“No, yeobo—”
Young-ho’s sword slipped from his fingers. He dropped to his knees, pulling your bloodied body into his arms.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
The great-grandmother had warned him. No matter the life, fate would never allow you two to be together.
“I’m sorry… Please, wake up,” Young-ho whispered, tears falling as he cradled you, your blood soaking through his robes.
The empress, his mother, had been gravely ill for months. You had cared for her, loved her like your own. But when she died, poisoned in her sleep, the palace turned on you.
Blinded by grief, pressured by the emperor and ministers, Young-ho believed them. And with his own hand, he had pierced your heart.
Only as you lay dying did the truth unravel. Only then did he realize that he had been deceived.
And fate, cruel and unrelenting, made him pay.
From that moment on, the great-grandmother’s curse bound his soul. In every lifetime, no matter where or when, fate would steal you away. Over and over. Forever.
Present Day
“Darling!”
The door beeped as Young-ho stepped inside, eyes lighting up as they found you curled up on the sofa. He smiled. Soft, warm, utterly in love.
He set down a bag of fried chicken before kneeling beside you, his hand resting on your swollen belly.
“How’s our baby today?” he asked, brushing your hair from your face. “Still kicking too hard?”
At eight months pregnant, the kicks sometimes did hurt. But you chuckled, placing your hand over his.
“Restless as ever.”
Young-ho laughed, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “Just like his father.”
For now, in this lifetime, you were together. But for how long?