⚠️T/w: Death, execution, and suicide⚠️
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The news about the Darklane district spread to the ends of the empire quicker than a forest fire during the dry season. The topic made its way into the newspapers, magazines, and people's gossip.
 
It finally became a top scandal among nobles when it was announced that Duke Hawthorne's daughter was arrested for dabbling in black magic and was to be executed in the next three days.
 
The perfect daughter of Hawthorne, who occupies a prominent position in society, is nothing but a witch and a fake. The fickle nobles carried this rumor around; it became the most discussed topic at tea parties and social gatherings.
 
"Maybe that's how she was able to seduce men into falling head over heels for her! So disgusting!"
 
"I actually looked up to her! She was like a shining light; fortunately, I have seen her true colors now."
 
Madeline was, in fact, the happiest when she heard about her sister's execution. Finally, she had gotten what she wanted for so long. It was so hard to keep her happiness within her; if she suddenly started singing and dancing while her sister was about to be killed and her parents were still in a coma, fingers would be pointed at her.
 
So she locked herself in her room, wearing only black, simple clothes without makeup, to pretend like she was mourning. The servants could only pity Madeline; her sister is now the Empire's enemy, and her parents fell into a deep coma due to depression. Her family is falling apart.
 
The only servant who actually knew Madeline's true color wept for her mistress as her resentment grew for Madeline. She suspects Madeline of also putting her parents in a coma. Such a cunning demon.
 
Christopher Wallace, who is Amelia's fiance, also heard about Amelia's execution and was pitied and considered lucky for almost entering an everlasting relationship with a witch.
 
But he was also ridiculed by Amelia's ex-admirers for courting a witch, like they weren't in love with Amelia at the beginning. They just did it to spite Christopher, an average son of a Viscount who stole their 'woman' but, in the end, got a demon as a companion. They can say it's the taste of his own medicine.
 
Christopher visited the Duke's mansion to meet with Madeline. He sat in their reception while the servant went to alert Madeline of his arrival. After a while, Madeline enters the reception wearing a floor-length black gown without her usual makeup or accessories.
 
Christopher started laughing, but Madeline wasn't pleased with his laughter. She pouted and folded her arms.
 
"What's funny?" She asked him, annoyed.
 
"You are mourning?" He answered her with another question. Madeline was such a cunning woman whose intelligence wasn't acknowledged. He liked that about her. He met Madeline after he and Amelia got engaged. Madeline was slow to warm up to him, but one day, she finally told him how she felt.
 
He wasn't sure about such a relationship. She was his fiancee's sister, but soon he got addicted to the thrill of having a secret relationship. The more time he spent with Madeline, the more his mind became closed off to Amelia. He started to see her as a vain woman with excessive pride who turned him into an object of mockery amongst his brothers. And Madeline, a graceful, mature, and intelligent yet misunderstood woman. He was attracted to her and wanted to make Madeline his
 
It was unknown to him that Madeline didn't feel the same way about him but was using him as payback for the many years she felt wronged by Amelia.
 
Now he is more like a trophy of accomplishment. She took everything that belonged to Amelia; besides, she already started to have blossoming feelings for him, so why not continue to toy with him?
 
"Why? Should I wear fancy clothes and be  criticized?" She retorted back. He smiled and sat next to her.
 
"I thought your plan was going to fail after you told me she already found out; I was honestly disturbed."
 
"Don't you have any faith in me?" Christopher buried his head on her shoulders and inhaled her sweet smell.
 
"Of course I do." He kissed her neck lightly. "I never for once doubted you." He held her close and kissed her forehead.
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Meanwhile~
 
After the execution announcement, Madeline paid the maid for her 'services' and arranged for her to leave Veridian with her parents almost immediately.
 
Ignus was a small town about 10 kilometers away from Veridian. Not many people reside in the town, and the folks seemed to know each other. Her parents were very satisfied with their new way of life; they associated with other town folk and seemed to enjoy living in Ignus.
 
She, on the other hand, still felt guilty about what she did and regretted it. The news about Amelia's execution broke something in her. She felt unclean and evil.
 
Her parents noticed their daughter's behavior, and it troubled them greatly. The daughter looked dull compared to those days before they became helpless in poverty. Their daughter had to start working as a maid to fend for them; since then, she has always been troubled. But there was nothing they could do; she didn't tell them about what she was experiencing.
 
Her mood became worse as the day of the execution came closer. She couldn't stand it anymore; she took a paper and pen and began to write down her deepest thoughts.

 
'Dear Father and Mother,
 
I am indeed very sorry for this, but the guilt overwhelmed me, and I can't bear to move on.
I have done a wicked and heinous thing; I am not fit to be your child. I fear that I may contaminate you if I stay longer.
 
You see, I have killed a fellow human. Although you taught me to value all life, I didn't follow your instructions. My greed and haste have implicated me. I am filthy and the spawn of evil. Now I shall return to the fiery pit from whence I came.
I am still sorry.
 
