"I love you," he said, and the wind carried away the last trace of his image.

When the guards left, the mysterious man watched me with the same indifferent look. "Even in silence, it feels like he's telling me I failed," I thought, growing irritated with my cell neighbor. I punched the wall twice, injuring my fingers, and broke down in tears. The tears fell endlessly as memories of Rafar’s gunshot, Cypher being carried lifeless to his cell, and the guards calling me a witch replayed in my mind. If I was meant to die in this world, why was I brought here in the first place?

Exhausted, I rested my head on the stone bed. Gradually, the tears stopped, leaving me in a deathlike state, my gaze distant as I recalled all the misfortunes of my life. Without Rafar, no one would save me from this situation. If only I hadn't been so stubborn about invading the king's office, he wouldn't have come with me. No, the blame lay with Paty, and I knew it. But I couldn’t ease my heart, constantly feeling like I was the one who truly killed Rafar by dragging him along on that reckless mission.

"Crying won't change anything," I heard the man's voice in the background, but I had no energy to respond. My body was petrified, and my heart felt empty. He didn’t try speaking again for a while, until we both heard the sound of the door opening once more.

"Hey, quickly, get it together. You still have a chance." He started again, but since I didn’t answer, he said more sharply, "Don’t let more people die because of you."

At that moment, memories of Cypher and my promise to help Alice resurfaced. I couldn’t die—not yet. I needed to do something to save those who had been noble and loyal to my late fiancé, so his soul could rest in peace.

The guards opened my cell door and shackled me with cuffs that suppressed my magic. My legs were weak, and I could barely stand. Because of this, one of them kicked me hard in the knee.

"Move!" he shouted, and I was carried—or rather, dragged—out of that dark dungeon.

This time, I managed to observe the path. The prisons were located in the castle's lowest depths, and we passed through several dark corridors and dead ends before I could see daylight. The guards led me through the kitchen, where I heard whispers from the cooks, some looking at me with disdain, others with pity.

"So she really killed the prince?"
"What a viper!"

These were the phrases I heard most during the journey. When we exited the castle, we walked for a long time until we reached the town. My bare feet struggled over jagged rocks, and my movements continued only because of kicks and insults.

Finally, I saw a public square with a guillotine at its center. Nobles and commoners alike awaited the grand spectacle, and I was to be the main attraction. As I passed by, people threw rotten food and stones at me. I lowered my head, curling into myself to lessen the impacts.

The king began his speech moments before I was placed beside the guillotine.

"And here we are, oh people," he began in a formal tone. "Today, you decide this traitor's fate—hanging or the guillotine."

"Burn her!" some shouted.
"Guillotine!" others roared.

I curled up even more, like a snail retreating into its shell. I was terrified. Deeply terrified. But something had to be done. Rafar was dead, and no one else could save me.

"I think she should be sold as a slave," a voice called from the crowd. The people parted to reveal Princess Alice, adorned in her beautiful navy-blue dress, her vibrant pink eyes gleaming.

"Daughter! My beloved daughter, you’ve returned," the king exclaimed, rushing toward her but stopped short by an electric shock from the girl’s hand. Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

The princess observed me with malice, her wicked gaze crafting plans to humiliate me for her own amusement. But who was Alice, really?

"I object. Princess Mai was given no chance to defend herself. In fact, thanks to her, the kingdom of Lacorda was saved from an impending evil," I heard a voice from the crowd, which I recognized as Eigar’s.

"It’s true; there’s no proof she actually killed him…" some nobles murmured in agreement, which only made the king grow red with fury. Rising from the ground, he stormed toward me and slapped my face with his heavy hand.

"This wretch is a murderer! She will die today, whether you like it or not!" he roared.

A strong wind blew through my hair, and warmth enveloped my hands. I turned to the side, my face burning with pain, and saw Rafar. I knew he wasn’t really there, but I could see him as if he were real.

"I love you," he said, and the wind carried away the last trace of his image.

That same wind surged stronger, knocking the king violently to the ground along with many onlookers. Power began to stir in my heart, and this time, the presence I felt beside me was real. The true Alice stood there, her fiery gaze fixed on her rival.

"Mai, it’s time," she said, and with a mere touch, she shattered the bracelet that had suppressed my power.