Theodore's anger had been burning, so hot and scorching that it could tear down the whole nation if he wanted to. In fact, he had been willing to do that, leaving Artias to rot as he had become more and more of a tyrant, punishing the smallest mistake harshly and losing his temper at the slightest mention of his deceased lover. He had always looked at Seraphina with fiery hatred, even before he had found out the background behind Lady Blanche's trial. Maybe he had always found her disgusting because she had been designated as the victim in that trial. Maybe Theodore had even resented Seraphina for taking his lover away when he had still believed that Blanche had attempted to kill his wife. After realizing that the reason for his lover's execution had been quite different, he had fully lost any semblance of self-control though. He had wished to kill Seraphina with his own hands each time that he had seen her, his gaze burning with such rage that she had felt like she was trapped in a circle of flames as his hands threatened to crush her throat. His anger had always been burning.

His brother was different.

Cedar's anger was similar in terms of strength, but it was freezing instead. He didn't have to yell or threaten Seraphina with a sword to make her understand that he would tear her apart limb by limb. A simple smile while he told her what would happen in a calm voice revealed it all. He wouldn't just attack her in a fit of rage. He would scheme and plot until her whole world came tumbling down, tearing out everything she loved and picking at her flaws until she came apart.

And unsurprisingly, the new emperor had managed to do just that.

Seraphina had been able to roam the palace freely for another month after Cedar had ended Theodore's life and put the bloody crown on his head. She had almost dared to hope that she could survive before being reminded that this had just been part of his cruel plan to grant her some freedom before crushing her hope again.

Ever since then, Seraphina had been stuck in this underground cell in the palace. She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but she assumed that it had been over a year. During that time, she had slowly but surely lost all that had once made her herself. All of her grace had been scraped away by months without proper human contact. Her knowledge couldn't help her here, where she couldn't even learn more about the world around her. Her beloved family couldn't reach her either.

She had gone from being the most powerful lady in the nation to being nothing but an empty husk that was stuck waiting for their death. She had no chance to escape.

Seraphina spent every single day sitting here, trying to gulp down the hard bread and the cold water that had been handed to her. Just waiting for the next day the emperor would finally visit again. It was ironic. As much as Seraphina despised the new ruler of their nation, as much as she feared him, she desperately wished to see him now. After all, Cedar was the only person that even talked to her. None of the servants were permitted to speak with her as they mostly arrived when she slept and left food without any sign of their presence. Her family had only been allowed to visit once or twice too. So, only one person could exchange any words with her in this cell. He never said anything nice, but Seraphina would rather take that than this everlasting silence.

She also used his presence to calm herself down a bit. Cedar Estien could be cruel, as he had shown while imprisoning Seraphina and killing his own brother. But seeing his calm facade lasting even while he faced her, whom he hated most now, proved that this man could control the extent of his rage. In contrast to Theodore, he wouldn't lash out without reason nor would his words be meaningless insults.

Cedar also seemed to be a good emperor. Seraphina barely had any information from the outside, but from what her parents had told her a few months ago while visiting, it seemed like he was currently busy stabilizing the capital, which had been thrown into turmoil due to the previous emperor's neglect.

The neglect that had been caused by Theodore's growing insanity as his grief for his lover's death had only overwhelmed him more each day.

Seraphina had been at fault for that. After all, she had been the one to cause Blanche's execution. She hadn't done it to harm anyone, no. She had done it because she had been so sure that that woman was trying to betray Theodore. But that had been a wrong judgment. It was the first time Seraphina had been so dreadfully wrong and also the one time that she shouldn't have made such a mistake.

That one decision of hers had destroyed everything. It had turned Theodore into a brutal tyrant that couldn't wait to finally die to be with his lover until he had been killed at the hands of his younger brother. Cedar had taken on the bloody crown while being a much better ruler, but he was just as brutal when it came to the people he resented.

Seraphina was well aware. She was the person Cedar despised most, even when he usually smiled at her. He didn't even hide his disdain for her. Each time he visited, he just brought more punishment and suffering with a few words as he reminded her of her biggest mistakes or narrated how something she loved had been destroyed. She dreaded his presence more than anything else, even when Cedar had never even grazed her skin with the tip of his finger. He had never had anyone physically hurt her either. He didn't need that at all when psychological torture worked far better.

