I Was Never the Villain

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𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐁𝐘 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃

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Sunlight streamed through the towering windows of the grand hall, illuminating its ivory pillars and luxurious red curtains. Despite the brightness of the afternoon, an unsettling tension lingered in the air.

『I think... we should banish her.』

The suggestion came from an elegant woman dressed in a regal black gown adorned with precious gemstones. Her dark hair framed a composed face, while her brown eyes reflected the cold authority of her position. Beneath that polished exterior, however, lay something far more sinister.

A young man stood before her, his fiery red hair contrasting sharply with his piercing blue eyes. A crooked smile played across his lips as he regarded her with undisguised amusement.

『Banish her? Hah... And what will you do if the king discovers your little scheme? Wouldn't you lose your position as Second Empress?』

He tilted his head, delivering the words with such casual ease that they sounded almost like a poison he had no intention of swallowing himself.

The empress's expression darkened. She clenched her hands, twisting the fingers around one another until the precious ring on her hand trembled.

『Did you really have to remind me of that now? We're in this mess because of that fool! I should have kept her under my control instead of letting things reach this point... Damn it!』

The young man sighed and straightened the collar of his velvet jacket. His relaxed expression barely changed, though a calculating glint flickered in his eyes.

『Then don't banish her. Why not marry her off instead? At least you won't look as though you've completely neglected her.』

The empress fell silent.

A moment later, a mocking smile curved her lips. She gave his shoulder a light tap and laughed under her breath.

『How clever... But who would be foolish enough to marry her?』

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice as though sharing the secret of a forbidden spell.

『I've heard that the Kingdom of Herzith is searching for a bride for Prince Osvalt.』

The empress's eyebrows shot up. For once, her composure faltered, and genuine astonishment crossed her face.

『That lunatic? The one who killed his own brother with his bare hands? He wants to get married?!』

The young man folded his arms and leaned against the wall, his enigmatic smile remaining firmly in place.

『That's what people are saying.』

A soft laugh escaped the empress.

Turning toward the tall window, she gazed outside as a wicked gleam crept into her eyes.

『Then let him have her. Serina will become his wife!』

She spun around to face the young man, her expression hardening into one of absolute authority.

『Prepare the invitations. Tomorrow, we'll hold a grand celebration at the palace. Invite everyone. I don't want a single person left out.』

He nodded, accepting the order without hesitation. Then, after a brief pause, he raised a question.

『And what if Her Highness refuses?』

The empress stopped at the doorway.

She turned her head slowly, fixing him with a narrowed gaze that belonged to a predator deciding how best to corner its prey.

『Don't worry. I'll make sure she agrees.』

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The damp air of the palace's underground passage clung to the stone walls. Each footstep echoed through the darkness as the empress approached an enormous, rusted door, holding a candle whose wavering flame barely illuminated the path ahead.

She reached into her elaborate golden bracelet and withdrew a small key. After fitting it into the lock, she turned it slowly.

The door groaned open, revealing a neglected room swallowed by darkness. There were no windows, and the candle in her hand provided the only source of light. Cracks spread across the crumbling walls, giving the impression that the entire room might collapse at any moment.

The empress stepped inside.

『Serina...? Where are you, little one? Are you hiding under the bed again? Or perhaps in the bathroom?』

Her voice was unnaturally gentle, carrying a sweetness that felt out of place in such a room.

A trembling figure emerged from the shadows.

The girl wore a torn dress, and old scars marked her skin. Blood smeared her face, while a fresh wound remained visible, its edges still bleeding as though the injury had been inflicted only hours earlier.

The empress approached at an unhurried pace. She lifted the girl's chin with a delicate hand, arranging her features into an expression of feigned tenderness.

『Oh, my dear Serina... I'm so sorry. I promise I won't let that happen again.』

Serina offered no reply.

Her eyes were vacant, almost lifeless, as though she had long since abandoned the hope that anyone would come to her aid. Still, her fingers tightened around the edge of her torn dress, betraying the fear she struggled to contain.

The empress bent closer.

『Tell me, my dear... have you ever dreamed of marrying a prince?』

Serina's fingers stopped twisting the fabric.

She slowly raised her head, confusion mingling with fear in her eyes. For a moment, she seemed unable to comprehend the question, much less understand why the empress would ask it.

A broad smile spread across the woman's face.

『I'll make that dream come true. You'll leave this place and marry Prince Osvalt.』

Serina stared at her in shock.

Her lips parted, but before she could speak, the empress leaned toward her ear and whispered something meant for her alone.

Whatever those words were, they extinguished the last fragile trace of innocence in the girl's expression.

