A voice said. A music for some, a holy sound for others . . . but empty words for me. It's the voice of the devil.

01

Face full of scars and dirt, hair frizzy and messy. Staring in front, eyes are dead. At this very moment, I'm starting to think of every decision I made. Every regret.

It's been days—even weeks since I was put here. I'm having flashbacks of that day. My body is starting to shiver.

"Xeiris Lumiere Paladin, first daughter of the Duke. You are sentenced to death, for making a grave sin, rebelling against the imperial family . . . and killing the Queen." I can still hear my voice as I try to defend myself.

"No! I didn't do-"

The bloody cold eyes of the imperial guard as he looked down on me were craved in my head. "The queen died because of black magic . . . who among in this kingdom can do that?"

"You're the only dark mage here."

Napahawak ako sa sarili ko nang manginig ako lalo. Nagtutubig na naman ang mga mata ko, nanlalabo.

Wala akong ginawa. . . hindi ko siya pinatay!

I bit my lower lip enough to make it bleed. How could I do that?! I can't even use magic!

They already tested it when I was just a kid! Hindi ko kayang gumamit ng mahika! Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ako pinayagang manirahan dito!

Walang lakas ang kamay ko na hawakan ang sarili ko nang mahigpit, wala itong tigil sa panginginig.

Ilene. My faithful maid. She died while trying to cover for me when we tried to escape from the royal guards.

Sir Conrad. The knight who swore his loyalty to me. He protected me 'til the very end as my knight.

Those two . . . those two were the only people in my home that I can fully trust. And they both died for me.

Linus. My beloved prince, who I thought of as my younger brother. Who sided with me until the very end, even though it was his mother who died. Hindi niya 'ko pinagdudahan, pinrotektahan niya 'ko hanggang dulo.

He was marked as a traitor too, and was proclaimed mentally ill after his mother died. He was locked in a tower.

Nagdurugo ang labi kong tuyo dahil sa diin ng pagkakakagat ko rito. Dumiin ang sira-sira ko ng kuko sa sementadong kinauupan ko, nanlilisik ang mga matang nakatingin sa kawalan.

His face is carved in my mind, thinking I could kill him with a mere imagination.

That fucking Sullivan! He already has everything that he wants! ANO PA ANG GUSTO NIYA?!

Nag-igting ang bagang ko nang maalala ang lalaking 'yon. My fiancé, the soon-to-be king of Solucia, the ruler of this kingdom. I was ready to marry him, to do my duties as the queen and his wife. To give him heirs and build this kingdom.

It's the purpose of my life, I was born to be a queen.

My anger turns into self-pity and sadness.

But even though I was perfect. I wasn't enough for him. I was never enough.

Mababa ang tingin ko, nakatulala lang ako rito. Nakaupo sa madilim at malamig na selda. Unti-unti, may naaninagan akong paa sa harapan ko, dahilan ng dahan-dahang pag-angat ng mga mata ko.

As I slowly look up, I recognize the person in front of me.

Growing up, I was always told that we look alike, that I inherited most of my features from him. But I always knew that they were just empty words.

His dark violet hair is far different from mine which is magenta. His face is perfectly toned, compared to mine that is round. His brows are thick soft arches, mine are flat. Even our personalities are different, I was always the social butterfly—the kind and compassionate lady. He was cold as ice, an emotionless duke.

The only thing we have in common, is our golden eyes. And how we look as if our eyes are lifeless. Still, I've always tried to hide mine, but he always looks at me with those eyes of his.

My father, the duke and only swordmaster of Solucia—the hero of the kingdom, Duke Viren Paladin.

Nakatayo lang siya sa harapan ko, mababa ang tingin sa akin. Nakatingin lang din ako sa kaniya.

Most parents in this situation would've cried as they caressed their child's face, worried about their safety. Their hearts would shatter as they looked at their greatest treasure in a place like this.

But not my father.

Because I was never his treasure, it was always the kingdom. His homeland, his life.

Ilang segundo rin siguro kami nagtitigan, bago bumuka ang bibig niya na sinundan ng mga salita.

I was ready for his words. Why? Why did you kill the queen? What have I done wrong for you to end up like this?

I can already hear his voice, I'm already making scenarios. But I was taken aback when I heard his real voice said . . .

"Stay put . . . I'll take care of everything."