And yet, Seraphina couldn't help but wish to speak to him again. Cedar was the only one that would hold a conversation with her, the only one that could permit her family to visit or tell her how the nation was doing.

So, Seraphina immediately lifted her head as soon as she heard the footsteps of a group. Only one person came down here with so many others. This was the emperor with his servants. Seraphina hurriedly moved to the metal bars at the hallway and stared down the hallway as she impatiently waited for the arrival of those people.

As usual, no one announced the emperor's presence. He just appeared in her field of view, but he didn't even acknowledge her immediately. Cedar merely sat down on one of the chairs usually meant for the guards. A few servants put down a pot of tea and poured him a cup before bowing and leaving. Cedar stayed on his chair, seemingly fully relaxed as he sipped on his tea.

Seraphina was used to him ignoring her for minutes at a time. If she addressed him first, he wouldn't reply, so she had to stay in her place and be quiet. Her stomach began churning as she saw the emperor being as collected as always. He would bring bad news for her again, wouldn't he? She didn't want to hear that. But she did wish to hear him speak, maybe about the political situation in the capital. But it wasn't like she could control the conversation here.

The emperor directed everything, and she replied. That was how this would go.

It was the same again. Cedar disregarded her presence fully for what felt like an eternity. He only spoke up as he poured himself another cup of tea with more grace than a human should possess. He didn't even look at her. “It seems like you are awake.” His voice was so soft and gentle. Yet, it had been connected with so many horrible words. Just hearing him speak sent shivers down her spine.

But of course, Seraphina didn't dare to show fear. She just balled her fists on her lap and responded quickly, her voice hoarse from disuse. “Yes, Your Majesty...” She just replied to what he had said and didn't dare to add more.

After that, she hoped that Cedar would respond again, but he didn't do that. Cedar merely focused on his tea and drank it slowly. The slight scent reached the cell by now too. He had to know that Seraphina was thirsty and purposefully brought one of her favorite flavors of tea here so that she could watch him consume it while knowing that she would never have it again. Cedar didn't even have to speak to torture her.

Seraphina was well aware that he succeeded in playing with her mind far too easily. A part of her was even happy to see him, just because she could hear someone's voice and speak to them in return now. Even when she was aware that he would bring upsetting words, she was desperate enough to accept this in return for just some attention.

Cedar at least didn't act like she didn't exist. Most servants did.

Seraphina was happy with even a few words at this point. So, she knelt there patiently and waited for the emperor to continue with this conversation, her eyes glued to him the entire time.

To him, it was easy to act like he was alone. Even when Cedar faced the person he despised most in this entire world, he smiled at her with such an angelic expression that one could have mistaken him for a saint. Anyone that had seen behind that facade would know that he was more dangerous when he seemed the happiest though. As he just drank his tea in front of her, he definitely seemed happy. That wasn't a good sign.

Again, a few minutes passed as he slowly emptied his cup. Then he poured himself another one, the motions so smooth that Seraphina found it unsettling. He almost seemed like a puppet. He smiled at all times, barely seemed to feel his own emotions and moved with practiced ease. Cedar didn't even act like a human anymore. Maybe that was what made his presence so unpleasant. Along with his cruelty, of course.

But Seraphina was patient. She wanted him to speak to her, so she stayed quiet and just held still.

And after minutes of torturous waiting, Cedar finally opened his mouth. “It seems that winter is approaching. The new year will arrive rather soon.” The words in itself didn't mean much, but there was something hidden behind them.

Blanche had been executed in winter. Cedar had sworn to kill Seraphina on the anniversary of that date.

Seraphina tensed as she helplessly grasped the iron bars in front of her. Her voice was even weaker now. “Then will my...execution be held this year?” Or would she have to wait another year and get even tenser when the moment arrived again?

Of course, Cedar would never give her a direct response. “I wonder.” He took another sip from his teacup, holding it so gracefully that he looked like he had come right out of a portrait. For the first time, Cedar glanced at Seraphina with that soft smile on his lips. “Would you rather have it this year?” He asked that as if he was planning a nice event for her.

