The sun had set, and its light was slowly fading as the crows' cries filled the empty execution square before people began to gather, waiting for the moment the sentence would be carried out.
The guards advanced, dragging the criminal toward the execution platform.
Suddenly, Adrian appeared in his dark royal attire and stepped onto the platform with steady footsteps.
The bound Empress looked at him in shock, unable to comprehend why he was there.
Adrian turned to the gathered crowd and said in a strong voice:
"I am a prince of the Aetheris Empire, and I will read the sentence on the criminal myself."
He shifted his gaze back to the Empress, his eyes carrying no trace of mercy.
"The Empress has committed heinous acts, including fabricating evidence and attempting to kill one of the princes. It has also been proven that she was involved in manipulating the empire's economy… in addition to exploiting Prince Kieran and forcing him to do what he did not want, causing him psychological trauma and a loss of confidence."
The Empress turned her face away in hatred and anger.
Adrian paused for a moment, then continued with lethal coldness:
"Based on that, her title will be stripped from her completely. Second: her tongue—used against the royal family—will be cut off."
The Empress screamed hysterically:
"What is this nonsense?! Are you playing—"
Adrian cut her off:
"Third: her hands, which she used in attempted murder and economic manipulation, will also be cut off. Fourth: the execution shall be carried out… by burning."
He stepped toward her and spoke sharply:
"If you believe the sentence is unfair, then let us ask the people."
The crowd murmured:
"Does she think she's still an Empress after all she's done?"
"What a disgrace!"
"She deserves far worse!"
She lowered her head in shock and terror.
Adrian signaled to one of the knights, who handed him a sword.
Adrian took it and spoke coldly:
"Hold the criminal's tongue."
The Empress screamed in terror:
"No! Wait! Don't—"
But her screams were choked off as her tongue was sliced sharply, blood scattering uncontrollably.
She collapsed, crying and wailing in muffled, incoherent sounds.
Adrian raised the sword again and said with icy calm:
"Hold her hands."
Despite her desperate resistance, she was restrained.
Adrian severed her hands with such brutality that the onlookers trembled in terror.
Blood gushed profusely, while his expression remained rigid and unyielding.
He threw the sword to the ground, then commanded in a choking voice devoid of hesitation:
"Carry out the execution by burning… now."
The guards bowed quickly and tied her to the wooden stake.
They set the wood beneath her feet alight, and the fire spread with deadly slowness, gradually consuming her… until nothing remained but ashes.
Afterward, Diana's innocence was proven before everyone, and the people bestowed upon her the title of the Saint.
---
The advisor spoke hesitantly, standing before the Emperor:
"Your Majesty… the nobles are objecting to Prince Kieran. They say he is unfit to be heir and also demand that Prince Adrian take his place."
The Emperor was silent for a moment before replying calmly:
"Kieran has already been appointed, and I have no intention of retracting. Moreover, Adrian refuses to stay, so there is nothing we can do."
The advisor swallowed nervously and asked cautiously:
"Your Majesty… I may be exaggerating, but we must be cautious regarding His Highness Prince Adrian."
A cold smile appeared on the Emperor's lips as he replied:
"I am aware."
---
At the same time, Adrian had left, heading to the city of Silisian to meet Albert.
He did not go as a prince, but chose to travel as an ordinary person.
He boarded one of the public carriages, which was moving quietly along the road…
But suddenly, the carriage shook violently and stopped after one of its wheels broke.
Adrian fell to the floor inside the carriage, then stood up, breathing irritably, and stepped out quickly.
"Oi, driver! What's going on?!"
The driver hurried out and bowed apologetically:
"My deepest apologies, sir! It seems one of the wheels has fallen off… I'll fix it immediately, don't worry."
Adrian gestured to the driver with his hand:
"Fine, hurry…"
He shrugged his shoulders and muttered to himself irritably:
"Damn, it's freezing outside."
He looked up at the sky and whispered to himself:
"Maybe it will snow soon…"
While standing there, he noticed a red light at the bend in the road.
He blinked in surprise and turned his gaze to the driver, who was still fixing the carriage.
He murmured to himself:
"What was that light just now?"
