YWDBH 04

Chapter 4 — Memories of the Past Life

Elodie’s birthday party ended in disaster.

Duke Gont Castiel ordered the servants to send all the guests away. At the same time, he shouted at the knights to throw Leonis out immediately, then dragged Elodie to her room.

“How dare you disgrace me like this! Do you know what my reputation has become in front of others?!”

Gont stomped his feet and hurled harsh words at her.

“Out of all the men, why him?! That worthless margrave of the border!
Now your value has fallen to the ground. Who would want to marry a filthy girl like you?”

Despite her father’s rage, Elodie stood straight without even blinking.

Her cheeks burned from the red handprints left on them—but she did not waver.

Because lowering her value—

was exactly what she wanted.

For some unknown reason, Elodie kept returning from death.

Again and again, she went back to one week before her 25th birthday.

She had promised herself to live differently this time.

But she couldn’t just run away from the duke’s house.

There was someone she had to protect.

In her past life, Elodie chose a marriage partner her father approved of—

all to save her mother.

But Duke Castiel broke his promise.

And in the end—

Elodie lost her mother forever.

Twice.

Elodie quietly recalled her past life.

“If you choose a son-in-law that satisfies me, I will take care of your mother’s treatment for the rest of her life.”

Following her father’s will, she accepted the proposal of Duke Denverin, a powerful family equal to theirs.

One year later—

“What do you mean… Mother has passed away?! How could this happen?! You promised you would take care of her if I married Duke Denverin!”

For the first time since her marriage, Elodie returned to her family home, excited to see her mother.

But the bed was empty.

Cold.

“She died.”

“You broke the promise first. You and Duke Denverin failed to send the monthly support you agreed on.”

“That’s because…! You know our situation is difficult these days!
Even so, I sold my wedding gifts and sent money… It was only stopped for two months…!”

The Denverin family had fallen into decline.

The duke angered the emperor with careless words, and his past mistakes made things worse. The emperor stripped some of his power and restricted his lands.

The family was now struggling.

They couldn’t even send the promised money.

Elodie had come home only to beg for help.

But—

“Do you know how much it cost to keep your mother alive all this time?
Don’t tell me you came here to take money from me? Get out! I don’t have a single coin for you!”

Duke Castiel glared at her and ordered the servants to drag her out.

“Father! How can you do this?! You didn’t even tell me Mother died! I trusted you—I married Duke Denverin because of your promise…!”

“Silence! Take this letter to Duke Denverin. It’s my final warning.”

He threw a sealed letter at her and turned away.

The knights dragged the crying Elodie outside.

“We’re sorry. We must follow the duke’s orders.”

“Just tell me one thing… When did my mother die? At least let me know the date… please…”

She clung to the closing iron gate.

“Lady Castiel… she passed away two weeks after your marriage.”

The gate shut.

Elodie collapsed to the ground, tears falling endlessly.

I didn’t even know… I kept sending money…

But she died right after I left…

Was that really a coincidence?

If I had known… I would never have married.
I would never have left…

Holding only the letter her father gave her, Elodie returned to the carriage.

Even in this miserable situation—

The only place she could go back to was the Denverin estate.

If he finds out I got no help… will he hurt me again?

She trembled, hugging herself.

Under her dress, her body was covered in bruises.

As the Denverin family fell apart and Castiel gave no support—

The duke blamed all his misfortune on Elodie.

And abused her where no one could see.

Soon, the carriage stopped.

Elodie entered the dark estate, shaking in fear.

That night—

her screams echoed endlessly.

And then—

She secretly escaped.

She climbed the tower—

and threw herself down.

That was her first life.

Wait…

Did I meet Leonis that day?

Elodie frowned, trying to remember.

It felt like she had seen someone while running to the tower—

but she couldn’t remember clearly.

No… that can’t be.

There’s no way I met him there.

His territory is far away… I must have been confused.

She shook her head.

Now was not the time to think about that.

This time… I will protect Mother. No matter what.

After returning again, during this one week—

Elodie had been preparing a way to treat her mother and secretly take her away from the duke’s house.

But after her 25th birthday—

she would be forced to marry and leave.

So to buy time—

she created that scandal with Leonis.

To ruin her reputation and delay the marriage.

Even if it meant she might never marry at all—

She didn’t mind.

At least she could stay by her mother’s side.

She felt a little sorry for using Leonis—

But since he never apologized for insulting her before—

it felt even.

“So… did that man say he would take responsibility for you?”

Gont’s mocking voice interrupted her thoughts.

“…What?”

Elodie blinked, surprised.

“As expected. A man who only waits for a chance to take revenge on our family would never take responsibility.
I see now—this was all his trick to ruin your reputation and ours. And you fell for such an obvious trap! Useless girl!”

Gont gritted his teeth.

“Now that proper marriage is impossible, I’ll have to sell you off as a mistress to some rich old noble. This time, you will not disobey me!”

He raised his hand again.

Elodie stepped back.

But at that moment—

“That won’t be necessary.”

A man with burning red eyes—

and the faint scent of blood—

entered the room.