Beyond You, Life Is So Much Better

My name is Hazel Falken, and I am the only daughter of the Base Commander during the apocalypse.

Even though it is the apocalypse, I am still spoiled left and right by my family and raised to be their little princess at home.

My dad, Ernest Falken, is worried that I will marry into a family that will mistreat me. So, he decides to choose four husband candidates and bring them up in our own home for me to pick from when I'm older.

In my past life, I chose Curtis Granger, whom I have liked for a long while, when Dad asked me to pick my husband. However, not long after our marriage, Curtis volunteers himself as a guard to be stationed outside the base perimeter.

He never returns home after that, and I am left living as a widow in the safety of the base's inner district.

30 years later, when my hair has turned fully white, I decide that I can't wait for him anymore and go out to find him. I then realize that he has formed another family outside the base without my knowing.

It then dawns on me that Curtis never liked me. He had also only married me because he wanted to repay Dad for bringing him up.

Not long after that, a wave of zombies attacks us. Curtis pushes me down and shields me under his body.

"Hazel, I know that I never should've lied to you. I'll give up my life to repay the kindness that Commander Falken has shown to me.

"But if there is a next life, I hope that you won't pick me again."

When I open my eyes again, I find out that I have travelled back in time to the day when Dad asks me to pick my husband.

"Hazel, these four people are my right-hand men. Whom would you like to pick as your husband?"

Dad suddenly appeared before my eyes. He gave me a great shock because he was supposed to have perished years ago in a zombie attack.

It was only then that it dawned on me—I had gone back in time, for some reason, and today was the day my dad, Ernest Falken, the apocalypse base commander, asked me to pick a future husband for myself.

When Dad saw that I kept glancing toward Curtis Granger, a look of understanding crossed his face.

"Since you've decided on Curtis, I'll get him to come in, then."

"I don't want him."

Dad jumped when I suddenly spoke out loud. "Then who would you like to pick?"

Dad's question stumped me. I thought about the four candidates Dad had handpicked for me in my past life.

There was Curtis, who was cold and aloof; Max Norman, a gifted fortune-teller; Samson York, a fearless soldier; and Archer Langdon, who had always been quiet and gloomy.

I recalled how Archer used to protect me no matter the danger in my past life. So, I made my decision.

"I'll pick Archer Langdon."

"Are you sure about him?"

Dad jumped to his feet in shock when he heard my answer. "Didn't you always dislike him? You said that he was robotic and didn't know how to talk nicely to you. He even made you cry when you were little because he tried stopping you from leaving the base."

I blushed hard when Dad brought up the past.

It had been entirely my fault back then. I had still been a rebellious kid back then, and someone had tried luring me out of the base to try and catch a glimpse of the zombies lurking outside to see what they actually looked like.

Luckily, Archer had stopped me from leaving. Otherwise, I would already have turned into zombie food by now.

I pouted and said softly, "I know now that it was wrong of me to do that. I understand that Archer was just looking out for me. He didn't want me to get myself into danger."

Dad let out a huge sigh when he heard my response.

"I thought that you only chose to marry Archer because you were trying to get on Curtis' nerves. But since you've put it this way, I feel a lot more relieved now. I see that you've finally grown up.

"Since you've already made your choice, we'll settle on Archer Langdon for you. Is that your final decision?"

I could still hear Curtis' last words from my past life echoing in my head. I inhaled deeply and nodded decisively.

"That's my final decision."

Dad smiled when he heard how determined I sounded.

"That's good to hear. I know that Archer isn't exactly the most expressive person, but he's the most trustworthy among the others. I wouldn't have to worry about you if he's the one you chose.

"The zombies haven't been quite active as of late, so I'll get the others to prepare for your wedding as soon as possible."

I nodded and left Dad's office. As soon as the door closed behind me, a group of people immediately rushed up to me.

Samson was the first to ask because he couldn't stand the suspense any longer. "So, Hazel, who did you pick?"

Max grinned and said nonchalantly, "Why are you even bothering to ask her? Of course it has to be Curtis! Even if it's not him, it would have to be you or me. It'd never be Archie."