The Day They Killed Me

The bells of the imperial capital rang thirteen times.A number reserved only for traitors.Each toll echoed through the streets like a funeral hymn—heavy, merciless—announcing the fall of the empire's greatest sinner.Seraphina Vale walked barefoot across bloodstained stone.Chains bound her wrists tightly enough to tear skin, yet she did not flinch. Iron dragged behind her with every step, scraping loudly beneath the roar of the crowd."Monster!""Witch!""Kill her already!"Rotten fruit struck her shoulder. A stone hit her cheek hard enough to split the skin beneath her eye. Warm blood trickled downward, but the pain felt distant.None of it mattered anymore.The once-admired jewel of the empire was now its most hated villainess.And today, the empire would watch her die.Imperial soldiers lined both sides of the street as the procession moved toward the execution square. Their silver armor reflected the cold afternoon light, but none dared meet her eyes.Once, they had bowed to her.Once, noblewomen copied her dresses, merchants fought for her attention, and princes begged for her smile.Now mothers covered their children's eyes when she passed.Seraphina lowered her gaze slightly, silver hair falling in tangled waves over her shoulders.Funny.How quickly love becomes hatred.How easily people accept lies.The execution square came into view.Thousands had gathered.Citizens crowded rooftops and balconies just to witness her death. Excitement burned in their faces as though this were a festival, not an execution.At the center stood the royal platform.And on that platform—him.Crown Prince Adrian Evermont.Golden hair. Perfect posture. A face sculpted like a god made of sunlight.The man she had once loved.The man who had condemned her.Even from a distance, Seraphina saw it.Coldness in his eyes.No hesitation.No regret.Nothing.Beside him stood Lady Elara Dawn.The saintess of the empire.Dressed entirely in white.Pure. Beloved. Innocent.A fraud.Elara's delicate hands trembled as she looked toward Seraphina. Tears shimmered beautifully in her blue eyes, drawing sympathetic whispers from the crowd."She's too kind…""The saintess is grieving even for the woman who tried to kill her…""How cruel Seraphina Vale must be…"Seraphina almost smiled.Even now, Elara's performance was flawless.The guards forced Seraphina onto the execution platform. Chains clattered loudly.A royal official stepped forward and unrolled a scroll."Seraphina Vale," he declared, his voice booming, "you stand accused of treason against the empire, attempted assassination of the saintess, forbidden blood magic, conspiracy against the crown, and the murder of innocent civilians."The crowd erupted into furious screams."Death to the villainess!""Execute her!"Seraphina stared ahead silently.The official continued."By decree of His Imperial Majesty and under judgment of Crown Prince Adrian Evermont, you are sentenced to death by beheading."The words echoed.Death.Such a simple ending.After everything.The official stepped back.Adrian rose from his throne.The crowd immediately fell silent.Even now, he commanded absolute attention.He descended the steps slowly until he stood before her.Seraphina lifted her eyes to his.For a brief moment, memories attacked her mercilessly.His hand holding hers beneath moonlight.His quiet laughter.Promises whispered against her hair.You will become my queen.Lies.All of them.Adrian's expression remained unreadable."Do you have any final words?" he asked.Seraphina studied him carefully.She searched—desperately—for hesitation.For doubt.For anything that might still resemble the man she once loved.But there was nothing.Only judgment.Only distance.Only cold royal perfection.And then—she laughed.The sound cut through the square.Not broken.Not hysterical.Sharp.Dangerous.Adrian frowned slightly."Even now," he said quietly, "you refuse repentance."Seraphina tilted her head."Repentance?" she repeated softly. "For crimes I never committed?"Murmurs spread through the crowd.Elara stepped forward immediately."Your Highness," she whispered weakly, "please… do not listen to her. She only wishes to spread more suffering before the end."Seraphina's silver eyes shifted toward her.And for the first time that day—true hatred surfaced.Because standing there in white silk and false tears was the woman who had stolen everything.Her reputation.Her future.Her life.Every crime pinned on Seraphina had been carefully orchestrated.Bribed witnesses.Forged evidence.Silenced servants.And every trail led back to the saintess.But no one would believe her now.The empire adored Elara too much.Seraphina looked back at Adrian."You never even investigated," she said quietly.His jaw tightened."The evidence was undeniable.""No," Seraphina whispered. "You were simply afraid of the truth."The crowd gasped.Adrian's voice turned colder."You dare—""You loved the saintess more than justice."Silence.Heavy. Suffocating.For the first time, something flickered across Adrian's face.Anger.Pain.Guilt.Seraphina smiled bitterly.Too late.The executioner approached.A massive man in black armor carrying a gleaming blade.Sunlight reflected off the steel.The crowd held its breath.This was the moment they had all come for.Seraphina was forced to her knees.Wind brushed softly against her face.Strangely gentle.She closed her eyes.Not because she feared death.But because she was tired.So unbearably tired.Then—a voice cut through the square."Do you regret it?"Her eyes snapped open.The voice was low.Calm.Familiar.She turned sharply.At the edge of the crowd stood a man dressed entirely in black.Tall. Motionless.Shadow clung to him unnaturally.Lucien Ashford.The empire's most feared noble.The Mad Duke's son.Rumors said he killed assassins at thirteen.That he enjoyed war.That he smiled only when people died.But none of that mattered now.What mattered were his eyes.Crimson.Cold.And… recognizing.As if he had seen this before.As if he already knew how it ended.Her pulse faltered.Impossible.Lucien took a step forward, never looking away from her."Seraphina," he said quietly.The first time anyone had spoken her name gently in months."Do you regret trusting them?"The world seemed to stop.Even the wind died.And in that silence—Seraphina understood something terrifying.Lucien knew.Somehow…he knew the truth.But before she could speak—Adrian raised his hand.The execution order.The blade fell.Pain exploded through her throat.The crowd erupted in cheers.Her vision blurred instantly.Warm blood spilled across white stone.Far away, she heard screaming.Or laughter.Or both.Darkness swallowed everything.Her final sight—was Lucien Ashford staring at her with fury… and grief.Then—nothing.Silence.Air rushed violently into her lungs.Seraphina gasped.She shot upright, clutching her throat.No blood.No wound.Only shaking breath.Sunlight poured through tall windows.Curtains swayed gently in a soft morning breeze.The scent of roses filled the air.Her room.Her old bedroom.Her heartbeat thundered."No…" she whispered.She stumbled to the mirror.A seventeen-year-old girl stared back.Silver hair. Clear skin. Unbroken eyes.Alive.Young.Before everything.A knock sounded.The door opened.A maid stepped in and bowed."Good morning, Lady Seraphina."A warm smile."It is time to prepare for your first day at the Imperial Academy."The words struck like lightning.The academy.The beginning.Where she met Elara.Where everything was stolen piece by piece.Seraphina slowly turned back to the mirror.Then she smiled.Cold.Sharp.Unnatural.The smile of someone who had already died once."Perfect," she whispered.This time—she would not beg.She would not trust.And she would never lose again.Because the "villainess" they feared?She had been innocent once.But this time—Seraphina Vale would become something far worse.