Chapter 1
All life is said to be precious. And yet, looking back, there are existences that should never have been born.
Like me.
A person who was scorned, not loved, by her parents and siblings—how foolish of me to believe that perhaps others might love me instead.
I pulled the hood of my black robe low over my face and wandered aimlessly through the filthy streets of the city of Leone.
The soles of my shoes had long since worn through; the bottoms of my feet were already torn open and slick with blood. Still, I could not stop walking. If I stopped—if I lingered too long—I feared someone would find me.
I wanted to escape Leone and return to my family home, Anguist Castle. But even that proved impossible. Security was tighter than usual. Dario Leone, lord of the city, had issued a warrant for my capture. Loyal knights stood guard at every exit from the city.
The person they were hunting—
was me, Amira Anguist.
Even if I managed to return home, there was no guarantee I would receive help. My elder brother, Zenovio, the head of the family, considered me a disgrace.
Amelia.
I lifted my gaze toward Leone Castle, standing in solemn majesty in the northern part of the city. My dearest friend would be there.
…Will she be all right?
Idiot.
I struck my own head with my fist for worrying about her.
Who am I to worry about anyone?
Amelia would be lying comfortably in that castle, receiving Dario’s devoted care—like its mistress.
Even though I’m the real mistress…
The thought stung. In the span of a moment, I had become a fugitive.
“How cruel of you. How could you curse your own best friend?”
Dario held Amelia in his arms as paralysis, born of the curse, began creeping up from her toes.
Seeing the way his arm wrapped firmly around her shoulders, tears surged up without warning. I bit down hard on my lower lip to keep them from falling.
“My best friend? That ‘best friend’ of yours is the one who fooled around with my husband!”
My insides twisted and rotted. I clenched the front of my dress in my fists, struggling to contain my anger—but the tears came anyway.
I cried as I protested, yet Dario showed not the slightest intention of admitting fault.
“Fooled around? Watch your words. We were in love.”
How noble, their love. For a pair of adulterers.
But the words he added next sealed my lips shut.
“Then again, a monster like you wouldn’t understand love.”
The word love robbed me of all strength. I should have been furious—but instead, my body went slack, and I could say nothing more.
“…Monster.”
Did he even know that I, too, was human enough to be hurt?
“I never should have let a snake into my castle.”
A snake.
The sacred animal of my family—and the slur used for my power.
A chill ran through me, as if my body temperature had suddenly dropped.
Ah.
It wasn’t simply that he didn’t love me.
He despised me.
“Seize that witch!”
Witch. Snake. Monster.
That was all I had ever been to him.
Still clutching Amelia protectively in his arms, he shouted the order through tears—and I ran. I ran and ran, fleeing from his knights.
I managed to escape the castle, but not the city.
Before long, wanted posters bearing the name Amira Anguist were plastered across Leone. The citizens buzzed with excitement at the sizable reward.
That much…?
Even the most heinous criminals didn’t command a bounty so high.
Should I just turn myself in?
If I could, I might have surrendered just to claim the reward myself. It was a ridiculous thought—but after three days without food, maintaining reason was no easy task.
Life on the streets was merciless. Even if I found a dropped coin, someone stronger would snatch it away.
After being robbed several times without resistance, I tried to fight back—but each time, I was beaten for it. My body ached everywhere.
“Huh?”
Bread.
I licked my lips at the sight of a dirt-covered piece of bread someone had dropped. Afraid someone else might take it first, I forced my aching feet to move faster.
The moment I picked it up, I locked eyes with a child.
Judging by his ragged appearance, he lived on the streets, just like me.
I stared down at the hard bread and swallowed. I shut my eyes and tried to take a bite—but I couldn’t.
In the end, I approached the child and held it out to him.
He hesitated, staring up at me with fearful eyes.
Well… I do look suspicious right now.
I pulled back my hood for a moment and gave him a small smile. Only then did his expression soften, a smile spreading across his face.
I held the bread out again.
And that was when he shouted.
“I found her! I found the witch! I’m going to be rich! Yahoo!”
His clear, excited voice echoed through the alley.
Instinctively, I stepped back—but it was already too late. Those blinded by the reward quickly surrounded me, closing in.
“No, I found her first!”
“Kid, do you think you can capture her yourself and turn her in?”
“I’ll catch her!”
Even now, they argued over who would claim the bounty. Soon, hands grabbed at my arms and legs from all sides.
My clothes tore. My once-luxuriant hair was yanked out in clumps.
It hurt so much I almost wished the guards would arrive sooner.
And as if in answer, I was dragged away by the captain of the guard.
The first thing he did after taking me into custody was cover my eyes.
