【 Ten ... nine ... eight ... 】 The System began my final countdown . My fingers started to turn transparent . I took one last look at the man to whom I had given everything . He was sleeping against my shoulder , his breathing soft and shallow . His long lashes trembled , and beneath his pale skin , I could see the faint blue of his veins . He looked as if he would shatter at the slightest touch . [ Five ... four ... ] I gently lifted his head and rested it against the other side of his wheelchair . I brushed a speck of dust from his forehead . And then , for the very last time , I leaned in and whispered with a soft , warm smile , " Alistair ... you have to live well from now on . " 【 One . ] With a soft pop , my body dissolved into motes of light , scattering on the wind and fading into nothing . 2 When I opened my eyes , I never expected to see Alistair again . A girl was hovering around him , chattering endlessly . She was sweet and adorable . More importantly , they were standing so close , and Alistair was actually smiling , not rejecting her in the slightest . The System was still in my head . Its tone was that of a gleeful spectator . 【 The Agency sent in another Player . Look and learn . She had him in three months . His affection level for her is already at 98. 】 【 I wondered what would happen to him after you failed and died . ] [ Turns out , he just looked for you for two days , threw a massive tantrum , burned everything you owned , and then accepted someone new without a second thought . Your seven years of one - sided devotion meant nothing ! ] Ninety - eight . That meant she was just one step away from mission success . Two years had passed . I didn't know what had happened to Alistair in that time , but he seemed to be doing better than when I was with him . I was silent for a moment , then asked a different question . " Why am I still conscious ? " [ You will remain by his side until the next Player succeeds , ] the System explained . [ Only then will you truly die . ] It was another part of my punishment . 3 " Hey , cripple ! Daydreaming again ? " " A bet's a bet ! You have to wear a dress for me today ! " " And you have to try the food I made for you! It wasn't easy , you know . I burned my hands all over . " Christina stood with her hands on her hips , laughing as she pushed a plate of ... something ... toward him . She held up her hands to show off her minor injuries . If you could even call that charred black mess fried rice . My eye twitched . I watched Alistair's face , waiting for the explosion . He was an incredibly picky eater . The slightest imperfection , and the plate would be swept to the floor , the utensils hurled at whoever served it . I'd had to get a professional chef's certificate just to get him to eat a few bites . 2/5 10:17 Chapter 1 10:17 8 He also despised it when people tried to use their good deeds to guilt him . And his legs ... they were his deepest wound . Anyone who mention- ed them would be dragged before him by his bodyguards , forced to watch as the person was beaten half to death . But he didn't get angry . He didn't throw anything . Under Christina's expectant gaze , Alistair lowered his head and took a large bite . The System's voice was laced with scorn . [ Did you really think she was you ? 】 My throat tightened . I couldn't speak . She wasn't me . I remembered how hard it had been . I once spent an entire day crossing the city just to buy him a specific brand of dumplings he'd mentioned wanting . He'd taken one look at them , thrown them in the trash , and told me my efforts were pathetic and unnecessary . His affection level hadn't budged . Alistair chewed a few times , a frown creasing his brow . He paused , his eyes downcast . Christina immediately grew anxious . " What ? Is it bad ? " His knuckles were white around the spoon . " It's good , " he rasped . I knew him . He was at his absolute limit . So this was what it was like when he loved someone . He could endure anything , tolerate everything . Finally , Christina sensed something was wrong . She took a bite herself , then immediately spat it out , grabbing the plate from his hands in a fluster . After dumping the blackened mess in the trash , she playfully tapped his forehead . " Alistair , are you an idiot ? Why would you eat something that tastes so awful ? " He wasn't angry . He just looked at her and smiled , a genuine , gentle smile . A dull , persistent ache started in my chest , growing sharper and more intense with every passing second . So this was the punishment the System had planned for me . 4 Over the next few days , my shock turned into a numb acceptance . When Alistair's depression and anxiety flared up , Christina would hire male models and flirt with them right in front of him , and somehow , it would actually pull him back from the brink . He would tremble , begging her not to leave , to stay by his side . She would take boiling water and playfully pour it on his numb legs , just to see his reaction . He wouldn't react at all , just lower his gaze and let her do as she pleased , until the family doctor would rush in , horrified , and check him for burns . She would sneak him onto the back of her motorcycle , letting him experience the terrifying thrill of near - death at high speeds . Alistair , who had a deep - seated trauma related to extreme sports , would just cling to the back , his eyes squeezed shut , his face pale , biting his lip so hard he drew blood , but he would never make a sound . Afterward , when the fear triggered stomach spasms that left him vomiting for hours , he would still gasp that he liked it . " Alistair is emotionally fragile , and his health is poor , " I said , my voice barely a whisper to the System . " He might say he likes it , but she can't keep tormenting him like this . She should ... she should find another way to be with him . " He had finally opened his heart to someone . He didn't deserve to be treated this way . The System just scoffed . [ You were careful . You were considerate . You tended to his every need for seven years , Elara . And what was the result ? ] That single sentence was like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head . As a spirit , I shouldn't have been able to feel anything , but a deep , bone - chilling cold spread through me . I looked at Alistair , who was still gasping for breath , his brow furrowed , his eyes wide and searching for something in a panic . 1017 Chapter 1 Suddenly , his wet , red - rimmed eyes locked onto the exact spot where I stood . Our gazes met , and my heart gave a violent lurch . But in the next second , Christina leaned down to check on him , and he looked up at her , forcing a reassuring smile . All the fight went out of me , I didn't even have the energy to argue anymore .