DEATH—- was unavoidable. Every creature dies at some point. That was something Lily had already accepted the first time she learned it. As for rebirth, she didn't believe it at first. But three never-ending cycles of rebirth rendered her speechless and utterly surprised.
In a world full of wars and hardships, Lily had long given up hope of survival. So she was not resentful when she died in her first life. She was actually content. Lily was overjoyed to be finally leaving this world.
Unfortunately, instead of heaven or hell, what she encountered stunned her.
Lily had gone back in time. She returned to when she was still the spoiled and adored young miss of an aristocratic family. Everything appeared normal and happy, but only she knew what lay ahead.
Being given a second chance in life, Lily didn't actually treasure it. She lived and died the same way she had in her previous life.
To her surprise, she experienced rebirth for the second time (her third life). However, she went back to when she was still a baby. Not taking it seriously like usual, she lived and died the way she did in her first and second lives.
But after being reborn three times, Lily finally surrendered and cursed fate.
She was now exhausted as well as enraged!
What did heaven mean by reincarnating her over and over?
Couldn't she die properly and in peace?
Dearest, give her a rest!
After spending the night cursing 'fate', Lily walked out of her room feeling refreshed. The two maidservants under her quickly followed without uttering a word.
When they arrived at a particular location in the estate, one of the maidservants announced her presence.
Nonetheless, Lily entered the room without waiting for the other person's permission.
"Grandpa! Please assist me! I want to cancel my marriage agreement with the crown prince!" Lily said as soon as she walked into the room.
Duke Pei was taken aback by his granddaughter's outburst. The hand holding the wine trembled, and he nearly threw it on the man in front of him.
Upon realizing the words uttered by his granddaughter, Duke Pei forgot about his thoughts of apologizing to the man. He immediately reprimanded her, "What the hell are you saying? Is an engagement coming from a monarch that easy to dissolve? What are you thinking this time? Just yesterday, you kept mumbling how dashing the crown prince was, but now you suddenly wanted to dissolve the marriage agreement?"
Duke Pei glared at his granddaughter. He raised the girl since her parent's disappearance. Because of heartache and pity towards her, Duke Pei spoiled her rotten. But sometimes, he felt like he should have raised her stiffly. Otherwise, his granddaughter's personality wouldn't have become like this--- the source of everyone's headache.
Lily wasn't afraid of her grandfather's glare. Instead, she raised her chin arrogantly even more. "I'm not the same person as I was yesterday. The 'me' yesterday lacked a brain. Now, not only am I implanted by one, but I also became reasonable," she stated proudly.
Duke Pei felt like his head was swirling from those words. "Which part of what you're saying is reasonable?"
"Breaking off my engagement with the crown prince."
Duke Pei couldn't help but sigh in defeat. "Will you tell me first what's wrong with the crown prince? If we break off the engagement in front of His Majesty, wouldn't we be slapping off his face? We might incur his wrath by doing so."
"So what?" Lily frowned. "We have millions of armies under our name. And it is an independent one. The monarch has no right to mobilize these armies. Only the one with the surname Pei could do so. If he's not afraid of these armies, he could try making an enemy out of us."
Duke Pei almost choked on his saliva.
That was true. The Pei family was an independent clan with millions of armies under them. They initially lived in a secluded area, but Duke Pei's father and the current emperor's grandfather became friends during the former's expedition.
When the two's friendship turned profound, Duke Pei's father agreed to live in the Immortal Dragon Empire. But they still maintain their independence. The monarch has no right to treat them as their subjects, but since the Pei family was willing to become the empire's sword, the monarch need to treat them appropriately and give them their necessities.
Duke Pei and the previous emperor were childhood best friends, so they naturally have a good relationship. As for the current emperor, Duke Pei has no affection toward him, only respect for being a monarch. The one with whom he has a good impression with was the current emperor's fifth brother, the person to whom he was talking before Lily disturbed them.
Recalling that he still has a visitor, Duke Pei felt embarrassed. He faced the man who was silently listening to them with an apologetic expression. "Apologies Fifth Imperial Uncle. We let you see a joke."
Fifth Imperial Uncle Hugo smiled gently. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. Good families bicker from time to time."
Now that he spoke, Lily finally turned her attention to the man. She wasn't surprised to see the fifth imperial uncle in her grandfather's study. During her previous lives, she encountered him multiple times. But she was too lazy to bother with him, so she ignored his existence.
Regardless, she was amazed to see a man who has no desire. As a son of the empress, he has the opportunity to take over the throne and become the emperor, but he conceded and gave way to his brothers. He also lived like a monk. He had never taken a wife or a concubine. When she died in the life before this, she was given ten days to roam around as a ghost. This fifth imperial uncle who lived like a monk became a monk for real.
He went to the temple, shaved his head, and never stepped out of the place.
From thereon, she had admired him. In this secular world where taking concubines was common, it was unusual to see someone who wasn't lustful at all.
The fifth imperial uncle must've felt her gaze as he suddenly looked at her and gave her a gentle smile. The man was already so good-looking. Adding his smile, no woman wouldn't be tempted.
But Lily only answered him by raising her eyebrow, then, ignoring his existence once again. She might have admired him, but that's just all. She had no intention of becoming close to him.
"...." said Hugo who was suddenly despised. Did he do something wrong to this girl?
"Grandpa, don't change the subject," Lily glared at her grandfather. "We're talking about breaking off my engagement to that crown prince. We have to settle it now."
Duke Pei held his forehead. His head was starting to ache. "Can't we talk about it later? The fifth imperial uncle is still here. Show some decorum!"
"I've already announced my piece and he heard it a while ago," said Lily, her eyes full of contempt. "Since he already knows about my decision, what's the point of hiding it from him? Let me tell you this, Grandpa. I won't stop pestering you until you agree!"
"Then, tell me, what's wrong with the crown prince?" Duke Pei gave up. He was no match against his granddaughter at all.
"He's an unclean man," Lily answered in disgust.
Duke Pei was dumbfounded. "That's all?"
"What do you mean by 'that's all'?" Lily was starting to get annoyed at her grandfather. "The Pei family has always been clean. We have been practising the mantra of having one man or woman since the family was established. I am your only descendant. If I am going to be sullied by such a dirty man, our family would no longer exist."
Duke Pei was initially embarrassed when he heard the first sentence, but his face turned solemn from hearing the rest.
He had been living in this empire his entire life, so he was used to seeing how the men behave here. He had forgotten that their family has a mantra that kept them alive. If his granddaughter had not reminded him, he would've lost her. Duke Pei might not be able to face their ancestors as well.