Aideen's body froze upon hearing the unbelievable words. Loreiley looked at her, completely bewildered by the news. However, the fiery eyes full of hate of the courtisans pierced her like thousands of needles through her flesh. She looked at her parents, seeking comfort, but all that greeted her was the cold, empty gaze of her father. There were absolutely no emotions behind his glassy blue eyes. It wasn't her father that she was facing; it was the king, and she was nothing more than a mere subject.

"Lock her in the dungeon," commanded the king.

The Queen collapsed on her throne as Aideen fell to her knees. With her face against the floor, she cried and shivered.

"Father! Father, please! This is a mistake! I didn't! I'd never!"

The King stood frozen, allowing his knights to grab her roughly.

"Father! Sister! Please! Believe me!"

Loreiley stood motionless on her throne, completely dazed, while the King remained as still as marble, showing no signs of emotion.

🦢🦢🦢

"It feels so cold," whispered the Princess, looking at her reddened fingers.

Her breath created a fog that slowly dissolved in the freezing air. Half-lying on the straw floor, she stayed motionless, caught in a distant daze.

She didn't even notice the two shadows approaching her.

"Are you sure, Your Highness?" asked a low, rough voice.

"Do not worry, I will remain unharmed," responded Loreiley, "So please, let me talk to her alone."

The soldier was conflicted between obeying the Princess or following his duty. But a glance at her face swayed him with her imploring eyes and trembling lips.

"Do not hesitate to shout if you need help."

She nodded vigorously, and her gaze didn't leave his back until he was too far to be seen.

"Loreiley?" asked Aideen weakly.

Her sister lowered herself to match her height.

"The courtisans are convinced you killed our brother," she announced, brushing the white cheek of the destitute Princess.

Anyone who witnessed this scene wouldn't have guessed that both of them shared the same blood.

The older sister, with her sun-kissed skin, full red lips, and long wavy brown hair covering her shoulders, contrasted with the porcelain-like figure of Aideen.

"They pretend that you planned to take his position as the heir to the crown. That you are a disciple of the Dark Mage."

"B-But y-you know th-that's not the t-truth!" stuttered the culprit between her tears.

A warm compassion lit her brown eyes as she tenderly stroked the soft peach skin of her sister.

"I believe you, Aideen. I believe you."

The young Princess' heart was lighter upon hearing the words she had dreamt being pronounced. Loreiley continued to gently touch her face.

Before she had the chance to utter a sound, a firm pain forbade her to breathe. Loreiley's fingers were firmly tightened around her slender neck.

"Because I was the one who killed him. You stupid bitch!"

"Hugh-hugh."

A sadistic smile stretched on her beautiful lips.

"Your brother was completely clueless! He opened his arms ready to hug me! You should have seen the look on his face when he received the first stab."

"Lor-hugh!"

"But I honestly expected a little bit more from their Majesties. It only took a vial of blood to convince them-My blood, of course, but that is our little secret," she whispered with the satisfaction of a cat catching its prey. "You won't tell, hein?"

She let go of her grip. Aideen slipped on the floor, panting violently as her blurry vision became clearer.

"W-Where...i-hugh-Ar-Arien."

The betrayer's face became cold and tense before her traits relaxed.

"I made sure he wouldn't be able to come and save you. You should quit your fantasy; your execution is scheduled for tomorrow, and nothing will stop it from happening."

Aideen's heart was bleeding as she failed to understand or believe what was happening. Her tears streaked her face with wet lines, and her face distorted from pain. She was nothing like the beautiful being she was hours ago.

'Look at you, this appearance suits you, sister, you are as ugly as your heart,' she thought.

"W-Why?"

Loreiley grabbed the Princess' chin. Aideen flinched, feeling the sharp nails plunging into her jaw.

"That you will never know. I just wanted to see your face when you realized that I was the murderer."

She pulled her closer and whispered, "Canseryo."

Aideen felt her tongue being tied in her mouth. She opened her mouth, but no sound escaped her closed throat.

