Prologue

It was drizzly and cold.

Here sat the most humble of the kingdom's come, and it was no place for a nation's queen. She had a noble background, but she was trapped and didn't know when she'd see the light again.

In fact, she had long abandoned her desire to flee and her hope of survival. The moment her unborn child died in her womb and her husband abandoned her was the moment she died on the inside.

Squeeek…

The prison door opened, and a woman dressed in baroque attire entered. She was wrinkled with opulent jewelries and ornaments fit for a queen. A chair near the prison bar rested, and the noble-like woman sat in it.

"Good day, dear sister."

Alicia raised her head.

The noblewoman's fiery eyes glowed with unspoken desire for Alicia.

"Oh, my dearest sister."

Unlike the words that came out of the noblewoman's mouth, her countenance was one of mockery and criticism rather than compassion.

"I told you, sister... you needed to step back and allow me to pass. If you had listened, this would not have happened."

Alicia, who sat silently listening to her half-sister, smiled in dismay. That was correct. If she had chosen to walk away from him quickly, none of the tragedy would have happened, and she would not have fallen from grace either.

But it was entirely his fault.

She had feelings for him.

That, too, was her fault.

"Your throat will be slit open tomorrow, sister." He is no longer concerned. You'll die in agony as the crowd watches your tragic demise. Your head will be removed and will fall to the ground, rolling over the dirt. Your blood will contaminate the entire ground. I can't bear watching that as your dearest sister."

Patricia, Alicia's half-sister, raised a small glass of bottle and passed it to her sister. She continued, licking her lips.

"Do you want others to witness your public execution?" Accept defeat. This is the last option for preserving my sister's honor, and the last consideration I can offer you."

The noblewoman's goal was to get rid of Alicia as soon as possible, and she had been looking forward to this moment for a long time. She'd even planned Alicia's disappearance from the shadows for a long time.

But what was the point if Patricia didn't get the reaction she was hoping for? It was all over for Alicia, and she had nothing left, but...

"Yes, please."

Alicia reached for Patricia's glass of bottle. Her fingers became entangled around the bottle. This would be the end of her. Whatever Patricia's goal was, Alicia reasoned that dying alone wasn't so bad. In fact, she wished to meet the hands of death as soon as possible.

Alicia's lips curved into a bitter smile.

"Thanks to you, the last road I take will be pleasant. I'll drink this fully."

"...why are you acting noble until the very end?"

Patricia clenched her teeth and yelled. Her eyes, which should have rejoiced in triumph, fluttered with a deep-seated rage.

“Why? Why aren't you insane with rage? Why don't you scream for assistance? Why do you act so composed when you're not?!"

"Do you think that's what I'm doing?  Why? 

Why?  So, what's the point?"

"Because I feel... I'm sick of your hypocrisy!"

"You've already robbed me of everything. My father, husband, and now my lowly position. Isn't that enough?"

"Stop being ridiculous. I took it away from you? No, it was all mine from the start. Mine! They would have been mine long ago if it hadn't been for you. You're not aware of that?"

It was a ridiculous remark. At the age of twelve, Alicia's half-sister appeared out of nowhere and grabbed everything she owned, leaving her with nothing. Her family, the man she loved, and the child she could never have... they were all taken away.

Alicia shut her mouth and said nothing else. She was exhausted, too exhausted to argue. She only wanted to put an end to it all. That was her sole desire.

"I hope you'll let me rest even after I die."

"...you'll keep putting on airs until the bitter end."

Patricia rose from her seat, a cruel smile covering her lovely face.

"This is where you'll perish. It's the ideal conclusion for you."

After Patricia left the prison, the room returned to darkness and silence.

Alicia opened the glass bottle's lid and drank the contents without hesitation.

The medication quickly spread throughout her body. Her stomach felt like it had been ripped open, and she vomited red blood numerous times. Soon after, the tingling sensation in her arms and legs subsided, as did her heartbeat.

Alicia lay on the cold, hard ground, waiting for peace and serenity.

The face of someone she loved came to mind at the very end of her life. Tears fell down her cheek.

'It's a sad ending.' Alicia… You were the last person I expected to betray me... you idiot...'

Her eyes gradually closed and she exhaled her last breath.

Everything would be different if there was another life.

She swore to herself that she would never love again, nor would she ever feel pity for anyone.

It was her final breath...

But her eyes reopened.