Chapter 1
My name is Cartia Vistid.
In the original novel Malus Asiatica, I was a woman born as the daughter of the most noble bloodline, yet lived the most tragic life—just a mere side character who ultimately met her end at the hands of her insane father, the emperor.
In the first life after my possession, I tried to survive by holding hands with the Duke of Ivia.
In the second life, I fled to a distant foreign land.
In the third life, I became a rebel who stood against the emperor.
Yet in every life, I was killed by someone else, and each time I opened my eyes again, this cursed life restarted.
And now, this is the fourth life.
“This is absolutely ridiculous.”
Cartia abruptly sat up and let out a deep sigh at the all-too-familiar surroundings she saw once more.
“This damn tower, I’m so sick of it.”
Looking down, she saw her own frail body rising from the shabby bed and rough blanket.
Her body before the last death was gone, replaced with short limbs and a skinny frame.
She had returned to when she was seven years old—imprisoned in the tower.
She looked around to find the same sparse furniture and the cold stone walls, floor, and iron bars she remembered.
There should have been a guard and a maid assigned to watch her, but no one stayed to care for a princess the emperor himself didn’t acknowledge as his child.
They only pretended to do their duties—usually abusing or ignoring her altogether.
Though this made it easier to act freely, she couldn’t help but click her tongue at the wretchedness of her situation.
“First, I need to get out of this tower.”
Cartia got up and began thinking about how she’d escape this time.
In the first life, she escaped thanks to Duke Ivia.
In the second, she waited quietly until someone came to get her.
In the third, she managed to find a better method—one she intended to try again now.
“Guard! I know you’re sleeping where I can’t see you!”
Cartia raised her voice to call the guard.
This body, blessed with the emperor’s blood, was remarkably tough.
Despite being in a freezing place, barely fed, and abused, she hadn’t even caught a cold.
Ironically, if she had fallen ill, a physician would’ve been summoned and might’ve uncovered signs of abuse.
Then maybe she could’ve escaped this tower sooner.
“Guard—!”
Even after calling several times with no response, she took a deep breath and shouted louder.
Only after several more attempts did a man sluggishly walk over from the distance, eyes still heavy with sleep, glaring at her with irritation.
“Starting today, I’m on a hunger strike.”
Though she was already smaller than other children her age due to malnutrition, she declared it bluntly.
The guard simply stared, confused.
“I’m not eating anything from now on.”
Only then did he start to realize something was wrong.
Even if she was neglected, she was still a princess of the empire.
If she got sick or injured, a physician would need to be called. If anything happened to her, the higher-ups would have to be informed.
“So before I die, go bring a physician or someone from above.”
With that, Cartia returned to her bed, wrapped herself in the blanket, and lay down.
The guard shouted something, but she shut her ears, closed her red eyes—the symbol of the royal family—and let darkness take over.
“You will eat immediately. If not, we’ll have to re-educate you like last time.”
Was her name Dana?
That was the maid assigned to her in the tower.
But she wasn’t sure. Dana never even properly introduced herself, and once Cartia escaped the tower and the abuse came to light, Dana vanished from the world.
“I said, eat right now!”
Dana screamed hysterically, but Cartia stared silently, refusing to open her mouth.
Dana had tried to force-feed her several times, leaving bruises around her mouth. Since then, she hadn’t dared lay a hand on her.
Even a tiny amount of food triggered vomiting, bile and all. At this rate, a physician would have to be called.
Her mouth was already bruised and discolored—more bruises wouldn’t help anyone.
“Princess—!”
Clang!
The guard banged the bars with his sheathed sword.
But Cartia didn’t even blink. She said nothing.
“Ha! She’s so stubborn. Who does she take after?”
Dana snapped, her anger rising.
Cartia thought vaguely—though her body held up well after days without water, her mind was slowing.
“She probably takes after the Empress. A lowborn woman who seduced His Majesty with just her face.”
The guard, possibly trying to win Dana over, said something reckless.
Cartia wanted to point out she looked exactly like the emperor, but bit her tongue.
Her harsh personality was more likely inherited, though she didn’t know from whom.
The emperor was insane. The empress was long dead. No way to find out.
Still, it was better to be like the empress than the mad emperor.
“What are we going to do?! If this keeps up, we really will need to call a doctor! And what if the royal knights hear about it?”
“Sigh… Dana, calm down. You know she’s been abandoned. Even if we call a physician, nothing will happen.”
“Are you sure she’s really abandoned?! When I first got here, the head maid told me to treat her with utmost care!”
“I’m sure! Even when the Duke of Ivia and other nobles raised a fuss, His Majesty didn’t react. He doesn’t care anymore! So what if a doctor sees a bruise? Nothing will happen!”
The more Cartia listened, the more pathetic they sounded.
Why had the head maid said to treat her well?
Because the emperor hated anyone touching what was his.
Even if Cartia was unloved, she was still his. If she was to die, it had to be by his hand.
If the physician discovered bruises, everyone connected to this tower would be as good as dead.
“Wait! Something’s wrong with the princess!”
Their bickering stopped as both looked at her.
Cartia, dazed, realized something was off.
Her vision flickered like a faulty light bulb and the world spun.
No matter how strong, a seven-year-old body had its limits.
“Damn it! Get the physician right now!”
As their panicked voices faded, Cartia’s world turned black again.
The first real crisis after Cartia’s return wasn’t the abusive guard or maid.
It was meeting the emperor again—after leaving the tower.
“She appears to be suffering from prolonged malnutrition.”
As the physician’s voice slowly became clearer, Cartia regained some awareness.
When she opened her eyes, her vision sharpened, and the first thing she saw was a pair of red eyes—cold and emotionless, like lifeless minerals.
A face so similar to her own it could belong to a twin.
Beside him, a blood-stained sword leaned against the chair.
“We’ll know more when she’s fully conscious, but based on her growth and the marks on her body, it seems she’s been abused by her maid…”
The physician continued his report, unaware she had woken.
The emperor turned his head. As their eyes met, Cartia opened her mouth.
“I… cough.”
Her parched throat finally protested. Someone brought her water immediately.
After a few gulps, her cough subsided, and she could speak properly.
“I don’t want to live in the tower anymore.”
Her blunt words made everyone in the room flinch.
The only one unmoved was the emperor.
“If I have to go back to that tower, I’d rather die.”
But what choice did she have?
As a royal, she should’ve been taught imperial etiquette from the age of five. But in every life, she never learned a thing.
“Then die.”
The emperor’s chilling voice cut through the silence.
Cartia looked him straight in the eyes.
“I won’t die. And I won’t go back to that tower.”
The room grew so quiet it felt suffocating.
Someone gulped audibly.
“I want to live with Daddy!”
Cartia jumped up and shouted, her voice echoing through the silent room.
