Chapter 1: I will never forgive you

Where did it all go wrong? Eden asked herself. But from within her hollowed-out heart, no answer came.

“Edenastie.”

Shrill screams and the deafening roar of chaos echoed through the window, ringing in her ears. It was the moment the Rodenberg Empire, once hailed as the golden lion of the continent, vanished in vain into the pages of history.

Emperor Liam Jean Cherott of the Cherott Empire had spent years crafting a meticulous scheme that finally brought down his greatest enemy, Rodenberg. To seduce the enemy Emperor Julius and blind his eyes and ears that had been Eden’s role.

“Eden.”

A soft, low voice called her name again. Eden, eyes wide with fear, looked at the man standing before her.

Julius Kael Rodenberg, Emperor of Rodenberg. His once-glorious golden hair was now matted with blood, and his cheeks, once flushed with life, were pale as death. Yet his vivid golden eyes remained steady, unshaking as they looked only at her.

“D-Don’t come any closer!”

Eden’s trembling hand held a sword aimed at him. Her slender wrist looked barely strong enough to hold it.

As Julius slowly approached, Eden stumbled backward. It was a strange sight, unclear who meant to harm whom.

“Do you love Emperor Cherott? Is giving your life for him truly your will?”

Yes. That was the problem. Julius’s words struck her with sudden clarity. Falling in love with someone she should never have loved, that foolish mistake had been the root of it all.

Eden gazed at the foolish man who had made the same mistake as her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, hot and unrelenting. Guilt clenched her chest like a vice.

“…I’m sorry.”

The short, breathless confession left her lips, and it made Julius weep. Thick tears fell at his feet.

“If it is your will, so be it. Eden.”

With that, Julius grabbed Eden’s frozen arm and snatched the sword from her. Without hesitation, he plunged it into his own chest. It all happened in an instant.

Eden collapsed to the ground, her hands covering her mouth. She couldn’t even scream. Julius blinked once, then staggered violently.

“No… Julius, no! Don’t do this!”

She crawled toward his collapsing body and cradled his head in her arms. The dark red blood he coughed up soaked into her thighs. His body convulsed briefly, then grew limp in her embrace.

“No, no…”

Eden gently cupped Julius’s cheek as he lay cold on the stone floor. Her fingers trembled uncontrollably.

Step. Step.

Just from the sound of footsteps, Eden knew who was behind her. There was no mistaking him. Only one person could make her heart drop with a mere presence.

“So this is the pitiful end of the great Emperor of Rodenberg. You’ve done well, Eden. It’s all over now. Let’s go back. To our home, yours and mine.”

Jet-black hair, blood-red eyes. Liam extended a hand toward Eden, a faint smile on his pale, weary face. She stared up at the man she had once loved with all her heart, eyes wide and dazed.

“Liam.”

“Edenastie Okarman. No, once we return, you’ll be Edenastie Cherott.”

Edenastie Cherott, the name she had dreamed of all her life, rang hollow now. She was sick of being treated like a pawn on someone’s chessboard. Eden swatted his hand away and stood on her own.

“…I don’t need an empty title like that.”

“What?”

Liam’s voice sharpened, as if slightly offended.

“When we return, you’ll have everything you desire. Jewels, lands… whatever you want. Stop this nonsense and come with me.”

Not a trace of warmth or affection showed in Liam’s eyes as he looked at Eden. How could someone remain so consistently indifferent? Eden let out a small, bitter laugh. She felt like a complete fool.

Looking back, she’d always been easy for him. Even dealing with a five-year-old child would’ve taken more effort.

The countless days she endured for the sake of loving Liam flashed through her mind. She would’ve done anything for him, but in the end, it had all been meaningless.

Could things be different if she returned?

Eden shook her head faintly. No, they couldn’t. Liam would never change.

The moment their eyes met, his filled with annoyance, Eden finally understood. Liam would never love her. She had only ever been a convenient tool to him.

