Chapter 1

In the space between reality and imagination, there is a single bug. Can a world born from a bug become reality?

Perhaps, it depends on people's thoughts.

Why does it turn out this way?

"Lumina, I am breaking our engagement."

Saying this coldly to me is Prince Stephan, the crown prince of this country.

This is probably the hundredth time I've heard these words.

Prince Stephan's blue eyes glare at me with hatred.

Why doesn't he love me?

I have been looping through my life from the age of ten to eighteen, over and over again.

And every time, I end up with my engagement being broken.

At first, I was a proud young lady, believing that only I could be engaged to the crown prince and that becoming a princess was a given.

So, I intimidated anyone who got in my way and lived my days arrogantly.

And then, my engagement was broken.

By Prince Stephan's side is my younger sister, Sophie, her eyes brimming with tears.

In my first life and the few that followed, I repeated the same mistakes and had my engagement broken. After that, I realized I needed to change and tried to correct my character, starting over many times.

But still, my engagement is always broken in the end.

Being kind doesn't work.

Trying to reason with him doesn't work.

Acting like a calm and composed young lady doesn't work.

No matter how hard I try, Prince Stephan loves my sister, who is as delicate as a flower and yet free.

No matter how hard I try.

No matter how hard I try.

No matter how much I tell him how much I love him, in the end, Prince Stephan loves my sister, Sophie, not me.

He doesn't even look at me.

Looking up at Prince Stephan, who is declaring the end of our engagement right in front of me, I say the last words I've said many times before.

"I loved you, Prince Stephan. ...I wish you happiness."

In the next moment, the world goes dark, and I find myself back on a soft bed.

Holding my hands in front of my eyes, I see the small, young hands I've seen so many times.

Why is this happening?

Why can't I be loved?

Covering my face with my small hands, I cry.

"Sniff... sniff... waa..."

Is it wrong for a child to cry?

I'm tired of it.

I'm tired of not being loved.

"Prince Stephan... I don't care anymore."

I whisper these words and wipe away my tears.

That's right.

This must be my fate.

After repeating this loop dozens of times, I finally accepted my fate.

Prince Stephan will never love me.

Prince Stephan's destined partner is Sophie.

So, Prince Stephan will never love me.

I repeated these words to myself, trying to convince myself.

So, I'll stop trying.

I'll stop trying to be loved.

Prince Stephan will never love me.

Opening my eyes, I get out of bed, go to the balcony, and raise my palms to the sky.

"I won't love you anymore, Your Highness. Such a cheater. I won't love you anymore!"

I've poured my heart out dozens of times.

I've tried dozens of times.

Yet, he never returned my love, ignored me, his fiancée, and loved my sister.

My love turns into hatred inside me.

"I won't love you anymore, Your Highness. I'll give up on you and find my own destined partner!"

Duchess Lumina Larash, looking at the sunrise, made this vow and, hoping that this time the loop would end, began to walk her own path in life.