Episode 2
A knight quickly grabbed Anastasia and held her arms tightly.
Even while being restrained, she kept glaring at Cassius.
“Let her go,” Cassius said. “She’s already been sentenced. Don’t treat her so roughly.”
The knight released her after Cassius gave the order.
Cassius looked at Anastasia with a pitiful expression.
“So, you have no regrets,” he said.
Anastasia gave a dry laugh through her teeth.
What crime are you even talking about?
“Empress, you’re just a decoration for the Emperor.”
Is my crime that I didn’t want to be your decoration?
“Just being my Empress was enough. You didn’t need to do more. You should have enjoyed the position quietly.”
Is it that I dared to speak my mind instead of being a silent figurehead?
To Cassius, Anastasia was just something to show off.
She was the eldest daughter of the noble Floria family, known for both her beauty and reputation.
But she was more than that—
Anastasia was kind and caring, always helping even the lowest of people.
For Cassius, who didn’t have the support of the common people, marrying Anastasia made him look better.
He thought taking her would win him her popularity, too.
But Anastasia wasn’t someone who’d remain a decoration.
Whenever Cassius tried to make a bad decision, Anastasia stood in his way—and because she always had a valid reason, Cassius had to back down.
This happened again and again.
But there was something Anastasia had overlooked.
“Empress, I hope you won’t test my patience any further.”
Cassius wasn’t the type to back down forever.
By the time she realized it, she had been blamed for crimes she never committed.
“Also, the Floria family has been caught working with the enemy empire, Derga, to betray our nation.”
Cassius shook his head like he was truly sad.
“I never thought I’d have to drag down the Empress I placed on the throne.”
Then he leaned in close and whispered so no one else could hear:
“An Empress is just decoration… and you’ve become too ugly to display.”
Anastasia heard his cruel words clearly, and her body trembled in anger.
When he stepped back, his face had changed again—looking kind and sorrowful.
“I hope you’ll pay for your crimes with your life.”
Cassius bowed politely to her, then walked down from the guillotine platform.
Anastasia’s knees gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.
Now that she was lower to the ground, she saw a familiar face.
Briana.
Her face was a mess from crying, and tears were still falling.
Their eyes met, and Briana’s lips moved.
“I’m sorry.”
Anastasia read her lips carefully.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Over and over again, Briana mouthed the same words.
Anastasia suddenly felt a chill.
Sorry? For what?
Her eyes darted to where Cassius stood—And next to him was…
Count Clark.
Polian Clark, Briana’s father and Anastasia’s uncle.
Anastasia laughed bitterly as the pieces came together.
Her uncle had never shown up to court—and now she understood why.
She remembered something from days ago:
[I want to learn how to say ‘I’m sorry.’]
It had been shortly after her uncle promised to help her.
Briana, who was born with a speech disability, didn’t even know how to move her lips properly.
She always communicated by writing.
That day, her handwriting was unusually messy, and her face seemed anxious.
Anastasia had thought something was wrong, so she had taught Briana how to form words with her mouth.
She had even planned to teach her more words.
But now…
You knew this day would come.
As Anastasia looked at Briana repeating “I’m sorry”, she finally understood why Briana looked so nervous back then.
She felt both angry and heartbroken.
Count Clark had been ashamed of his daughter’s disability and had hidden her away.
Anastasia hadn’t even known she had a cousin until she was fifteen and Briana was ten.
After that, Anastasia often visited her uncle’s house and spent time with Briana.
Later, after Anastasia became Empress, she brought Briana into the palace as her maid.
Briana had never been outside before, so she was clumsy at first.
But Anastasia never gave up on her.
Eventually, Briana became a proper maid and served Anastasia well.
Watching Briana grow made Anastasia proud.
But now…
I trusted you… And you betrayed me.
Because Briana was her maid, Count Clark had gained access to the palace.
He likely helped plant false evidence and lies.
Then why did you say you would help me at the trial?
Anastasia couldn’t stop laughing bitterly.
Was the mistake trusting Briana?
Believing in her uncle?
Or was it foolishly thinking she could turn Cassius into a great ruler because of love?
“Anastasia, if you’re given a second chance, please live far away from this chaos and be free.”
Those were her mother’s last words before she was taken away.
Thinking about that voice, Anastasia bit down on her lip.
Her body shook violently as the knights forced her down.
They locked her neck into the guillotine.
The crowd roared, but Anastasia couldn’t hear anything anymore.
Mother… I don’t want to disappear like this.
If I could live again, I would become a storm.
A huge storm that destroys everything.
I will judge them with my own hands.
The sharp blade that had been waiting above her finally dropped.
Thud.
Her mind went dark.
Warm air brushed her cheek.
After so many cold days, it felt almost comforting.
Anastasia slowly opened her eyes.
She sat up and looked around.
Everything felt both familiar and unfamiliar.
She could still feel the guillotine blade on her neck… like it had just happened.
She tilted her head in confusion and got out of bed.
Her steps felt… normal.
After all the time in prison, walking felt softer now—but even so, this felt too normal.
It’s like… I’m alive again.
Her suspicion grew.
Then she passed a mirror—and stopped.
She froze at the reflection staring back at her.
“Briana?”
The person in the mirror had long dark brown hair and green eyes—just like Briana.
It was the same face she had seen on the day of her execution.
“Why… am I…”
Just as she was trying to make sense of it, she realized something even stranger.
“Wait—if I’m in Briana’s body… how am I talking?”
