TSPCOB Chapter 02

Chapter 02

“You need to die in Rachel’s place.”

It felt like a hammer had struck my head.

I stared at my husband in shock, my mind blank.

“…Die for her? What are you saying…?”

“Rachel is carrying my child.”

His cold voice stabbed through my chest like a dagger.

My bloodstained, bruised hands trembled.

“Lies… How could Rachel be pregnant with your child?”

“I love her. I’ve loved her for a long time.”

The word love—something he had never once said to me throughout our marriage—fell so effortlessly from his lips.

And he didn’t say it for me.

He said it for my only sister.

Pain tore through my heart like a blade.

“This… this can’t be real. How could you do this to me?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect my feelings to grow this strong. Rachel is more precious to me than my own life. But she’s your family too, isn’t she? So it’s only right that you take the burden.”

“…I already took her place in prison. You told me to hold on for just one month while you found a solution! And now you’re telling me to die?”

Tears, hot and uncontrollable, streamed down my face.

Alex’s expression remained indifferent as he spoke again.

“Duke Pierre agreed to it as well.”

“My brother… agreed?”

“The duke donated his collection of rare medicinal herb records to the imperial family. His Majesty took it as a sincere gesture, so he agreed to cover up the incident—on the condition that someone takes the fall.”

My fingers, which had been gripping the iron bars, lost all strength.

I collapsed to the ground.

I could still hear my brother’s voice echoing in my head—cold, furious.

“Useless! This is what happens when you waste your time with weeds! If you don’t throw that garbage away right now, I’ll burn it all to the ground!”

I remember the day my brother, who always treated me like a burden, finally believed in me.

It was the day the ointment I made, based on my herbal compendium, started selling like crazy.

For ten years, I worked tirelessly—cultivating herbs until my hands cracked, barely getting any sleep—just to complete that book.

With the formula I developed, Pierre started his business and was able to revive our collapsing family.

And now, he wanted me to die in Rachel’s place?

My brother, my only friend, and even my husband, who had never once shown me affection—
All of them had abandoned me.

Overwhelmed by regret and humiliation, I collapsed onto the cold ground, clenching my fists.

Why should I die for you? I was nothing to you anyway.

Hot tears pooled on my chin and dripped onto the stone floor.

But Alex remained unmoved. His cold voice cut through the silence.

“I’m sorry, but I have no choice. Rachel is fragile, and now she’s pregnant. We have to protect her. So, you need to—”

“And what about me?”

“…”

“I’m allowed to get hurt? I can just die?”

The man I once loved, the man whose lips I once adored—
Every cruel word he spoke now felt like a dagger stabbing into my chest.

“Rachel was the one who poisoned the First Prince’s drink. So why should I die? I did nothing wrong!”

“Nothing wrong?”

Alex finally lifted his head, and in the flickering torchlight, the corner of his lips curled slightly.

“You made the poison yourself.”

“…You’re talking about Beatrice’s Remedy? That wasn’t a poison—it was meant for hunting deer! Don’t tell me… Did she use it on the First Prince?”

I widened my eyes in horror.

Alex neither denied it nor looked away.

My hands, which had tirelessly studied medicine, had unknowingly created something that harmed a person.

Disgust filled my gaze as I looked at Alex.

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

“I’ve thought this for a while—you’re disgusting. Acting all innocent when you know everything. Pretending to be clueless. I heard you tormented Rachel behind everyone’s back.”

“She’s my only sister. Why would I ever do that?”

“Rachel tells a different story. She always had cuts and bruises. When I asked, she said you were the one who hurt her.”

At that moment, a memory of my conversation with Rachel flashed through my mind.

[Rachel, what happened to your face? Did you get hurt?]
[One of the new maids scratched me while brushing my hair.]
[That might leave a scar. I’ll put some ointment on it for you. But we should make sure that maid is more careful next time.]
[It’s fine, sister. It was just a mistake.]

Come to think of it, Rachel always had injuries.
One day on her arm, another day on her face.

I never imagined she would go so far as to hurt herself just to turn Alex against me.

Fury burned through me, and I clenched my fists.

