RODH Chapter 1

1.

Ian Pearl Ruben.

The esteemed son of the Ruben family, also infamously known as the “Rogue Omega of the Ducal House.”

Up until my fourth life regression, that’s precisely the kind of person I was.

The Ruben ducal house owned a staggering nine enormous mines. Gold was just the beginning; rubies, sapphires, and even rare gems like opals filled three carriage loads each day.

I was the utterly disgraceful youngest son, squandering that immense fortune without a care. Every day, I threw extravagant parties that cost more than a commoner could save in twenty years of hard labor, staying out past midnight surrounded by throngs of people.

“When are you going to grow up? You know Prince Seor isn’t one to indulge in luxury and debauchery,” my fourth sister, Seria, would say, pinching my thigh in exasperation.

There was a fair age gap between my sisters and me, with the eldest sister nearly twenty years older.

Perhaps because of this, the eldest and second sisters always took my side. In contrast, the third and fourth sisters constantly nagged me, sending servants to scold me whenever I threw a party.

Most of their nagging was about whether it wasn’t time for me to get my act together.

But I was in far too good a mood to pay such complaints any mind.

After all, on the day of my coming-of-age, I’d awakened as a dominant omega—not an ordinary one.

Congratulations poured in from my family, and everyone invited to the party gazed at me with envy.

Who would have thought I’d become someone so remarkable?

The youngest son of the most prominent ducal house in the empire, betrothed to the Crown Prince no less. And now, I was a beautiful, newly emerged dominant omega.

What could the Crown Prince possibly say to me now?

It seems that arrogance took root within me.

“Off with his head.”

That was the order my fiancé, Seor, gave to Peter, the eldest son of Count Hubert, while standing beside another omega.

In his golden eyes, looking down at me, there was not a single trace of warmth.

Swish—thud, roll.

That was my first death.

By a twist of fate, life granted me a second chance.

However, I didn’t fare much better in my second life. After all, I thought it was just a dream.

The moment I woke from that terrible nightmare, I scrambled to feel my neck. It was intact. Even so, I couldn’t shake the dread, so I called for the attendant outside.

“Bain, Bain!”

“Yes, young master!”

At my frantic call, Bain, with his chestnut-brown hair, quickly rushed in.

“Bring me a mirror. Quickly!”

Bain fetched a small mirror from the dressing table and handed it to me.

There it was—my neck, unscathed. No slash marks or scars, perfectly untouched.

Relief washed over me, making my entire body feel weak. But then, the pain and humiliation I’d felt in the dream came flooding back, and I broke into sobs.

“Hah…hah….”

“Young master?!”

Though Bain had no idea what had happened, he kindly soothed me as I cried.

And then, my second death came.

“…By this decree, Ian Pearl Ruben shall be executed!”

Execution!

The charge this time was poisoning the Crown Prince. I was outraged, of course.

However, the emperor, unable to stomach a beheading for a noble, ordered Elbis Dune, the Master of the Tower, to concoct a poison for me to drink.

In his cold blue eyes, filled with disdain, he looked down upon me with disgust.

Gurgle, splutter.

Blood spurted from my mouth, and so ended my second life.

When the third life came around, I started to think maybe this wasn’t a dream.

Once more, I clung to Bain, sobbing.

My throat felt scorched, as if I’d actually swallowed poison, and the pain in my stomach kept me from eating properly.

Bain, ever so gentle, comforted me.

“Young master, you’ll be fine. It was only a bad dream, wasn’t it?”

I promised myself that this time, I’d live well. But, like an old habit that refuses to die, I found myself going to other people’s parties instead of hosting my own.

“The best place right now is here, Lord Ruben,” said a servant who seemed to be a manager, guiding me to a place known as the Dragon’s Nest—the Rare.

I was exhilarated, seeing a place most would be lucky to witness even once in their lives.

The ceiling was adorned with the “Tears of the Dragon,” rumored to reveal hidden secrets. And just as they said, the Rare was as breathtaking as any adventurer’s dream.

Drunk on its beauty, I ended up drinking far more than I could handle.

And then…

“Oh, sorry about that. Hehe, I’m actually a bit drunk…”

“What’s this wretched creature?”

“Huh? Crown Prince of the Dragon Clan…? Are you trying to hit on me? I already have a partner… Hehehe.”