The way my eyes light up and my face softened immediately after hearing his words. Akala ko ay ubos at tuyo na ang mga luha ko, pero meron pa silang pinatak. Muli akong lumuha, marahang napahawak sa malamig na bakal na pagitan namin.

"Father. . ." I called him out.

He reassured me with a nod. "I promise. I won't let you die." It doesn't have warmth, but it doesn't sound insincere either. It was nonchalant.

He didn't give me a hug, or a motivation to be strong. But it feels so good, so nice hearing those words from him.

I sob as I nod at him. I understood.

He didn't ask questions, he didn't interrogate me. He didn't even try to know if I indeed killed the queen.

I know that this is the best thing my father could do.

Tinalikuran niya 'ko, wala ng mahabang salita o ilang segundong pagnatili para makasama pa 'ko. As if it was just an errand, something casual. I sobbed in the cell, thoughts are starting to eat me again until I heard a step.

My eyes once again looked up, thinking it was my father who came back.

Pero mabilis na naglaho ang nasa isip ko, nang makita ang buhok niyang kabaliktaran na kabaliktaran ng buhok ng ama ko.

Light blonde hair, like the sunlight, paired with her golden eyes that's the sun. With just her presence, the atmosphere lightened. Ah, you're here.

"Aurelia." I called her name like it was a prayer.

She has a soft and caring expression as always, but this time, the sadness is too evident. She didn't care when her white and golden dress which can probably feed a commoners' village got dirty as she kneeled in front of me.

Nagtapat kaming dalawa, nagtutubig ang mga mata niya nang hawakan niya ang selda.

"Lady Xeiris." She cried. "How could they do this to you?! Hindi nila alam ang ginagawa nila! Wala silang respeto!" Tumaas ang tono ng boses niya, parang hindi siya.

Agad ko siyang pinakalma. "Lady Aurelia, please, calm down-"

"Calm down?! How can I calm down when my innocent friend is in this position?!" Lumapit pa lalo siya sa 'kin. Kung wala lang ang mga bakal sa pagitan namin ay sigurado akong niyakap na niya 'ko.

"Y-You . . . you're getting executed t-t-tomorrow!" Napahawak siya sa mukha niya at malakas siyang umiyak. "I can't even think about it! It's making my heart ache!"

Pilit akong ngumiti. "Don't worry, everything will be alright . . . I will be fine," pagpapagaan ko ng loob niya.

"How can you still be like this?" she said. "You don't have to act strong always, Lady Xeiris! You can show your emotions!"

Umiling ako. "I told you, it will be alright . . . my father told me."

Natigilan siya sa sinabi ko, tila nakuha ko ang atensyon niya.

"Y-Your father? The duke?"

My forced smile turned into a real one. "Yes, he was here. He promised me that he'll take care of everything."

There was a sudden silence, Aurelia paused. I had an unsettling feeling, maybe because of the sudden change of the atmosphere, or maybe because of the way she's looking at me right now.

"The duke . . . did?" The tone of her voice changed, it made me nauseous.

My expression changed. "Y-Yeah . . . is there's something wrong?"

Bigla siyang napaiwas ng tingin, marahang sumara ang kamao niya na nakatapat sa dibdib niya. Tuluyan akong sinikmura.

"I don't want to tell you this . . . because I don't want to worry you while you're here."

Napalunok ako nang malalim, naghihintay sa susunod niyang sasabihin.

"L-Lady Xeiris . . ." Aurelia faced me, the look of despair is visible. "P-Prince Linus passed away two days ago."

May matinis na tunog akong narinig, masakit sa tenga. My heart sank, I almost vomit. Sumakit ang dibdib ko, sinabayan ng biglaang pagkahilo. My eyesight suddenly because blurry, if I wasn't laying down in this cell, I would've lost my balance.

Prince Linus?

His face, smiling, appeared in my mind.

That . . . Prince Linus?

Umiling-iling ako. "N-No, that's impossible. He's locked up at the tower, he can't-"

Denial.

Ang boses ni Aurelia ang nagpatigil sa sasabihin ko, at ang mga salitang binitawan niya ang nagpatigil sa mundo ko.

"He attempted to escape, Lady Xeiris . . . he was caught and got killed on sight."

I continued shaking my head. "He's A PRINCE! THAT CAN'T BE POSSIBLE! HINDI PWEDE 'YON! HINDI PWEDE!"

