The door to the dungeon heavily creaked open, and I stepped inside. The smell was foul and rusty. The sound of my steps and those of my two male servants echoed faintly across the corridor. The deeper and further we went inside, the smell of blood reached my nose.

The edges of my skirt immediately darkened to the dirty floor. But nothing I could do about it, I was a bit lazy to change my clothes as I will be changing anyway when I get out of here. Besides, I had to visit the dungeon immediately.

“This place certainly has gotten more lively than before.” Rogan remarked as he mildly shook his head with humor.

As I passed by, the guarding knights greeted me while surprised by my sudden presence in this dark place. We went another flight of stairs leading down, the prisoners should be on the floor below, reserved for more dangerous individuals.

Then, I passed by the door where multiple knights and priests stood in the corridor. What they guarded was a cell made up of stone walls, with only a thick metal door leading inside. I took a peek through the barred gaps in the center of that door, seeing knights and priests in there as well.

However, there was also a man tied down by shackles and chains. He was wounded terribly all over. Weakened so much, he was kneeling on both knees on the floor, his head lowered. One of the beastmen.

But he was not what I was looking for.

I faced one of the knights. “Take me to where their leader is being kept.”

The knight led us to the cell on the farther side of the corridor. The door was opened by the knight guarding it, and when I stepped inside, I covered my nose with my finger for a moment. Wow, the smell was even more terrible than outside, the stench of blood and… well, I don’t know, suffering?

Inside this cell was a tied beastman with dog ears. His state was pretty much the same as the other one I saw.

The moment I walked inside, he flinched and then slowly lifted his head. His eyes still bore strength within them.

I stood in front of him, but kept a few feet of distance.

“Hello, Arnaut… We met again.”

Of course he didn’t greet back.

“From what I learned, you never answered any questions at all. Despite how much suffering was inflicted upon you… what a remarkable character.”

We looked each other in the eyes.

“But in the end, I learned why you went after me… a prophecy~. You may be tough enough not to speak, but your allies do not share your integrity and endurance, well in regards to that topic anyway.”

His brow moved a little.

“It was foretold that I would destroy you all. Honestly, the more I think about it, the more pathetic your people seem to be.”

The chains moved a little.

I smiled slightly. “You fear me. And yet, I was never aware of your existence, but now I am.”

Strength grew within his eyes.

“That said, I do not know where you came from… Where are you from?”

His throat moved slightly. “... Even if I tell you, you will not be able to reach it.” he spoke for the first time.

“I see. Well, to be honest, I am not interested in that. If I am fated to get there, I’ll get there eventually, somehow, I suppose. And just as your dull prophecy said, I might arrive there and destroy everything that you love.”

The chains creaked, and the guards immediately pointed their weapons at him.

“... Y-You won’t.”

“Of course I won’t, I have no reason as of yet to go there. Nor do I care. Unlike you, I will not listen to some prophecy, I will not let it decide my fate.”

“Prophecies a-are absolutes…”

“Keep believing in that and it will indeed become absolute.”

Almost like how one goes to a fortune teller, and that said fortune teller tells your future. And then in time you begin to notice and say ‘it’s exactly what that woman said!’ You feel like, I don’t know, fulfilled that what she said came true.

You relied and believed the words of others that you disregard yourself. Don’t you think what you have done was just because of your own? You heard what the fortune teller said and because you liked it, you strived for it. And because it was spelled out to you, you noticed it, among the other things a person commonly ignores or forgets daily. What I’m saying is that in the end, it was through your own power that your future fortune came true.

“But I digress. I did not come here to talk about some prophecy.”

“...”

“I am curious about something… I set up a trap for you during the festival. I presented myself to you, and yet, there was not a sign of you. Where were you? I was sure you were in the city.”

“...”

No answer.

“Did you perhaps see through our trap?”

No changes in his expression.

“Or were you searching for an opportunity to attack me, but never found it?”

None. But then again, it would be impossible that there would never be an opportunity during all that time. And with their strength, they can make any opportunity they like in the scenario.

“Or perhaps you were waiting for something?”

“...”

The muscle at the bottom of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.

