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Chapter 1
Clank, clank.
Ariella looked down at her feet, which made a dreadful sound.
Every time she took a step, the chains binding her ankles mercilessly tore at her wounds.
Smack—without warning, a steel-gloved hand struck her across the face. Blood filled her mouth.
She had lost count of how many kicks she had endured while walking from the top of the tower to the execution grounds.
When she could no longer walk, the soldiers dragged her across the ground. A long trail of bright red blood stained the white snowfield behind her.
Her body, weakened to the extreme, stood beneath the winter sun. The entire world was covered in white. The world she saw again after so long was winter.
But ten years ago, that day had definitely been spring…
Then, cutting through the murmuring voices of the crowd, the executioner’s voice rang sharply through the air.
“Prisoner, raise your head.”
Ariella slowly lifted her head. On the high platform—so distant it almost seemed directly beneath the sun—stood a man.
Dmitri Christopher Caden Hakliter.
The emperor of the Triphina Empire, whose Hakliter imperial family had produced emperors for seven hundred years, and a tyrant so infamous that they dared call him “the most perfect.”
Ariella had only seen this man three times.
The first was the day she first stepped into the empire for her marriage.
The second was when she learned of her homeland’s destruction.
And the third was now.
The Dmitri she saw again had become a terrifyingly large man.
His brilliant golden hair looked as if it had swallowed the sun itself, while his pitch-black eyes—seemingly forged from darkness—instilled fear in anyone who looked at them.
Seeing Ariella, he tilted his head slightly, as though he were seeing her for the first time.
The movement caused the sunlight to stab painfully into her eyes.
“If the prisoner has any last words, speak now.”
Last words?
A bitter laugh escaped her. Blood that had pooled in her mouth trickled down her lips.
The memories of the past few days were unclear. There had been torture. Whenever someone splashed water on her, she woke only to faint again. She signed several blurry documents and was later put on trial.
The judge’s voice reading the final verdict had been distorted by a terrible ringing in her ears. Only one word remained clear.
Execution.
Through all of it, Ariella wanted only one thing.
Why? For what possible reason?
Why had the tyrant dragged her into the empire and imprisoned her in a tower for ten years? Why had he slaughtered her innocent family and drowned her beautiful country in blood?
And even that wasn’t enough—now he intended to scatter her blood across this filthy land as well?
She looked at the two tall pillars standing before her. Between them hung a heavy iron blade, suspended by ropes.
Directly beneath that blade stood the tyrant. His face looked faintly bored.
Did he even have a reason? To that man, who mercilessly killed everything in sight, perhaps she had been nothing more than a passing amusement.
But even if that were true, what use was it now?
Ariella swallowed her questions and closed her eyes.
Behind her closed eyelids spread the beautiful golden fields of her homeland.
It would be better to die like this.
What meaning was there in continuing such a horrifying life?
Someone shoved Ariella down onto her knees. Rough hands forced her cheek against the execution block. Even in the middle of winter, someone’s blood still staining it felt warm.
Slowly, Ariella opened her eyes.
Those emotionless black eyes, impossible to read, flew straight toward her. Even that brief gaze carried such unbearable arrogance that it disgusted her.
“Your soul shall know no peace, neither in life nor in death.”
Keeping her eyes fixed on him, Ariella moved her lips and uttered her curse. The belief that the words of the dying never simply vanished made her eyes burn fiercely.
“Even if my head falls and rolls upon the ground, my curse shall never fall with it.”
For the first time, a crack appeared on Dmitri’s face. Wanting to hear her better, he leaned forward slightly.
Gathering every last ounce of strength she had left, Ariella shouted at him.
“Even in death your flesh shall never rot, and even in the endless fires of hell you shall never burn!”
The executioner hurriedly swung the blade and cut the rope.
Thunk.
At the moment the sound rang out and her eyes shut on their own, she clearly saw it—
The tyrant smiling.
Her breath caught. After that, every moment flowed in slow motion.
His mocking smile faded, and a white butterfly fluttered by. Perhaps it was only an illusion.
Even so, its final fluttering wings, unable to let go of the spring already lost, seemed pitiful.
With closed eyes, she continued chasing the butterfly.
Then came a horrifying sound—half dream, half reality.
And that was the end.
Afterward came complete darkness.
That had surely been the end…
“Princess, please wake up now.”
‘…Huh?’
“You really need to wake up. I think we’re almost there.”
