

"If, after three days, no one can wake Princess Shirley..." He smiled faintly, but his voice turned chillingly icy. "Then the three Lynch brothers will be chopped to pieces and buried in the princess's rose garden as fertilizer."

That was when I realized something.

Even the Royal Chamberlain himself was afraid of choosing the wrong person and returning empty-handed.

I had barely let out a breath of relief when, in the very next moment, the guards he brought with him forcefully confiscated our luggage.

Then they marched us straight into Princess Shirley's estate and locked us under house arrest in a remote little courtyard.