“Waiting… What were you waiting for? Backup? No…? Hmmm… Still, very strange you didn’t take the chance… Perhaps because, yes, perhaps because you didn’t need to take that chance to kill me there and then.”

His brow moved slightly.

“You’re not only targeting me, but my family as well.”

“...”

“I see. You are waiting for something to come… something that can take care of us in one fell swoop, perhaps?”

That’s what I may do. Why frantically take one target when a more powerful ally would come that can help you take out the rest of the targets easily? Kill two birds with one stone.

His facial muscles stiffened, and he lowered his eyes.

Too late.

“When… when are you attacking?”

“...”

“Arnaut… when?”

He raised his eyes, glaring at me. “I don’t know… even if I do, I will never tell you. My suffering here is small compared to what’s at stake.”

“Then we’ll just try talking to your friends.”

“Try as you might, they do not know as well.”

“I see. Those above you kept you in the dark.”

“...”

“But I assume they will attack the capital.”

His face twitched slightly.

While smiling, I said. “This much is alright for me. We’ll figure out when they’ll attack. As long as we know their target, we’ll make preparations, no matter what way they do it.”

He violently pulled the chains. “This I assure you, princess! Your preparation will not matter in the end! This I promise you!”

He glared at me intensely.

“We will see, beastman. Thank you for the help.”

I began walking towards the door.

“The prophecy will be averted!”

He shouted from behind me, followed by an audible thud. A knight must have smacked his face.

Sheesh, dogs really love to bark so loud. And so dramatic… like a husky.

The door to the prison cell closed, and I spoke with the knight that came with me in the cell.

“Ask the others when their backup forces will attack and how. They might know something.”

With that done, I began making my way back to the surface.

“That was nerve-wracking, princess. That guy really was angry at you.” said Rogan.

“The way you handled it, your highness, it's impressive. What conclusions have you made based on his answers?” Vernon asked.

“I theorize… the Empire.”

“The Empire?!” Rogan exclaimed in shock.

I said theorized, but I am certain. I just can’t say to them I’m certain because the evidence I have would question my actions behind the scenes.

“Are you sure, your highness?”

“A few ways to find out… Uncle needs to carry out his task more quickly and meticulously.”

***

Allie was lying down on her bed, it was currently early in the morning, just woken up. She was wearing her casual outfit. Her mind wandered as she gazed up at the ceiling, her thoughts leading to her friends.

She wondered how they were.

How were they being treated? Now that they were taken into custody, what would happen to them exactly? Surely they would be held in a prison, for the rest of their lives, perhaps. Although, it pained her to think that her friends would be kept there forever in the dark pits of the dungeon.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

She could still remember the agony there, of being trapped, nowhere to go but in the cell, her friends would surely experience the same more or less. Then her mind wandered to the time in the battle, the image of her friend dying flashed before her eyes again. She couldn’t help but think about it, it was almost haunting. It was saddening, too saddening for her to set aside.

It was not supposed to go that way, that was not how she hoped would happen. She did what she did to save them from dying. But in the end, she failed in some ways.

At least Arnaut is alive.

That made her happy. If he was alive, there would be hope for things to get better. Things may change. Someone might give them a second chance, perhaps the kind princess could give that.

There is always hope, even in the darkest places.

She rubbed her eyes before leaving her bed, stretching for a bit, and went for the door.

When she opened it, to her great surprise, there was a group of knights standing in front of her room. Yesterday there were only two, and they even forced her to stay in her room. She could not understand, but she let it be. But now, it was very strange.

“Stay inside.” a knight sternly said.

“What…? But why?”

“Stay inside, now.”

The knight pushed her back and immediately closed the door shut. She could not understand what was going on at all. And she grew anxious.

She slowly returned to her bed and sat down, holding her hands together. There was only silence as she waited. Where else could she go? What else could she do?

Something’s wrong.

She waited for some time until suddenly knights barged into her room.

“Wha—”

“Allie Jelimis.” the knight grabbed her by the arm.

Allie felt the cold metal shackles clasped into her wrists.

“What are you doing?!” she exclaimed.

