Four heavily armored guards escorted me through the dungeon and through the halls of the castle. Each person had a chain linked to the shackles that I was wearing on my wrists and feet, the guards at the front pulling on them if I lagged. They did not stop walking until we were in the middle of the town square, which was filled to the brim with people from all walks of life. There weren’t usually this many people in attendance, and I’d heard there weren’t many executions open to the public. But this was a highly controversial case. It’s not every day a highborn gets tried and executed in the reign of Henry the Young, first of his name, King of Aldervolf, Protector of Men and the Occult, One True Heir of the Greater Volfenheim Empire. The Crown erected bleachers to accommodate the public. I saw a bunch of my old classmates among them, whispering to themselves, pointing at me. Some were sneering, thinking I deserved it. Only a handful of people looked like they pitied me.
I stuck my chin up in the air and looked ahead to appear nonchalant, but it was a terrible mistake. I saw the three gallows in the middle of the town square. Each wooden structure had five men hanging by their necks, dead, feet swaying in the air as if swinging along with the breeze.
I was shocked to my core, but quickly adjusted my expression. It was a harrowing sight, but I couldn’t take my gaze away from the bodies. I couldn’t tell who was who. The executioner had removed their head coverings, revealing their puffy, purple faces, bulging eyes, and dangling tongues. They had twisted necks, and their heads were bent at an unusual angle. And if that weren’t horrifying enough, the corpses were disemboweled, presumably while they were still alive, and their entrails were left hanging from their bodies.
My heart was pounding hard on my chest, my vision blurred and spun, and I felt my strength and resolve leaving me as my knees folded. I collapsed on the muddy path, dry heaving. Bouts of laughter erupted from the crowd and I shut my eyes tightly, face red in shame.
I was going to die.
I will suffer the same fate as my friends.
Everyone will see, and everyone will cheer as I die.
They would leave our corpses in the town square for weeks, months... until the strain of the rope, our weight, or gravity ripped our heads from the necks. Our rotting bodies will be a warning to anyone who will even think about defying the will of the king. They will defile and inter me in an unmarked grave, never to be found again. I will forever be remembered as a traitor—a kingslayer, even though I failed...
“Get up!” I heard a guard roar at me, and when I didn’t budge, they pulled on the chains of my shackles, further damaging my raw wrists.
This is it, I thought. I reached the last moments of my brief life. Defenseless, friendless, weak... while my enemies sneered and cheered. I was scared, really terrified. But I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry and break.
Screw them.
Two guards released me from the shackles, but I couldn’t escape even if I tried. They grabbed each of my arms and led me to a tall scaffold. They almost carried me to prevent another tripping spectacle. I did not expect the small tree stump and a basket I found lying on the plank. No gallows. My scaffold was directly in front of the monarch’s platform. They reserved death by hanging for the commoners. I was going to die as a noblewoman. They, at least, gave me that.
I first looked the king in the eye before giving the Empress Regent my full attention. We locked gazes until a herald in full regalia marched in front of the audience, presenting a piece of parchment with the Volfenheim Royal Seal.
“Her Royal Highness Princess Selina Mary Persephone of Rozenberg,” the herald announced loud and clear, making everyone silent. “A jury of your peers has condemned you to death by beheading, with the judge’s sentence and compliance with the law in this state. Is there anything you’d like to say before we carry out the court’s decision?”
“Yes,” I replied. Shaking like a leaf, I looked the young monarch right in the eye, making him uncomfortable. “I will not make excuses and I am not blaming you for my actions, but all that I’ve done, I did them with only your well-being in mind. My only regret was I couldn’t save you from them...”
I looked down as tears welled up in my eyes as memories flooded back. The king should not see me in this state. I smiled at him, wiping my face inconspicuously and trying my hardest to appear happy. “Nevertheless, thank you for letting me get to know you as I did. For loving me and showing me kindness, and for sharing with me your hopes and dreams. For being my first and only friend when no one will. I truly love you with all of my heart. My lord and my king, I ...