Serina lowered her head.

Her lips trembled before she finally managed to answer.

『...All right.』

The empress regarded her with quiet satisfaction, her smile as cold as a shadow passing over a grave.

『Good girl. Come along. I'll show you your new room. Prince Osvalt will arrive tomorrow, and you'll have a chance to meet him in private, away from the noise of the celebration.』

She extended a hand as though inviting a child to follow her.

When Serina took it, the empress's cold fingers closed around hers with the quiet certainty of a chain tightening around its captive.

Without another word, Serina followed.

Her bare feet touched the freezing stone floor, each step carrying her farther from the only place she had known and closer to a future she had never chosen.

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Every step away from the dungeon felt like dragging an invisible weight behind her.

For the first time in weeks, Serina could see candlelight illuminating the palace corridors. The walls were smooth and immaculate, free of the dust and mold that had surrounded her underground. Ornate statues and elaborate paintings lined the passageways, their polished surfaces gleaming beneath the warm light.

Yet the sight brought her no comfort.

She felt like a mouse escaping one trap only to find itself caught in a much larger web.

Behind them, the iron door closed with a heavy groan. The sound echoed through the passage, sealing away the darkness she had left behind.

The empress continued ahead, while Serina followed several steps behind. The girl glanced uneasily at the statues, then at the paintings that decorated the walls.

Everything was regal.

Everything was beautiful.

And somehow, it all felt as cold as a tomb.

『Here we are. This is your temporary suite.』

The empress stopped before a large door decorated with intricate wolf-and-flower motifs.

『Isn't it beautiful? Luxurious, warm, elegant... Exactly what befits a prince's future wife, don't you think?』

With a slow, theatrical gesture, she opened the door.

Serina entered first.

The atmosphere changed immediately. The air was fragrant, the lighting soft, and the room almost welcoming.

Almost.

The spacious suite featured ivory walls embellished with golden patterns. A white bed stood near the center, piled high with soft pillows, while long curtains framed the windows. In one corner, a fireplace crackled quietly, spreading warmth across the polished floor.

It was a room fit for a dream.

Or a nightmare disguised as luxury.

The empress followed her inside, strolling around as she pointed out the furnishings.

『There's your golden mirror. The wardrobe has already been filled with clothes, and I've even provided French perfumes. You're a fortunate girl, Serina. Not everyone receives such treatment.』

Serina remained silent, her gaze fixed on the unfamiliar surroundings.

The empress moved behind her and rested a hand on her shoulder. Leaning close, she delivered her final instruction in a voice barely above a whisper.

『Just remember... smile tomorrow.』

She withdrew her hand and left without another word.

The door closed behind her, leaving Serina alone in the luxurious room.

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Serina stood before the golden mirror, studying the reflection staring back at her.

Scratches marked her cheeks. Fingernail marks lined her neck, and her lips had grown so pale that they barely seemed to have any color left.

She slowly lifted a hand and brushed her fingertips across her face.

Then she stopped.

Her eyes held her attention.

She could barely recognize the girl looking back at her.

How long had it been since she had last slept?

How long since she had laughed?

When had she stopped being a person and become nothing more than something others could possess?

A future bride.

A bargaining chip.

A girl promised to a man she had never even met.

Serina lowered her hand and sank onto the edge of the bed, clutching the torn fabric of her dress.

The tears came without warning.

She made no sound. Perhaps she feared someone might hear her. Or perhaps she had spent so long hiding her pain that even crying had begun to feel like a privilege she no longer deserved.

『I don't want this... But there's nowhere I can run.』

Her whisper faded into the silence.

She pressed her fingers into her palm, trying desperately to regain control of herself.

But the tears kept falling.

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Morning came sooner than Serina had hoped.

The first rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains as the palace's golden clock struck three long notes.

A group of maids entered the suite, carrying dresses, perfumes, and an assortment of beauty accessories.

Serina was still sitting on the edge of the bed.

She had barely moved since the previous night.

An elderly maid approached her and knelt down until they were at eye level. There was something almost pleading in the woman's gentle expression.

『Please... don't look so gloomy in front of the prince. We've been ordered to prepare you to become a princess, not to present him with a miserable girl.』

Serina did not respond.

She neither moved nor lifted her eyes. She remained where she was, her silence speaking louder than anything she could have said.

There was something in her gaze that no amount of pleading could disguise: a suffering too deep to be expressed in words.

Outside the door, the palace was already preparing to celebrate the beginning of her new life.

A life that had never been hers to choose.

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𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏 🖤

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Some cages are built of iron. Others are disguised as golden rooms.

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