“You are to be brought to the dungeon before your execution for the crimes of treason, espionage, and attempted assassination against royalty.”

With wide eyes in shock and disbelief, she stared into the knight’s eyes. He was serious. Execution. She could not understand.

“Execution…? W-What do you mean—”

“Let’s go!” he pushed her forward, to the outside of her room.

“Wait! Please stop!”

“Silence!”

“There must be a mistake! This can’t be—”

“There is no mistake, now move!”

He pushed her again. She could not believe this was happening. Her limbs trembled in terror, her eyes moist at the corners.

“T-There must be a mistake. The princess — please talk to the princess.”

“This is an order from the crown! The princess has no say in this. Now comply or I will strike you down!”

The knight pulled his sword and pointed it at her throat. Allie shrieked at how close and sudden the blade approached her neck.

“N-No…” she lowered her head, utterly confused by everything.

She stared at the shackles around her hands as she was led by the knights to that place… that dark place again. A place of suffering and darkness. She was overwhelmed by terror at the prospect of returning to that place. The closer she got, the heavier her feet felt. And when it was in sight, that door that led back into the pits, she couldn’t help but freeze.

“N-No — P-Please, I beg you. Don’t bring me back there… Please.”

She took a step back, her body trembling, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Move!” The knight forcefully pushed her forward.

“No! I don’t want to go back there! Please!”

The knight dragged her, ignoring the cries of desperation. The door opened, and she was brought below. Familiar walls, dirty and dark, the smell so foul and disgusting. Moments of suffering and the loneliness, all of it, even the torture, flashed before her eyes, as if she was reliving those moments again.

“N-No…” she wanted to run away, but the knights dragged her forward.

All she could do was cry.

A cell was opened, and she was thrown into the other side of the metal bars. Her eyes landed back to the outside, but the door locked close with an audible click.

“Please!”

She rushed to the metal bars, grasping them tightly as she fell into despair, eyes full of desperation.

The knights stood in front of her cell, guarding her.

“Please talk to the princess! Please let me talk to her.”

“Shut up! You have no right to talk to her.”

“Please… please let me talk to her… there must be some kind of misunderstanding.”

The knights looked away, ignoring her pleas, all of it.

She wept and sobbed, still begging them. Allie didn’t know how much time had passed, but it reached to the point that one of the knights groaned in annoyance at her unceasing begs.

“Dammit, what about I just consult with the princess, eh? This is hurting my ears.”

“If you want to. You can try.”

The knight left, and several minutes later, he returned.

“So, how is it?”

“The princess allowed a meeting.”

Upon hearing that, Allie raised her head, her eyes a little brighter.

“We’ll be taking her.”

“... Alright.”

The cell opened, and the knights propped her up. As she walked out of the dungeon, she noticed how dirty she had become already.

When the sunlight touched her skin once again, she felt a great wave of relief.

The knights brought her inside the palace to a room for guests. The door opened after a couple of knocks, and a familiar knight opened it.

He allowed them inside.

Allie immediately saw the princess sitting on a couch, sipping hot chocolate. When she realized Allie had entered, she covered it with a small plate.

“You may leave Allie for now.”

The knights that brought her here left and closed the door.

Allie smiled. “Princess…”

“Allie… why do you call for me?”

Allie was confused. “Why…? They.. they brought me to the dungeon and said they were going to execute me.”

“Oh yes, they are going to execute you along with the beastmen.”

“What…?” Allie’s eyes widened in disbelief. “But why? I… I did what you asked of me.”

“Yes, you did.”

“So why, why is this happening?”

“It is the order from the king himself. I have no right over the matter.”

“But… you’re the princess.”

“I am the youngest child, Allie. The youngest do not have official power or true authority, even more so in my case. I am essentially a decoration…”

“I don’t understand. We have a deal… you’re breaking our deal.”

“Am I? I fulfilled my end of the bargain.”

“W-We are heading for execution. You promised you would not kill my friends!”

“Yes… I said we will not kill your friends.” she pointed her hands at herself, sweeping to her servants, Vernon, Rogan, and Mera. “But what is happening to you now is not of my authority, nor my will.”