“A partner, yet you dare show me such disrespect? Clearly, you have a death wish. Die, you worm.”

Fwoosh.

Aaaaargh!

A sound escaped my mouth that no human should ever make, more beastly than anything. It was only natural; flames had clung to my body, flames that wouldn’t die out.

The pain of my clothes and skin burning was far worse than drinking poison. It wasn’t just “painful”—it was sheer, unimaginable agony.

Surrounded by horrified gazes, I died my third death as my flesh melted down to reveal my bones.

Then, came the fourth life.

Having done absolutely nothing this time, curse it all, a reason for my death seemed to fall from the heavens.

“Purge the traitorous Ruben family!”

In a flash, my family went from loyal subjects to branded traitors. Everyone in the family was dragged off—my father, my mother, and me as well.

Luckily, my sisters, married off and carrying different surnames, were spared from this nightmare.

It was while I was locked away in the underground prison that Bain came to save me.

But the pursuers quickly caught up with us, and Bain sacrificed himself so I could flee.

Bain’s last wish must have been for my survival.

Yet, my fate was sealed when I was bitten by a wild animal and met my end in utter despair.

And finally, here I am now, on my fifth life.

“Bain, Bain.”

The moment I opened my eyes in the morning, I called for Bain.

“You called, young master?”

“How old am I this year?”

“Nineteen, sir. In two days, you’ll officially become an adult after your coming-of-age ceremony.”

Back, once more, to two days before the ceremony.

How on earth can I escape these tragic deaths?

From the break of dawn, I was already lost in serious contemplation.

I went through each of my deaths in my mind.

In my first life, I was beheaded because of that bastard Seor. In the second, I drank poison courtesy of Elbis Dune. The third, I was burned alive by Lucian. And in the fourth, I was branded a traitor and killed along with my family.

To the very end, Seor didn’t just fail to save me; he went out of his way to ensure I died in as agonizing a manner as possible.

Looking back, all four of my deaths were tied to those damn Alphas.

Especially Seor von Sain.

I must break off this engagement with that worthless bastard.

Just as I steeled my resolve, a fragrant cocktail aroma mixed with the warm scent of freshly baked bread wafted over.

“What’s with the alcohol?”

“It’s the meal you enjoy every morning, young master.”

“….”

Alcohol dulls the mind, making it all too easy to slip up in dangerous ways.

As difficult as it may be, I, Ian Pearl Ruben, swear on the name of House Ruben to quit drinking.

“From today on, I’m done with alcohol. Even at parties.”

“W-what? Young master, are you feeling unwell?” Bain’s face scrunched in confusion as he touched his forehead, then mine.

Bain, you wouldn’t know this, but four gruesome deaths are bound to change a person.

After nibbling on some bread and taking a sip of the tea Bain had hurriedly served, I announced, “Prepare for me to enter the palace.”

“Are you finally going to see the Crown Prince?”

I scoffed.

I had no desire to meet that bloodthirsty lunatic, constantly eyeing any excuse to spill blood with neighboring nations.

I merely intended to request a formal annulment.

Though such a sudden request might strain the relations between the imperial family and House Ruben, the chances of that were slim. My eldest sister had already married the emperor’s brother, binding our families tightly. This engagement with Seor was simply another layer of assurance; dissolving it shouldn’t be an issue.

Still, I felt a pang of guilt for causing trouble without warning my father and mother. As their beloved youngest, they’d never punished me harshly for my reckless behavior, yet it hurt to think of worrying my aging parents.

In any case, it was time to reform the party-loving Ian Pearl Ruben.

When Bain returned with flamboyant attire, I fixed him with a stern look and instructed him to find something more understated.

“But, young master… don’t you remember? You ordered all the plain clothes to be discarded just recently.”

“Ah, right. Then go retrieve them from the incinerator.”

“Pardon?!”

“If you go now, they might not have been burned yet. Or, shall I accompany you?”

In that moment, I decided to start from the very bottom of House Ruben and inspect everything thoroughly.

The fall of my family in the fourth life could very well have been due to a spy lurking within.

“So I’ll need to find those clothes…and root out any traitors.”

The urgency surged within me, but I took a deep breath to settle myself.

Sometimes, the fastest way is to take it slow.

After all, I have no intention of seeing a sixth life.