Seraphina knew that this wasn't it. And yet, her reply was obvious. Yes. Her family was still suffering because of her crimes. She hoped that it would get better after her death. It was also a lie to deny that she was breaking down more and more each day she was kept in this cell. She would rather end it soon. But she also knew that Cedar would never fulfill any of her wishes. So, she lied. “No.”

The emperor's smile didn't change in the slightest as he replied with a light voice that made it seem like he was discussing the weather. “Then we shall delay it another year.” No...

Hearing that alone was enough to make Seraphina despair. Her eyes widened as she finally dared to speak a bit louder. “Your Majesty, please...” She couldn't bring herself to beg for her death, even when they both knew that she was doing just that.

Cedar ignored it like she wasn't kneeling at his feet upon having lost all of her dignity. He just sipped some tea again before replying. “You just said that you wish for me to delay it. Did you change your mind?” He didn't have to pretend. He had known exactly what she had meant to reach by lying. That was obvious. He only acted foolish to upset her, it seemed.

He really liked to torture her.

Seraphina was well aware and also understood the reason. Yet, she couldn't help but want to cry and beg for forgiveness. She had suffered so much already. Wasn't this enough? Why did she still have to endure even more horror? Seraphina knew that speaking about Blanche could never make Cedar more generous, but she couldn't hold back. “I want to ask you something.” She began shaking as she raised her voice, her throat barely working with her. “Was what I did truly so horrible?”

It would have been calming if Cedar had whirled around to snap at her, to curse her out and ask how she could dare to question this. Just being called a vile murderer by him would be better than what he replied with.

Cedar once again showed no trace of his own emotions as he replied in that soft voice she had come to fear. “Do you wish for me to respond, or do you know it yourself?” It made her feel like all of her despair didn't matter. Like Cedar was above that.

Seraphina found herself yelling again. “But I didn't do it for fun! I thought it was necessary.” It hadn't been her personal feelings that had made her wish to ruin Blanche. It was true that she had resented the other woman, but Seraphina had only gotten involved because Theodore had refused to believe that his lover would betray him even when she had clearly met the second prince while supporting Marquess Sefare. Who could blame Seraphina for believing that this required meddling from someone that could view this more objectively? During the trial, Theodore had even said that he didn't care about Blanche allegedly poisoning his pregnant wife anymore, which proved that his judgment had been skewed.

But Seraphina's judgment had been skewed too.

Deep inside, she knew that guessing that Blanche was a traitor hadn't been her mistake. Her mistake had been believing that her version of the story was the only possible result. That she could get involved in other people's lives without destroying her own. She should just have told Theodore or the emperor's advisor. They could have investigated properly. Then Blanche could have given her testimony, and they might have been able to come to a conclusion.

But Seraphina had been so sure that she was right. That Blanche wasn't in love with Theodore and just wished to kill him for Cedar. That Theodore didn't truly love Blanche in return and that he had just been lonely. Both assumptions had been wrong. The two had loved each other dearly and had broken the very day they had been separated.

Ruining all of this because of her own guesses had been Seraphina's sin. She couldn't get rid of that no matter how much she yelled.

Yet, she was so desperate. She just wanted someone to tell her that her decision hadn't been fully vile. Seraphina knew that Cedar would never calm her, but she was in enough pain to try. Tears pricked in her eyes as she stared right at him. “If you had been in my position...wouldn't you have done the same?” She got louder as no reaction followed. “If someone had been beside your mother and you had suspected that this person would betray her, wouldn't you have attacked them with all you had too?”

Her voice echoed through the empty hallways, seemingly reaching into infinity without anyone listening.

Cedar didn't even look at her. He just drank his tea as if he knew that she was so impatient that she might snap soon. When he finally spoke up again, his reply wasn't what she had expected. “I cannot claim that I would not have resorted to such methods.”

A jolt ran through Seraphina. She tightened her hold on the iron bars, her panic welling up in her. “Then-”

Cedar didn't have to raise his voice to cut her off. He merely kept speaking in that calm tone. “But there is one big difference. If I had killed someone you held dear, I would not try to plead with you in an attempt to save my life. I would have quietly accepted my punishment knowing that I deserve it. I would also not have pulled those I hold dear into this mess with me.” He was right. Again, he only had to list all of Seraphina's mistakes to make her lower her head in shame. Cedar never cared about that, so she was even more uneasy when she heard him stand up. Footsteps sounded, and then his boots appeared in front of her. “I have news for you.” He spoke as if her previous words didn't matter to him. He had just come to tell her something else. Something that would probably destroy her.

