Chapter 1 – Part 1

“I abdicate the criminal Eliana Leiberte from her position as Empress!”

Dethroned.

When the executioner shouted those words, Eliana’s vision went white.

Emperor Cedric, who never loved her for even a single moment after their arranged marriage, had an affair with her friend. Until this day, Eliana had known nothing but Cedric. She had loved him and devoted her entire life to becoming the Empress.

‘Not only did Your Majesty have a secret affair behind my back, but now you’re also trying to frame me as a criminal and have me killed…’

Just thinking about it made it difficult to breathe.

“All titles of Eliana Leiberte are hereby revoked, and the criminal will be exiled from the capital.”

The executioner declared.

“No. This can’t be happening.”

With a desperate cry, Eliana collapsed to the floor.

Before facing judgment, Eliana had been confined to the most isolated building in the western part of the palace. Cedric had accused her of summoning a sorcerer to curse the Emperor.

It was true that Eliana had summoned a sorcerer.

‘But it wasn’t to harm His Majesty; I only wanted to win his heart. I thought that if I could cure his illness, maybe he would love me…’

Emperor Cedric seemed healthy on the surface, but he had suffered from unexplained pain since his teenage years. The irregular bouts of pain only made his already cold temperament more volatile.

Every time it happened, Eliana believed she could alleviate his suffering. Her family had a long history of healing abilities, and even the High Temple had recognized her as a legitimate bearer of those powers.

But for some reason, her abilities had not manifested after their marriage.

“Did you trick me into marrying you? You claimed to come from a family with healing powers, but this was all a sham, right?”

Cedric’s disdain for Eliana grew even more intense as he accused her of deceiving him.

‘If my healing powers don’t manifest, I’ll borrow someone else’s strength.’

Desperate and anxious, she wanted to cure Cedric’s mysterious illness to win his favor. But that choice became the blade that would cut her down.

In the western building where she was imprisoned, tears flowed endlessly from Eliana’s eyes.

Creak.

The tightly shut door opened. Cedric, whom she had waited for so long, finally appeared.

“Your Majesty!”

Eliana tried to run to him but was stopped. Cedric glared at her with icy eyes.

“Your Majesty… Please, let me out of here.“

“Do you know what I did yesterday? I executed that sorcerer you brought in. I had his head chopped off with a single stroke.”

“…!”

“For the crime of using forbidden sorcery to deceive the empire’s citizens and disrupt the palace and for daring to conspire with the Empress to harm me. You, too, will face the same fate as that sorcerer.“

Eliana’s face turned pale with shock.

“All of this was clearly an attempt to harm me and Rachel. Did you really think you wouldn’t get caught? How foolish.“

“No, Your Majesty!”

Eliana cried out, but the intense hostility in his eyes was undeniable.

If Cedric intended to get rid of her, it was undoubtedly because of Rachel.

‘He wants to bring Rachel into the palace… No, I can’t let that happen.‘

“Your Majesty! The accusation that I intended to curse you is a terrible misunderstanding. I only wanted to heal your illness so that you might look at me even once.”

Cedric lowered himself and painfully grasped Eliana’s chin.

“Why would I ever give my heart to someone like you? That will never happen.“

“Sob…“

“I’ll give you one day. You have the chance to step down from your position as Empress voluntarily. If you leave on your own, I’ll spare your life. But if you don’t, you’ll only face death.”

Bang! Cedric left the room.

Eliana knew she could never give him the answer he wanted. She wrote a letter to her father, Count Austin, pleading for help. She also begged every noble she knew to help her regain her position as Empress.

Only one person responded—Duke Calix Vartica. Although Eliana hadn’t seen much of him since they became adults, he had been her childhood friend.

—I will visit the Empress as soon as possible.

‘He’s coming to see me?’

Given their lack of interaction in recent years, his reply was as surprising as it was welcome. Eliana was ready to cling to any glimmer of hope.

But only her father was allowed to visit. Though they didn’t share a close bond, he said,

“I will go see His Majesty.”

The next day, a letter arrived.

—His Majesty seems to have no intention of forgiving you. He rebuked me harshly, saying he had no plans to bring me back to the palace and told me never to return. Eliana, what are we to do? Why did you involve a sorcerer in this? Don’t you realize that this foolish act has caused immense harm to you and our entire family?

As she read the letter, Eliana felt her last hope slipping away.

‘What am I supposed to do now…?’

After a day of mindless tears,

“Your Majesty, you have a visitor.”

Mary, the only servant allowed to stay by her side, informed her.

