Sesenia’s expression gradually changed. There was neither sadness nor hatred. Any expectation or feeling towards family had become meaningless to Sesenia.

“No. I… I didn’t discriminate…”

She gave no reply. Exhausted to the point of letting everything go, Sesenia ignored her father’s calls and left the place.

It seemed that the matter was coming to an end. Elzere was imprisoned in the north, where only winter exists, for the reason that she had an affair with the Emperor, who was her sister’s husband.

Meanwhile, the rumors changed subtly. That Elzere Bestel, the Empress’s sister, had seduced the Emperor. That the Emperor was innocent.

Sesenia no longer mentioned anything about it. It was obvious who had spread those rumors, but she showed no reaction.

Rather, her world seemed to be changing. The Emperor was quite anxious, fearing that he might be harmed, that his reputation would hit rock bottom the moment he divorced Sesenia, that she might properly publicize the matter and shake his position as Emperor.

Perhaps realizing that the Empress, who had done nothing all this time regardless of whether he had affairs or not, could now cause trouble, he watched Sesenia very diligently.

Knowing that it was because he feared losing the powerful wealth of her family, Sesenia also took no particular action. The shock hadn’t disappeared even after several months had passed. In a world where she had no allies, she lived day by day like that.

But 9 months later,

Sesenia had to hear devastating news.

No, her sister returned along with the devastating news. With a very small baby in her arms.

“Ha…”

Where did it all go wrong? What should she have done?

The problem wasn’t her sister returning with the baby. The Emperor, who was introducing Elzere and Elzere’s child to Sesenia, suddenly changed.

The Emperor, her husband, ordered her execution.

“Empress Sesenia is sentenced to death for the crime of attempting to kill the Emperor’s seed.”

It didn’t feel real. She couldn’t understand why she had to die. Why her husband was ordering her execution. Sesenia shook her head in bewilderment.

“I never did such a thing. How could I try to kill the Emperor’s seed?”

After 9 months, the situation from back then felt like déjà vu.

The Emperor stood next to Elzere, looking at the child with a happy expression. Yet, unable to bear Sesenia’s protest, he burst out in anger.

The past time repeated itself once again. The one who had been watching her closely and doing his best for her had already disappeared.

“Nonsense! You knew she was pregnant but didn’t offer any support!”

“That’s…”

Sesenia shook her head.

It wasn’t true. Everything was wrong. Ian had taken full responsibility for her sister. Although Elzere was her sister who had an affair with Sesenia’s husband, even though she was a sister Sesenia wanted to wring the neck of, she still showed such mercy because they were family.

Because she was alive, Sesenia had food sent to her, sent necessary items, and even asked to be informed if anything happened. Yet, to say she didn’t provide support. To say she did nothing despite all that.

While Sesenia was shaking her head in bewilderment, the Emperor opened his mouth.

“Not only that, there’s testimony that you ignored her letter about giving birth alone, let her give birth alone, and even tried to kill the child.”

“Who gave such testimony? Ah, did my sister say that? That I did such things? Of course she would say that. Because I sent her there. Because I was the one who sent her there!”

Sesenia looked at her sister. At her, holding the baby with an expression of utmost happiness. But the situation was a bit strange. Her sister, Elzere, lifted her chin and smirked.

The feeling was a bit odd, but she had to defend herself.

“Ian will prove… that I did nothing.”

“Prince Ian?”

“Yes. All these things being said about me now are just words my sister is using to corner me. They’re all lies.”

She couldn’t understand. The Emperor berating her based only on Elzere’s words.

‘Well… she even bore his child… of course he wouldn’t take my side. He’s been watching his step around me lately… he probably wants to get rid of me. But I… I never did such things. Ian will prove it for me.’

“Interesting. You don’t think I’m doing this based only on Elzere’s testimony, do you? Sesenia.”

“Are you saying there are others?”

“Yes. There was Prince Ian’s testimony. He said you acted quite viciously.”

“What… Ian testified like that?”

“Yes. He testified about all the wicked things you did. Including trying to kill the child.”

It was then. As if knowing this was his cue to enter, Ian came in. Seemingly looking but not looking at Sesenia, who was being treated like a criminal with her arms bound, he patted Elzere’s shoulder.