Seraphina didn't want to hear it. She was sure that only bad things could have happened, so whatever this was would break her heart once more. She had no choice but to face the truth though. “What...is it?”

It could be everything from the reminder that her family might lose their title to a drought in the south. But out of everything, Seraphina hadn't been prepared to have Cedar smile at her while he told her the following thing. “Your sister took her own life yesterday. Her body was found today.”

For a moment, the world seemed to freeze.

Seraphina was dizzy and then a bit numb. It was like her brain refused to accept what she had heard. As she understood the words a few seconds after, her heartbeat picked up. Still, she refused that option. “You're lying. She would never kill herself.” But her voice trembled too much. Her fingers dug into the metal bars until it felt like her own bones would break while panic and fear grew in her. She ended up yelling. “Sophia would never!”

Right. Cedar was just telling her this to hurt her. He didn't mind lying like this. He was a good actor too. There was no need to believe him.

But even as she accused him of lying, Cedar's expression didn't shift. He just looked at her like she shouldn't be unwilling to face reality. “Are you certain? Have you seen how much she suffered after all that happened? After she lost her child and her family fell apart? I believe even the kindest person has their breaking point. If you wish for it, I can bring her corpse here for you to check, but I believe you would like to avoid the sight.”

Even as Seraphina scanned his expression carefully to find a small hint of sadistic amusement or even anger, she didn't find even a little clue. That scared her more than she could admit.

Sophia hadn't been doing well during the past two years. After that vile Evelyn had killed her daughter, she had fallen into a deep depression, barely leaving her bed and crying day and night. Her husband had tried to help her despite not feeling much better, but they both had only ended up crying together. From then on, Sophia had distanced herself from her family, especially her sister. After hearing that Seraphina had been pregnant, her sister hadn't even met her gaze anymore, probably because she had been reminded of her own child. Then Seraphina had had a miscarriage, which had just woken up old memories in Sophia too. After her sister's involvement in Blanche's trial had become known, Sophia had fully given up on her though, asking why Seraphina had been so cruel to frame someone innocent just to ruin their life.

Seraphina still remembered seeing her sister's expression full of disappointment. The memory was enough to make her tear up. But now she had been told that Sophia wouldn't be able to speak to her anymore at all.

That couldn't be true. The sunshine of her family couldn't have lost her will to live.

Seraphina screamed without thinking about it. “No!” Her voice broke as her head fell forward. She couldn't keep the sobs that rose in her throat down. She began crying loudly, not being able to hold back as she prayed for Sophia. How should she accept that her sister was dead? There was no way. Seraphina refused to believe this.

And yet, a part of her reminded her that just denying the truth wouldn't help her either. It was quite possible that Sophia had broken down after their family had lost the one thing that had kept them together, their unwavering trust in one another. After her sister and brother had become criminals in her eyes, her husband was losing his will to live in front of her and her daughter had needed to be buried, how could Sophia keep that bright smile that had always filled everyone with joy on her lips?

Seraphina felt like the floor was collapsing. Many horrible things had happened during the past years, but if this was true, she couldn't stand it. Was her dear sister truly gone? Her beloved, sweet Sophia, who always hugged everyone and said that things would be fine? How was Seraphina supposed to live with that when she was part of the reason why Sophia had been so miserable? Her sobs grew louder as she barely managed to compose herself. Only her wailing was audible in the cell as it echoed from all walls.

But then a voice sounded. “Don't cry.” That voice sounded so soft, so kind.

It made Seraphina open her eyes.

Cedar had leaned down in front of her. The cell bars separated them, but there was enough space for him to reach her. He cupped her face so gently that she could only lift her head to look at him as he tilted her head back gently. Cedar showed her such a soft smile that she fell right into his trap for a single moment.

Seraphina actually hoped that she could receive a bit of help now. “Your...Majesty...” Even as she pressed that out knowing that this was her greatest enemy, she just prayed for him to console her this one time. Just a little.