“Who? Who has come to see me?”

Eliana hurried to the mirror. Her cheeks were gaunt, and her hair was disheveled. Her once beautiful face had lost its luster and looked haggard.

“Is it Duke Vartica? But he was refused entry…”

Unwilling to show such a disheveled appearance to someone she wasn’t close to, she quickly tried to smooth her hair with her fingers.

Creak. The moment she turned around, Eliana’s blue eyes widened in shock.

“You… You’re…”

Eliana’s lips trembled. The visitor was the last person she wanted to see.

“Your Majesty, have you been well?”

Rachel curtsied slightly as she greeted her. Her overly polite words felt more revolting than ever. Despite not being overly adorned today, Rachel’s beauty was as radiant as a flower in full bloom.

“Why are you here…? Get out now!”

Eliana raised her voice, but Rachel didn’t even blink. Once, they had been close friends. But not anymore. Now, Rachel was nothing more than the mistress of Eliana’s unfaithful husband.

“I heard you’ve been sending letters to various nobles asking for help, but I didn’t receive one.”

Rachel lowered her eyes and then looked up, her green eyes gleaming with malice.

“Why would I ever write to someone like you? You who have humiliated me behind my back! How dare you come to see me? How can you be so shameless?”

Eliana bit her lip in frustration, tasting the bitter metallic tang of blood. Rachel stared at her as if she were an animal in a cage. Even considering their past friendship, Rachel should have at least felt some remorse. But she was utterly unbothered.

“Raging in this isolated building won’t do you any good. No one will hear you. If anyone in the entire Moira Empire has become utterly worthless, it would be you, Your Majesty.“

“No!”

Eliana shook her head in denial.

“Why don’t you look in the mirror? You, who couldn’t even earn the Emperor’sEmperor’s favor, were reduced to such a pitiful state.”

Rachel openly mocked her. Unconsciously, Eliana covered her cheeks. Her fingertips felt the rough texture of her skin.

“Even though I knew you’d be furious, I couldn’t resist coming to see you today since this will be the last time.“

“The last time? What do you mean?”

Rachel stepped closer and whispered,

“His Majesty can’t stand to have a monstrosity like you in the palace any longer. Not just the palace—he despises that you’re still breathing anywhere in Moira.”

“…!”

“You should have stepped down on your own, Eliana. But in a way, this worked out better for me. You’ve dug your own grave, and now I’ll never have to see your face again. Go ahead, explore the afterlife for me.”

Eliana tried to slap Rachel across the face.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

But Rachel easily deflected Eliana’s weakened arm.

Thud. Eliana crumpled to the floor. The friend who used to admire her and inquire about Cedric’s well-being was replaced by someone who delighted in her downfall.

“Eliana, it might be best not to sleep tonight. It’s your last night as Empress—wouldn’t it be a shame to spend it asleep? You should savor it. After all, that position was never really yours to begin with. Haha.“

Rachel’s laughter echoed through the building.

After the judgment was passed and Eliana regained consciousness, she found herself inside a carriage.

‘I’d rather lose consciousness again.’

Eliana had been accused of various crimes. Her efforts to heal Cedric were now considered evil deeds. The letters she had written pleading for help were interpreted as an attempt to rally forces against the royal family.

Eliana had been exiled from the capital as a criminal. Her departure as the Empress, who never received even a single moment of love from the Emperor, was utterly pitiful.

Although she wasn’t familiar with the lands outside the capital, Eliana could tell the carriage was heading in the wrong direction.

‘I want to escape, but… where would I go?’

Even her family’s estate was no longer a refuge. Leaning on them was impossible.

The carriage door suddenly burst open.

“Get out!”

With a shout, Eliana was dragged out of the carriage. Several men, their faces hidden behind masks, checked her face. Though they appeared like common bandits, their swords were of high quality. Eliana’s body trembled like a leaf.

“Let go! Let me go!”

Eliana tried to flee, but after just a few steps, she felt a sharp pain in her back as a sword was plunged into her.

“Gasp.”

Agonizing pain shot through her body. Eliana’s delicate face grew cold and pale in that moment of death, like a fallen moon.

‘I don’t want to die like this. Just one more chance… I want to live. I…’

She hovered between life and death.

“Do you truly wish to live again?”

Only the sound of the wind brushed her ears, but a voice she had never heard responded.

‘Please, save me. I beg you.’

Eliana pleaded with all her remaining strength.

“I will grant you a chance.”

She wanted to say thank you but couldn’t move a finger. Was it just a delusion, a hallucination conjured by her desperate mind?