The Principessa's Bodyguard Bridegroom

The night before our engagement, Vincent Moretti was called away on a high-stakes smuggling run. He had to leave immediately.

I promised I would wait for him.

But when he returned, I chose another man right in front of him.

Because I knew that in my past life, the moment I held out my hand to accept his proposal was the beginning of the tragedy.

Luna Rossi, the woman he brought back, had me thrown to jackals and tortured to death.

This time, before Vincent could open his mouth to plead for that other woman...

I grabbed a nearby bodyguard and announced I was going to marry him.

But Vincent lost his mind, blocking my escape with his own body.

"You're mine. I won't allow you to marry anyone else."

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1

"Miss, why aren't you saying anything?"

The bodyguard behind me gave me a gentle nudge. It jolted me back to the present.

I looked at Vincent kneeling before me, a sharp glint in my eyes, my heart squeezed by an invisible hand.

My parents were unable to have children of their own, so they adopted seven.

I was the youngest, with six older brothers, the cherished Principessa of the entire Moretti family.

My life had never known the word "failure."

And Vincent, ten years my senior, was the eldest son of the family, more outstanding than anyone else since childhood.

He was also the man I once loved most.

In my past life, the day before we were going to tell our parents about our relationship, he received a mission and hastily said his goodbyes.

Before he left, he got down on one knee and promised me.

"As long as I come back alive, I will marry you."

For the next five years, I waited foolishly, only to receive the news that he was going to marry someone else.

Later, surrounded by the haze of blood, I saw his grief-stricken face.

"Grace, how could you just die like this..."

My arm was touched lightly again, jolting me from the painful memory.

My family stood all around me.

My five brothers stood behind me, their eyes daggers fixed on Vincent.

They looked ready to tear him limb from limb.

I clenched my fists, pretending to know nothing.

"Father, what's wrong?"

Vincent looked up at me, his eyes betraying no emotion.

"Father, I know what I've done is unforgivable, but she and the child in her belly are innocent."

With a thud, his forehead hit the cold floor hard.

As he bowed, I happened to see the girl kneeling beside him.

She was about my age, dressed in a long pink dress, her belly swollen.

With every sob, her pregnant belly trembled.

I felt as if I were seeing myself in my past life, just before death—pounced on by jackals, struggling desperately but unable to escape their sharp claws and fangs.

As the blood drained from my body, it had convulsed just like that.

My parents noticed something was wrong with me and quickly came over to check on me.

It was as if they didn't even see the two people kneeling on the floor.

Vincent's hand, hidden beneath his sleeve, clenched into a fist.

He probably didn't understand why his brothers' marriages were all so freely arranged, while his was so difficult.

Because he didn't know how I had spent those five years at home convincing our parents to approve our marriage.

That's why, when the news came that he had brought another woman back, everyone pitied me so much.

I knew that his five years of absence and betrayal had cost him the authority to command me. In the eyes of the family, he was the one in the wrong, so all he could do was beg.

They even felt sorry for me.

Yet not a single one of them dared to grant Vincent's request before I spoke.

I studied Vincent as he knelt on the floor.

In my past life, I was so consumed by heartbreak that I didn't even get a clear look at him before Luna had me kidnapped.

After five years, he looked worn.

He was like an unsheathed sword, radiating a tense, dangerous energy.

He was missing an arm, and the scar by the corner of his eye was so deep you could see the bone, frightening enough to make a child stop crying.

This man's five years had been no easier than mine.

I walked straight over and personally helped Luna to her feet.

"Luna, don't kneel."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and a flash of excitement crossed Vincent's eyes.

But my next words froze him in place.

"Father, I want to marry him."

I reached back and pulled a bodyguard from behind me.

My parents and brothers were stunned for only a moment before they nodded in agreement.

It was Vincent who had the strongest reaction.

His body jolted, and he nearly fell over.

"What did you say?"

I tilted my head at him. "Did five years on the road cost you your hearing? Looks like our new sister-in-law will have her work cut out for her."

"One more thing—"

I looked at everyone and said slowly, "Five days from now is an auspicious day, perfect for a wedding."

My mother looked at me with pity in her eyes and slowly nodded.

No one knew that five days from now was the day I died in my previous life.

I was very curious to see, now that I've made a different choice...

...who will be the one to die.