A crushing despair overwhelmed her, as if the ground beneath her feet were crumbling away. If she went back with him now, she would once again be at his mercy forever. Just the thought made it hard to breathe.

‘I’m so tired. I can’t do this anymore. No, I won’t.’

Hot tears ran down her pale cheeks.

“…Liam, you can never give me what I truly want.”

In a swift motion, Eden drew a dagger from the sheath at Liam’s waist. He instinctively jumped back, his face tightening.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“You don’t even know how to love yourself. You’re just like your father. A man completely devoid of emotion.”

Eden pointed the dagger at herself, her voice steady. Liam’s forehead furrowed in anger.

“So what, now you’re going to die for him? Stop this madness! This childish act ends now.”

“Do you still have a use for me? Haven’t you used me enough? Everything turned out exactly how you wanted.”

“Edenastie!”

Liam stepped toward her, unable to contain himself. Eden backed away, gripping the dagger with all the strength left in her trembling hand. Her tear-streaked face was a mess.

“Liam, I regret loving you more than anything in my life.”

Liam’s eyes widened. His red pupils flickered like candle flames in the wind. There was a flicker of pain in his expression, and Eden’s heart ached. More tears spilled, soaking the floor.

“I hope you suffer as much as I did. I hope you hurt just as deeply.”

It shouldn’t matter anymore. But the last sliver of hope she couldn’t let go of brought tears to her eyes. Still, she didn’t want to be miserable any longer.

Eden looked straight at Liam, shaking her head slowly.

“So please… don’t ever be happy.”

Liam, sensing something was wrong, reached out for her, but Eden was a second faster. The sharp blade plunged deep into her chest.

Agonizing pain tore through her. As her consciousness faded, she faintly felt Liam’s frantic hands catching her, pulling her close, but the darkness swallowed her whole.

* * *

“Gasp!”

Eden awoke with a start, like someone escaping a nightmare. The ceiling above her, with its familiar patterns, filled her vision.

A strange sense of familiarity. It was her room, the one she had stayed in until the day she left for Rodenberg. She could walk it blindfolded.

Catching her breath, Eden clutched at her chest. Then, almost frantically, she rushed to the mirror.

“This… this can’t be.”

Her knees gave out beneath her. The reflection staring back at her was far younger than she remembered. Her palms were damp with sweat. She pinched the back of her hand hard enough to bruise. Tears welled in her eyes.

‘This isn’t just a dream…?’

Eden stared into the mirror, too shocked to move.

Once she regained a sliver of composure, she pulled the bell cord to summon a maid. After a long wait, there was a half-hearted knock, and the door creaked open.

The moment the maid entered, Eden asked urgently.

“How old am I?”

The maid looked puzzled.

“You just turned twenty last month, my lady.”

Twenty. A shiver ran down Eden’s spine.

Her face pale, she began peppering the maid with questions. The maid, though slightly annoyed, answered them all.

Piece by piece, Eden began to reconstruct her blurred memories.

“How long was I unconscious?”

“You were sick for three full days. His Majesty even sat with you for a while earlier. Should I inform him that you’re awake?”

His Majesty. At those words, Eden’s expression hardened.

“No need. I’ll tell him myself. Just prepare my bath.”

Soon, Eden sank into a warm tub filled with fragrant oils. The scent filled the room and slowly grounded her in reality.

“I came back. I really died there… but I’m back.”

Eden whispered faintly, only loud enough for herself to hear.

She had returned to the past. It was impossible. But there was no other explanation. And so, Eden chose to accept it.

She took in her surroundings with a calm, steady gaze.

“Everything’s exactly the same. Not a single thing has changed.”

Maybe it had all been a long, vivid nightmare. But she knew it wasn’t.

In the bath, Eden hugged her knees to her chest and recalled her past life.

A girl cursed with the worst kind of luck. Everyone who ever loved her left her far too soon. Her mother died at childbirth, and her father fell in battle against Rodenberg when she was barely six.

The former Empress took her in and cared for her like a daughter, but even she didn’t live long. In the end, only Liam remained.