“No…” she shook her head, her face expressing pain. “This is not right.”

“Is it? Think back, Allie, who was there when we made that deal?”

Allie looked at every single person in front of her, the only ones that were in the dungeon, the time when they made that deal.

“Allie… it was only us. There was no representative for the king, nor any monarch. It was only me and them, and you. We are the only parties. As the third child, not even an heir to the throne, I cannot represent the crown in any official business without the king’s declaration or permission. I never even proclaimed myself as one. So what the king decreed is outside my power. In short, I broke nothing.”

“No… no…” Allie absolutely cannot believe what was happening. This was not right. “Princess… why? You… you could have prevented this.”

“Oh? But that was not a part of our terms.”

“...?”

“What were our terms again? For you to be freed and return to the kitchen. One that I have fulfilled. Have you not been freed and were able to cook again in your personal kitchen?”

“...”

“Although, I never mentioned how long it would last. But still, I fulfilled it.”

“...”

“Then another condition was for us not to kill any of your friends… Well, we certainly didn’t do anything against that. Defending you, to protect you from things such as this, was not part of our deal.”

Allie began shedding tears, crawling down to her cheeks, dropping to the floor. She was frozen, staring at the princess’s crimson eyes. They were different from before, the soft, kind, and beautiful eyes were gone.

“Why…?” she muttered. “... Why are you doing this?” Allie was brokenhearted. “Was this what you wanted ever since…?”

At that question, the princess merely smiled. Seeing that, Allie almost felt choking from her own breath, the perfect image she had for the princess broke apart, shattered into pieces. How could someone be this heartless?

“What did I do…?”

Why did she have to receive something so cruel?

“Allie. The moment you pushed that button, to release that beacon of light. What were your thoughts as you did it?”

“Huh…?”

“Was it for something along the lines of doing it for me? Or for yourself?”

“...”

“Or your thoughts were on your friends, for you to save them? To protect them?”

Allie lowered her gaze.

Then the princess continued. “As I thought… you did all that for your friends, despite what they did to you. You never did it for me. How could I ever trust you?”

She was right, her thoughts when she made the decision were for her friends’ sake. Not for the princess, nor was it for her own selfish reasons. It was all for her friends.

“And that is disappointing.”

“Princess…. please…”

“You will die with the ones you cared for the most. This time, Allie, there is no hope for you.”

“...” she had nothing to say. All that she could do was cry quietly, her chest in pain.

Wallowing in despair and hopelessness.

“Goodbye, Allie. This is the last time we’ll see each other. Take her away.”

Rogan had a delayed response to her order, as he himself seemed visibly shaken. He opened the door and had the knights drag Allie away from the room.

Allie, now feeling lifeless, where everything in her eyes seemed to have turned colorless, could only gaze at the princess, filled with disbelief, sadness, and regret, as the door closed. The last time she’ll ever see the light she believed to be her hope, but in truth, was the one that would burn her and reduce everything she had to ashes.

***

It was in the dungeon when footsteps echoed through the corridor, along with metals clanging. Allie was inside a cell, drained of life and light. Her eyes slowly lifted to see the beastmen being brought out, covered in dark metal shackles.

But upon seeing their state, her eyes widened. Her heart sank even more when she saw how terrible they looked, they were hurt so much. Almost like what she had experienced. Her heart ached intensely.

A knight approached her cell. “Take her out.”

They opened her cell to bring her out.

Then, Arnaut, as he passed by, took notice of her inside the cell. “What? What is the meaning of this? Why is she here?”

“...” she looked at him.

“Allie, no! You shouldn’t be here! Why?! After all that she did for you?!” he shouted to the humans.

“Shut it.” a knight hit him on the face with the blunt of his sword.

“Damn you! Don’t do this to her!” he gradually turned aggressive. But then golden chains wrapped around his throat, coming from a priest.

“Behave.”

The priest tightened the chains, choking him.

“Arnaut!” Allie tried running to him, but a knight pulled her by the shirt.

“Don’t get disorderly now.”

