My Last Life, His Last Betrayal

I lay on the ground in agony, my mind a blur as a dull ache pulsed through my wounded body.

That was my ninth failed attempt. This time would be my tenth attempt, and if I failed again, I would be erased from existence.

After I struggled to my feet, the maids waiting outside the door helped me up.

The royal physician had been waiting outside as well. Hearing the commotion, he rushed in to treat my wounds.

I had already forgotten most of what happened during my previous lives. All I could remember was the first time I failed.

I'd taken a blade meant for Martin Lovell, saving him from an assassination attempt by his older brothers. Back then, I'd been gravely wounded, and while Martin had held me in his arms, he sobbed, begging me not to die.

He'd promised to grant me anything I wanted, as long as I stayed alive. So I'd asked him for one thing in return.

I wanted to become his wife, and I wanted him to promise that he'd never abandon me no matter what.

After he'd agreed, I came back from the dead. I told him I possessed supernatural powers that allowed me to resurrect myself.

After that, during the power struggles over the throne, I'd died eight more times, shielding Martin from one assassination attempt after another.

The second time I died, Martin swore an oath to me. "I, Martin Lovell, swear that I'll never fail Helena Franklin in this lifetime. May lightning strike me dead where I stand if I break that vow."

When exactly did I fall for him? It was when I watched him agonize over the lives of ordinary people and when I watched him grieve over his family.

I was sure Martin liked me, so I told him everything about myself. But the promise he'd made me began to change after my seventh death.

It happened when Martin brought me back to the capital to face his older brother on the battlefield. That was when I met my half-sister, Rosie Franklin, a gentle, well-mannered lady from a respectable family.

Just then, the system's voice rang out in my mind. [Helena, this is your very last chance. Please make it count. If things really don't work out, we can give up on Martin. Worse comes to worst, I'll take the punishment for you.]

After I'd died nine times, Martin had gone from heartbroken and devastated at first, to numb, and eventually, cold and indifferent.

On the other hand, the system had gone from numbness to indifference, then to pity, and finally to sympathy and reluctance to see me suffer.

I let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh. "This is my last chance. I might as well take the gamble."

I was gambling on whether Martin still had feelings for me or was genuinely in love with Rosie.

My mission was to get Martin's affection for me to 100%. He'd never been favored growing up, and his mother had no power or influence, so he'd learned to be extremely guarded.

Even after I'd died for him time and time again, his affection for me had only reached 80%.

I gazed out at the red-brick walls beyond the palace, which stood like prison bars, trapping me inside. Just then, a voice came from outside the door.

"Your Majesty, the king is waiting for you at the Queen Dowager's. He also said you mustn't miss the appointed hour, as it'd be terribly bad luck."