Chapter 2

I, Rizette Ashburton, have memories of my past life.

People who inherit such memories are called "reincarnates," and they are quite rare. Among them, I am probably in a special category.

In my first life, I was born as a village girl and died after being eaten by a monster while protecting a boy who was being attacked.

In my second and third lives, I was born as different people in different eras, but I died in the same way—by having my heart eaten alive by the same monster on my 20th birthday.

No matter how many times I repeat this cycle, no matter how hard I struggle, I end up dying the same way on my 20th birthday. It feels like a curse or something.

In this fourth life, I was born as a noblewoman for the first time. I had high hopes that this time, I could navigate things well.

"I have been greatly indebted to you both. I wish to live quietly and never show my face to you again."

At the age of 11, I was deeply bowing my head.

Indeed, I was almost killed by my stepmother and stepsister before I turned 20. Although I miraculously survived, I know they were serious. With my mother gone and my father bedridden, they now hold the real power in this earl's household. As just a child, I have no power. If I stay, I will be killed.

Incidentally, the reason I was almost killed is that the prince my stepsister was after fell in love with me at first sight because I picked up a handkerchief he dropped. It's too unjust to be killed for something like that. But I guess I was in the way from the start; it was just a trigger.

Anyway, I don't want to die young. I don't want to die too early. I don't even ask for a full life; I just want to fall in love, get married, and live until I'm about 40.

With that thought, I decided to leave this house. After all, throughout my past lives, I have lived more as a commoner than as a noble, and it suits me better.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, of course. I am a terrible person who unconsciously flirts with the prince whom my sister admires. From now on, I will spend my life in a convent, reflecting on myself."

"Hmm, you understand well."

Then, I bowed and, with a small bag in both hands, quickly left the bewildered stepmother and stepsister.

-- Through my past lives, I learned that there is something more important than pride. Yes, it is, of course, life.

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Incidentally, in this fourth life, I learned about the existence of a sanctuary where no monsters appear.

Even though I was told that monsters don't appear in urban areas in my previous life, they still appeared and ate me, so it might not mean much. But it's worth a try. Besides, I haven't found a better method yet.

Moreover, I long ago realized that the thing that eats me every time is definitely not something an ordinary person can handle. It was a significant trauma to involve a knight who tried to protect me.

"I don't want to involve anyone else anymore."

In this life, I intend to spend my 20th birthday alone in the sanctuary. If it doesn't work, I'll think about it in the next life.

Of course, I don't want to die if I can help it. The moment of being eaten is so painful that I just want to die quickly. I never want to experience that suffering again.

On my way to the convent, pretending to leave the earl's house, I helped an orphan and parted ways with my maid, Reila. Then, I escaped from the carriage I was in, switched to another one, and successfully arrived at the sanctuary.

I considered staying in another place until just before my 20th birthday, but since this might be the place where I will live for the rest of my life, I thought it would be better to get used to it early. Besides, it would be more comfortable than living in a convent.

However, after arriving at the sanctuary, I suffered from unexplained health issues and was bedridden for a long time. I was plagued by mysterious coughing up blood and insomnia, but by the time a year had passed, the symptoms had completely disappeared.

After that, at the age of 12, I used the knowledge and perseverance from my past life as a peasant and worked hard, day after day, grateful to be alive.

Before I knew it, seven years had passed.