“I endured brutal torture, fighting to protect you and Rachel. And now, after everything, you’re telling me to die in her place? After cheating on me? I’ll never forgive you. I’ll find a way out of here. I refuse to die like a fool!”

“If you hadn’t been infertile, this wouldn’t have happened! Would you only be satisfied if Rachel—who’s pregnant with my child—died instead?!”

My heart shattered.

Two years of marriage, and we had never had a child.

Because of that, I was treated as a worthless woman in my family.
But Alex had never once stood up for me. He had always been a cold, indifferent husband.

He reached through the bars and grabbed my chin roughly. His expression twisted into something cruel.

“Sweet Rachel… she was so sure that her dear sister would gladly give up her life for her. But in the end… you’re just as selfish as ever, aren’t you?”

Tears streamed down my face, falling onto his hand.

He held my face tightly, forcing my mouth open—

Then, from his pocket, he pulled something out and shoved it between my lips.

A bitter taste spread across my tongue. Poison.

“Ugh… mmph…!”

I struggled desperately, trying not to swallow the pill.

Alex’s face twisted in frustration. He clamped his large hand over my mouth and forced my head back.

The pill rolled helplessly down my throat.

A sharp, burning taste spread across my tongue. Beatrice berries. It was definitely poison.

“Cough, cough!”

I gagged, fighting to spit it out. But the more I resisted, the tighter Alex’s grip on my neck became.

His voice came out cold and eerily calm.

“Once you’re gone, everything will be easier for everyone. Just hold on for a moment. The pain will pass quickly.”

Just… hold on?

I widened my eyes, glaring at the man I had once loved.

At that moment, through my fading vision, someone entered the prison cell.

Golden hair, shining even in the darkness—like melted gold.

Innocent-looking green eyes, welling with tears.

“Sister… I’m so sorry. Because of me, you…”

Rachel covered her face with both hands, shoulders trembling as she sobbed.

Alex wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close with a comforting embrace.

“Don’t be too sad. She wasn’t as kind as you think. It was pathetic how she kept clinging to life until the very end.”

He kissed Rachel’s forehead softly and placed a protective hand on her lower belly.

“My love, don’t worry anymore. I’ll protect our child with my life.”

Rachel sniffled and lifted her head.

For a brief moment, our eyes met.

And then—her lips curled into a subtle, slanted smile.

She had thrown me into this prison. She had stolen my husband. She was even carrying his child.

And now… she’s smiling?

I wanted to slap her. I wanted to tear that smile off her face.

But my body wouldn’t move.

I could only glare at her in fury before a cough of blood erupted from my throat.

My body was going numb. The pain was fading.

At that moment, I understood.

Soon… my life would truly be over.

Just once… If I could have just one more chance…

Tears of resentment welled up, blurring my vision.

My breath grew short, and everything faded into darkness.

That was how my miserable first life came to an end.

---

But fate works in mysterious ways.

I had died at my husband’s hands—yet when I opened my eyes, I was back in the past.

“Sister? Are you awake?”

“……”

“Lord, I think my sister is acting strange.”

The two people I had last seen before my death stood before me.

Had the gods answered my prayers? Had they sent me back so I could take revenge on them?

I threw off the blanket and sat up abruptly.

The reflection in the mirror looked different.

Silver hair shimmering under the chandelier light, lively cheeks and lips, and bright sky-blue eyes that sparkled like the ocean in summer.

I prayed this wasn’t a dream and pinched my cheek—hard.

“Ow! …That hurts? This can’t be a dream. Haha… Hahaha! It’s real!”

I muttered in disbelief, laughing like a madwoman.

Rachel’s eyebrows drooped as she put on a pitiful expression.

“Oh no… She must’ve hit her head when she fell. What should we do? It’s all my fault…”

Hit my head when I fell? Because of her?

Then… today must be that day.

The day I fell from the second-floor terrace trying to save Rachel.

I smirked and turned around.

Alex quickly removed his hand from Rachel’s waist as if he had been caught.

So it started this early? You two were already sneaking around back then?

I let out a quiet chuckle and strode toward them.

Then, raising my hand high above my head—

SMACK!

The sharp sound of my slap echoed loudly through the room.