Anger.

"It was the duke—your father, who executed h-him . . . my lady."

Despair.

I lost every strength my body had. My eyes lost their light, and so was the hope I had just minutes ago.

Father . . . did what?

Linus . . . my Prince Linus . . . is dead?

Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko nang hawakan ko ang mukha ko. Agad na umalingawngaw sa maliit na kulungan na 'to ang pagsigaw at pag-iyak ko.

"NO! NO, NO, NO, PLEASE NO!" I shouted and shouted, but it seemed that my voice still couldn't reach anyone.

Napasabunot ako sa sarili ko.

No, my Goddess Sol, please no. No, not Linus, not my Linus.

I can see his face, smiling at me. His voice, calling out my name.

"Sister Xeiris," he said with a smile.

I can't control my tears. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dahilan ng panginginig ko. Kung lungkot . . . o galit. Parang nawalan ako ng gana sa lahat.

"Lady Xeiris, I don't want you to get hurt more," ani Aurelia, hindi ko na siya magawang tignan. "But I don't think you could trust the duke."

Her words were stuck in my head. I don't know what to believe in anymore. Hurt is an understatement, I can't explain the pain I'm feeling right now. But I need hope, I need something to hold onto.

And those are my father's words.

Which faded into the darkness the next day when I found myself in the middle of the kingdom, surrounded by the people.

I'm getting executed now . . . my father didn't come.

Nakatulala lang ako, walang buhay ang mga mata, walang makikitang kahit kanting pag-asa sa ekspresyon ko. O kahit anong senyales na gusto ko pang mabuhay.

"Today, we will witness the execution of Xeiris Lumiere Paladin," umalingawngaw ang boses ng tinitingalang kanang kamay ng hari.

Minister Loui, who used to cheer me and was once by my side as the crown princess.

"The sinner and criminal who committed a felony who used black magic to commit a crime. A crime of killing our Bearer of Light, Queen Calliope!"

Everyone booed and screamed.

"Execute her!"

"Witch! Kill the witch!"

"Criminal!"

Their words don't mean much, I'm suddenly numb. Until the very end, no one . . . no one believed me.

"You really won't say anything until the end?" A voice said. A music for some, a holy sound for others . . . but empty words for me.

It's the voice of the devil.

I didn't notice him here. Ang walang buhay ko ng mga mata ay tumalim, kulang na lang ay ang ahas na lalabas dito para tuklawin ang kahit sinong tumingin sa 'kin.

Orpheus Sullivan.

Nakatapat siya sa pasikat na araw, dahilan kung bakit mahirap siyang aninagan, anino niya lang ang nakikita ko.

"Where is my father?" The first words that came out of my mouth.

"Your father?" he answered. "I thought he went to see you last night to bid his goodbyes."

My eyes slowly widened.

"Duke Paladin left. He wanted to atone for his sin . . . of having a daughter like you."

Halos magdugo ang palad ko sa higpit ng pagkasasara ng kamao ko. Napuno ng boses ang utak ko at nandilim ang paningin ko, sa puntong hindi ko napansin ang paglapit sa 'kin ng taong puputol ng ulo ko.

I heard him unsheathe his sword, I also heard death calling for my name.

All of you . . . I'll see all of you in hell.

I didn't look at anyone until my last breath, I remained quiet.

I didn't call for a God, I didn't call for a demon.

I called my younger self.

This is what you'll get, after all of the sacrifices and things you did.

I'm sorry.

Kasabay ng pagtulo ng luha ko ay ang pagbaba ng mahabang espada sa leeg ko. Bago pumatak ang luha ko sa lupa, ay naunang gumulong ang ulo ko rito.

The dim sky was the last thing I saw, before I was greeted by pure darkness.

I was ready to close my eyes forever, in vain and hatred.

Until I opened my eyes again. Head intact, bruises gone, hands and ankles have no chain.

Mulat na mulat ang mga mata ko, hindi maproseso ang mga nangyayari. A pure white place with nothing, or so I thought. Until I saw something I can't explain.

A figure. Not a woman, not a man. With no age, not a creature, not a human.

What . . . is this place? What is this . . . in front of me?

Faceless, it talked. Its voice is composed of all things—men and women, creatures and the unknown. I can see nothing but a mouth that is grinning.

"Here comes my favorite villainess."

DEATH OF THE VILLAINESS