They Chose the Fake Princess and Let Me the Real One Die Twice

Chapter 3

Staring at the two men who'd once cherished me like a treasure, all I felt was absurdity and a cold ache in my heart.

I propped myself up on my weak body and slapped Lila hard across the face.

After that, I crashed the homecoming feast they'd held for her—and smashed the betrothal gifts Elian Voss had prepared for her to pieces.

Heartbroken, Lila locked herself away in her room.

By the next day, she was found poisoned to death.

Every shred of evidence pointed straight at me.

And the farewell letter she left behind only cemented my elder brother and husband's belief: That I was a venomous woman, incapable of tolerating Lila's existence.

They didn't lay a finger on me. They just never looked at me again.

After that. Elian Voss renounced his title and entered a monastery, outside the capital.

Kael beseeched the imperial court for a posting to the border.

And refusing to lay eyes on me ever again.

For the next thirty years. I raised our child alone and ran the household, my black hair fading to white with endless toil.

On my deathbed, gravely ill, they finally came to see me.

In my delirium, I heard Kael's voice, thick with unending regret.

"If only I'd let the lie stand and never brought you home."

My husband said nothing—but his heavy sigh cut through me like a blade, a brutal final blow.

That day, I died with a heart full of hatred.

And was reborn on this very day—the day they came to the orphanage to take their daughter home.

Knowing they'd choose Lila Thorne.

I'd clenched the jade pendant tight, determined to wait quietly for my sixteenth birthday in a month, then leave this place for good.

To find a quiet little town where no one knew me, and live out my days alone.

This time, I had no intention of exposing Lila Thorne.

No desire for that "home" that had made me suffer for half my life.

But I never could have imagined a broken red string.

Would make my brother snatch my mother's jade pendant from me in front of everyone.

Would make him strike me with such a stinging slap.

The bitter winter wind cut at my face like a knife, searing the skin.

And as the story took this cruel turn, the comments section descended into chaos.

A bead of blood from my lip splattered onto the bluestone slab, the dark red stain spreading into the snow.

It looked just like the tear that had slipped from the corner of my eye when I died, consumed by hatred, in my past life.

My heart ached so fiercely it went numb when the Matron grabbed a fistful of my hair with her rough, calloused hand.

"You shameless brat! You stole Miss Thorne's jade pendant and still dare to talk back? Today, I'll break your legs and throw you to the backyard to chop up firewood for the rest of your days!"

Her palm came down again, and I trembled all over with pain.

Yet I submitted, letting her drag me away.

But Lila stepped forward suddenly. Draped in a luxurious fox-fur cloak, her eyes brimmed with unbridled triumph.

"Matron, please don't be angry. Jade just lost her head for a moment, wanting a better life. The jade pendant's back now anyway—don't hit her anymore."

As she spoke, she brushed her hand over my freezing, purple knuckles, her eyes filled with feigned pity.

"When we were at the orphanage together, Jade always split her steamed bun with me. I remember her kindness. So I want her to have a good life too."

She smiled at me, then turned to the two men by the carriage, her voice soft as cotton.

"Kael, Elian, may I take her with us?"

"After all, even a maid's life at the General's Manor is better than freezing and starving here."

At her words, Kael Thorne's brow furrowed almost unconsciously.

But when he met Lila's pleading eyes, his tone softened a little.

Elian nodded, helpless but acquiescent.

"If this is your wish, Lila, how could we refuse?"

Lila's face lit up with joy. I lifted my head sharply, a broken cry tearing from my throat.

"I refuse!"

I had no wish to leave with them—but a hand seized the back of my collar the next instant. Kael's fingers pressed down on the pressure point at the side of my neck.