Henry broke eye contact and leaned towards his mother before whispering something to her. The regent motioned with her hand and, almost instantly, a pair of boot-clad feet stomped heavily on the stairs of my platform. I turned to look and saw a big man wielding an enormous sword. They dressed him in a vomit-colored shirt and brown pants, and there was a black sack over his head. It was the executioner. His assistant, also wearing the same get-up, was not far behind him.
I bowed my head and smiled ruefully. Henry couldn’t wait to see me die. This was the man who promised me the moon and the stars. The man who vowed to give me everything my heart desired. The man who repeatedly broke my heart, cheated on me, and humiliated me. I was a Rozenberg, a highborn, and he replaced me with some filthy little she-wolf!
I clenched my fists so hard that my palms bled. After everything I’ve done for him, this was the thanks I received. With murderous eyes, I raised my gaze to the king and his mother.
“Since His Majesty is so adamant to take my head,” I declared. “Perhaps he should get it himself.”
_______
“Inform the envoy that we will provide financial assistance,” I heard my father say as I approached the open door to his office in the castle. King Saul was standing in front of the large glass window, looking over his realm with his back to us. “Inform them that the kingdom is also offering asylum to Draconian refugees. They do not need to bring their passports. Our borders are open to them, and we will provide them with whatever they require, including food, lodging, and employment. Also, please request that the Royal Treasury send me a report on...” The Monarch suddenly stopped when he noticed me through the window’s reflection. He promptly turned, and I took it to mean he acknowledged me and permitted me to enter. I stepped across the office’s threshold but did not go any further. The Royal Herald looked up from his tablet phone when my father stopped dictating, confused. The man did not notice me at first, but when he did, the king meaningfully looked at him and the herald unders
I could tell Henry was on edge. I could hear it in the monarch’s heartbeat. I could smell it in the scent he gave off. Selina of Rozenberg, his future bride, was visiting Aldervolf to study. The Crown had planned a State Reception for her, complete with ceremonies, dinner, and gun salutes, but she was days late, rendering everything they had planned useless. The reception would still happen, just not today, when she finally arrived. All kinds of gatherings were prohibited once the monthly lockdown was in effect. “I hope Selina doesn’t mind,” Henry muttered under his breath as he twirled his pen in his fingers repeatedly while he read file after file of paperwork. He must be desperate to finish all of it by tonight. I mean, he should, but whatever. I stopped bouncing my rubber ball on the wall of my sister’s laboratory to stare at the overworked king. I heard from other people that the Destined Queen—that’s what she was called around here— was pompous, self-obsessed, and overbearing.
“Selina is not at the border.” My eyes widened in alarm. “Are you sure?” “Yes! I just checked with the border patrol. Her carriage was nowhere in sight.” Henry paced back and forth in front of me, biting one thumb and fiddling with his phone with the other. A classic telltale sign: he was worried sick. “I can’t contact Selina!” “When was the last time you heard from her?” “At one o’clock this afternoon,” Henry answered, pressing his mobile phone to his ear again, attempting to call his fiancé. A missing royal, especially one of her importance, was never a good thing. This could spark civil discontent among the nobility and subjects… or perhaps cold war, between the kingdom of Rozenberg and the Empire. Everyone knew that Volfenheim was unrivaled in terms of power, but that kingdom, little as it was, was too valuable to cut off. We relied on that little archipelago for its agricultural exports. The Crown was also deeply indebted to them, monetary speaking. If Selina died in our terr
