Unforgivable Love

Chapter 1

I came into this book with a mission: to kill Eric, the Marquis of Northern Yan.

"Lilah, I love you."

Fireworks exploded across the sky in celebration. I looked down at Eric, who was kneeling on one knee. The knife hidden in my sleeve hesitated.

"Will you marry me and be my wife, to share a lifetime together?"

"Yes."

The system's alarm echoed in my mind repeatedly, but I still agreed without hesitation.

But reality hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Lilah, as Eric's wife, you have been childless for three years. You should gracefully step aside for someone more deserving."

"Alright."

I agreed with a faint nod, just as I had agreed to marry him back then.

That night, a fire engulfed my courtyard, taking me away from my misery.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day he proposed.

But this time, he cried and said, "Lilah, don't leave."

My hands shook as I lifted the bucket, threw the rope into the well, and struggled to pull it up.

Day after day, I lived like this, without any maids or servants. I had to do everything myself, and I had long since gotten used to it.

The constant lack of nutritious food had made my hands thin and frail.

I numbly dropped the heavy bucket onto the ground.

Fetching water was a daily task; without it, there would be no water to drink or wash with.

"Host, do you regret it?"

The system's cold mechanical voice echoed in my mind.

I could only manage a bitter smile without saying a word.

Regret? Of course, I regretted it. But where in the world can you buy a cure for regret?

"Lilah! The Williams family has fallen. Now, you're nothing but a lost dog!"

Eric, the Marquis of Northern Yan, flaunted his mistress in front of me.

I, who was once his legally wedded wife, brought into his home with all the traditional pomp, was now trampled underfoot by a mistress.

In just a few short years of marriage, my father, mother, and both sides of my family had all fallen into ruin.

In Evregan, I was probably forgotten by everyone.

The once bright and bold me had gradually been worn down by life in the inner courtyard, my sharp edges dulled.

"As Eric's wife, you have been childless for three years. Naturally, you should step down and make way for someone else."

He tenderly caressed the belly of the woman beside him, his tenderness towards her a stark contrast to his impatience with me, almost painful to witness.

"Alright."

I stood by the bucket, dressed in rough, coarse cloth.

I didn't struggle or resist, perhaps because I had already accepted my fate.

In the past three years, he might have been kind to me initially, but as time passed, he grew increasingly impatient, often staying out all night. His coldness and neglect made others look down on me even more.

Rumors had long been circulating in Evregan: Eric kept a mistress outside.

I had always known, but I never thought he would bring her before me and force me to leave.

But he had begged me back then.

At the Lantern Festival, under the dazzling fireworks, witnessed by everyone, how could he forget so easily?

Oh, no, perhaps I was the only one who remembered.

That night, I sent away all the maids and servants in the courtyard, took a candle and set the entire courtyard on fire.

I stood in the firelight, listening to the cries of the maids and servants. The last thing I saw was Eric rushing over, his face a mask of shock.

Finally, I was free.

In the end, I had failed in this world.

Chapter 2

I am a book traverser, traveling through various small worlds, eliminating the biggest villains, and maintaining peace.

In this world, Eric, the Marquis of Beiyan, is my target.

After experiencing so many worlds, only Eric has touched my heart, making me want to stay here.

But how laughable, my sincere feelings were completely wasted.

Gradually, the pain faded, and I completely died.

I only heard a sentence from the system in my mind, "Try again, and hope you don't make the same mistake."

Before I could understand what the system meant, I heard voices calling out, "Miss, Miss..." The noise gave me a headache.

Slowly opening my eyes, I saw the familiar canopy.

Wasn't this my bedroom before I got married? Have I come back again?

Did the system bring me back?

This time, I will personally kill Eric.

"Lilah, you're finally awake."

My mother burst into the room.

I was the legitimate daughter of the prime minister's residence, pampered since childhood, while my mother was a rare female general in ancient times.

I still don't know how my scholarly father managed to marry my mother.

"Today is the Lantern Festival, a night of beautiful lantern displays. Are you pretending to be sick to avoid Eric?"

I looked at my mother and blinked.

The Lantern Festival? The turning point of the tragedy in my previous life? The system actually sent me back to this time.

No wonder my mother thought so; I used to be like that.

But after being worn down by Eric for three years, I had hidden my sharp edges.

"Of course not. I will definitely go!"

I jumped out of bed and sat in front of the dressing table, staring at the reflection in the antique bronze mirror, lost in thought.

Delicate skin, bright red lips.

I looked down at my still slender and white fingers, forcing a bitter smile.

Who would have thought that in my previous life, after my parents passed away one after another, with no one to support me, I suffered daily in the backyard, living a life worse than a servant despite being Eric's wife.

Who would have thought that a book traverser could end up in such a state?

"System?"

Since waking up, I hadn't heard the annoying voice of the system, so I curiously asked in my mind.

But after asking several times, there was no response.