Sesenia’s eyes wavered at the unexpected situation.

“Why… Ian, why are you there… with my sister… why…”

But Ian didn’t say anything. He just smirked mockingly.

“I clearly said… I… my sister…!”

“You hated her more than anyone.”

“What…?”

“Even though your father, the Marquis, asked to forgive Elzere somehow, you drove her out with verbal abuse.”

“No. That’s not true…!”

She had no strength. No attachment to life. How could someone like her use verbal abuse against her father? But Ian exaggerated or changed the words she had said, cornering her.

“What do you think, Ian? My brother. The Empress said you would clear her of injustice.”

“How could there be any injustice for the Empress? She used me, her friend, to do things she didn’t want to do herself.”

He seemed like a different person. She thought he was the only friend left in the world, but she was wrong. She thought he would take her side no matter what, but it was all Sesenia’s miscalculation.

“This doesn’t make sense… It’s unfair. I’m telling you it’s unfair. I may have disliked my sister… but I still told them to support her. I never received any letter either.”

All Sesenia could do was express her sense of injustice to the Emperor.

“What is so unfair, Empress? Then provide evidence yourself. According to your words, there should be records of support items or exchanged letters.”

The Emperor, speaking coldly, seemed to be preparing for potential future problems as he granted her a mercy that wasn’t mercy. To bring evidence. But Sesenia felt her vision darkening.

There was nothing. Nothing existed.

Because they were friends, such things weren’t necessary. She had only verbally communicated to Ian.

“Ah…”

Sesenia finally realized. How easy it was for people to corner other people like this.

“Ha… ha.”

“Surely you have something, Empress?”

She couldn’t do anything. No, she couldn’t say anything. She was a fool for trusting people again after being burned by them.

“Puhaha.”

In that sadness, in that bewilderment, Sesenia suddenly burst into laughter.

“The Empress seems to have gone mad.”

“I don’t know why I tried so hard to live if it was going to be like this. Take me away. That’s what you want to do, right?”

“You make it sound as if I created this situation.”

While an ordinary person might have just expressed their sense of injustice as they were dragged away, Sesenia mocked the three people.

“You tried so hard to corner me. You’re just the same kind of human.”

“Empress!”

“Otherwise, how could you know so much? Take me away. I don’t want to be here anyway.”

As if he didn’t want to be such a bad person, the Emperor mumbled before nodding. And so Sesenia was dragged away.

Stupidly, she hadn’t doubted at all. Not Ian, not Elzere, not the Emperor.

In the end, Sesenia was imprisoned.

The Emperor’s affairs are not allowed. Therefore, no one questioned sending Elzere to the north. But if it’s someone carrying the Emperor’s child, it’s a different story.

And it was none other than her sister who was carrying the Emperor’s child, and because Sesenia had sent away someone carrying the Emperor’s child, and because Prince Ian had testified, there was no way out for her.

She became someone waiting for death.

**

“The prison is quite livable, isn’t it?”

The first to visit Sesenia in prison was Ian.

“Ian…”

“You’re still good at making that stupid expression. Really, such an unattractive face.”

“What do you want to say? Ian.”

“I want to ask. Isn’t it strange that you’re not curious about anything?”

“What should I ask? Do you want me to ask how your perfect betrayal came about? Do you want me to say you’re amazing while looking at you? Should I clap for you? Say, ‘Our Ian is so amazing,’ like that?”

It was then that Ian’s expression hardened.

“This is why I really disliked you.”

“If you disliked me, why did you stick around?”

There was a brief moment of silence.

While being here, no, after knowing that Ian, the only friend she trusted, had betrayed her, Sesenia had many thoughts. She even wondered if something might be wrong.

Perhaps Ian had cornered her sister more to help her. But that was impossible. Ian, standing confidently in front of her, clearly had no such intention.

Rather, he clicked his tongue while looking at Sesenia.

“I love your sister, you know.”

“You love my sister. Interesting. An interesting excuse. You didn’t like my sister. You never showed any affection.”

“You’re really stupid. You think you’re very smart, but you’re unbelievably stupid. I’m not a dog in heat, rushing in saying I like her wouldn’t make her like me back.”

“So that was the answer.”