Eva's Pov —
"Eight gold coins."
The vendor's voice was firm, almost bored, as he held up the simple ivory wedding dress. The fabric was modest—no embroidery, no jewels—but to me, it was enough.
I tightened my fingers around the small pouch at my waist.
"Four gold coins," I said calmly. "That's my final offer."
The man stared at me. "My lady, that's impossible. How will I earn any profit?"
I lowered my voice, leaning closer, softening my tone. "Please, don't be like that. I really need this wedding dress."
He let out a long sigh, rubbing his temple. "Fine," he muttered. "Take it before I regret it."
I smiled brightly and placed the coins into his palm.
"Thank you."
Clutching the folded dress against my chest, I stepped away from the stall.
Today is a very special day for me
Today, I am getting married.
My name is Eva Elvaris, and I am currently living my second life.
In my first life, I was executed by the emperor of this empire— Eyan Lucien Therald.
My crime? I was the daughter of Count Alric Elvaris, a man accused of treason against the royal family. And because I shared his blood… his surname… I had to pay the price.
Even now, I can still remember it clearly—the cold stone beneath my knees, the weight of silence before the verdict, and the sharp glint of the emperor's sword as it descended.
When the blade cut through my neck, everything went dark.
Then—
I opened my eyes again. Alive.
I had returned four years before my death.
Fate had granted me another chance, and I refused to waste it. This time, I chose to run away. I left my home. I left my family.And I abandoned the surname Elvaris—the name that had killed me once.
I chose a quiet life of Commenor, far from the nobility, far from the royal palace, and far—far away from Emperor Eyan Lucien Therald.
For three peaceful years, I lived alone.
And then… my life suddenly changed.
When I met him.
It was an ordinary day, just like any other.
I was wandering through the marketplace, buying fruits, enjoying the rare warmth of sunlight when— I bumped into someone.
I stumbled forward, falling to the ground as the basket slipped from my hands. Apples and pears rolled across the dirt, bruised and ruined.
"Are you alright, my lady?"
I lifted my head, irritation already rising. I was ready to scold the careless stranger—
But the moment I looked at him, I froze.
Black hair. Brown eyes. A sharp jawline that looked as though it had been carved by a sculptor's hand. For a second, my heart forgot how to beat.
Without realizing it, I found myself staring at him.
"My lady?" he asked again, concern flickering across his face. "Are you hurt?"
I snapped out of my daze. "No—no, I'm fine."
My gaze dropped to the fruits scattered on the ground, now covered in dust.
He followed my eyes and stiffened.
"This is my fault. I'm sorry. Let me buy new fruits for you."
Inside my head, a voice snapped: of course you should. you ruined them.
But what came out of my mouth was— "It's alright. You don't have to."
"No," he insisted gently. "Please, allow me."
I hesitated… then nodded. "Okay."
As he gathered the fruits, he glanced at me.
"My lady, may I know your name?"
I stiffened.
"It's alright if you don't want to tell me," he added quickly.
"…Eva," I said at last. "My name is Eva."
His lips curved into a warm smile. "Eva. That's a beautiful name."
My chest felt strangely tight.
"And your family name?" he asked. "You look like a noble lady."
I shook my head slowly. "I was one. Not anymore. I left my family. I live as a commoner now."
He didn't look at me with pity. He simply nodded, as if that answer was enough.
"And you?" I asked. "What's your name?"
"My name is Kyel."
"…Kyel," I repeated. "And your family name?"
"I don't have one," he said calmly. "I'm an orphan."
"Oh."
I smiled, unsure why my heart softened at the word.
"Nice to meet you, Kyel."
He smiled back.
"Nice to meet you, Lady Eva."
After that, he bought me fresh fruits. And walked me home.
I thought I would never see him again.
But we met again by coincidence. I greeted him, and once more, we talked.
After that, our paths kept crossing—sometimes in the market, sometimes on quiet streets, sometimes beneath the fading light of evening.
Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months.
And somehow, without me realizing it, he became a part of my everyday life.
Maybe it truly was fate, slowly weaving our lives together.
Kyel was kind. Gentle. Handsome. And most importantly—he was single.
That last thought filled me with an unexpected fear.
What if someone else finds him first?
What if one day he smiles at another woman the way he smiles at me?
The idea alone made my chest ache. So I decided to do something bold.
I decided to propose to him.
I asked Kyel to meet me at the Harvest Festival. I told him there was something I wanted to ask him.
He hesitated. "I have something to take care of that day," he said. "I might not make it."
"I'll wait," I replied without thinking twice.
On the day of the festival, the town was alive with laughter, music, and lanterns glowing like fallen stars. I stood among the crowd, my heart pounding with every passing moment.
I waited. And waited.
The sun began to set. The festival slowly came to an end.
But Kyel never came.
In the end, I lowered my head and turned back toward my home.
I should have known, I told myself. I was foolish to hope.
Just then—
"Lady Eva!"
I froze. And turned around.
Kyel was standing there, bent forward slightly, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His hair was disheveled, his face flushed, as if he had run all the way into town just to find me.
"Lady Eva," he said between breaths, "I'm sorry I'm late. Tell me—what did you want to talk about?"
I smiled. "It's nothing important," I said lightly, "I just wanted to ask if you will marry me?"
He froze. "What?" Kyel blurted out.
"I fell in love with you at first sight. So I was wondering… if you would marry me."
His face turned red in an instant. He looked utterly stunned, as though the words had struck him without warning.
I watched him closely—wondering if I had misread everything. Maybe he had never thought of me that way. Maybe I was the only one who felt this pull between us.
I forced a smile. "It's alright, Kyel. If you don't want to, it's not like I'm forcing y—"
"I'll do it."
I blinked. "…What?"
"The marriage," he said softly. "I'll do it."
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
"But," he added quickly, embarrassed, "I don't have a ring with me."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out two simple silver rings, holding them up between us.
"i have the rings," I said excitedly.
He stared at the rings… and then smiled. A real, gentle smile that made my chest warm.
He took one ring, gently held my hand, and slipped it onto my finger. Then, lowering his head, he pressed a soft kiss against my hand.
"Thank you," i whispered, "for choosing me."
"No," he replied quietly, smiling through it all. "Thank you for choosing me."
And just like that—My second life began. With him.
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