Maybe it went into hibernation.

"This dress is beautiful, and this one is nice too..."

I came back to my senses to find my mother picking out dresses, all in bright red, purple, or green, traditional colors that were quite striking.

I quickly stepped forward and pointed to the only one that looked decent, "That one."

The goose-yellow dress complemented my complexion well.

The most important reason was that Eric didn't like me wearing goose-yellow clothes.

In my previous life, despite being his wife for so long, I never knew why.

But now, anything that could make him dislike me, I liked.

Before my mother could react, I took the dress and went to the changing room to avoid her nagging.

Unfortunately, in my previous life, I didn't even have the chance to hear her nag.

This time, I would not be soft-hearted.

Sitting in the luxurious carriage, listening to the street vendors' shouts, I tucked the dagger hidden in my sleeve and suppressed the hatred in my heart, not wanting anyone to notice.

"Lilah."

I heard a familiar voice, and the carriage slowly stopped.

A pair of slender hands lifted the curtain, revealing an incredibly handsome face.

This was a face I could never forget; in my previous life, I was bewitched by it, sinking step by step.

I lowered my eyes to hide the hatred in them, placing my hand in his palm and jumping off the carriage.

"I have a surprise for you tonight."

Eric seemed not to notice my strangeness, still speaking gently.

But it was this deceitful person hiding behind a gentle facade who devoured my family's power and betrayed me.

In my previous life, trapped in the inner quarters, I couldn't understand why, before our marriage, Eric and I had such deep feelings, but afterward, he seemed like a different person.

Daily oppression and torment, nothing like before.

It wasn't until my death that I realized from the beginning, he was after the power behind me.

"Okay, I'm looking forward to it."

Chapter 3

He held my hand and led me to the Matchmaker Temple, where countless lovers were praying under the Matchmaker Tree, hoping for a lifetime of love and happiness.

With great anticipation, he handed me a wooden plaque and said, "Lilah, write your wish on it and hang it on the tree. It will come true."

Just like in my previous life, he wrote: "I wish to be with Lilah forever, never to be separated."

I watched silently as he finished writing, feeling a mix of emotions that I couldn't quite describe.

"Lilah, hurry and write your wish. This temple is known to be very effective."

I looked into his sincere eyes, pressing my lips together, feeling a complex mix of emotions.

It was well-known that Eric, the Northern Marquis, was a ruthless warrior who used the heads of enemies to boost morale on the battlefield. He had once decapitated an enemy and used the head to inspire his troops.

People were aware that Eric never believed in gods or spirits and never set foot in a temple, let alone come to the Matchmaker Temple to pray for love.

But everyone also knew that he was deeply in love with Miss Williams, the eldest daughter of the Williams family. He once picked a rare white plum blossom from the north of the city just to make her smile.

As I looked into his eyes, I couldn't tell if any of this was real. If it was fake, why couldn't he keep up the pretense forever?

"No need. What I want, I will achieve with my own hands," I said, silently adding in my heart, just like I will kill you with my own hands.

Seeing my determination, he didn't insist. Instead, he hung his wooden plaque on the peach tree and silently prayed with his hands clasped together.

I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, mocking how flawlessly he acted.

Suddenly, fireworks lit up the sky, just as I remembered.

Eric returned to my side, took my hand, and was about to speak when I interrupted him.

"Eric, are you truly sincere?"

My face was more serious than ever before.

"Lilah, my feelings for you are unwavering and true!"

He spoke with such conviction. If I hadn't experienced the betrayal and suffering of my past life, if I hadn't begged him in the pouring rain to save my parents only to be ignored, I might have believed him. But now, all I wanted was to stab him.

Eric knelt on one knee before me, his expression gentle and devout.

The dazzling fireworks had already attracted a crowd, forming circles around us.

I listened to the murmurs of the crowd and looked at Eric without speaking. The dagger hidden in my sleeve slowly slid out.

"Isn't that the Northern Marquis?"

"He is so devoted. Miss Williams is truly fortunate."

"A perfect match."

I pulled him up and studied his eyes once more, knowing this might be the last time I saw him alive.

"Lilah, have you agreed?"

Eric, overjoyed, hugged me tightly, his back completely exposed to me.

At that moment, the dagger in my sleeve was fully drawn. If I stabbed him in the chest now, I could complete my mission and free myself from this life.

But the next second, the crowd erupted in screams.

Several masked men suddenly appeared out of nowhere, charging straight at us.

The scene turned chaotic.

Eric immediately shielded me, intercepting the attackers' blades.

I stood there, stunned, watching the assassins who had appeared out of nowhere. I quickly hid the dagger back in my sleeve.

I remembered that in my previous life, there were no assassins at this moment. Could this be the butterfly effect?

The crowd scattered in all directions, and the guards Eric had brought with him managed to fend off some of the attackers.

But there were still some who slipped through.

"Lilah, watch out!"