IGCHPM 02

Chapter 2

Evangeline Ruth.

She was strange from the beginning.

“Nice to meet you, sister-in-law.”

Even the way she called me “sister-in-law” felt off.

She wasn’t even really my husband’s cousin — not by blood, anyway.

“And in the end, they ended up having an affair.”

At first, I just thought she was a weird, naive homewrecker.

But things started to get truly ridiculous.

Everything came so easily to her.

She gained not only my husband’s love…

…but also the support of the most powerful people in the empire:

• the most promising high priest,

• the continent’s strongest knight,

• the master of the magic tower,

• an underworld leader,

• a media mogul…

Every big name in this world ended up by her side.

As if it were completely natural.

Eventually, Evangeline became the crown princess.

Along the way, I was nothing more than an obstacle standing in her way — someone who had to be removed.

And each time, I was disposed of in the most brutal way possible.

Every life. Three times.

And I only learned the reason… in the final moment.

Through Evangeline’s confession.

“Now I am the real heroine.”

All my pain was just her way of stealing my place.

And she had said that clearly — in Korean. As if she knew I would understand.

‘I never told anyone I remembered my past life.’

I had died in Korea as “Yoo Shin-ah” and been reborn in this world.

And now, I could be sure.

“She knew the future. That’s why everything was so easy for her.”

“She must have read the original story — she’s a possessed person who knew the plot.”

And based on her words, the actual main character of this world, the “original” heroine, was…

Me.

Honestly, I didn’t care about being the “heroine.”

I didn’t even know I was in a book.

She could have had my husband, Ludwig, and the title of crown princess too. I would’ve given it all up.

If only she had let me go when I ran away in my second and third lives…

If she hadn’t brutally killed the few people I truly loved…

Maybe I wouldn’t be this determined.

But now—

“This time, I’ll take everything back.”

Everything she smiled and stole from me — was originally mine.

“I’ll reclaim it all. Every last bit!”

But there was one major problem.

“I don’t know the original story! I’ve never read it!”

If I had, I might’ve figured it out sooner.

I’d been born and raised here for 19 years — and gone through three regressions.

Suddenly, a thought struck me like lightning.

“Is this why I’ve regressed three times?”

I had reincarnated into this world with memories from Korea.
That probably means this world was the same as the “original story.”

“The possessed girl knew I’d understand Korean.”

But I didn’t know the story. That was a huge weakness.

Still — I had something else.

“Knowledge from the future — gained through regression!”

Evangeline didn’t seem aware of the regressions.

So those memories were mine alone.

She had the story, but I had the experience — and all of it was basically handed to me by her.

“I’ll use it all and pay her back — completely!”

With that thought, I jumped up from the bed.

And—

“Ah!”

Everything went dark — and I collapsed.

“I thought I’d regressed again!”

Luckily, I wasn’t dead.

I must’ve fainted from standing up too quickly — probably due to anemia.

Now that I thought about it, I was crash dieting for the wedding at this point.

And suddenly I was filled with rage again.

“Damn this stupid wedding!”

I ripped the engagement ring from my left hand and threw it on the floor.

The soft carpet made no sound when it landed.

I knew what day it was — the day before the wedding.

The ring on my finger was the proof.

In my first life, I had gone to sleep smiling with that ring on — not knowing a thing.

And the next day, I had a grand, glittering wedding.

The result?

“It was a nightmare. I was drained, used, and then executed as a traitor after losing my place as crown princess.”

All three times, the outcome was the same.

The events were more complicated after the first life, but still led to the same end.

Evangeline wasn’t the only one I had to resent — or get revenge on.

Of course, the top of that list was him.

“Damn you, Ludwig!”

My husband in every life — who used me and pushed me toward death.

“The emperor’s favorite nephew. He sucked everything from my family, took the crown prince position, and threw me away like trash.”

“Wait — that’s not fair. Comparing him to a dog is an insult… to dogs.”

Dogs are cute, sweet, warm, and fluffy.

Ludwig is worse than trash. Rotten food waste would be offended.

“I’m sorry, dogs.”

I paused to apologize to all the adorable furry creatures in the universe.

Then I snapped back to reality.

I didn’t have time to waste.

“The wedding is tomorrow.”

Just look at that shining wedding dress on the mannequin.

A symbol of my awful future.

“Now that I think about it… she picked that too.”

“This design is perfect for your complexion and figure, sister-in-law. Please take good care of my brother.”

Yes. I had stupidly worn the dress picked out by my husband’s mistress.

Three times!

Well, I didn’t know the first time. But the next two, I had no choice.

And that wasn’t all.

I walked closer and lifted the snow-white dress.

Hidden deep under the lace, in a spot no one would notice, were two embroidered initials — in thread that matched the lace perfectly.

If I hadn’t looked closely, I’d never have known.

L and E.

Initials on wedding attire are common — for the bride and groom.

L for Ludwig, of course.

But E wasn’t me.

Evangeline.

Those two cheaters secretly embroidered their initials into my wedding dress — marking their territory.

And I married him wearing it. Three times.

In my first life, Evangeline had even bragged about it.

“Actually, your wedding dress had my initials and Ludwig’s sewn into it. You were smiling like a fool while wearing it, not even knowing.”

“See? I even boldly put them on my dress this time. Pretty, right? It was destiny from the start.”

My vision burned red.

I wanted to tear this dress to shreds. Or burn it.

And honestly? I’d already tried that. It didn’t help.

No matter what I did, the wedding still happened. Destroying the dress only vented my anger.

“But I don’t have time to waste.”

I needed to think.

First, I picked up the wedding ring I’d thrown and looked at it.

“Just as I thought… the light is gone.”

The ring held three purple diamonds.

A gift from the emperor for his beloved nephew’s marriage — a royal treasure.

Every time I regressed, it was the night before the wedding — with that ring on my finger.

“And every time, the jewels lost their glow.”

Only I could see that glow.

“It was like the ring was telling me: you’ve used up another chance.”

Now, the ring showed no glow at all.

Just an ordinary ring to my eyes.

Which meant only one thing—

“My chances to regress are gone.”

If the ring had the power to send me back, this was the last time.

I had tried everything in my past three lives.

“And failed every time.”

But now—

“This time is different. I finally know who the real enemy is.”

Even so, I was still missing something.

“An ally. A powerful one.”

Just like the possessed girl had Ludwig and all those powerful supporters.

If this was truly my last chance…

“Maybe it’s time for drastic measures.”

Fight poison with poison.

“Face evil… with someone even crazier.”

Only one name came to mind.

A man bathed in blood under the red moon, smiling with madness.

And yet, so beautiful I couldn’t look away.

“Crown Prince Arpad.”

In all three lives, he never once fell into Evangeline’s hands.

“Well, he died before she could.”

But to me… that was an important clue.