Chapter – 01

Prologue

The Great Hall of the imperial palace was filled with nobles dressed in their finest to celebrate the founding festival of the Paradium Empire.

“His Majesty the Emperor of the Bashker Empire has arrived!”

A servant’s voice rang out above the noise.

At the appearance of the emperor of an enemy nation, the nobles all turned their attention toward the entrance.

As they watched a man and woman walk in confidently side by side, whispers spread quietly among the crowd.

The man was Ikar, the cold-blooded young emperor of the Bashker Empire. The woman smiling while holding his arm was none other than Lady Reneve of the Seiren Marquis family of Paradium.

Three years ago, she had been sent to Bashker as a sacrifice for a peace treaty between the empires. Yet now, she and the enemy emperor looked strangely like lovers.

Just as the pair reached the center of the hall—

“…Reneve?”

The expression of Lucius, the Third Prince of Paradium, twisted horribly at the sight of them standing arm in arm.

The Empress Dowager walking behind him also frowned upon seeing them.

“Lady Seiren?”

“It has been a long time, Your Highness, Your Majesty. Have you both been well?”

Reneve gently stroked Ikar’s arm and smiled faintly.

“Reneve, what is the meaning of this?”

Lucius demanded harshly. The Empress Dowager cut in.

“Lady Seiren. I believe an explanation is required.”

“An explanation…”

Among the watching nobles, Reneve spotted a familiar face.

Lucius’s mistress, Eshika.

Just as Eshika’s lips twisted slightly—

“She is the future Empress of the Bashker Empire. I suggest you show proper respect. Empress Dowager. Prince.”

Ikar warned coldly.

“T-That’s impossible! What do you mean—?!”

The Empress Dowager stuttered in shock.

“What happened during those three years? Yes… I think we need to talk. Don’t you agree, Reneve?”

Lucius’s clenched fists trembled.

His mother, who had constantly gaslighted Reneve in her previous life.

Lucius himself, the husband she had devoted her life to—only for him to kill her.

And finally, Eshika, the beautiful mistress he loved so dearly.

“Just as His Majesty said. The Emperor and I are promised to be married.”

Reneve smiled sweetly as she took in each of their shocked expressions.

This life… it’s your turn to suffer.

Chapter 1: The Deposed Empress

The reception room had a high ceiling adorned with dozens of crystal chandeliers. The cream-colored walls were decorated with famous paintings and sculptures.

Reneve sat on a soft cream sofa enjoying tea. It was one of the few precious breaks allowed to her as Empress.

Even then, the table was piled with documents she hadn’t finished reviewing that morning.

As Reneve set down her teacup and reached for the papers—

The door suddenly opened without a knock.

A small head with golden hair peeked inside. Reneve blinked once, then a smile quickly formed on her lips.

“Kael.”

“Mother!”

The little boy ran in on his short legs and threw himself into the folds of her dress.

Though touched by her young son’s affection, Reneve remembered he had skipped his lessons to come see her.

“Kael, isn’t it lesson time right now?”

At her deliberately stern voice, his small shoulders drooped.

“Yes…”

It was both adorable and heartbreaking.

Even noble children who received strict education usually played outside at his age.

It must be exhausting to have endless lessons.

Of course, Reneve was just as exhausted. After finishing her duties, the only time she had was briefly looking at her son’s sleeping face.

“I really missed you… Can I stay here just for a little while?”

Kael fidgeted with his tiny fingers and looked up with pouting lips.

He must have missed his mother’s warmth.

Reneve lifted him into her arms and gently patted his back. He quickly snuggled closer.

“You can come see me. But skipping lessons without a proper reason…”

At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Who is being so rude in the corridor…?

Frowning slightly, she assumed his tutor had come to fetch him.

“…is not right.”

“Yes…”

His round eyes drooped sadly.

“Then promise you’ll stay only a little while and go back to class.”

“Really?”

His face brightened immediately. Reneve smiled too.

Then—

Imperial knights suddenly flooded into the reception room.

Sensing something serious, Reneve placed Kael behind her and spoke firmly.

“What is the meaning of this? Have you forgotten that I am the Empress? And that this is my private chamber?”

