The day the King was ambushed, my husband—the Captain of the Royal Guard—was busy placating his childhood sweetheart, who had stormed off in a fit of pique.
I did not light the signal flare in my hand.
Instead, I stood before the King, my body heavy with child, and became his shield.

I made this choice because, in my previous life, I had lit that flare.
My husband had abandoned his precious Victoria to rush to the King's side.
He was hailed as a hero, named Lord Protector of the Realm.
But Victoria, left alone, fell into the assassins' trap and was killed on the spot.
My husband said nothing at the time.
But on the day I gave birth, he threw me into the Beast Pit.

As the creatures closed in, I screamed at him, demanding to know why.
He gave me a single, cold glance.
"The King has a legion of guards. Why did I, and only I, have to return? It must have been you, with your eyes only for power and wealth, you called me back on purpose!"
"If you hadn't lit that flare, Victoria wouldn't have died! The suffering she endured... I will make you repay it!"

The beasts tore me apart, devouring even the newborn child from my womb.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back on the day of the King's assassination.
…
"Protect the King!"
The assassins moved with lethal grace. I took a step back.
I was truly reborn. And it was right at the beginning.
My eyes fell to the signal flare clutched in my hand. While no one was watching, I hurled it into a nearby lake.
Then, with all my strength, I threw myself in front of the King, who was locked in a desperate struggle with the attackers.
I saw the shock in his eyes as I shielded him, taking the blows meant for him.
I watched as the confusion in his gaze slowly gave way to disbelief, then to a dawning sense of awe.
I knew, in that moment, that my gamble had paid off.
My husband, Lord Richard, was the Captain of the Royal Guard.
He was meant to be by the King's side at all times. Yet today, with the King's life in peril, he was absent.
He was chasing after his sulking lover, Lady Victoria.
In my last life, I had lit the flare, fearing he would be punished for his absence.
Instead, after being showered with titles and honors, he decided I was a schemer who had caused Victoria's death.
He had me thrown into a pit of wild beasts he had "prepared" just for me.
Since heaven gave me a second chance, I would not walk that path again.
I shielded the King with my life. Blades cut into me.
The King had other guards nearby, if I could just hold on until help arrived, I would live.
The King understood this. The assassins realized my intent. One of them drove his sword deep into my abdomen.
My child.
I was eight months pregnant.
In my last life, just before the end, I could have sworn I heard him cry.
This single blade hurt me hardly.
A raw scream tore from my throat.
I felt their killing intent focus on me, the final blow about to fall.
A sharp, tearing pain radiated from my core.
I felt I'm nearly dying.
I reached out, but my hand only found the King's blood-soaked tunic.
I heard the King's frantic roar.
"Healers! Where are the Royal Healers? Whose lady is this? Attend to her!"
I opened my mouth, but only blood came out.
With my last strength, I forced out the words.
"I am… the wife of the Captain of the Royal Guard… Lord Richard."