Prologue: Condemnation
“Selina Rosenberg, as of this moment, I hereby dissolve our engagement!”
At the grand event marking our graduation from the academy, I received the declaration of our broken engagement from Prince Edward. His voice was cold, devoid of any emotion towards me.
I felt the blood drain from my face, my fingertips turning cold.
The graduation party of Rosewood Academy, where royalty and nobility studied, was meant to be a social debut. But now the once lively venue had fallen silent.
“Why? Why, Prince Edward? What have I done?”
Desperately, I called out to my fiancé. Though it was an engagement arranged by our parents, I had always admired Prince Edward.
“What have you done, you ask?”
However, the expression on Prince Edward’s handsome face was one of contempt.
“Selina, did you think I was unaware of all the cruel things you’ve done to Eleanor?”
Eleanor. That insignificant girl from a lower noble family. That wretched “Saint” who could barely use light magic.
I looked around for Eleanor. She was behind Prince Edward, surrounded by several classmates as if they were protecting her.
I could barely see her expression, which showed sadness.
“It’s Eleanor! That woman bewitched Prince Edward! Despite me being your fiancée, she tried to win your heart, so I… I…”
That’s right. I did nothing wrong. As a fiancée and a duke’s daughter, I only tried to give a proper lesson to a lower noble’s daughter who had overstepped her bounds. What was wrong with that?
“Selina. It’s true that Eleanor is a wonderful woman. I may have been captivated by her at times. However, I swear there was nothing between us. She knew her place, and I never forgot that I had you as my fiancée. Yet, you jumped to your own conclusions about us and treated Eleanor terribly. To the ‘Saint’ who should be a national treasure, no less. We have ample evidence. I absolutely cannot forgive this. Neither as the crown prince of this country, nor as a man.”
As a man… It was just as I thought. Prince Edward’s heart had left me and turned to Eleanor.
“I only did what was natural as a duke’s daughter! Don’t you all agree?”
As a duke’s daughter, I had formed close relationships with many classmates throughout our academy life. Unlike that upstart lower noble. Surely most of the academy would take my side.
However–
The reaction from those around me was cold. When I tried to make eye contact, everyone averted their gaze. This included those who had tattled to me, saying, “Eleanor intends to steal His Highness from Lady Selina!”
Not a single person took my side. Those who had been so friendly to me until yesterday were now awkwardly looking down.
Even my attendants, sensing the grim atmosphere, were trying to distance themselves from me slightly.
“Your classmates know your crimes better than anyone. It’s almost pitiful that not one of them defends you.”
Prince Edward gave instructions to the guards and then turned away.
“Prince Edward!”
No matter how much I cried and screamed, Prince Edward never looked back.
And so, I was dragged out of the party venue by the guards.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
The King’s judgment sentenced me to death.
It was the result of my little pranks against the Saint being greatly exaggerated.
Dropping a potted plant on Eleanor’s head from the second floor, trying to mix drugs into her tea, hiring thugs to attempt kidnapping her, pretending to accidentally run her over with a carriage, or sending assassins after her life – that’s all I did!
Since they were all just attempts that failed, I should be innocent. This judgment is too harsh. God is dead.
And so, I was ordered to die by poison. I was told condescendingly that it was a mercy due to my high status, rather than hanging. As if dying by hanging or poison makes any difference – I don’t want to die at all.
When presented with the poisoned wine, I of course refused, as I am innocent.
However, my body was restrained, my nose was pinched, and when I opened my mouth gasping for air, the wine was forcibly poured in. The wine that went directly down my throat, bypassing my tongue, tasted neither bad nor good, and slowly my consciousness began to fade.
As memories from my childhood to the present flashed through my mind, I deeply reflected.
What I had lacked were capable subordinates.
TLNOTE : While waiting, I implore you dear readers to read other masterpiece novels that also written by the same author :
- When the Monster Meat I Ate Led Me to the Throne
- Who killed the Hero?
- The Suspects of Necromancy
- The Exiled Merchant Saves the World with the Power of Gold (translated by my friend meerkat)
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
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