Chapter 1
The doors of Grace Hall swung open at the servant’s loud announcement.
On both sides of the hall, nobles stood in neat rows. At the very front, Duke Nocturne was smiling proudly. The Empress, standing on the platform inside, also smiled gently.
Trumpets blared as the Crown Prince and Crown Princess entered the hall, smiling brightly.
Today was the day the Esperando Empire would welcome a new emperor.
After the couple finished their vows, the royal minister placed golden crowns on their heads.
“Bow before His Majesty, Emperor Patrick Esperando, and Her Majesty, Empress Azrael Esperando!”
All the nobles knelt and bowed deeply, raising their voices in unison.
“May the glory of God always be with His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress!”
As Patrick and Azrael smiled at the nobles.
Creek.
The doors of Grace Hall opened again. This time, the Commander of the Imperial Knights entered, leading his troops.
A stir ran through the nobles.
For the Commander to appear during the coronation and with the entire order meant something very serious had happened.
“What’s going on?!”
Patrick shouted at the commander, who walked steadily toward him.
The commander bowed to the new emperor and then spoke with a firm face.
“I apologize for interrupting the coronation, Your Majesty. We have captured a group of traitors.”
“Traitors? Who dares commit treason?!”
Patrick was shocked. Everyone turned to the front, especially Duke Nocturne, who held his breath.
“It is Duke Nocturne, Your Majesty,” the commander declared.
Everything became silent.
Azrael sat in the West Palace, completely cut off from the outside world.
She was going crazy wondering what had happened especially to her father, Duke Nocturne. How could something like this happen on coronation day?
“This must be a setup. Doesn’t the Emperor know how much my father has done for him? He’ll prove Father’s innocence.”
Azrael waited for days, hoping Patrick would come. But no one came except a maid delivering meals.
She hadn’t eaten properly or even swallowed water since hearing her family had been accused of treason. Who would do such a thing, and why today of all days?
The maid glanced at Azrael, who looked pale and weak but couldn’t meet her eyes.
“Where is His Majesty? Why hasn’t he come? What happened to my father, the Duke of Nocturne?”
The maid finally answered in a soft voice.
“Your Majesty, I’m sorry. The Duke and his family have been taken to the underground prison as traitors. They say they’re trying to make them confess.”
“What?!”
Azrael was horrified. The underground prison? That meant torture.
“How long has it been since the coronation?”
She had lost track of time. But she knew she had to stay strong for her family.
“It’s been four days. I heard screams that hadn’t stopped from the prison “I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
Azrael’s legs gave out. She collapsed to the ground.
Treason? It’s a trap. If they confess under torture our family will be destroyed forever.
A few days later, the worst news came:
Duke Nocturne had confessed to treason.
His execution was scheduled for two days later.
Azrael didn’t remember how she survived those two days. She didn’t eat, didn’t move just stared blankly at the ceiling.
Then came the execution day.
Imperial knights burst in and dragged her out. She didn’t even struggle. Everything felt like a dream.
Crowds gathered around the execution platform. On the platform across from it sat Emperor Patrick and beside him stood Angela.
Azrael’s eyes trembled as she saw them.
No no, this can’t be…!
It felt unreal, like a nightmare. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed it was just a dream.
Please, God, let me wake up from this horrible dream…
But when she opened her eyes again and saw Patrick smiling with Angela, Azrael finally understood.
Patrick had never loved her. He and Angela had used her and now discarded her.
“I gave up everything for you. My family did everything to make you emperor. I loved you with all my heart…”
Tears filled her eyes as the pain of betrayal pierced her heart.
Her lips, already cracked and pale, began to bleed.
When she reached the platform, she saw them.
Her father, her mother, and her younger sister Lea. All tied up, their bodies weak and broken from torture. The duchess could barely stand.
“Father Mother Lea”
Azrael called out with a trembling voice. None of them could answer. Only silent tears rolled down their faces.
But Azrael could feel it. Their pain. Their sorrow.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”
She wept endlessly.
“Patrick never loved me. He used us to become emperor. I was such a fool and now my family is going to die because of me.”
Angela stood beside Patrick, looking victorious. Even she had betrayed Azrael.
Azrael’s heart shattered.
“It’s not your fault,” the Duke whispered. “Don’t blame yourself.”
Moments later, the execution began.
One by one, her family members were hanged. Some in the crowd turned away in silence. Others cheered.
“The traitors are gone! Long live the Empire!”
Azrael could hardly believe it. After all their service, her family had been reduced to traitors in the eyes of the people.
Tears poured from her eyes like a river.
How could I be so stupid? How did I fall for Patrick’s lies… and lose everything?
A guard grabbed her arm roughly and pulled her up the platform.
Her once-silky silver hair was now tangled and dry. Her elegant dress was stained and dirty. Her lips bled.
She looked more like a witch than an empress.
“Kill the wicked traitor!”
A wicked traitor? Even now, they had twisted the truth. She turned her head to the emperor’s seat.
Patrick and Angela were laughing.
When their eyes met Azrael’s, their smiles turned cold.
“It was you two You made everyone see me this way. What did I ever do to deserve this?”
She clenched her jaw. The years she spent helping Patrick everything had been for nothing.
She had loved him so deeply but now she hated him just as much.
Azrael glared at Patrick and Angela with burning eyes. Her voice, rough and dry, still rang clear.
“Patrick! Angela! I curse you both. If God has any mercy then if I am born again, I will make you pay!”
Patrick and Angela froze, their eyes darkening.
Then Patrick gave the order.
“Begin the execution.”
The floor beneath Azrael dropped.
The noose tightened around her neck.
In that final moment, she made one last prayer.
“Please, God give me a chance to save my family. To make them pay.”
Her breath grew short. Everything went dark
And then, a voice echoed in her mind:
“I pity you. I will turn back time for you. Live differently this time.”
As the voice faded, so did her consciousness.