Cedar still smiled at her. His gentle voice lulled her in even more, only for his words to push all air out of her lungs. “There is no need to grieve. Your entire family will be reunited soon.” As her eyes widened in shock, Cedar's smile shifted a bit. It was just slightly, but he suddenly looked so amused and let out a faint chuckle. “Ah, did you forget? Your beloved family will be executed with you. Don't you think that will be fitting?” He abruptly pulled back his hand, letting her head fall down. As Cedar stood up again, his smile became as soft as before as he just watched her absolute dread wash over her.

It had been her fault. Seraphina had known that Cedar was cruel enough to do this. She should have been prepared for this. She shouldn't have wished to receive help from the single person that even faced her. Yet, it hurt once again. As she stared up at Cedar, despair was all that filled her veins. “Your... Your Majesty, please!” She grabbed the iron bars to pull at them violently. “Please don't hurt them!”

Cedar just looked down at her like she wasn't begging him to save her family. He even spoke like this topic wasn't cruel at all. “You don't want that? Then how about this? I will allow one member of your family to survive. Whom will you save? Your mother? Your father? Your brother? Or your deceased sister's husband?”

There was no way he would let her make that choice. He couldn't...

No. Cedar could be that cruel.

Again, Seraphina just found herself despairing. She screamed as she lowered her head to the floor, her hands reaching for Cedar's feet as she just tried to beg for one single thing. “Please, Your Majesty! You can kill me. I won't fight it no matter what. But not them! They are innocent!”

But pleading never helped.

As she glanced up, Cedar just had the same smile as before on his lips. “I know. That is why I'm doing this.” He slowly turned and wandered back to his table, not a care in the world seeming to bother him. “Is it not horrible to watch those you care for being killed when you know that they never did anything wrong? It would be inhumane to do this to anyone, correct?”

But Seraphina had put him through that. That was what he wanted to say.

It got too much at that moment. Seraphina broke down as she felt her will to live leave her. She ended up lying on the cold stone floor, only whimpering in response. “I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I'm so sorry, but...” Pleading wouldn't help. She knew that, so she gave up in the middle. But Seraphina couldn't let him hurt her family. So, she lifted her head and forced herself to say something, anything that might convince him. “If you hurt them now, you aren't better than me in the slightest.”

She should have expected that Cedar's wouldn't budge. He replied while staring at his teacup. “I am aware. In contrast to you, I never claimed to be a good person either. Being self-aware is the most important part. Have you ever acknowledged how cruel and disgusting you are? I believe you have deluded yourself until now.” He slowly turned his head to her and still held onto that fake smile of his. “You keep claiming that it was the best for Artias, but it was just the best for yourself. Do you think that it was right to frame a young woman for attempted murder before preventing any chance for her to be put into exile just because you want her dead? Would you also say that drugging Theodore to lure him into bed with you was morally sound?”

Seraphina couldn't deny that the first part had been cruel. But she raised her voice as soon as the second accusation followed. “I never touched him!” Her voice was shrill now, but she still couldn't speak as loudly as she wanted to.

In contrast, Cedar chose to speak quietly, his voice seeming as calm as if he was narrating a fairy tale, but his words cut her like burning knives. “I know. But you made it seem like you did. Do you know how disgusted he was after? I guess you didn't care for how he felt as long as you had a child you could present as the royal heir. You claim to have loved him, but to you, Theodore was never a person. He was the emperor, the most powerful person in this nation. You wanted him on your side, nothing more. Even I viewed him as more of a human than you did.” His smile widened slowly. “So, tell me... How am I more cruel than you were? I am just returning the favor. You began this, so carry the consequences until I burn your lifeless corpse. Be good and wait for your time.”

That was the last thing he said to her that day. Cedar just finished his tea calmly and left after, even as Seraphina begged him to stay and keep her family alive.

As soon as he disappeared, the cells seemed even colder and more lonely. Seraphina was still too desperate to understand what the emperor had promised her today, but she realized what the full extent might be within the next few hours. This only reminded her of what she had to do once more.

Seraphina needed to speed up her execution. If the emperor killed her this year, maybe her family could be spared. It was a foolish guess, but that was all she had right now.