‘You’re saying you’ll let me live?’

Though the tone was somewhat strange, Evelina had no capacity to think about such things now.

It was fortunate enough to not be killed immediately.

Evelina was dragged out by Tikan’s rough hand without even a moment to think.

Afterwards, there was not a shred of mercy in Tikan’s handling.

Evelina was shocked when she soon confirmed where she had been dragged to.

‘The Frozen Prison!’

This was no ordinary palace prison.

It was infamous for housing the worst criminals among prisoners.

The rumors about it were so chilling that even Evelina, who was studying abroad far across the continent, had heard about it several times.

It is said that not a single person has ever come out alive from this place with its maze-like structure.

The prison was visibly gray, without a single ray of light entering.

According to rumors, in a place colder than the harshest winter, one would long for death day by day without even proper meals.

Swallowing hard as she was dragged inside, Evelina was shocked by the sight more horrifying than the rumors.

Those with bloodshot eyes growling like beasts drooled at the sight of her.

Throughout passing them, a pungent smell mixed with the scent of blood reverberated in the prison.

But she did not let go of her last hope.

‘I’ll be able to get out of this damned place soon.’

As always, her father would get her out.

*

Evelina shivered in the cold.

The light disappeared from her eyes that were once full of vitality, leaving only vicious madness.

With each day passing in this terrible place, Evelina thought of her father.

Since childhood, her father had supported her without a single exception.

She could do whatever she wanted.

From eating to dressing, and all other matters too.

Entering the academy was one of them.

Not only that, he perfectly handled every incident that occurred there.

It didn’t matter whether it was her fault or not.

If she fell, the family would fall.

This time too, without fail, her father would save her.

It was when Evelina was quite hopeful like that.

Footsteps approached steadily in front of her.

When Evelina slowly raised her head, what her gaze caught was Vivian.

*

Evelina, with a contorted face, raised her head towards me.

Her appearance was far worse than expected.

I had prepared a gift for Evelina, but…

‘It’s not a shape that makes me hesitate whether to give it or not.’

At that moment, Evelina discovered me and lifted her head.

“Why are you treating me like this!”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“What did I ever do to you to deserve this?”

Blood seeped from Evelina’s dry, cracked lips.

Her appearance, as if she was truly wronged, was even absurd.

Seeing that, I calmly recited her misdeeds.

“You slandered to separate me and His Majesty, and even tried to have my loyal servant give me infertility medicine.”

“How did you…”

“How foolish.”

As I curled up one corner of my mouth, Evelina’s whole body trembled.

“You even tried to sell off Marianne.”

Long ago, everything I had investigated about her as Rachel proved true.

Evelina had a special relationship with the slave auction house, Riepier, and sold off those who displeased her there.

‘Bashubir was deeply involved in that as well.’

However, Evelina will never know her wrongdoings.

Having lived like that all her life, she would only feel wronged in this situation.

“Right. His Majesty couldn’t have done that. You must have spouted nonsense to His Majesty!”

“Nonsense? That’s your specialty.”

“…”

“Now you’ll rot here forever.”

As I narrowed my eyes, Evelina cried out as if struggling.

“You think I’ll just sit still?”

“If you don’t sit still. Are you going to kill me from that prison?”

“When I get out of here, I’ll tear you apart and kill you first.”

“How scary. But what can you do? You’ll rot here forever, unable to die or live.”

“You think my father will just leave me here?”

Oh my. She still believes in her father.

I wonder how she’ll react when she receives the gift.

“Oh dear. It seems your father has already decided to abandon you.”

“Speak so I can understand!”

Evelina, who had been shouting loudly, soon fell silent.

It was as a familiar voice spread through the prison.

“I truly know nothing about this matter.”

It was the voice of Evelina’s father, Bashubir.

The source of the voice was none other than in my grasp.

Evelina, seemingly without the strength to stand up from the shocking sound, crawled towards me like a dog.