I squeezed the trigger on my handgun the moment the tramp in front of me moved. I was nimble, but the guy was much faster. Inhumanely so. Tried as I might to keep up with him, shooting at him, but my bullets were at least a millisecond slower, thus only hitting air and the soil surrounding us. When I had emptied my barrel, I knew it was futile to resist, so I closed my eyes, expecting a painful death that never came. There was growling, groaning, and scuffling behind me, like dogs fighting to the death. I opened my eyes, spun around, and took several steps back. On the ground, the guy was grappling with someone or something. It was thin, lanky, and dark. The head looked like a sickly, fur-less dog. My eyes widened in alarm as I realized, with the help of the large white moon, that it was a werewolf. I became acutely aware of my surroundings. I could hear growling and snarling from everywhere. The darkness of the Pass concealed them, but I knew we were surrounded. Hearing a pained yel
“What do you mean, he’s not there?” Everyone could hear the distraught in my voice, but I didn’t care. I was already cranky, tired, hungry, sweaty, my head hurt, and the mesh fabric of the lacy dress I was wearing was already clinging to my skin, making me itch all over. They don’t look like it, but I’m sure both Becca and Helena felt the same way. “For their own protection, we separate the royal family during this time of the month,” Mitchell answered. “Once the full moon lockdown is in effect—” “Full moon lockdown?” Becca piped up. “What is that?” I casted a sidelong glance at the other girl for interjecting in our chat, but I couldn’t blame her; lockdowns weren’t as common in Rozenberg as they were in Volfenheim. “It’s a safety precaution implemented during the full moon to prohibit people from leaving or entering the kingdom or other locations, Your Grace.” The pilot looked uncomfortable, pulling on his collar. “We’ve been doing this since the Occults came ten years ago. You w
I held my breath as I poured the black liquid from the pot onto my bone china cup, under the watchful eyes of Henry’s mother, Empress Camilla. The breakfast table was already set, but there were no servants to serve them, just like how the sovereign liked it. I then poured oat milk with practiced grace. To avoid spilling and touching the sides, I stirred my tea back and forth rather than in a circular motion. I took a small sip from my cup before resetting it on the saucer with barely a clink. It was the morning following the tense encounter with the werewolves at Lupine Pass. Camilla arranged for us to have breakfast in the garden, surrounded by fragrant pine trees and shrubbery, and warmed by the morning sun. It was lovely. But the air was tense and filled with nervous energy. I felt nauseous. My future mother-in-law was friendly, smiling, and a delightful host, but I couldn’t help but feel under intense scrutiny. Like everything was a test. Even Becca could feel it, and I was glad
“What’s with the interrogation?” We all turned to see a dark-haired boy blinking back at us. He was tall, slender, and had a fair complexion. Pretty brown freckles dotted his round face; his long, straight nose was giving him a snobby look, but his light blue eyes were shining with mischief. Dressed in a casual sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers, he looked like a normal teenager. It was the empire’s 16-year-old spare heir. The king’s little brother, Frederick. “Freddy!” The empress jumped up to hug her son. You could tell she missed him. “Good morning, mom.” The boy wrapped his arm around his mother and closed his eyes, enjoying their embrace. It was refreshing to witness male royals being affectionate to their mothers. Helena touched her abdomen, as though yearning for my baby brother to be as loving as Frederick when he grew up. I smiled, hoping for the same for my future children. “Good morning, everyone,” another voice declared. We all stopped and looked, and it took everything I
“Can I help you?” came a voice from beside me, and I almost jumped in surprise. A woman was standing by the bookstore’s doorway, a few feet away from me. She had silver hair that looked flat and thin, like a grandma, but her skin was free of wrinkles. She must be in her mid to late twenties. “Oh, no, I’m just looking while waiting for my fiancée,” I replied. “Be careful with the book. It’s ancient.” “Excuse me?” The woman stared at her for a few more seconds before vanishing inside the store without a word. “Rude,” I muttered under my breath as I leafed through the book again before slamming it close. I was about to place it back on the shelf when I noticed I was holding an old leather-bound volume. The embossed golden letters on the cover read: Grimoire. I let out a little shriek and dropped the item as if it burned me. “Ew, ew, ew!” I wagged my hands in front of me as if getting rid of something revolting in my hands. What was a witch’s bible doing in a place like this? “Becc