Along with a voice both familiar and unfamiliar, there came another rattling sound.
At that moment, a faint light seeped into the world that had been nothing but darkness.
She could have sworn she had heard the horrible sound of her head being severed…
“Oh dear, your hair’s a mess too. Hurry up. How could you sleep so deeply in a carriage?”
Once again, with a loud rattle, Ariella’s body jolted upward.
Startled out of her mind, she snapped her eyes open.
Right in front of her was Reina’s face, covered in red freckles that matched her curly crimson hair.
“Aaaah!”
Startled by Ariella’s scream, Reina yelped and jumped back.
Ariella clutched desperately at her neck. Beneath her palms she felt smooth, unbroken skin.
“W-why? Why?”
“Y-you were definitely dead.”
Ten years ago.
Reina had tried to stop them from dragging Ariella to the tower and was thrown into prison for it. Not long afterward, news came that she had died.
Then was this heaven?
Or hell?
“Princess, what a horrible thing to say. Though I did say I felt like dying from riding in this carriage so long.”
Sighing deeply, Reina took out a handkerchief and wiped Ariella’s forehead.
It had been ten whole years since someone’s gentle touch had brushed against her face.
That made it feel unfamiliar.
And all the more real.
Ariella grabbed Reina’s hand tightly.
“Reina?”
“Yes, it’s me. Look at all this sweat. What kind of nightmare did you have? Though honestly, it’d be stranger if you weren’t nervous. We’re talking about the Triphina Empire, after all.”
Without giving Ariella time to gather her thoughts, Reina continued talking.
“Who could’ve imagined you’d become the crown princess of the Triphina Empire? I always thought you’d marry Viscount Brandon. Oh my, listen to me. I shouldn’t be saying things like that anymore.”
Reina laughed playfully. It was the bright smile unique to young girls.
“The marriage contract must’ve already reached the temple by now, so I shouldn’t call you princess anymore—I should call you Your Highness. But it still feels strange on my tongue.”
What kind of dress will they wear here? How will the wedding be held? Will the ceremony happen as soon as we arrive?
Her endless chatter sounded distant, like a dream.
“Oh my, look over there! It’s the imperial palace!”
At that moment, those dreadful words pierced Ariella’s ears.
Reflexively, she followed Reina’s gaze.
Beyond the dense branches of the trees, a tower rose sharply into view.
The very same horrifying hell where she had been imprisoned for ten years.
Goosebumps spread over her entire body.
Should she jump out of the carriage right now?
Ariella pressed herself against the window.
The carriage raced forward at terrifying speed, while behind it rode the knights of the Triphina Empire who had come to escort her.
As she hesitated, the thick forest path returned, and her reflection appeared in the glass.
A thin-faced young Ariella, still carrying traces of childishness, stared back at her clearly.
Only then did Ariella fully realize it.
She had returned ten years into the past.
To the moment just before arriving at the Triphina Empire.
“Don’t let yourself feel intimidated. No matter how grand the Triphina Empire is, people still live here just like anywhere else.”
Though her words sounded reassuring, Reina’s voice trembled sweetly.
“Don’t forget, Princess—you represent the Duchy of Forenze. Even before the wedding, you are still the future crown princess. You must carry yourself with dignity.”
At last, the carriage door opened.
And despite having just lectured Ariella about dignity, Reina’s eyes widened in amazement.
Even Ariella, though this was not her first time seeing it, was overwhelmed by the sight.
With a massive mountain range forming its backdrop, the imperial palace was so enormous it could not be taken in at a glance.
“Welcome.”
Ariella stared blankly at the hand extended toward her by the imperial attendant sent to greet her.
It was exactly the same as ten years ago.
Too identical to dismiss as a dream.
How could something like this happen?
Back then, Ariella had felt both excited anticipation and nausea-inducing anxiety. That was why she remembered this moment perfectly.
Swallowing dryly, she looked up at the imperial palace.
Its towering buildings and sharp spires stretched upward as if claiming ownership of the sky itself.
On the flags held by the knights guarding the main gate was the black dragon—the symbol of Triphina.
The pitch-black dragon holding a golden shield and sword looked as though it might breathe crimson fire at her any moment.
Ariella merely brushed the attendant’s fingertips with her own before climbing the steps by her own strength alone.
Had God given her another chance?
A chance for what?
A chance to walk willingly into the dragon’s jaws once more?
