A chilling wind rises at the execution ground.

“Behead that traitor.”

The voice of the one she once loved echoed in the execution chamber.

A face devoid of even a trace of guilt. Facing that visage, Ellen let out a bitter laugh.

‘A traitor, me?’

She was too distraught to even shed tears.

Despite working harder than anyone for his sake. I, who had to pretend not to know about my friend’s death, am called a traitor by you!

Grief, pain, anger, regret.

An indescribable whirlpool of sorrow.

‘The one fitting the name of traitor is not me, but you who struck down the Emperor you served!’

Ellen clenched her teeth tightly.

If her tongue hadn’t been cut out, she would have screamed until her throat tore.

An unparalleled villain. A beast in human skin.

Usurper, Gillian Krembell!

In the distance, Gillian looking down at them from the high seat came into view.

Ellen could not contain her anger at such arrogance.

Do you truly believe such actions will be forgiven, even if that blood flows in you?

But Gillian Krembell had survived nonetheless.

It was not that man facing death, but them, and before Ellen remained only her father, who seemed resigned as he shed tears, and her younger brother, writhing in fear.

The executioner with the sword approached.

The blade gleaming with cold metal.

It moved to fulfill its appointed duty, and soon began to sever the necks of those she loved.

One.

Ah, Father.

Two.

El. My poor younger brother…

The blade approaching her entered Ellen’s eyes.

The red-stained edge, as if painted with a heart spewing blood.

The executioner’s arm rose high, disappearing from view.

‘Even in death, I shall block your path. May only despair and sorrow fill your future…!’

The blade fell, pain rushed in.

The agony that didn’t even allow a scream cut off her thoughts. And so, Ellen Krembell’s life ended, stained with betrayal.

Not knowing that time would begin again, once more.

* * *

Ellen Crient is the young lady of a northern count’s family that’s successful in the wool business.

Thanks to her family’s vast wealth, she wanted for nothing and loved her family.

A life with nothing more to wish for, having already attained so much.

Those were happy days.

But her father, Daniel Crient, was different.

It wasn’t enough.

Wealth without honor was meaningless.

In the end, the count planned her marriage to Krembell, third in line for imperial succession, under the pretext of doing it for his daughter.

Ellen Krembell. From now on, that would be her name.

As clear as Count Crient’s purpose was in this marriage, Krembell’s purpose was equally evident.

It was a kind of contract.

A typical political act, exchanging the count’s family’s vast wealth for the duke’s honor.

There was no love there.

Or more precisely, there was only one girl’s unrequited love.

The sixteen-year-old girl fell for the man with a sturdy body, sharp lines, and strong eyes.

She thought that since nobles all get married off like merchandise anyway, it was fortunate that she did it with such a splendid man.

How foolish.

As time passed, the girl who had harbored that fresh love became someone who knew how to play the role of the virtuous lady of the house that her beloved man demanded.

She thought her life would be smooth sailing from then on.

How naive.

The words ‘third in line for imperial succession’ meant he could obtain the throne if the two ahead of him disappeared.

The duke always looked to higher places, and that desire did not miss even the slightest possibility.

Duke Krembell first assassinated Prince Crescent, second in line for succession.

The prince’s sudden death raised many suspicions.

But with the crown prince still alive, people simply thought it was the usual struggle for imperial power.

From then on, it was easy.

The duke manipulated the crown prince, who firmly believed him to be a close confidant, into thwarting his marriage.

It wasn’t long after that when the sickly emperor passed away.

The crown prince was soon to ascend as the next emperor, and the duke could not hide his joy.

This was the opportunity.

At that time, when the crown prince had not yet established himself as a monarch.

The duke staged a rebellion.

The imperial palace was quickly occupied, and the newly enthroned emperor met his death at the hands of the one he believed to be his loyal subject.

The first thing Gillian Krembell did upon taking the throne was to fill his mouth with betrayal once again.

The one who had usurped the imperial throne with blood spoke from the highest place in the empire.

“Arrest that traitor Crient immediately!”

The charged crime was treason against the state.

The reason given was selling military secrets to a foreign country.

Of course, Count Crient had no authority to access such military information.

Nevertheless, Count Crient was executed.

The same fate befell his family, and among the heads that fell at the execution ground that day was that of Ellen Krembell, no, Ellen Crient — that was her tragedy.