I couldn’t help but stare blankly. Something deep within me seemed to mutter indifferently.

Yet I dismissed it, thinking I must have misheard. When I picked up my fork, my surroundings had changed again.

“Will you be alright?”

I found myself in the corridor of my palace. My seventeen-year-old self stood before a large window. Either lost in thought or completely empty-minded, I wore an impossibly cold expression.

After some time, I turned my head slightly. There stood Duke Elvierts with a worried face.

I smiled reassuringly at him.

“I’ve been waiting for this day anyway.”

“Estria.”

“Do I have any other choice?”

At my question, a bitter smile crossed Duke Elvierts’ face. He sighed deeply while gazing out the window.

Outside, heavy snow fell abundantly, completely covering the ground, seemingly condemning our impending deed.

And then.

“Estria? What brings you here? Why suddenly visit my palace? What’s that in your hand, a sword? Did you come to give that to me?”

It began with my third brother.

He frowned at me, finding my sudden visit strange.

I smiled gracefully at him. Only when I slowly drew the sword from its scabbard did he narrow his brows, finally sensing something was wrong.

“Hey.”

But it was already too late.

Slash.

It didn’t take long for droplets of blood to spray into the air.

With the scream of a nearby lady-in-waiting, the tragedy began, and I slowly approached my brother.

“Cough! Wh-what are you doing?”

My brother shouted loudly while spitting dark blood. Or rather, he tried to shout.

His severely cut body only had enough strength left to cough up blood, and I watched his state indifferently.

“Indeed.”

“…”

“What have you been doing all this time?”

At my words, my brother’s eyes widened. He backed away slowly, seemingly searching for something to use as a weapon, but it was useless.

This palace was already filled with Duke Elvierts’ people, and no one would help him.

“No one will come to help you.”

“You…!”

“Have you ever cried alone in despair?”

“Y-you stupid girl, what makes you think—”

“I won’t repay you exactly how I suffered.”

“…”

“I’ll give you a painless death.”

As soon as I finished speaking, my brother’s face filled with despair, realizing the situation had turned strange. I smiled coldly.

Stab.

“Too much time has passed to return everything I endured.”

“…Hmph.”

“Brother, I truly believed you would come get me out of that closet.”

“…Cough. S-sorry… I’m sorry… please spare—”

“Why didn’t you come that day?”

“…Sorry. Est… I’m sorry… save me…”

“I waited for you.”

“…”

“No, actually I didn’t just wait for you. I waited for everyone—you, Sister Ameli, Brother Eron, Sister Dainella, Sister Violet… I just… just waited for everyone.”

“…”

“Since you never came, I finally came to you. Happy?”

There was no answer to my question. I closed my eyes at the traces of life seeping away.

The pungent scent of blood spread everywhere. Soon, the figures lying before me changed one by one.

First my brother, then my sister, then brother again, then sister again.

Some begged me for forgiveness, while others cursed me. But I guarantee this. None of them understood my words.

In the end, as I carried this sword to Father’s audience chamber, no one understood why I held it.

“Haa.”

I stood before Father with my sword, half-cleaned by melted snow. His face contorted, seemingly having vaguely anticipated my arrival. His always dignified appearance was filled with rage today.

I looked at him and slowly approached the platform. Then, he spoke coldly.

“Are you here to kill your father?”

I raised my head blankly at his question. Well, did I come to kill Your Majesty?

The blood covering my body seemed to have seeped into my mind, preventing proper thought. All my actions driven by power and vengeance were merely means to reach this place. Nevertheless, I came here and ultimately stood before my father.

“Pathetic thing. You blame others without considering why you were treated that way? You crazy woman.”

“…”

“You deserved such treatment. No, keeping you alive was my mistake. I should have known someone like you would bring misfortune to the imperial family.”

How interesting.

I slightly raised my head at Father’s words.

Misfortune. I savored that word and slowly met his gaze. After some time, I let out a gentle laugh.

I slowly pointed my sword toward him. Rather than threatening to stab him, my gesture resembled a child proudly showing off a toy.

Nevertheless, Father’s face twisted, feeling greatly threatened.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“Father, look at this sword. It’s stained with the blood of the children you cherish so much. I killed them with my own hands.”

“…How dare you!”

“But Father, would you still say I’m not your most excellent and proud daughter?”

Why did I ask such a question? Even after speaking, I couldn’t help but laugh at my own pathetic self.

Father pressed his lips together and glared at me. The clear anger on his face already gave me the answer.

After a long moment, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Yes, you are my shame. Forever.”

“…Haa.”

Was it a snicker that burst forth at that moment, or was it anger, or perhaps complete resignation?

Perhaps I’ll never know. All I know is that I lowered my sword at Father’s words.

“I understand.”

And I simply let everything go.

Yes, I must have let it go. After all, this was inevitable from the moment I cut down my siblings.

I killed his beloved children, and I was not his beloved child.

No matter how much they tried to drive me to death, that wasn’t his concern.

I was just a terrible daughter, a child who deserved to die.

Father’s hand moved toward his waist. Was he drawing his sword? Was he going to execute me here?

‘Should I just die?’

I thought to myself. But the moment I thought that, I flinched involuntarily.

‘Why should you?’

…

‘Why should you die?’

This voice…

I stared blankly ahead. Father was slowly descending from the platform. Watching this directly, I closed my eyes.

Ah, a headache. My head suddenly hurt. What’s happening? Is this reality? Was it really like this? No. Father didn’t cautiously descend from the platform like this.

From the moment I opened my mouth, he drew his sword to stab me. And then…

Bang!

My eyes opened wide at the sudden gunshot that filled the audience chamber. The gunshot piercing my ears amid the chaotic situation. Life seeping away.

Father.

I unconsciously murmured inside. I took a step forward. My hands trembled. Something poured from my eyes, but I couldn’t tell what it was.

Ah, why am I crying? Why am I crying? Why am I?

“Father.”

I called him with a trembling voice. I couldn’t believe a person could die so futilely from a single bullet. How can a person die? How can Father die? How?

“Father, please open your eyes. Open them and kill me.”

“…”

“Father.”

At that moment, tears just seemed to pour out.

I sobbed loudly over my father’s body.