Chapter 1

"My sister and I married into the Phoenix clan at the same time, and by chance, we both became pregnant simultaneously."

"My sister gave birth to a pure-blooded golden phoenix. The First Prince she married was immediately named the next leader of the Phoenix clan."

"I, however, birthed a mangy, common bird. I was cursed as a harbinger of bad luck, and my husband, the Second Prince, was executed for his association with me."

"It was only after I died that I learned the truth: the chick was my sister's, not mine!"

"Everything had been a calculated scheme by her and the First Prince."

"They needed to hide the First Prince's true, impure lineage and steal the throne for themselves."

"When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the days before the birth. My sister was already at my door, bearing gifts…"

1

"I haven't been able to sleep since I got pregnant unless I stay in the room by the parasol tree. Sometimes, I wake to the sound of colorful birds and magpies chirping outside my window. That little one in my belly must be causing all this commotion."

Watching my sister, Kaelina, feign distress as she stroked her stomach and recounted the 'miracles' happening around her, I realized the truth.

I had been reborn.

A mangy, common egg? Resting by a parasol tree? Surrounded by magpies? What a pathetic joke.

But I didn't intend to expose her lies right there. She had been laying this trap since the moment she conceived; I couldn't just tear it down with a few words.

I offered a soft smile and said, "All these signs around you, sister… could it be that you're carrying a little phoenix?"

At these words, her face lit up with triumph.

But I only felt the cold malice hidden beneath her smile.

We were both born to the Bluebird clan, but while she was cherished, I was invisible.

My mother blamed me for not being a son and losing my father's favor, so she lavished all her affection on my sister.

Growing up, only my sister ever checked on me; she was the only 'family' I had.

When we married into the Phoenix clan, she took the gentle, refined First Prince, Fendall, while I married the fierce, battle-hardened Second Prince, Fenris. We were pregnant at the same time, too.

So, when she came to visit me with supplements and invited me to the Luoyang Villa for a retreat, I didn't suspect a thing.

I had no idea it was the beginning of my nightmare.

In my past life, I only found out after my death that our tragic ends were all a conspiracy orchestrated by my sister and the First Prince.

Fendall was actually a common bird born from the Queen's illicit affair; the egg my sister carried was naturally a common egg, too.

The old Phoenix King, desperate to see a pure-blooded heir before he passed, ordered all eggs to be brought to the royal palace for incubation.

Fendall was terrified his lineage would be discovered, which would mean certain death.

And if Fendall died, my sister would not only lose her status as the First Princess but would be cast back to the Bluebird clan in disgrace.

No matter the cost, her child had to be a pure-blooded phoenix.

So, she and Fendall set their sights on me.

Colluding with the Queen, they drugged me while I was exhausted from labor and swapped my golden phoenix egg for hers.

If I hadn't heard them gloating after my death, I never would have believed that the sister who raised me would treat me like this!

To cover up their filth, they claimed I had birthed a cursed egg and threw me into the dungeon.

My husband fought to rescue me, but he was accused of treason and executed under the King's orders.

Even then, my sister wasn't finished. She came to my cell just to sneer, "You're just like Mother said―a total curse. You ruined her life back home, and now you've gotten your husband killed. What good are you? You'd be better off dead."

With that, she ordered the guards to toss me into the Demon Realm to be torn apart.

Watching her smug face now, I pushed down the mountain of hatred rising in my chest.

This time, I will protect my child. And they will pay for everything!