YANML3

                                                                           CHAPTER #  3

“‘Treason’? What are you talking about!”

Kia was the first to snap out of the shock and shouted.

The knights rushed in and surrounded Edel and her maids, pointing their swords at them.

Cassian kept his gaze fixed on Edel and said,
“You are guilty of trying to kill His Majesty the Emperor. That crime deserves execution. All the documents and testimonies are already secured. And if that wasn’t enough, you even planned to poison him.”

“…Ha.”

A bitter laugh escaped Edel’s lips.

So recently this charge had been fabricated. Until now, there had been no word of it. Edel had been too busy trying to divorce Cassian to think of anything else.

And now they said she tried to assassinate the Emperor? What nonsense.

Her servants knew the truth as well. Edel wasn’t that kind of person, and she was far too busy to plot something like this.

The moment they tried to protest together, the knights’ swords gleamed sharper.

The verdict had already been decided. Edel was guilty of treason, and everyone connected to her would be executed.

Whether she surrendered or resisted, the result would be the same. That was why Edel chose to fight.

As her eyes grew determined, Cassian tilted his head and looked at her pitifully.

“Princess Edel, there is nothing you can do in this situation.”

“Yes, I can’t do anything. I don’t even know how to use a weapon properly. I have no strength to change what’s happening. The only thing I could do is let myself be dragged away.”

She gave a cold smile.
“But still… shouldn’t I at least struggle one last time?”

The twisted curve of Edel’s lips was chilling enough to make even Cassian flinch.

She was clearly at her limit. If it were only madness, she would not have been dangerous. But the desperate energy in her eyes was fierce enough that she might destroy herself to harm others.

“Bring me a sword!”

Edel had never once held a sword in her life. But what choice did she have now? She needed to grab anything she could and swing it.

Would she survive? No. Could she survive? Not likely.

Still, she had to try.

Her maid moved to fetch a weapon, but the knights blocked her way. Only when Cassian nodded did they reluctantly step aside.

In the tense silence, the maid quickly returned carrying a sword. Edel had no weapons in her chamber, so she must have grabbed what looked like a decorative sword from the wall.

But when Edel took it—

“Ugh!”

It was a real blade. Heavy enough that her arm nearly collapsed under the weight.

Grinding her teeth, Edel barely lifted it. The cold steel made her skin crawl, goosebumps rising all over her body.

A blue gem gleamed in the hilt, the blade reflecting moonlight streaming through the window. Cassian stared at the shadow cast across the corridor, his eyes oddly entranced.

“To think I would see that sword again… and in a moment like this.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Edel snapped, glaring at him.

Cassian closed his eyes briefly, then muttered something under his breath. It seemed he had no intention of explaining.

“It would be better if you came quietly.”

“No. I’m already a criminal, no matter what I do. Then at least I’ll fight to protect my people.”

Cassian frowned faintly. She couldn’t even hold the sword properly. What did she think she could accomplish?

“Let me ask you one thing. You may love Rowan and hate me. But what does it mean that you ‘despise’ me?”

“…If you had shown eyes like that from the beginning, none of this would have happened.”

His evasive reply, the weary look of disgust in his eyes, his hateful tone—everything about him sickened her.

Edel glanced slowly over the knights. Could she win?

No.

Even so, she wouldn’t just stand still.

“One last thing.”

“What is it?”

“I will not be an easy opponent.”

“…!”

The instant she said that, a swift shadow leapt at Cassian.

“Tell His Majesty what’s happening here, now!” Edel shouted, pushing her servants toward the exit.

They stumbled in panic, but quickly gathered themselves and ran desperately.

Of course, untrained servants could never outrun knights who lived for battle. From behind, Edel could hear screams as they were captured one by one.

Her heart ached, but she had no time to grieve.

Clang!

Kia’s dagger clashed fiercely against Cassian’s longsword.

“…Impressive,” Cassian muttered. With one strike, he realized Kia was no ordinary opponent.

“As I heard, Princess Edel truly has a skilled warrior at her side.”

“Don’t call me a warrior,” Kia hissed, catching her breath as she regained distance.
“Call me the guard of Princess Edel.”

Cassian gave a cold smile. “Very well. A fine guard indeed.”

“An honor, to hear such words from Duke Dwelsen.”

The moment the polite exchange ended, they clashed again.

“Kia!”

When another knight tried to attack Kia from the side, Edel quickly shouted.

The knight let out a cry and fell unconscious, Kia swiftly stealing his sword and now wielding two blades at once.

Cassian’s brows furrowed. He hadn’t expected her to be this skilled. Edel had been right—she would not be an easy foe.

Meanwhile, Edel had only one purpose for drawing her sword.

