The ball was filled with dancing and chattering among the distinguished guests. Ladies flock in one area as they looked at the crown prince as they were going to ask him for a dance. Amused, Cara stood silently in the hall and decline all dance offers from the bachelor as she waited for the anointing ceremony to happen. As the loud ceremonial bells rang across hall, it signaled that the ceremony is about to start. With the priest and wizard incantations across the big magic circle, Vernon walked towards her in the center of the circle. She created magic barriers so the observers wouldn't be affected by mana. The Saintess' power is the purest and the most divine of them all, Cara was appointed to be the caster of the spell. She stands before Vernon, kneeling in front of her as she is about to cast her blessings. Sparkling snowflakes fall across the hall which stunned everyone. No magi can create winter amid the summer because it will disrupt the balance of the season. As expected from the Saintess, everything is possible. Vernon looked at Cara with quizzical expression as her pained look displayed in her eyes.
"I sincerely..." she chanted.
A huge amount of mana poured towards the crown prince, while everyone was frozen from their position, the wizards grew impale as they knew that the forbidden spell was cast.
"It can't be!" The eternal winter of desperation. Instead of a proper blessing, it will turn into a curse to the caster. The barrier strengthened as the wizards and priests wanted to repel the spell, yet no one could break the barrier, it was between the caster and the receiver now. Even the Duke of Equinoux felt betrayed looking at her daughter performing the forbidden spell.
"I sincerely..." with a faint voice she chanted her divinity.
"May the crown prince prosper in his lifetime with all his glorious days. May he be filled with happiness. Let his heart discern the art of deception, may his heart not be blind with shallow love, may he not fall in love with a naive and obsessive woman. May his golden years not be cut off with mere adoration but of pure devotion. May no thorns fill his path. This empire's hero will shine brighter throughout this lifetime. May the eternal winter of my desperation be granted. I sincerely wish Ab Imo Pectore." She released her mana one last time and sealed it with a kiss on Vernon's forehead. The mana was so strong that it destroyed the hall. Debris was scattered everywhere and some of the nobles were injured during the ceremony. The royal family was not pleased with the damages, yet the largest damage afflicted to the caster, Cara herself that she didn't wake up for a week.
Vernon was safe. He was unscathed due to the barrier and still attended to the session regarding Lady Cara Margaux's exile to the empire. The forbidden spell was cast, and it may bring mayhem to the masses which led to her exile to the northern regions. Duke Tiexery has no choice but to agree as his plan is ruined by his ungrateful illegitimate child. She better rot in that territory than remain in his care.
"Miss." the servant handed her luggage as she ascended on the carriage. It was the day that she would be chased out of the empire.
"I see." as she reached it. She looked outside for one last time. Exile to serve the nunnery in her fifteenth is not bad after all. She will be leaving all the chaos behind, her hatred, and her guilt by becoming the villainess who cast the forbidden spell. Maybe in this lifetime, she can finally obtain peace.
A loud buzz in the capital going around the streets. As the carriage stops for inspection, the news about the crown prince in marriage talk with the powerful ducal house spreads.
A smile etched on her wearied face. A relief came aid to her as she heard the news. Her decision was right to become the crown prince's enemy. She looked outside and tears visibly streamed in her face. At last, guilt will not accompany her anymore.
As they reached the narrow route near the cliff a loud thud rammed in the carriage, and it suddenly overturned. She is holding on to her dear life as the carriage is near the dangerous cliff with jagged rocks underneath, she will surely pierce in pieces. A flock of unknown mercenaries, hover around the carriage to search for her, she quickly jumps from the windowsill by fitting her body and grabbing the rocks as she was hanging on the cliff. She never felt guilty for her companion as she experienced assassination in her 2nd life. The mercenary assumed that the body lying limply on the carriage was hers as she heard their footsteps away from the carriage and pushed the carriage on the cliff. Amidst the danger, Cara held on to the rocks with her trembling hands trying to survive from the height. With her weak state, her mana is so depleted that she can't depend on the magic that she has. The rock on her left hand suddenly weathered and split into two and she almost fell on the cliff. Beneath her were jagged rocks that no matter how she tried to land, she surely ended up dying. Gritting her teeth, she moved her hands and feet to climb up. It's up to her to die or live in that situation.
The news of the demise of Cara while on her way to the port spread like wildfire that it drawing the attention of everyone. The royal family grew restless knowing the Saintess who was supposed to be escorted on the northern borders were found dead with few companions. Her face was unidentified due to her horrible condition. Her whole face was so pulped that it was mistaken animal while retrieved in the narrow routes near the cliff. The carriage fell off the steep cliff which was disassembled from the impact. The Saintess with a divine blessing, a face that can destroyed empires unfortunately become a villainess overnight with unfortunate fate.
"Lady Cara died in her fifteenth due to her naivety in casting forbidden spells. Isn't she pitiful?" It was the royal tutor who informed Vernon during their lesson. " She was supposed to be one of the crown princess candidates."
Vernon brushed his forehead where Cara planted her blessing. He couldn't forget how sadness rammed in his chest while he could still hear her voice echoing clearly.
"Live well crown prince. This time, I'll make sure you will reign with happiness rather than sadness. Goodbye, dearest Vernon. May you never meet someone like me. "
Then she kissed his forehead, liberating him from the shackles of an unknown past. Unbeknownst lifetimes. Her face was so placid as she released her mana in the air with her hair fluttered in to reveal her peaceful face.
When he was left alone in his study, his tears uncontrollably fell with faint of longingness. Isn't it strange? Why was he pitying with Saintess he barely meets? The sky comes to mourn for her, he thought as it gently pours it sorrowful tears on the ground hearing her untimely demise.