The cold stone floor beneath me sent shivers down my spine, but it was nothing compared to the ice in my heart. My once-lavish silk robes were in tatters, stained with dirt and blood. The grand golden throne room, where I had once stood proudly beside my husband, now served as my prison.
I knelt before the man I had loved Emperor Kaelion Ashford.
His piercing silver eyes, once filled with warmth, were now distant, cold, and merciless. The very lips that had whispered sweet promises now spoke only of my doom.
"Empress Evelyn Rosendale," his voice rang out, devoid of emotion, "you have been found guilty of treason against the empire. Your punishment is death."
Gasps echoed through the grand hall. The nobles, dressed in extravagant silks and furs, watched from the sidelines, their faces painted with feigned shock and amusement. I could hear their hushed whispers some filled with pity, but most with cruel delight.
Treason? For what? For loving him? For standing by his side when others plotted against him?
I clenched my fists. "Your Majesty," I forced my voice to remain steady, though my heart pounded. "I have done nothing but serve this empire faithfully. Have you forgotten how I "
"Silence."
The single word cut through me like a blade. He didn't even want to hear me.
From the corner of my eye, I saw her Lady Selina Vaughn. Draped in royal blue, her golden curls cascaded over her shoulders as she clutched the emperor's arm with delicate fingers. She stood beside him as if she already owned the throne. Her emerald eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she smiled a victor basking in her triumph.
My heart twisted. So this was why.
Selina had always been there, lurking in the shadows, whispering poison into Kaelion's ear. I had ignored the warning signs, believing in his love, but I had been blind.
I turned my gaze back to Kaelion, searching his face for even the slightest trace of doubt, of hesitation. But there was none.
"Do you truly believe I would betray you?" I asked, my voice softer now, not pleading, but seeking the truth.
Kaelion remained still, his expression unreadable. Then, in a voice colder than the northern winds, he said, "The evidence speaks for itself."
Evidence? Lies. Carefully crafted, meticulously planned lies.
The guards approached, gripping my arms harshly. The jeweled wedding ring on my finger a symbol of our once-unbreakable bond glinted under the torchlight.
A humorless chuckle escaped my lips. "So this is how it ends."
The emperor said nothing.
"Take her away," he commanded.
The guards yanked me up, and for the first time, fear curled in my stomach. I fought against their grip, not because I feared death, but because I refused to let this be my final moment with him.
"Kaelion!" I shouted, my voice raw. "Look at me and tell me you truly believe this!"
For a fleeting second, his fingers twitched. His jaw tightened. But he did not look at me.
Instead, it was Selina who answered, her smile widening as she leaned into him.
"You should have known, Your Majesty," she cooed sweetly, "A snake will always be a snake."
And just like that, the doors to the throne room slammed shut behind me.
The man who had promised me forever… had sentenced me to die.