A black cloth wrapped around them, and I was dragged somewhere else. Unable to see, terrified by the fact that someone else controlled my body, I fainted.
When I woke, my wrists and ankles were bound.
A damp, cold sensation against my cheek. And the low murmurs of madmen echoing somewhere nearby.
I knew where I was.
The darkest place in Leone Castle—
the underground prison.
“You’re awake?”
A soft, clear voice rang out.
Still bound, I struggled and crawled toward the sound.
“Ah… Amelia.”
“You look terrible, Amira.”
Her tone was gentle as she stroked my cheek.
At that, tears burst from my eyes.
Seeing her filled me with anger—but remembering the friend she used to be made guilt well up inside me instead.
“A-are you… all right?”
It was foolish.
That was why I asked after the one who had brought me to this state.
Guilt gnawed at me. After all, Amelia would die because of me.
I had spent my entire life trying not to harm anyone.
And yet, it had come to this.
“Kind-hearted Amira, I’m not all right. I can’t walk anymore. The paralysis that started at my toes has reached my thighs.”
“I-I’m sorry. You know, right? I didn’t do it on purpose!”
Prostrating myself on the ground, I begged her forgiveness.
I hated her.
I had believed she was the only one who loved me—and yet she had taken away the one thing I cherished most in my life.
The betrayal was unbearable.
But I had never intended to harm her.
My cursed ability—the power of Medusa, which slowly paralyzed anyone who met my gaze—was not something I could control.
“I know. I know better than anyone that you can’t control that power.”
Her breath brushed close against my ear.
“That’s why I encouraged you. So you’d use it.”
“…What?”
“If I got hurt, Dario would have no choice but to abandon you.”
“W-why would you do something so reckless…?”
“Reckless? Don’t you remember? You gave me that medicine once.”
I remembered.
A drug that nullified all abilities.
But it was difficult to produce, unverified—and above all, it had not been approved by the Anguist family.
In the Holy Empire of Leto, most medicines were created by the Anguist family, and any new drug required their approval before distribution. Anything else was strictly forbidden.
I had requested approval for that drug again and again—but was always refused.
Because nullifying magic would be a great loss to the Five Families.
Though I could have been punished, I gave it to Amelia anyway.
Because she was the one I loved most. Because I feared she might one day fall victim to my uncontrollable power.
“When people kill you, I’ll use that medicine and walk again. Then everyone will think I was saved by God, won’t they?”
Amelia’s light, cheerful laughter echoed through the underground prison.
“I’ll become the great Saintess, Amelia. And then the temple will be in the palm of my hand. Thank you, Amira. It’s all thanks to you.”
My entire body trembled.
“Did you ever… think of me as a friend?”
Somewhere deep down, I had tried to justify her betrayal.
She must have had no choice.
Because losing my only friend hurt too much.
“How could a monster and a human ever be friends?”
Shock froze my body.
She had never thought of me as a friend.
She had only used me.
“Hah…”
A laugh escaped me.
After Amelia left, I spent the night hating myself—cursing my own foolishness.
By morning, the guards came and seized my limbs once more.
Soon, I was surrounded by a cacophony of noise.
“Kill her!”
“Kill the witch!”
“How dare she curse Saintess Amelia!”
Voices filled with hatred rose from all around—men, women, young, old.
I felt them bind me to a stake.
In the chaos, a rotten apple struck my forehead. Warm, wet blood trickled down, soaking the blindfold—and the injustice I had suppressed finally burst free.
“What did I do so wrong?!”
The ones who had sinned were Dario and Amelia!
Not once had I harbored ill intent. The malice had always been Amelia’s.
And yet, the crowd jeered.
Tears welled up.
I suddenly remembered the child I had given bread to.
Was he here too, shouting abuse at me?
The image of his face—bright with excitement as he turned me in—flickered before my eyes.
I had always approached others with kindness.
But they looked at me like I was a monster. Like I was something less than human.
Why?
What had I done to deserve such hatred?
“I’ll curse this wretched world to the very end! Until it burns to ashes—until all of you fall into the same hellfire as me!”
I shouted in fury, listing curses I could never truly bring to pass.
Then—
a rancid smell of oil filled the air.
Heat began to rise from beneath my feet.
“Amira!”
A familiar voice.
Who was it?
“Amira! Stop! Stop this!”
A voice screaming, as though being torn apart—
Who…?
Were they worried about me?
I hoped so.
Because as I faced my end, the thought that no one had ever loved me was unbearably sad.
But I had no time to dwell on it.
It’s hot. It’s burning—please, stop!
Agony engulfed me.
