Chapter 4

In my previous life, my marriage to Caspian had driven Amelia to despair. A month later, she swallowed a Parasitic Curse and ended her own life. Caspian could not find compatible blood to counter it. He could only watch as she faded, breath by breath, until she was gone.

That was when his hatred for me truly took root. He carried it with him until his death.

But this time, I had not married him. So why had Amelia still chosen to die?

I had been wondering how I was supposed to fulfill his third regret. Now it had delivered itself to me.

I looked at him calmly. "So you came to take my blood. To neutralize the Parasitic Curse?"

Caspian froze. He had clearly not expected those words. When he spoke again, his voice had turned glacial. "You think I wouldn't dare?"

His grip tightened. "You humiliated Ames until she drank poison. You owe her. This is your penance."

-

Caspian dragged me straight to Amelia's residence.

She lay on the bed, barely breathing. The physician drew a dagger and sliced my arm. Sharp, fine pain bloomed, and I let out a muffled groan.

The physician's eyes lit up. "The Parasitic Curse is reacting. This young lady's blood is indeed compatible."

Then he hesitated. "But to save her, we need blood from the heart. I can't guarantee this lady's body can endure it."

"No." Caspian's expression changed at once. His brows drew tight. "Someone who loses heart's blood loses half their life. She can't withstand that. Is there no other way?"

The physician looked troubled.

"Other blood will have limited effect. If the heir refuses, then you must prepare yourselves. Taking heart's blood will not kill this lady," he said carefully. "But the woman poisoned by the Parasitic Curse will certainly die."

Caspian pressed his lips together, his gaze fixed on Amelia. Pain showed clearly in his eyes.

I turned to the physician. "I'm willing. Take it."

The physician looked back at Caspian. "But this will severely damage her vitality."

I smiled faintly. "It's fine. I can recover. Saving her comes first."

Caspian stared at me, hard and unblinking. At last, with a frown, he tore a strip from his white robe and covered my eyes.

"I owe you," he said stiffly. "I will repay this debt."

After he left, the physician began. The blade pierced my flesh. With each fraction deeper, the pain sharpened, clear and merciless. As it cut in, memories rose without warning.

When I was eight, my parents died. Noble children bullied me and said I had no father, no mother, and no one to protect me.

Caspian had driven them off. He then rested a hand on my head and said, "Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."

He had kept that promise. Even at the moment of his death, he had shielded me. There had been no way for me not to love him.

But I knew that from the moment I was reborn, I had to sever our bond, no matter the cost.

When the heart's blood was taken, warm liquid flooded my throat. Blood spilled from the corner of my mouth. Pain tore through me, and I fell into darkness.

Dimly, I remembered the last thing he said to me in my previous life. "Evelyn. How much better would my life have been if I had never met you."

Tears burst free. I smiled weakly and whispered, "Ian, this time, I won't cling to you anymore."

-

When I woke again, daylight filled the room. I had been moved to a side chamber.

Agony twisted through my chest. The room stood empty. My body felt hollow and powerless, unable to move.

I looked toward the window. It was nearly noon.

"Time to leave," I murmured.

Outside, maids chatted as they passed.

"Did you see the meteor shower last night? It was a once-in-a-century one."

"I did. It was beautiful. They say if lovers watch it together, they will stay together for life."

As I listened to their satisfied voices, regret pricked softly.

What a pity. Such beautiful meteors, and I had still missed them.

Not long after, Caspian pushed the door open with a bowl of food in his hands. It was something I had loved as a child: Royal Grand Potage, prepared by the royal kitchen.

For a moment, I felt dazed. I had not expected him to remember.

He studied me, his voice gentler than it had been in a long time. "Does your chest still hurt? Should I call a royal physician?"

He added quietly, "Thanks to you, she's no longer in danger."