He looked around and continued:
"The fog is thickening already, but it's still morning… maybe I'll just take a quick look."
He stepped toward the bend and entered it.
He followed the path to where he had seen the light, but found nothing.
"Strange… it was definitely here. Could I have imagined it?"
He stopped and turned around:
"I think I'll go back now—what?"
He looked around in astonishment:
"Were there all these bends when I came?… How will I know the way now!"
One… two… snowflakes began to fall slowly from the sky.
Adrian raised his hand and extended his palm to catch the falling snow.
"It's starting to snow."
He looked at the bends and continued along one of them:
"I have no choice but to keep walking; maybe I'll reach the main road if I do."
He kept walking through the fog, the cold, and the increasingly heavy snow.
He did not reach his intended path; on the contrary, he arrived at a very old area where the poor commoners lived.
He wanted to ask someone for directions, but the houses were closed and the streets empty—who in their right mind would go outside in this weather?
"It's… been a long time already, and darkness is falling…"
He whispered to himself with great exhaustion, his veins frozen, his eyes on the verge of closing.
A few last steps… before he collapsed to the ground amid the snow and biting cold.
---
In the palace…
Kieran sat in his room, staring at the small mirror before him.
His eyes were dull, lifeless, and his spirit shattered and cold.
"She's… really gone."
He murmured to himself in disbelief.
"What did I gain from that?"
"I… only wanted to save my brother, but why did she have to die…"
He looked at his book on the table, and random memories began to come back to him.
---
…
"Kieran! Did you write all of this? You're truly amazing!"
The Empress spoke in astonishment and delight.
Kieran laughed and asked:
"I'll always do my best for you, Mother! So… will you be happy when I do?"
The Empress patted his head with a gentle smile:
"Of course, I'll always be happy."
---
["My mother used to love me… but things changed at some point.
It was the day my father told her that Adrian would grow into someone reliable.
My mother, who feared the Emperor favoring the first prince… changed completely."]
---
"Kieran!! Why is your level never improving! Didn't you promise me you'd truly do your best?"
"Mother… I'm really trying, but wielding the sword is very difficult… and I heard people start learning the sword at age seven, while I'm learning it at four… why?"
"That's because you're different!! You're not the firstborn! You're the second son! And if you don't do things properly… you'll be cast aside!"
["That was the first time I saw my mother angry and crying in frustration.
I thought I must never let her be sad again… I must surpass my brothers… but…"]
---
"What are you doing! Kieran!!"
"Mother… I…"
"You brat! You're truly useless… why were you playing with them? Didn't I tell you to focus only on your lessons?"
"Mother… they're kind… they're my brothers, after all! What's wrong with playing with them a little…"
["I never imagined she would slap me… but she did."]
---
"Kieran… from today on, if you don't gain the Emperor's favor… I'll kill myself."
"Mother!! How… how can you say something like that…"
"Hahaha… you don't care about your mother anyway. What's the problem if I die and leave you alone?"
["Her words were cruel… even crueler than her slap.
How could a mother say that to her child?
I… I was shattered."]
---
"Kieran, is that all you've got?"
"Kieran, do it properly."
"Kieran, you're making me embarrassed!"
["Even though I did everything she asked of me… she was never satisfied.
I wondered to myself: what if I did the opposite of what she wanted… what if I became a foolish, useless person…
Would my mother stop what she was doing, I wonder?
That's what I thought… but I never expected she would do the impossible just to make me the heir to the throne."]
---
"Kieran, you're regressing instead of improving… but if this is the limit of your ability, then it's fine.
Your mother will help you a little…"
["Getting rid of Adrian was her first step.
She sent him to the front lines to meet his death.
But what she didn't expect… was that Diana would become the heir to the throne, not Adrian."]
---
"Hahahahaha… seems I really will have to stain my hands with blood.
Wait for me… Diana. I'll send you to your mother soon."
["But she didn't stop at killing my sister Diana—she also tried to kill my brother Adrian.
I can't really blame her… because I'm the reason behind all of this.
Because she wanted me to be the sole heir.
And in the end… I was the one who stabbed her in the back."]