{1st person POV}

What the hell just happened?

Hearing the emperor give me a punishment as lenient as exile was probably the most absurd thing I have heard in all seventeen years of my life.

Did I have a good relationship with the emperor?Not that I’m aware of at least.And yet,remembering the emotions hiding behind his steel gaze was undoubtedly sympathy.The land of Donna may be considered a barren wasteland,known for its harsh winter and rough terrain,it is still possible to live a good life if you have good survival skills.

In other words,this isn’t a proper punishment for treason at all.

And yet,here I am,awaiting to be brought to Donna,instead of having my head sliced off by the guillotine.

Thinking about how the emperor desired for me to survive and live well enough to upset the Olleanna Duchy and go against his only heir,I felt a bit guilty that I was so readily awaiting my death to the point of already setting goals for my next life.

“Hey!Prisoner!”

I turned towards the banging of the metal door and the shuffling of keys.Everybody has already dropped all honorifics……how hilarious.Just a while ago,they would not even dare whisper in front of me.

The door slammed open,and the guard stared down at me as if I was garbage.He clicked his tongue and pointed at me.

“Get up woman!It’s time.”

I found it annoying but I was in no position to refute.Even the orphanage treated me better than this.I stubbornly pushed myself off the cold stone floor and shuffled towards the guard with my head down.

“Tsk!You’re too slow!Hurry up!”

The guard grabbed me roughly by the forearm and dragged me through the dungeon corridor. Due to the sudden movement,I stumbled to keep up pace.

His hand would probably leave a bruise,considering how skinny my arms have become.At least he didn’t slap me,like they did at Olleanna.

The atmosphere was something I was used to,as I was dragged around against my will,sneered at by onlookers,I wanted to laugh at how pathetic I was.The journey was quick,luckily,as we arrived at a shabby looking carriage.

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“How shameless of you,despite threatening the life of the crown princess,you still get to enjoy the luxury of riding in a carriage”The guard sneered at me,voice dripping with venom.

I had no energy so I just ignored him and the curious stares.

I prepared myself for impact as I felt his grip tighten in preparation to toss me into the carriage like a sack of potatoes when I heard a familiar cry.

“Sister!”

I turned to the source of the intrusion,only to see a teenage boy with fluffy dark brown hair and vibrant yellow eyes like fireflies in the night. He was being held back by the knights but I could still hear and see how desperate he was.

My only ally,the only family by my side,my younger cousin that stuck to my side like a puppy to his owner,Oliver.The only decent person left in Olleanna,he was dragged there unwillingly just like me,and because of his peculiar personality,he was never treated as an actual Olleanna.He reminded me of the younger punks at the orphanage so I basically took responsibility and raised him myself.

Even if I was sad,I could not respond to him.With me gone,Oliver whom was the closest to me,could be targeted next.I don’t want to give those jerks a reason to give Oliver a hard time.They might even accuse him of conspiring with a traitor.So I couldn’t make eye contact.

The guard was distracted but still held onto me,so I stepped into the carriage myself,rather than waiting to be tossed like a ragdoll.Noticing this,the guard grumbled and clicked his tongue.Seeing how he was embarrassed,I was satisfied even though he put plenty of strength into slamming the door shut.

Sorry Oliver,this older sister was harsh on you to the end.

With no time to say any goodbyes,the carriage started to move.I could only stare outside the window at the sobbing Oliver.

“Sister!”He had stopped trying to pass through the guards.

For the first time,I saw Oliver steadfast and determined.

“I’ll go find you!”He shouted one last time before waving awkwardly goodbye.

I felt the tears start to flow out from my eyes,falling on my cheek and leaving a salty taste in my mouth.I nodded my head.

Yah you punk.

You better pay me back for raising you so well.

**************************************

Lloyd fidgeted as he stared down at the shabby carriage departing from the castle,inside,the woman who he had always felt inferior to.The woman who despite having nothing,always stood proudly,while he,who had everything,was wrecked with inferiority.

That is,until,his saviour,the love of his life,Angelica Cellino.A fragile and delicate girl who had appeared out of nowhere from the countryside.

The moment he made eye contact with her angelic silver eyes,he felt the need to protect her.It was annoying that other men had started to cling to her,but he was confident,since his angel had always reassured him that he was the one she loved.

And yet,that vile woman still dared to harm her!

One day,Angelica had come crying to him,sobbing that Maribelle had ripped up her dress and embarrassed her at a gathering.

How impertinent!

How dare she touch his woman!

However,he could never accept his father’s decision,so why did he side with her?Does his own father think she is better than him too?!

He needed to be assured he would never see her again.

“This is to protect Angelica….I…I’m not doing anything bad.”

He reassured himself that he was doing the right time,he was enacting justice that his father was too cowardly to.

“I…..I’m doing the right thing.”

He just had to make sure the job was done right.