‘Maybe that’s why I clung to him so desperately. It was foolish… but I had no one else.’

But it was all over now. She would no longer crave Liam’s heart, or desperately try to stay by his side, or sacrifice herself for him. This time would not follow the path of her past.

She vowed never to let go of the miraculous second chance she had been given.

“Liam. I want you to suffer as much as I did because of you.”

Liam was a man who didn’t understand love, who saw it only as a weakness to exploit. Eden wanted to see that arrogant man break. She wanted the love that had shattered her to now consume him.

“I hope you regret loving me as much as I regret loving you.”

Eden clenched her trembling fists and made a vow. This time, she would make him fall in love and then leave him at the peak of his happiness. This time, he would be the one to break. He would be the one wishing he had no heart at all.

“I will never, ever forgive you.”

* * *

After changing into a comfortable dress, Eden made her way to Liam’s office. She knew now that no amount of effort in her appearance meant anything to him.

The more she adorned herself, the more she followed the rules, the farther she seemed to drift from his gaze. He was weak to those who didn’t fear him. People who looked at him as nothing more than a man, like his mother once had.

Eden hadn’t realized that until the very end of her previous life. When she was beginning to grow tired of Liam’s cold and erratic ways, he had slowly begun to change. At times, he would gently brush her cheek, as if he really loved her.

But she never believed it was sincere. He was simply intrigued, that was all. It was no more meaningful than giving a child a piece of candy. Eden was certain: a man as cruel as Liam could never have truly understood love.

Standing before the firmly shut door of his office, her heart pounded as though it had sprinted a mile.

Knock, knock, knock.

Eden rapped on the door with trembling hands. A moment later, a low, cool voice answered from within.

“Come in.”

The familiar voice made her heart drop. She stepped inside carefully and immediately saw Liam, buried in paperwork, a look of irritation carved deep into his face.

Without sparing her a glance, he muttered a string of curses under his breath.

“Nothing’s in order, not one d**n thing.”

Eden stood quietly by the door, watching his face still bearing a trace of youthful sharpness and felt a chill run through her. He looked exactly as she remembered. Her blood ran cold.

Swallowing her anger, she forced a faint smile and called to him softly.

“Liam.”

At the unexpected voice, Liam’s head jerked up. His eyes widened in surprise when they landed on her. A flicker of emotion rippled through his crimson gaze. He was clearly caught off guard, but soon his face returned to its usual blank expression.

“What is it?”

“I wanted to see you.”

“You wanted to see me?”

As if she had just told a ridiculous joke, Liam gave a short, disbelieving laugh. When Eden nodded lightly, he tossed his pen aside and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.

“I heard you stayed by my side. Thank you… for worrying about me.”

Eden stepped closer to him, smiling gently as she reached out a hand.

“I’ve been lying down for too long. I miss the fresh air. Come walk with me, Liam. That’s my one wish.”

Liam stared at the small, pale hand extended before him. It was tiny and delicate, so fragile it looked like it would shatter if he held it too tightly.

A deep crease formed between his brows. That was supposed to be a hand? He clicked his tongue quietly. And yet, for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to push it away.

Was it because the person who had always struggled to even meet his gaze was now making her first request, and it was something so trivial? Or was it the memory of her ghostly pale face, hovering on the brink of death, that lingered in his mind?

“…You’re persistent.”

He didn’t know the reason himself. But Liam did not reject the hand Eden offered.

No, he couldn’t.

His large, warm hand closed around hers, small and cool, as if drawn in by some spell.

……

T/N: Hello, Bunnyyy here~

I’m back with a classic regression-slash-revenge-slash-make him fall in love to make him regret aka angst. I know angst is not really my type, but just one look at the cover and it made me ‘oh destiny~!’ So here I am, eating pain and agony. 

Anyways, chapters are a bit long but I won’t divide them (unlike what I did on TMDF, sorry for that 🥺) unless they came at 3k+ words per chapter, yep 😁 so, I hope you’ll love this one as well, and we’re in for a wild ride 😉