03
「There is no way you could be loved
by Otou-sama.」
「──hk!?」
For a moment, she thought her ears were playing tricks on
her, but she was certain those were words uttered by Louise. Turning around, there was the sight of her father
and Louise, the two of
them snuggled close together.
（That place…… was supposed to be my
place to belong.）
She felt a strong impact at the nape of her neck. She
thought someone had struck her, but Candice
had no energy left to resist. From there, her field of vision was dyed pitch
black.
When Candice
regained consciousness and opened her eyes, she was inside a dungeon. She was
made to realize that what had just happened was reality. How much time had
passed since then? Let alone a maid appearing, no one treated Candice as a human being. The
life and standing of Candice,
who had become a sinner, plummeted to the absolute bottom in an instant. Filthy
water dripping from the ceiling. A stone floor so cold it made her fingers stop
moving. She didn't even have the energy to resist the moldy bread and stones
thrown through the gaps in the iron bars, nor the verbal abuse. The dress that
had sparkled so brightly was now stained dark and filthy from soaking up blood.
Clink, the golden pendant at her chest swayed. It seemed she was still
in the same attire as during the party. Candice had removed all the accessories that got in her way,
but she kept wearing only the pendant that was a memento of her mother.
Accessories that shined under the light held no meaning now. It looked comical.
(Isn't it just like me right now.）
Even so, the reason she did not utter a single whimper was
because of her pride as an Imperial
Princess. If she did not cling to that, her heart would break.
(I wanted to be acknowledged by Otou-sama. I wanted
to be loved…… that was all I wanted, and yet.)
Louise was probably sleeping in a warm bed right now, being loved
by their father and everyone else.
『There is no way you could be loved
by Otou-sama.』
Not wanting to accept those words, she bit her dry lips
until they bled. The dishonorable name 『Evil Imperial Princess』 clung to her head and would not leave. Even going without
food or drink wouldn't kill her immediately. Unable to endure the hunger, she
would reach her hand out towards the moldy bread and muddy water, only to pull
it back. There was a time when Candice
unconsciously put the bread in her mouth and threw it back up. The faces of the
guards, their lips contorted as if mocking Candice at that time, were burned into her eyes and wouldn't
leave.
She didn't know how many days had passed, but it felt as
though quite a long time had flowed by. Around the time Candice's consciousness grew
hazy, someone—she didn't know who—would enter the dungeon, say something, and
leave. Sometimes verbal abuse would echo, but to Candice, who had lost absolutely everything, it didn't
matter. Humiliation, regret, anger, hatred…… various emotions were mixed
together. It was only now, having ended up like this, that she could realize
what she had done was wrong.
（The Evil Imperial Princess…… it truly is
exactly as they say.）
Just like that, Candice
lost consciousness as if falling asleep.
When Candice
woke up next, the area was overflowing with light. The next thing she felt was
an intense pain. She was being moved, dragged by her hair. She realized she was
climbing up the execution block, but Candice
had no strength to resist. She was simply left to their mercy. Stones and
bottles thrown at her entire body bit into her emaciated frame and fell away.
『Hurry up and kill the Evil Imperial Princess!』
『You demon! Give back the Imperial
Princes, give back our future!』
『Don't forgive her! The Imperial Princess is a demon!』
『You Evil Imperial Princess……!』
Such words reached Candice's ears. Then, right before her eyes were the shoes that Candice had favored and worn. At the sheer shock of it, she moved her neck and shifted her gaze upwards. Standing there was the figure of Louise, wearing the dress and accessories that Candice had favored.
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