TPITT - Chapter 2





I was left alone in the cold prison again.

The greeting ‘See you again’ left by Michael was spinning around in my head.

'I have business with Michael again... I mean the execution ceremony.'

In history, there has been no one who has left this prison alive, known as the 'cage bedroom'.

So, through Michael's words, I thought that I would be executed today.

I thought I had already gotten used to the fear and loneliness, but my fingertips started shaking slightly again.

Again and again.

Around that time, the sound of shoe heels announced another visitor.

The person who came this time was a blonde woman wearing a fur robe over a luxurious dress.

She walked up to the bars with a proud gait.

''It's been a while, sister.''

"Yes, Rosie. Long time no see.''

Rosenit's beauty, which has been praised as the 'White Rose of the Empire' since she was young, is still dazzling.

She was beautiful.

Although the royal family is ruined and her parents and siblings are losing their lives, the only remaining is Rosenit.

Her face was nowhere to be seen.

On the contrary, she seemed happy, as if she had conquered the world.

Indeed, she has lived her entire life in a flower garden that revolves around Michael.

Being a Princess, I didn't even feel like pointing out anything.

At that moment, I noticed the maternity dress that Rosenit was wearing and her slightly swollen belly.

All my attention was focused. I opened my eyes wide.

''Oh my God, sister. It is Michael's child.''

''Michael's child?''

I couldn't believe it. Homunculus, who are given life through alchemy, cannot reproduce through sexual intercourse.

They didn't have the ability.

That was also the reason why direct knights were favored as sexual playthings of the royal family and were often abused.

Rosenit reacted sensitively to my puzzled eyes.

''You look like you don't believe me? So, do you think I might have an affair and have a child from a man other than Michael?"

''Oh, no, I didn't think like that. I was just surprised because it was different from what I knew.''

''Then you should take this opportunity to know. Nothing is impossible with the almighty power of the Philosopher's Stone. The child in my stomach is mine and Michael’s. Finally, our love has come to fruition.''

''Yes..."

Rosenit's tone and eyes became vicious as if she were dealing with a romantic enemy.

I, overwhelmed by the momentum, reluctantly answered in the affirmative.

I spoke to change the mood.

''If you're looking for Lord Agnito, he came looking for you earlier. It looks like your paths diverged.''

''No. I came to see my sister.''

''Me? What brings you here?''

''I heard that today is my sister's execution day. I came here because I was worried.''

Contrary to what she said, Rosenit did not look worried at all.

''As expected, it was today..."

I was in shock after receiving confirmation of the execution date, but Rosenit continued speaking without hesitation.

''Sister, do you know how His Majesty and your brothers were executed?''

''Why do that now...''

''I guess you don't know. Aren’t you curious? Would you like to guess?’’

''Do you think that's something to say in front of me right now?''

''Why are you so angry? The baby in my stomach will be surprised. I came here to give information to my sister.''

''I'm not curious.''

''You'd better know, sister.''

I decided to keep quiet. Anyway, whether I react or not, Rosenit does what she wants to do.

It seemed like she was going to start talking loudly.

''Until now, the ones who executed my older sisters and brothers were the knights under their direct command. Michael bestowed grace on his people so that he could kill the most resentful target with his own hands.''

''Direct knights?''

''Yes. Since it was no different from revenge, the execution methods of the royal family so far were extremely cruel. For example, Brigitte was burned at the stake.''

''Burned at the stake!''

Dying by fire was the death that brought the greatest pain to humans.

My shoulders began to visibly shake. Although I was determined to pay for my sins as a member of the imperial family, Brigitte's detachment was cruel.

I couldn't keep it.

Seeing my agitated appearance, Rosenit smiled inwardly and whispered.

''Our innocent Eve. I'm sure you were just imagining your head being cut off cleanly by a guillotine. It must have been quite shocking. Are you okay?''

''...''

It was a voice that did not comfort me at all. In reality, Rosenit's intention was not one of comfort.

I took a deep breath and struggled to raise my voice.

''I've never had a direct report.''

''But that doesn't mean you think there won't be a single Homunculus with a grudge against my sister, right?

''It's not like that.''

''Yes, that's right. In fact, I even appointed a Homunculus to lead my sister to her execution.''

At this point, I was not there to ask Rosenit first.

''Well, who is he?''

''Michael.''

''...''

The moment I heard the name, I felt my heart drop.

''He hates me...?''

Did he hate me so much that he wanted to kill me himself, not just anyone else?

I was greatly shocked but soon became convinced. Michael has a strong hatred for the entire imperial family.