When one knight dared to approach, Edel raised the blade to her own throat.

“Don’t come any closer.”

“…Princess.”

If she moved, she would kill herself.

The knights hesitated. The Emperor had ordered Edel captured, not killed. If she died here, even by suicide, it would be troublesome.

Edel’s plan was to buy time until someone came. Cassian and Kia’s duel dragged on, and the knights didn’t know what to do.

If only she could hold out—

“…!”

But her small rebellion didn’t last.

A knight moved like a shadow and struck the back of her neck. Edel collapsed instantly.

“Princess Edel!”

“Kia, watch out.”

Distracted, Kia left an opening. Cassian seized the moment and struck her vital point.

With Edel down, the knights wasted no more time. Kia too was subdued, and Edel’s rebellion was finished.

—

Time passed. How long had she been in this underground cell?

She had no way of knowing what was happening outside. But deep inside, Edel knew one thing: her servants were all dead.

Her title as princess was stripped away. No longer royal or noble, she suffered endless torture. Worst of all, the torturer was Rowan.

Her body and spirit crumbled day by day.

Then one day, the heavy iron door creaked open. Edel, too weak to rise, only rolled her eyes toward the visitor.

“You’re in a pitiful state.”

It was Cassian.

He knelt before her and studied her condition.
“Your sentence has been decided.”

“…Execution.”

“That’s right.”

There was no doubt.

“Do you have any last words?”

“Yes.”

With painful effort, Edel forced herself to kneel. Her bones screamed in agony, but she had to do this one thing.

“…What are you doing?” Cassian asked.

Edel bowed low.

Cassian stared at her, astonished. She refused to meet his eyes.

Her last pride, her last will.

“I lost.”

“…!”

Before Cassian could stop her, Edel pressed her tongue against his shoe. Tears fell, soaking the leather.

“….”

“I lost. Kill me.”

Her body shook with fury, but she welcomed it. If she had to, she would carve her hatred of Cassian Dwelsen into her very soul.

She swore she would never forget this day. Even in another life, she would take revenge.

She had heard the superstition: anyone who bows at another’s feet will one day rise above their head.

Edel didn’t care if it was true or not. All she wanted was for Cassian to fall into ruin, in this life or the next.

I will never forget this day.

Cassian said nothing. He only drew his sword, the cold blade pressing against Edel’s neck.

“I’ll send you off without pain.”

Edel tried not to tremble, but fear of death was stronger than her will. Still, she held her posture. If she became a ghost, she wanted to remember this moment clearly.

Swish—

And she died.

—

The rumors of Princess Edel’s rebellion silenced all doubts about her conflict with Duke Dwelsen.

Now everyone understood why he had distanced himself from her, and who had supported the rebel Worbelle.

They pitied the Duke. Though he should have been punished for being her husband, instead he was praised for exposing her crimes.

The people supported him and even wished for him to remarry Princess Rowan.

“Cassian, will you marry me?” Rowan asked.

Her gray hair waved like the sea, her gray eyes gleaming. Her proud posture and elegant dress made her beauty all the more striking.

In the garden, her proposal looked like a scene from a novel. But the garden itself was full of grotesque trees, their twisted branches like monster claws blocking the sun, the air thick with poison.

It was the perfect garden for Rowan.

She smiled arrogantly at Cassian, who stood pale as death. His once-dark hair was now streaked with white.

Though he had won, he looked like the one defeated.

“Cassian, marry me,” Rowan repeated.

He finally lifted his head.

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it? Why hesitate?”

“…I never imagined this situation,” he said, his voice hoarse.

Rowan tilted her head. “Never imagined? We fought and won completely.”

“I was too busy dealing with what was in front of me.”

“So, do you regret it? Killing your wife? Giving her such a dishonorable death?”

“No.”

His answer was firm, but sorrow lingered in his eyes.

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“Then why did you disobey His Majesty and execute Edel immediately? She still had punishments awaiting her.”

Cassian sighed. “His Majesty permitted it. Everything is resolved.”

“To me, it looks like you spared her suffering. You didn’t even let me see my sister’s last moments.”

“…Think what you like.”

A shadow of emptiness crossed Cassian’s face. Rowan felt unease and grabbed his arm.

“You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

“…No. I haven’t.”

He smiled gently, like a lover. But it was wrong, unsettling.

Before Rowan could press further, a servant appeared.
“Duke, it’s time to move.”

Cassian quickly stood.
“I’ll see you later.”

Leaving before she could stop him, he walked away. His long shadow stretched across the ground, sinking deeper like a drowning ship.

Soon after, rumors spread that Duke Dwelsen had gone mad.

By the time Rowan visited his mansion, he had already taken his own life.

—