How did this happen?
"You devil!"
"Go ahead and die! You evil wench!"
The outraged crowd doubled down on Siervian as if they were pummeling her whole body mercilessly.
It was already difficult to continue trudging forward with these magic restraints on her body, but it was the harsh criticism all around her that made her stumble.
"Throw some trash over!"
"Yeah! Throw it!"
Something was flung straight at me, hitting the back of my head with a thud.
The guards tried to stop it, but it was already too late. The guards barely made a move to do so, anyway.
The rancid stench of food waste wove into her hair.
"Rotten food just for you, you damn wench!"
"There are children starving!"
Tying to pay them no mind, Siervian continued her march silently.
"There's a limit to luxury!"
The mob grew angrier when Siervian did not respond, but unbeknownst to them, her lips curled up at the mention of 'luxury'. I tried my best, but it was still just 'luxury'.
It's unfair.
"Didn't they say she goes on violent rampages? The people at the palace couldn't even describe how harsh it was for them."
"How is it possible that this kind of princess came from the saint-like Emperor . . . "
Those in the crowd who had nothing in their hands to throw instead whispered amongst themselves in a purposely loud voice for her to hear.
With the exception of one person, the entire capital was thrown into a celebratory mood as if there was a festival. News of the wicked woman's execution fuelled the curious madness permeating the air, finally facing persecution for her luxury and indulgence.
'It's really unfair.'
Their brimming emotions were slowing her pace. She wanted to lift her head proudly and declare that she never did any such thing.
"And she also mastered black magic? I'm telling you, she's gone crazy."
"She doesn't deserve to be a princess."
She wanted to raise her head, but at these condemning words, she cowered once more.
That it was unjust, that it wasn't the case—even if she said so, nothing would change. No one would believe her. It had been like this for a long time.
'As those people said, I really don't deserve the position.'
She was rigorously educated to become a rightful princess.
She never rebelled. She didn't even remember her own childhood because she had to commit herself fully.
She did all that, yet this was the result.
"Ooohh . . . !"
"That person? She's the evil witch?"
It grew harder for her to raise her head when innocent children's voices joined in the jeering. She continued trudging forward.
As she had been imprisoned for a prolonged period, her feet quickly grew cold. Though the temperature around the Empire's capital was being controlled by magic, it was still torturous to walk barefoot outside. Blood gradually began to trickle from the cuts on her feet.
"Climb."
But no one cared, so no one gave her any shoes. The many guards around her even resorted to mocking her, saying that it was a small price for all the evil deeds she had done.
Like this guard ushering her to the gallows.
'This is the end, isn't it.'
Siervian slowly climbed the stairs. As she ascended one step at a time, her body grew heavier.
She was about to face her family.
Today, of all days, was a day before Siervian's coming-of-age. She would have become an adult after her birthday tomorrow.
"Here, here! The sinner, Siervian, shall be judged under the strict laws of the Erveldotte Empire!"
She couldn't help but grin as her name was called by the executioner.
It was very like her cold-hearted father to order the removal of the Erveldotte title from his daughter's name just as he handed down her sentence.
And even with the death sentence of his own child, he let the executioner handle it.
"For all the evil deeds you have done, for going as far as touching black magic . . ."
Even mentioning black magic was ridiculous.
Siervian didn't even know what it was, let alone having mastered it. Nevertheless, she was known as a witch who dealt with black magic.
If she really had that power, then the first thing she would have done was run away.
"Ugh . . ."
Her arms were tied firmly behind her back. She wouldn't be able to move anyway because of the magic binding her body.
In all of the Empire's 500-year history, Siervian was the first princess to be executed.
And she's probably the first to be framed like this as well.
". . . . . . Princess . . ."
The faint call of the Empress drifted in the air. At the sound of her trembling voice, Siervian realized she was the only family who cared for her.
The Empress was different from the father and brother who gave only cold gazes to the princess they deemed useless and unworthy.
They uttered no words.
"Ugh."
With all her remaining strength, Siervian twisted her body because she wanted to look up.
Her father and brother must be next to the Empress. However, after the Empress's faint call, no other sound could be heard from them.
Especially her father. She wanted to ask how it was possible for him to say nothing when his own child was about to die.
"For the crime of plundering the national treasury for luxury and pleasure, for failing to protect your dignity as an Imperial Princess . . ."
In the end, Siervian couldn't raise her head.
The binding spell that had been cast on her was meant to restrict a sinner's movements in case they try to escape, but apart from this purpose, the spell also intended to force the sinner to kneel down in repentance.
Which was why she had been unable to lift her gaze all this time.
'How could you . . .'
She desperately tried to force her gaze upward, but he was too high up. She could barely see her aloof father's chin.
The distance between a sinner and an Emperor's throne was far too great . . .