This is because I wondered if I was an exception. Perhaps I am just pretending to be different from the corrupt royal family by not having a direct knight.

I may have been even more hateful towards Michael because I did not actually improve the system. Since ancient times, it has been better than pure evil.

Hypocrisy was even more unpleasant.

''Yeah...He hated me a lot.''

''Is it so. Michael hated my sister. A lot.''

Rosenit’s eyes darkened darkly.

Instead of clenching her fists, she clutched the small ceramic bottle she had hidden in her bosom and opened her mouth.

''Do you know what punishment my sister will receive on death row today?''

''Enough, Rosie. I don't want to hear anymore.''

''No. You have to listen. The sentence you will receive is a true sentence.''

'''...!''

The Hadelamid Empire's execution was barbaric and cruel.

The blade of the ax used for beheading is very blunt. In fact, it is a blunt ax that is no different from a blunt weapon.

When he hit the death row inmate's head, there was no way his head would be cut off in one go.

The basic number of strikes was five or six times. In some cases, there were even cases where the death row inmate was still alive even though the number of executions exceeded ten.

It was absolutely not a punishment that a human could bear with a sober mind.

''Ah...I don't like it....''

My whole body trembled with fear.

That appearance made Rosenit satisfied. Rosenit wears a more angelic mask than ever before.

She whispered affectionately.

''Don't worry, sister, that's why I'm here to help you. Take this.''

''This...?''

Rosenit handed the ceramic bottle to me as if it were something very precious.

Soon, Rosenit's voice, which sounded not only friendly but also sweet, fell into my ears.

''It's the poison of belladonna. If you drink it, it will kill you quickly and painlessly.''

''...!''

''Wouldn't it be easier to commit suicide by drinking poison rather than suffering a painful death by beheading?''

My heart quickly trembled at Rosenit's 'goodwill'.

Only after taking three deep breaths was I finally able to open my mouth.

''Thank you, Rosie.''

''You're welcome. I have a child in my stomach, and I'm sorry I made you do this. As for the rest... I'll take care of it."

"Drinking poison was my choice, so Rosie, don't feel guilty.''

''Of course, you can't have something like that.''

Rosenit's last reply was shocking, but I didn't notice.

This was because the long period of confinement and the fear of death had weakened my mind and attention.

''Then take care, Rosie.''

''Yes, sister.''

Even though she said goodbye, Rosenit stood still in her place.

She just watched me.

''Hey... Aren't you going back, Rosie?

''What are you talking about? My sister hasn't drunk poison yet, but how do I leave here?''

Rosinet reacted strangely impatiently and harshly.

''There needs to be someone to watch my sister die.''

Rosenit even reached into the cage and opened the cork of the medicine bottle.

''Go ahead and drink, Sister.''

''..."

''Hurry.''

As if you are pressed for time, or as if the goal is right in front of you, Rosenit was picked.

If it were a normal me, I would have noticed something suspicious around this point. But not now that I had lost my composure.

''Ah...''

From the opened medicine bottle, a sweet and pleasant scent fills my nose. It was a scent so enticing that I couldn't get over it.

I, captivated by the magic of seduction, placed my lips on the head of the instant medicine bottle.

With a gulp, the brown liquid went down my throat.

Shake!

"Ugh!''

Belladonna's poison, which was refined again and again, instantly destroyed my body.

'It's fast...so good...'

It was around the time when I lost my vision, my amber eyes became cloudy, my breathing almost stopped and my movements disappeared.

Rosenit lowered her posture to me, who was not dead yet but looked like a corpse.

''Sister, do you know what the flower language of belladonna is?

''...''

I knew the answer. The flower language of belladonna, which is useful as a poison, is appropriately 'I curse you.'

'Why are you talking about the language of flowers now?'

Even as I was dying, doubt crossed my mind.

It was then 

''Are you dead?''

"..."

''Ah, you're finally dead?''

''...''

There was unmistakable joy in the voice.

''Ha ha ha....''

''...''

''Ha ha ha. It's done now. Now that Eve is dead, there are no more obstacles. Now it's just me! Michael too. Even the position of the Empress is mine! Ahahaha!''

Rosenit's maniacal laughter echoed throughout the prison.

'Rosie..?!'

It was only then that I realized that something was very wrong.

But Belladonna's poison didn't give me any more time.

''Thank you so much for dying, stupid Eve.''

After hearing a greeting full of malice and venom, my soul separated from my body forever.

I was caught in a trap by my half-sister and committed suicide by drinking poison. 

That was the death that Princesses Hadelamid faced 25-year-old Evienrose Chloelle Hadelamid.


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