Marlene.' 
 

Her parents' hearts were filled with grief while reading the letter Marlene left behind on the desk before hanging herself in her bedroom.
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The day of the execution finally came. A high platform was raised in the middle of the town with three sturdy guillotines placed on them. Their blades were so sharp that they instilled a chilling sense of fear in the commoners that passed by them. The silver reflected the evening sun's rays into the eyes of passersby.
 
The hour of death was upon the three women, who were cuffed on both hands and ankles and escorted out of the prison by numerous guards. They were loaded into a black carriage with bars on the window side.
 
Nothing was said while the carriage was in motion. They finally got to the town square; the door was opened, and each of them came down from the carriage led by guards to the high platform.
 
This wasn't a sight for children to behold, so parents were advised to lock their houses and have guards watch out for children on site. The Emperor was seated in a viewing box made especially for him and his ministers.
 
The guards lined up the women at each guillotine. The three of them shook with fear as they approached the horrible mechanism. Three masked men wearing all black came forward to the guillotine. They were the executioners; it was customary for the executioners to be covered head to toe during an execution.
 
A guard rolled out a scroll and reads aloud, "Amelia Hawthorne, Victoria Blackwood, and Eliza Mathews. You three are sentenced to death by beheading for the practice of black magic in the Empire of Light, with the liberty of having last words."
 
The Emperor stood in his viewing box and said, "Will you three confess your crimes and reveal the location of the cult of black magic?"
 
"We don't know!" Eliza screamed at the Emperor. Her heart had already broken into a million pieces, and she was still a bit grateful for her younger ones not being here to see her die disgracefully.
 
"You are weak and pathetic. Punishing and maltreating innocent people for a crime we didn't commit!" Tears fell from Victoria's face; it was the first time the two women saw her crying. Victoria glared at the Emperor with anger and hatred. The Emperor scoffed.
 
"Please, we didn't do anything!" Amelia spoke in a small voice. She looked weak and pale. Her blue eyes no longer had their shine, and her hair looked dry and knotted. She was sickly. She has already lost all hope. Even if she escapes the guillotine, she will die later.
 
The Emperor scoffed and looked around before focusing on the women, who glared at him with the same amount of disgust and disdain he expressed toward them.
 
"Those are wonderful last words, but unfortunately, you didn't play your cards right." The Emperor spoke, "Veridian, behold the evil that needs to be purged from our society!" The commoners whispered amongst themselves, the nobles pointed their fingers in spite, and other influential people of the Empire shook their heads.
 
"Go on with the execution!" The executioner opened the bracket and placed their heads in it, then closed it back. Each woman was white with fear as they prepared for their deaths.
 
"Before we commence their execution, Let's pray for their souls, as they will find forgiveness in the eyes of our mother of  light." The guards said as they started the prayer of the executioned. The women too said their own words of prayer, simultaneously wishing for a way to pay back the people who wronged them.
 
The executioners held the ropes holding the blade of the guillotine. "So shall it be!" The people chorused at the end of the prayer, and the rope was let loose.
 
The metallic slice of the blade filled the air as people looked away in horror at the gory sight. Immediately after this happened, storm clouds gathered in the air, and an intense wind blew over the town square. The people shielded their faces from the wind. After that, thunder resounded in the town square, making them run in fear.
 
The face of a woman was made in the clouds, which frightened everyone even more. The guards escorted the Emperor and his ministers out of the viewing box. There was pandemonium in the town square.
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Amelia felt something soft beneath her. She opened her eyes and saw a gold and white room with a crystal chandelier at the center of the ceiling.
 
"What?" She sat up and met the two ladies sleeping at her side. "Did we go to heaven?"
 
Amelia looked around the room; it seemed like a study. A work desk at the end of the room with elegant bookshelves on the walls painted gold. Different sculptures and flowers are suspended in the air.
 
A four-seater and a gold coffee table at the center. A fireplace under two staircases leads to a grand door. Amelia was in awe of her surroundings.
 
"Is this a dream? I thought I was dead" Amelia touched her neck in surprise and paled immediately. She felt a ring around her neck where her head was severed from her body. She looked at Victoria and Eliza's necks too, and she saw the same neck scar on them too.
 
Victoria tossed and turned, as did Eliza, before they eventually woke up.
 
"What's this?" Eliza asked, squinting her eyes while looking around. Victoria's mouth hung open.
 
"We died!" Amelia said to them. They both felt a chill up their spines when she told them. At least they were in a nicer place. No one was going to hurt them anymore; they felt relieved. The grand doors opened, and a woman descended the stairs. She wore a gold dress, and she looked very beautiful and powerful.
 
"My dear children!" She approached and hugged them. The three gave her a weird look. "Sorry, you must be confused!" She made a dazzling smile.
 
"I am Aurora, goddess of light and patron of the Veridian Empire." And they wondered how a goddess would treat them with such familiarity.