"Now goodbye, I have to prepare myself for the execution."

She rose from the floor and headed back to the stairs.

"You are...my family."

The voice of Aideen echoed under the low ceilings of the prison. Loreiley turned her face and gently smiled at her.

"You aren't mine."

Those last words managed to crush the remnants of her wounded heart.

🦢🦢🦢

'Why?'

Those words drowned her mind. Her nails dug into her tear-streaked cheeks as she shook uncontrollably.

'Why?'

Loreiley had only seen her for a few minutes. A few minutes for her to contemplate the result of her scheme before becoming bored. But those few minutes turned her sister into an empty shell.

'Why?'

Aideen searched every memory her mind contained and did not find a memory that would justify her actions.

'Why?'

She had no tears left to shed, but her haggard eyes and open mouth made her look miserable.

'Why?'

Something clicked as the lock opened. Footsteps rattled the stone floor. Cold metallic gauntlets grabbed her bare skin. Her toes brushed the dirt as she was lifted. Her legs moved on their own, following the soldiers out. She didn't even budge when sharp stone cut her feet. She continued to walk, leaving behind her prints of blood. In reality, Aideen of Svenja didn't feel or notice anything, still caught in a paralyzed mind.

'Why?'

The soldiers acted emotionless, leading her to the balcony where her life would be ended. But one of them felt his heart sink with guilt, looking at her dazed eyes and miserable appearance. He let go of his firm grip, looking at the bluish bruises appearing around his hand.

He didn't know why he felt so considerate towards a criminal, someone whose life would be ended and where a few bruises wouldn't matter anymore. But the fresh memory of the youthful young girl, running excitedly around the rooms of the palace hand in hand with her twin, lingered in the empty hallway.

He closed his eyes, getting rid of the forbidden thoughts tempting him, and quickened his pace. Around him, no one thought the same as him.

"We are here today to execute a Dark wizard who committed the worst crime that could be committed: the murder of the Crown Prince. For deceiving the kingdom, conveying the throne, using forbidden magic, and murdering royal blood. You will be put to death."

Aideen lifted her chin slowly and faced her father blankly. She didn't know when or how she was brought to this place, but she quickly figured out the purpose. The Queen was nowhere to be seen. Loreiley was sitting in her stead, wearing a simple deep purple dress. Her doll-like face was full of sorrow, and her eyes were red.

"Do you have any last words?" inquired Loreiley.

Aideen stayed silent and continued to stare at Loreiley. Sensing the weight of her glare, the true culprit locked eyes with her sister. A smile escaped her lips for a quarter of a second.

"I... I do."

Pronouncing those words cleared up the fog that clouded her mind. She stood tall and perfectly calm, but her eyes shot daggers.

No one was going to save her.

No one believed her.

No one loved her.

A devious smile stretched her lips as she looked at her current state and her miserable incapability. She smiled like a madwoman and cried at the same time.

"The balance of justice will redistribute my pain equally to those who deceived me. You may think I am gone, but I will always haunt you."

She paused and looked at the sky. Circling around the sun, ravens were flying in the sky, briefly masking the rays of the sun.

"I will be like those ravens. A bad omen that will follow you forever."

Loreiley looked at her with a confused expression as around her, she perceived the echoes of the angry crowd underneath her.

Her voice became brutal and deep.

"SO YOU WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME!"

Ravens flew down the balcony. Everything became feathers and darkness. The soft touch of them brushed her. Screams of fear and horror fused everywhere but were drowned in the music of their flapping wings.

Aideen stayed with her eyes open, looking silently at her sister.

"KILL HER NOW!"

The last thing she saw was the puzzled eyes of Loreiley.

🗡️🦢🗡️🦢🗡️

"It's a beautiful girl!"

Marianna smiled proudly at the newborn crying in her arms. She planted a kiss on the red fiery hair of her daughter.

"You're still here?" she asked the bird perched at the window.

It hadn't left her side since the beginning of her labor. The raven tilted its head before flying toward the eclipse.