Prologue
A solemn bell tolled the hour. It echoed across the plaza, where the masses had gathered, and announced the upcoming execution. As the crowd of civilians pushed forward to get a better look, a single woman was dragged to the gallows. She wore the unkempt clothes of a prisoner.
Her golden hair—once long and beautiful—had been tragically chopped below shoulder length. The highborn ladies who watched from afar furrowed their brows at the shortness of it, which was unbecoming of her former station as a noblewoman. Some even hid their mouths with folding fans and laughed.
The prisoner had been starved, as evidenced by her sunken cheeks and long legs reduced to nothing but skin and bone. Her skin, deprived of sunlight, was pale and dirty. She hadn’t even been given shoes. Scratches formed on the soles of her bare feet each time she took a step. Nevertheless, no one allowed her to stop. Bound by a rope, she was forced forward.
The commoners didn’t know the identity of this woman, who would be publicly executed. Even amongst the plebeians, no heinous criminals would receive such ai punishment. So they whispered amongst themselves.
“If she’s about to be hanged, she must have done something unspeakable.”
The executioner stood in front of the crowd, raised a document, and spoke in a booming voice. “Rosemary Hubert shall hereby be executed.”
The crowd stirred. No one knew this unsightly woman was Rosemary Hubert, the former fiancée of Crown Prince Grey Dirésias.
As the executioner yelled to silence the boisterous plaza, Rosemary looked up at the sky apathetically. The bruises on her wrists had turned so black that they would never disappear. Yet even now, her fingertips were slender and beautiful, attesting to how well she’d once cared for them.
Her tranquil gaze entranced some of the onlookers. They expected criminals to weep and be fearful of death, but Rosemary boldly stood in front of the gallows, showing no trace of dread.
“Bring the criminal to the stage.”
After the executioner finished reading the charges and gave this order, the man restraining Rosemary pushed her from behind. Slowly, she climbed atop the platform, where a loop of rope dangled in front of her. Still behind Rosemary, the man forced her to move farther, placing the noose around her neck. The rope tightened around her throat. Fear welled up inside her, but at the same time, she looked forward to finally being released.
In the distance, Prince Grey—her former fiancé—was watching her. His beloved Tia Danzes was with him. After calling off his engagement with Rosemary, the prince immediately announced his new betrothal to Tia. Though Rosemary couldn’t see his expression, his bearing held no indication of sadness.
A man condemned his former fiancée to death without believing a single word she’d said. Likewise, another woman had stolen Rosemary’s position, framed her for a crime, and driven her to execution.
Those who knew the truth watched Rosemary silently. When she scanned the area, she even spotted the maids who had served her so well. She tried to smile at them to ease their worries, but the rope was so tight that she couldn’t.
Though many people derided Rosemary, she also noticed guilt-ridden expressions. Despite knowing the truth, they had to keep silent. It was beyond her control. In much the same way that she couldn’t control the people who called her a villainess behind her back. Her defeat had been assured even before Tia had framed her for the crime. It had begun when her father—a marquis—had been set up.
I can’t hope for a happy ending like in those stories I love, Rosemary thought self-deprecatingly. And so, my life will end with everyone believing I’m a villainess.
The bell rang out once more. After stepping away from Rosemary, the man placed his hand on a mechanism that would open the bottom of the platform. Rosemary closed her eyes, expecting the end to come at any time.
Then a voice called out her name, causing her heart to tremble ever so slightly.
“Rosemary!” a crying boy shouted. “Elder Sister Rosemary!”
Ignoring the pain from the rope, Rosemary looked in the direction of the wailing boy.
“Reynaldo!” she called back to him.
At the end, she saw her younger brother, whom she loved more than anyone else. She’d thought she had no tears left, and yet more streamed down her face.
My darling little brother. You believed me, Reynaldo. My last wish is that you find happiness in the future.
The bell rang louder, and Rosemary’s feet floated in the air. All at once, the noose around her neck strangled her. As her consciousness faded, she could still hear the sound of the bell.