Her authority made the two knights in front hesitate.

“Do not hesitate! His Majesty ordered the arrest of the traitor!”

The knight commander at the back shouted.

“His Majesty’s order? What is this about?”

Though shaken, Reneve tried to calmly ask for an explanation.

But the knights roughly grabbed her arms.

“How dare you! This is Her Majesty the Empress!”

Kael shouted angrily despite his fear.

“Prince Kael, don’t worry. There must be some misunderstanding.”

As she tried to reassure him, the knight commander coldly ordered:

“Arrest both the Empress and the Prince!”

“…!”

The central plaza of the capital was packed with people gathered to witness the Empress’s execution.

“Punish the traitor!”

“Burn the Empress who conspired with the enemy nation!”

Dragged through the crowd, Reneve frowned at the deafening shouts.

Traitor? Conspiring with the enemy?

None of it had anything to do with her.

But it was clear the mob’s anger was directed at her.

“This is… wrong.”

She murmured blankly.

Smack!

A sharp pain hit the back of her head. Then something struck her forehead.

Before she could react, hands reached out from everywhere, pulling her hair and tearing her dress.

Her neatly styled silver hair became disheveled. Her pristine dress was ruined.

By the time she was shoved forward, she found herself before the execution platform.

“Patrick…? Why?”

Her older brother, Marquis Seiren, was kneeling there in humiliation.

Seeing her pitiful state, despair filled his face.

“Reneve… I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you…”

As she looked at him in confusion, a knight kicked the back of her knee.

She collapsed beside him.

A cold voice announced:

“For conspiring with the enemy nation, Empress Reneve Paradium is hereby deposed! Marquis Seiren is stripped of title. His family’s wealth and lands are confiscated by the imperial family…”

The crowd roared.

“That’s not true! This is someone’s scheme!”

She shouted desperately.

No one listened.

“Bring the Emperor! Lucius would prove my innocence—”

She pleaded with a nearby knight.

“How dare you speak His Majesty’s name! Do you still think you are Empress?”

The only reply was insults and blows.

“Ahhh!”

Falling to the ground, she saw Patrick being dragged forward.

“No! Patrick!”

The blade flashed in the sunlight.

“WAAAAA!”

The crowd roared.

Thud!

Something heavy dropped onto the wooden platform.

Then something rolled toward her.

She slowly opened her eyes.

“…!”

Patrick’s half-open purple eyes met hers—his severed head.

Her scream tore out violently.

“AAAAAH!”

But her misery only entertained the spectators.

“Execute the deposed Empress!”

Just like her brother, she was forced to kneel.

“What about the Prince? What will happen to Kael, the Emperor’s own blood?”

“One last kindness before you die—he’ll likely be exiled to another country.”

“Exile?! He did nothing wrong! He’s just a child!”

She struggled and screamed.

No one answered.

They only did their jobs.

She had devoted her entire life—from before Lucius became emperor until now.

He repaid her with cold cruelty.

She endured her mother-in-law’s abuse when she couldn’t conceive.

She endured when he brought in Eshika right after her miscarriage.

All for the empire. For the dignity of the Empress.

And this was the result.

Just before the blade fell—

Something interesting will happen soon. You can look forward to it, Empress.

Lucius’s voice echoed in her mind.

“…So this was it.”

A bitter smile appeared on Reneve’s tear-stained face.

Years ago, she had transmigrated into the body of a villainess from a novel she briefly read on the subway.

No matter how she struggled, the villain’s ending did not change.

At the time of the execution, inside the Emperor’s office—

Emperor Lucius and his mistress Eshika were entangled together.

As if used to the sight, the knight commander reported:

“Your Majesty, the execution has been carried out as scheduled.”

“I see…”

Lucius lowered his gaze thoughtfully.

Eshika, sitting on his lap, smiled seductively and touched his cheek.

“Your Majesty… do you regret your decision?”

He shook his head.

“Of course not. How was the Empress before she died? Did she beg for her life?”

“No.”

Lucius raised an eyebrow.

“No… then?”

“She was smiling.”

“…She smiled?”

Lucius let out a dry laugh, his lips tightening uneasily.