Chapter 1

Just as I opened my eyes, I saw a flash of cold light in front of me. Someone was roughly pulling open my collar.

"Alec, just bear it a little longer. Stephen's illness came on so suddenly. I need you to give one more bit of your heart's blood."

The icy blade sank into my chest, but I could no longer feel the pain.

Because just moments ago, I had already died.

Princess Jasmine Tolbot gripped the knife and twisted it back and forth inside my chest.

But instead of writhing in agony and begging through tears like I used to, I turned my head slightly to avoid her movement. Then I stared right at her, expressionless.

My chest ached as if being twisted by a blade, yet I could no longer feel it at all.

Princess Jasmine's hand paused on the knife. She seemed almost reluctant. She reached out and covered my eyes so she wouldn't lock eyes with me.

Just then, a guard's anxious voice came from the doorway.

"Princess Jasmine, Master Stephen can't wait much longer. You need to hurry."

I knew that voice well. It belonged to Stephen Tucker's personal guard.

Every time Stephen fell ill, it was this guard who urged Princess Jasmine to carve out my heart's blood.

Princess Jasmine hesitated no longer. Her hands worked quickly, drawing out the last of my heart's blood.

"Alec, just behave and let me take your heart's blood. You should feel blessed that you're able to save Stephen. Once Stephen has recovered, I will compensate you."

Beneath her palm, I slowly closed my eyes and tried my hardest to hold back the bitter tears.

Another day? There would be no other day.

She didn't know it, but my life had already ended today.

When I lay still for a long time, Princess Jasmine put away my heart's blood, tucked the blanket around me, and left without looking back.

I slowly opened my eyes and watched her hazy figure retreat. A soft laugh escaped me.

Then my lips froze, unable to hold their upward curve any longer. My tears finally broke through.

A month ago, her cousin Stephen had returned to the capital after his wife's death.

Because his old heart condition had flared up, he needed compatible heart's blood for his medicine.

Using her authority as a princess, she tested every blood source in the city. In the end, only I matched with Stephen.

We had been married for five years.

At first, she only agreed to marry me because of my father's dying wish. But later, we had grown close and loving.

She would care for me day and night when I had a cold. I personally saw to her meals and clothing, never letting anyone else do it.

But I never thought that for Stephen's sake, she would personally carve out my heart's blood.

Time and again, I begged and pleaded. Time and again, she took it by force without mercy.

Until today, when my life force finally failed. I withered and died.

But she was like a sheet of ice that could never be warmed. She didn't even notice I had stopped breathing.

All she cared about was taking my heart's blood to Stephen.

Because my resentment was too great, I could not enter the cycle of reincarnation. The King of Hell gave me seven days to return to the living world and settle my grudges.

But I never expected that when I opened my eyes again, Princess Jasmine would still try to carve out my heart's blood one more time.

I was already a ghost without pain or feeling. Yet my chest ached as if wind were blowing through a hole in it. I had never been one to cry easily, but cold tears spilled from my eyes again.

I pressed my hand to my chest and thought bitterly, at least in seven more days, I would finally be gone.

Because the price of returning to the living world was disappearing completely.