Chapter 1 – How The Rose Withered

“Hilise, please.”

My beloved older brother, Ricardo, whom everyone calls ‘The Prince of Roses’, said to me, who is locked behind the bars.

“Die in place of Gabrielle.”

My heart, which had already been stabbed countless times throughout my life, was completely broken at that moment.

I did not know what to say. I could only hold my breath and stare at the man in front of me.

It was on Gabrielle’s behalf that I was jailed in the first place.

I didn’t expect Ricardo to patch things up and get me out of here.

But I expected him to say that he was worried about me.

Even if it would’ve been an obvious lie, I didn’t care.

My brother’s face, which had always been cold whenever he saw me, was dark.

A faint sense of guilt was visible in his eyes as he avoided my gaze, unable to look at me any longer.

“You did it before. You’ve already repeated seven lives.”

The moment Ricardo said it with a heavy voice, I shuddered as if I was being stitched with a harpoon.

“Die—Die……then go back to the past.”

“Don’t say it.”

“So Hilise,”

“Don’t.”

“Please die in Gabrielle’s stead.”

I didn’t know that such cruel words could pass through those beautiful lips.

However, it wasn’t anything new. He had always been cruel to me.

But still……How could he?

“It’s just for a moment anyway. After that, you will still go back.”

Ricardo spoke again with a desperate voice as if he was trying to persuade me.

“That’s why……”

“You didn’t believe me.”

Ricardo fell silent when he heard what I said.

“You despise me for talking nonsense to get other people’s attention.”

He never talked about it.

“But now you’re bringing it up because you don’t need me anymore?”

Knowing his personality, if we are in a different situation right now, he wouldn’t believe a word that I say.

Ricardo’s face looked troubled.

“I’m sorry.”

His actions made me feel as if the warmth of my body was being drained out of my fingertips.

“But please, Hilise. For the first and last time, I ask this of you.”

For the first time, a nobleman knelt before me and begged with his head down.

For Gabrielle, whose blood he doesn’t share but is clearly the only sister he considers as his.

He wants me to die for her.

“Haha……”

I couldn’t stand it and burst out laughing. How can I not laugh at this funny sight?

“This is hilarious.”

Ricardo’s shoulders stiffened a little as if he thought I was mocking him for being on his knees.

Still, he made a silent appeal to me.

That’s right, that’s how much he cares for Gabrielle.

To the extent that I’m nothing to him.

I’ve always been miserable in all of my seven lives, and there was no exception this time.

Nevertheless, the fleeting expectation, which had remained as thick as a handful of dust, finally turned into ashes and scattered in the air.

“Ricardo.”

I didn’t shed any tears.

I just felt empty.

Yes.

Finally, after seven failures.

“I won’t call you brother anymore. Actually, you’ve never been my brother since the day I was born.”

Ricardo’s hand flinched at my words. He raised his head and looked up at me.

“Thank you, Ricardo.”

Perhaps my face is as dry as my voice right now.

As soon as his eyes met mine, his expression cracked.

“I’m glad you’re a scumbag until the end.”

Looking at his quivering eyes, I felt my lingering vain feelings, which were slowly disappearing like grains of sand, vanish entirely.

I don’t feel bad looking at him anymore, it’s not even heartbreaking.

Have I ever felt this positive in all of my lives before?

Well, I’m finally free now.

So, it’s my turn to abandon them first.