Towards her, I threw the recording magic tool as if feeding her.

Evelina picked it up from the dirty prison that was no different from a pile of garbage.

She activated the magic tool with trembling hands.

The voice from earlier was indeed her father’s voice.

What followed next was the emperor’s voice.

“Are you saying that Aide Evelina planned this alone?”

“That is correct.”

There was no hesitation in Bashubir’s voice.

“How pitiful.”

I spoke calmly to Evelina, who was in shock.

“It seems the affection between father and daughter was only on your side.”

Evelina, with her hair disheveled, frantically threw herself against the bars.

“My father couldn’t have done this!”

“…”

“What have you plotted, you wench!”

Evelina struggled and flailed about.

She acted as if it was something great, but in the end, all her misdeeds were ugly.

As I watched Evelina’s appearance as if observing, I drove in the final dagger.

“Live to the end and receive your punishment. In a hell worse than death.”

I turned away from her, who was screaming madly.

It was a gloomy and dirty space I didn’t want to stay in any longer.

It was just right for Evelina to pay for her crimes.

Until I left the Frozen Prison, Evelina’s miserable screams echoed throughout the prison.

*

A few days later, Marianne hurriedly came in.

“Your Majesty the Empress, I hear that Duke Bashubir has just been stripped of his title and ordered to be exiled to northern Catlantes.”

As I listened to Marianne’s words, I leisurely sipped my tea.

‘Winterdell is now finished. Bashubir abandoned his daughter and completely denied her, so they probably couldn’t kill him with that.’

But surely he will no longer be able to show his face in central politics.

There was no greater punishment for a man who had been driven by power and desire all his life.

It would be as terrible as Evelina, who had committed evil acts longing for the position of empress all her life, being locked up in the Frozen Prison.

It was the moment when a family was completely destroyed.

The ancients said revenge is futile…

In that sense, I must be a villain.

If I can be this happy being a villain.

If I can protect everything, I will continue on this path.

As I was reaffirming my resolve, Marianne’s choked voice brushed my ear.

“Your Majesty the Empress, thank you so much for saving me.”

When I turned my head, she was looking at me with wet eyes.

It wasn’t such a big deal… I felt awkward.

In reality, it was predictable that Evelina would try to eliminate Marianne when she was no longer useful.

Attaching a tracking magic tool to Marianne was a natural procedure in that sense.

The guild master who lost in chess properly saved Marianne this time as well.

‘Though he’s obsessed with chess, his work is indeed excellent.’

In any case, it’s not a big deal, yet she’s crying like this.

As I patted the sniffling Marianne, I added a boyish theatrical line.

“Saving my people is only natural.”

“…”

“Raise your head. I do not allow my people to bow.”

Marianne looked at me with even more moved eyes.

Hiding my awkward feelings, I slowly rose while enjoying a long-awaited peace.

My steps, under the pretense of a walk, soon reached the emperor’s palace.

My light heart quickly grew heavy.

It was upon discovering Casius in the distance.

Casius, leaning against a tree trunk, had long shadows cast over his head.

Even from a glimpse of his side profile, he looked darker than anyone.

He was ashen, as if he had absorbed all the shadows in the world.

It was the first time I had seen Casius like this.

It was a different appearance from the angry look I saw shortly after becoming Vivian.

Lonely and solitary, like a fallen leaf abandoned under the clear season.

As if he no longer had the energy to be angry or disappointed.

His gaze, blankly staring into space while leaving his blood-soaked hands as they were, was only bewildered.

The conversation I had with Casius under that tree long ago flashes by.

“They say this tree contains the power of wolves and can shake off all human worries.”

“So what are you worrying about now?”

“Just… worries that will naturally come to pass.”

At that time, Casius was contemplating ways to marry me.

He went straight to the emperor and said he would marry me.

While Casius was away on a distant battlefield with marriage as a condition, I and our family disappeared.

It was you, Casius, who turned back time and saved our family.