". . . For the crime of besmirching the Imperial Family's eminence through black magic . . ."
The executioner continued going down the list of Siervian's sins. They were all unwarranted, all ridiculous.
Especially about besmirching the Imperial Family. It never happened.
"For the felony of planning a coup against the Crown Prince . . ."
She never wanted the Emperor's throne. She never even wanted to be Crown Princess.
There was only one thing that Siervian wanted.
—It was just a little bit of their love.
As the executioner continued his oration, Karmen, the Magic Tower's liege, stepped forward. That cold gaze, which expressed a deep-seated hatred clearly, met Siervian's eyes directly.
The small object in Karmen's hand was probably the detonator that would be used to kill Siervian.
"Execute the death penalty."
At the low voice's prompting, the small object began to shine. In it's reflective glow, Siervian realized that it was a silver pendant with a diamond-shaped red jewel.
In an instant, her eyes rolled up and turned white.
'It's too bright to call this death.'
It was a beautiful, magical brilliance that instantly killed a person.
But she was a princess. Karmen was meant to use a water spell that led to one's death without any pain.
Siervian was told that this was the case.
'Lies . . ."
It felt like her heart felt like it was about to explode.
Everything was a lie.
It wasn't long before life slowly drained from her body. Her head, which had previously been rigid, now lolled down freely.
". . . Siervian."
Only then did the Emperor call her name quietly.
But the hushed voice could not be heard by his daughter, whose consciousness was slipping away.
With her eyelids becoming heavier, Siervian thought, 'Father . . . I wonder how you . . .'
However, her eyes closed soon before she took her last breath.
Siervian would never know what kind of expression his father had as he called her name for the last time.
* * *
"Princess, please wake up. Your Highness!"
There was a loud voice.
Siervian, who had been thinking blankly, opened her eyes all of a sudden.
However, there was a disconnect in her actions.
How was it possible for her to open her eyes?
"Oh dear. Princess, why is it hard to wake you up, especially today?"
The first thing that entered her vision was the radiant sunlight.
'Why is there sunlight . . .'
Having been locked up in a dungeon for a long period of time, it's been a long time since she felt the chilly sunlight of the North.
In a daze, Siervian sat up.
Although she had only a little strength in her body, the pain from her long life in prison had noticeably disappeared.
'My body isn't in pain! I don't feel cold!'
She looked around absently and realized that she was in a familiar room. It was a room at the Princess's Palace, the place she resided in until she was imprisoned.
The cumbersome, dark-colored furniture that the Empress specifically selected. A bed that had a design that was too heavy for her when she was younger.
'Has this room . . . always been this big?'
Something was off.
At first, it seemed like an elaborate dream, as if it were a hallucination that anyone on the verge of death would see.
"You have to get up and have your breakfast, Your Highness."
It was a familiar voice. Siervian, who had been absent-minded, abruptly focused her gaze.
Indeed, the person in front of Siervian was Sarah, albeit with a younger appearance.
"Princess?"
There was something strange about her eye level, but Siervian brushed this off. She was only glad to see the other person.
Of course she felt this way. After all, Sarah, the head maid, was the only one in this cold palace who smiled at her.
"Sarah!"
Without giving it any more thought, Siervian reached out with her arms wide open.
It was a somewhat awkward greeting for an adult to express her delight, but she did so unconsciously.
[ Sarah ]
Occupation: Head Maid (Lv.14)
At that exact moment, something floating by her periphery caught her eye.
'Huh?'
It was a translucent light blue rectangle, sort of like a small window that moved along with her gaze.
[ Sarah ]
Occupation: Head Maid (Lv.14)
Favorability: 400
Mood: Annoyed
' . . . What?'
Framing the window was a colorful embroidered pattern, and inside were words that showed Sarah's name, favorability, and mood.
"Princess? It's time for you to wake up."
"Uh . . ."
Disoriented, Siervian simply gaped. She fully thought this was just a dream, but Sarah continued to peer down at her.
Right then, the contents of the translucent window changed.
[ Sarah ]
Thoughts: Why aren't you rising from bed properly today? I really hate kids that need so much work. So annoying.
Siervian, who read the text in a hurry without realizing, was speechless.
She was so stunned that her heart skipped a beat. No matter how many times she read the words, the window that continued to follow her vision stayed there.
"Now, now, our well-mannered Princess must rise early."
She shook her head back and forth, but the bizarre text did not disappear.
Sarah pulled Siervian's little body up.
Wait . . . small body?
Only then did she realize the source of the disconnect that she felt since earlier.
Her body, wasn't it too small?
"Princess, do you not hear my voice?"
Siervian, who came to her senses through the older woman's rough touch, finally managed to answer.
"Yes."
[ Sarah ]
Thoughts: I really have to hold myself back from swearing.
Could it be that . . . the window revealed what people truly felt?