Blood… red hot blood. It was all I could see.

Splattered across the marbled floor, the once-grand courtyard was now transformed into a chilling graveyard. The vibrant mansion, which was full of laughter and smile, now stood as a gruesome witness to the horrors that has just happened. Every inch was tainted in the scarlet blood of innocent lives.

Children, maids, soldiers and my only family—my beloved brother— lay motionless in this crimson tide.

Ha! Fool… Fool… such a fool I was! Utterly blind, carried away by naive hope, believing that life was full of vibrant colours. I was such a fool to think that if I worked hard enough, I could achieve anything, and no matter what, people will see my goodwill. Oh! How wrong I was.

Within these walls, I never learned the harsh reality that life is actually cruel. And people, they were crueller. The philosophy of life, I once cherished, was a mere illusion confined to the pages of books. How stupid was I, that I even thought to bring it into the real world? For those people, I, a young girl of 18, became a thorn that needed to be removed.

My ideals, my voice, and my audacity to question the oppressive order finally ignited a small spark of revolt. Eventually, it devoured everything in its path, leading to this gruesome massacre.

This blood, staining my clothes, my hands, and these walls... all of this innocent blood is on me. It is my soul that is tainted with this blood. Because of me, my rebellion, they all had to die.

As I stood amidst the bloodshed, the echoes of their laughter rang through my mind. I can still hear it—the heartless mirth of those who were rejoicing in the destruction they have started. They are standing over my brother's lifeless body, treating him with no more regard than a discarded ragged doll. Anger, hate, and despair surged through my veins, threatening to consume me entirely.

With a swift motion, fuelled by an insatiable thirst for revenge, I lunged forward, my sword finding its mark. The man who had dared to laugh over my brother's lifeless form now lay on the ground, his life force draining away. His laughter was now silenced forever.

***

The soldiers formed a tight circle around the young lady, their menacing presence closing in on her like vultures circling their prey. She stood amidst the chaos, her body drenched in blood, her trembling hands tightly clutching the sword that had become an extension of her shattered will. The wounds she bore seeped blood, her strength fading rapidly. Every breath she took felt like torture, as she struggled to hold onto life. Yet, it was her unyielding rage, the fire that burned within her, that kept her standing, defying the very notion of surrendering to death.

All she desired was annihilation—for every person responsible for this massacre… to suffer as she had suffered.

Just then, a mocking chuckle sliced through the air, shattering the tense silence. "Princess Long Xi, why do you continue to struggle?" his voice slithered, laced with an arrogant sneer. "Marry me, and I promise you, your life will be spared."

Long Xi turned around, her gaze locking with that of her tormentor. Her eyes burned with intensity as she tightened her hold over her sword. General Wang Xingjing — the incarnation of the devil, and the one closest to the emperor himself.

It was he who had orchestrated her family's downfall, her brother's removal as the crown prince. It was he who had plotted the annihilation of her family. And now, her own father, the emperor, had issued the decree to slay her and all her people within her mansion—a decree carried which was to out by General Wang and his loyal soldiers.

A tempest of anger surged through Long Xi's veins, threatening to consume her whole. Her voice trembled with a potent mix of fury and defiance. "General Wang, I would rather embrace death than be bound to a scum like you," she spat, her words a venomous retort.

At this moment, all she desired was to see him suffer, to brutally kill him the way he killed everyone dear to her. However, as she glanced around, her heart sank. She was surrounded by the elite soldiers, their weapons ready to strike. The moment she dared to challenge him, her life would be ended within seconds by these soldiers.

Besides, General Wang was the most formidable opponent. He was a legendary warrior, capable of single-handedly decimating hundreds, if not thousands, of enemies. Even if she somehow managed to close the distance between them, she would die mercilessly in his hands. She was but an ant before a mighty tiger

A single tear escaped Long Xi's eye. She had failed. She had failed to protect her brother, failed to safeguard her family, and failed to protect all those who looked up to her with faith. And now her fate was also sealed.

General Wang's cruel smile widened, revelling in his apparent victory. "If this is truly what you desire, Princess," a dark glint of malice dancing in his gaze, "then I will not delay your death." he sneered, his voice dripping with sadistic delight. With a swift gesture, he commanded his soldiers to carry out the final act.

The soldiers, like a merciless wave crashing upon the shore, drew their swords and lunged forward. At this moment, Long Xi closed her eyes, surrendering herself to her destiny, she embraced the darkness.

'General Wang! If we ever meet again, it will be your life in my hands.'