It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 91
Lionel Luanax, in his nn-th life.
For the first time in nn years of repeating his existence, he made love with someone.
Even if he wanted to mark the occasion as something special, he could only count the time in vague terms—because he was losing his memories.
The first life, where he must have lived like any other, was beyond recall.
The next life, and the one after that, too.
In truth, he wasn’t even sure what he had forgotten, only that something crucial was slipping away like sand through his fingers, leaving behind nothing but the despair lodged deep in his chest.
He no longer remembered why he was repeating his life.
Was it something he had chosen for himself with a specific purpose? Or was it the whim of a god or a demon?
He had tried fighting against it, had even taken his own life a few times, but nothing changed. At some point, he simply drifted from life to life, occasionally indulging in reckless madness.
And then, one day—
Lionel stumbled upon what seemed to be a clue to the reason behind his regression.
It was early winter, and the wind creeping under his collar was bitterly cold.
Bored out of his mind, he had come to the Imperial capital, idly toying with the idea of assassinating the emperor, only to witness the execution of others who had attempted rebellion before him.
The noble House of Solen, with its storied lineage.
Lionel couldn’t be certain how many lives had passed, but he had uncovered secrets about their entanglement with the Imperial Family before. For a house of such prestige, they had always been strangely inconspicuous—turns out, they were a shadow family bound by the empire’s leash.
Early in one of his lives, he had attempted to assassinate the Emperor and failed, barely escaping with his life. At that time, Count Solen and his son, Vaikal, had relentlessly pursued him.
Yet now, they had been the ones to rise against the crown. More specifically, they had attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince, Axion, and failed.
Count Solen had died in the act, and that day, it was his son, Vaikal Solen, who stood on the execution platform.
Vaikal had lost one eye and both arms. Though he did not beg for his life, he also could not close his eyes until the moment his head was severed.
Perhaps because of the wailing figure struggling in agony below him—his only sister.
Among the Imperial Family seated on the elevated dais was that woman, Serenia Solen.
Lionel had seen her from afar once, when she was revered as a saintess, traveling for charity work. Yet in this life, there was no such tale—this time, she knelt at the feet of the Crown Prince, bound like a dog.
Why?
From the moment Lionel laid eyes on Serenia, he could not look away.
As he stood frozen, unable to lift a finger, the Crown Prince tightened the leash and whispered something into her ear.
Serenia’s gaunt, pale face twisted in raw despair, and Lionel watched, transfixed. His heart pounded strangely in his chest.
She closed her eyes tightly, then, when she opened them again, her violet irises shimmered with unshed tears. And then she lifted her head and smiled. A smile so chilling it sent a shiver down his spine. Then, she sank her teeth into the hand gripping her leash.
Caught off guard, the Crown Prince flinched and let go of the leash, and in that instant, Serenia threw herself off the dais.
It was about three stories high, if she was lucky, she might have survived.
Though bound, she had fallen headfirst. For a few moments after the impact, it seemed she had still been breathing.
Screams erupted. Someone, perhaps the Prince, rushed down the steps, shouting something. But all of it sounded distant.
Lionel involuntarily took a step forward. Two steps. Three steps. Then, his pace quickened.
