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THEY rode for a short while until they came to a stone wall with a gated entry. Soldiers in armor stood on both sides of the gate, holding giant spears that reflected the sunlight filtering through the foliage, giving them a dull glint.
The soldiers lowered their weapons and knelt as the group on horseback approached. The empress called out to one of the men, so large that he seemed imposing even as he remained kneeling.
“I’ve sent for Yggdrasil,” she said. “And I assume you’ve been told.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. Let us escort you to the north tower right away.”
“No need. I know how to get there. After all, I’m well acquainted with the place.”
From Empress Elizabeth’s sardonic smile, Alicia immediately knew where they were.
Dansk Fortress. Or a prison commonly known as the Western Twilight Castle. In the past, it was a fortress that guarded Kingsley but had been converted into a place to imprison special criminals, such as high-ranking nobles and political prisoners found guilty of treason.
When Elizabeth was vying for the throne, she’d been imprisoned there at the crown prince’s command. However, she was quickly released, thanks to Beatrix’s intervention. When the crown prince’s plan to assassinate Elizabeth came to light, he was, in turn, imprisoned here. In a cruel twist of fate, he was the one who eventually lost his life inside its walls.
So why did the empress want to bring Alicia here? Fighting a growing unease in her chest, she followed the empress’s lead and dismounted.
Unlike the glamorous Kingsley Castle, the Dansk Fortress boasted a more ancient design with a rustic structure. Although small, it resembled Alicia’s home, Egdiel Castle, in its architecture.
However, there was no sign of life within the silent premises; the only sound was the echoing cries of crows. Alicia knew it was probably her imagination, but the cold stone floors and dark, closed windows seemed to signal the approach of a god of death, and she shivered.
“Are you all right, Your Highness?” Clovis whispered, perhaps noticing her pale complexion. Alicia just nodded.
Empress Elizabeth had brought her here on the pretext of seeing if she had what it took to be a politician. She didn’t know who or what was in this prison, but now that she knew it was a test, she wasn’t going to back out.
The empress continued towards the northernmost of the castle’s four large towers.
The dark and damp air felt different from the refreshing forest breeze, and Alicia knew a long stay here would probably destroy anyone’s health. However, the silence made her wonder if there were really any prisoners here in the first place.
Ascending a long flight of stairs, the empress finally stopped before a door. For the first time, Alicia sensed the presence of another human. Beyond the thick door came a faint groan, and Crown Prince Fritz’s eyes immediately darted to the empress at the sound. He looked calm and collected on the surface, but it seemed like he was also in the dark about the purpose of this visit.
Alicia tensed, but the empress’s smile widened.
“No need to be afraid,” she said. “The person inside will not hurt you; he doesn’t have the energy left to do so.”
At her command, the soldier guarding the door pulled it open, and everyone quickly understood what she meant.
At first, Alicia could not understand what she was seeing, but before she could take a step forward, Clovis stepped before her, blocking her path and view.
“Is that the instigator of the protest a few days back?” he asked stiffly.
“A good guess, but no. He is neither a unionist nor a noble. He was the one who gathered and paid the protestors to cause a ruckus outside the foreign minister’s villa, but he’s also someone’s lackey. He claims he has no information on the real instigator… In other words, he is of no use to us.”
The empress shrugged nonchalantly as Alicia peeked around Clovis to see into the small, dark room.
Only a small window with iron bars was in the dimly lit, stagnant room, tinged faintly with the smell of blood. A man was inside, and now Alicia could clearly see the chains binding his hands and holding him suspended from the ceiling. His back was facing them, but he seemed to be unconscious, letting out the occasional wordless groan. Soldiers were stationed along the walls of the room, but none showed the slightest movement, their faces set in stone. The whole scene was strange and unusual.
“My apologies to Heilland.” The empress shook her head in annoyance, and Alicia turned to meet her deep green gaze. “It is truly a pity that he has nothing to divulge even after going through torture…but someone has to pay the price for threatening our guests and trampling on the friendly ties our countries share. Come, Alicia. Tell me what I should do. How can Erdal make amends for such a show of disrespect?”
“If I were Your Majesty…?” Alicia ventured.
“Yes. What would you do if you were the empress of Erdal?”
The empress’s words rang in her head, and Alicia knew. This was the test.
Alicia turned to look at the prisoner again. His bound hands were sticky with black blood, and his ragged clothes were torn in various places, revealing painful wounds.
“…I will command him to make amends with his life,” Alicia said firmly.
Clovis turned at her words, his violet gaze wavering before he stared at the floor. Alicia felt a little relieved. He hadn’t stopped her, which meant she’d said the right thing.
“For the sake of the bond between our two countries and to demonstrate his sincerity and dignity, he should agree to his own execution,” Alicia continued. “It will send a message to the lurking unionists and anyone who seeks to aid them for whatever benefits that the empress of Erdal will not tolerate their actions.”
Her mouth was dry as her heart pounded in her chest, but Alicia held the empress’s eyes with a steady gaze as she answered.
As the empress had said, someone had to take responsibility for the incident. But if uncovering the real instigator was impossible, there weren’t many options left for Erdal. So, the empress had made her decision and wanted to see if Alicia was prepared to make the same ruthless choice.
Silence filled the prison. Then, the empress smiled.
“I see. You’ve made a good point. Prepare the scaffold immediately. After confessing his sins before the people, this man will repent with his life.”
“At once!”
The knights saluted at the empress’s command, but before they could move to convey the message to the castle, Alicia spoke again.
“That would be my decision if I were the empress of Erdal. Now, if I may share my thoughts as princess of Heilland… My kingdom does not desire that man’s life, so please release him.”
Her dignified voice echoed through the cold prison. The knights stopped in their tracks, their eyes turning to the empress for her response. Elizabeth looked at Alicia, her gaze cold enough to freeze everyone present.
“Why?” she prompted. “What’s the value in keeping him alive? Will he bring any benefit to Heilland? Will you sacrifice your kingdom’s dignity over useless sentimentalities?”
“No, but taking a nameless man’s life will not solve my kingdom’s problems. Heilland only desires one thing…and that is the truth.”
“Truth?”
“Yes.”
Alicia’s sky-blue eyes pierced through the empress as she narrowed her own green eyes, trying to guess Alicia’s true intentions. The room filled with tension. Not even Clovis or Fritz dared to intervene.
Finally, the empress’s eyes widened as if she’d realized something. Seeing that, Alicia seized the chance to press her case.
“Please, Your Majesty. Grant me a little time. There’s something I’d like to tell you. Alone.”
“Wait, Alicia,” Fritz cut into the conversation. “If there’s anything you want to say, you’re free to speak here. If it’s something you don’t want the knights to hear, then let them leave, but I’ll stay.”
“Step back, Fritz,” Elizabeth said coldly. “This is between Alicia and me.”
Fritz’s eyes widened as his protest was cut short, glancing at his mother, then Alicia. But Alicia’s gaze was fixed on the empress; she didn’t notice the quiet flame flickering within the young man’s eyes.
“You have your wish, Alicia,” the empress responded with a frightening smile. “Let us have a long talk, just you and me.”