A moment later, the priest released Arnaut, and he kneeled to the floor, coughing. Then the priest said, “Go on.”

They continued onward. Allie being made to move forward following behind the beastmen. After arriving outside the dungeon, they were led to another place nearby.

It was in an open area, short grasses filled the ground, the surroundings full of guards, comprising knights and priests. At the center was a small platform, where a man in full dark armor was holding a massive sword, his face hidden in his helm. This was the place where the execution would take place.

After a certain distance from the platform, they were stopped and made to kneel.

Allie looked around, fear filling her heart.

Then, a man in formal clothing began to list out their crimes. However, Allie couldn’t hear him, all she could hear was the ringing in her ears.

Or perhaps, she just didn’t want to listen to him.

“Allie… Allie.”

A voice called to her, and she slowly turned her head to the one beside her, Arnaut.

“Allie… What have they done to you?” his face, despite the wounds he had all over, still showed extreme concern. Even though she brought them here… the reason they were here.

In truth, she didn’t know who to trust anymore, who to put her faith in. Everyone, every single one she trusted played her, used her. They showed their care and love, and yet, behind it all, it was for a purpose at the expense of herself.

She averted her eyes away.

She didn’t know what to say to him.

A beastman was made to walk towards the platform, and Allie watched as he was forced to lay down his head. The dark knight lifted his great sword and then swung it down. The head of the beastman Allie knew fell to the floor. Her heart ached, and tears welled up even more from her eyes. Her gaze stuck to the lifeless head, eyes still open.

“Allie… I’m sorry this happened to you.”

“Huh?” she slowly cast her gaze towards Arnaut.

“I… I shouldn’t have involved you in this.”

“...”

“It’s all my fault…” his eyes were wet with tears. “I’m so sorry.”

Another beastman was forced to walk towards the platform.

“Allie… please talk to me… I want to hear your voice once again.”

Allie looked into Arnaut’s eyes. “... I’m sorry, Arnaut… I’m the reason you’re here… I-If only I didn’t do anything… you would have been…” she quietly sobbed.

“It’s alright…” he tenderly smiled. “You only did what you thought was best… I understand that.”

“Please forgive me…”

“I forgive you.” he slowly pressed his forehead into her’s and grasped her hands. “Also… please forgive me for what I did to you…” he whispered.

“.... I forgive you…”

“Thank you… thank you… that means the world to me…”

She felt the warmth of his skin, a small relief. And yet… “I’m scared…”

“Yes…” he took a deep breath. “But… death is not the end. Our soul will be delivered to heaven, where the glory of the gods shines so bright. It will be alright, Allie.”

“Arnaut…”

“We will see each other in paradise. I know it. I will find you.”

She regretted fully what she had done. She shouldn’t have done what she did, she shouldn’t have betrayed her friends. She should have believed in them… or, to be exact, believed in Arnaut.

“Allie… be brave, okay?” his grasp tightened. “I love you.”

Before she knew it, he was pulled away from her, and she watched him becoming more distant. But he was still looking at her with a comforting smile on his face. He rested his head on a flat surface.

The dark knight raised his sword.

Allie and Arnaut still looked at each other.

Then, the blade fell down, and as it did, Arnaut closed his eyes, and then… his head fell to the ground, rolling.

Allie closed her eyes.

She could not bear to see him this way.

Without giving her time to grieve, she was tugged up and was pushed towards the platform. She opened her eyes to see the head of the one that cared for her lying on the floor, not even anyone caring for it. When she got close, she suddenly stopped and reached out for him.

She gently touched his cheek.

“I love you too…” she whispered. “You are… the best father I ever had. Thank you for everything.”

A knight pulled her up. She kneeled, and her head was pushed to rest down on a surface.

A shadow loomed, and the dark knight raised his sword.

Allie closed her eyes, recalling the best memories she had with those she loved. Their adventure as they made their way to this city, the thrill of failing and succeeding in making a dish, the times she made her friends taste the food she gave them, good or terrible… the smiles, the laughs, her moments with Arnaut. All became clear within her, as if she was reliving those moments again, and she was happy.

Then… the blade came down.

And here ends her story.