Episode 1: The Deposed Empress

Prologue

The Great Hall of the Paradium Imperial Palace was lined with nobles lavishly adorned for the empire’s founding festival.

“His Majesty, the Emperor of the Vashker Empire, enters!”

Amid the commotion, a servant announced.

At the arrival of the enemy emperor, all eyes of the nobles turned toward the entrance.

A man and a woman walked in confidently, and the nobles began whispering quietly among themselves.

The man was Icar, the cold-blooded young emperor of Vashker, and the woman smiling on his arm was none other than Reneb, the daughter of the Paradium Marquis.

Three years ago, she had been sent to Vashker as a victim of the peace agreement between the empires. Yet now, she and the enemy emperor appeared almost like lovers.

By the time the pair reached the center of the hall, Paradium’s third prince, Lucius, could barely contain his rage.

“…Reneb?”

The sight of them walking arm in arm twisted his expression into fury.

The empress, following behind, also furrowed her brows at the sight.

“Lady Reneb, daughter of Marquis Seiren?”

“It’s been a long time. Your Highness, Your Majesty. I hope you’ve been well,” Reneb said, lightly stroking Icar’s arm with a faint smile.

“Reneb, what is the meaning of this?”

Lucius demanded, his expression fierce, while the empress interjected.

“Lady Reneb, I think an explanation is necessary,” she said.

“An explanation, huh…”

Among the nobles observing, Reneb’s eyes fell on a familiar face: Lucius’s mistress, Esica.

Her lips twisted ever so slightly.

“You are to become the Empress of Vashker. I strongly recommend that you maintain the proper decorum, Empress, and Prince,” Icar warned coldly.

“N-Impossible! What is…!”

Flustered, the empress stammered, while Lucius’s fists shook as he tried to control himself.

Three years of gaslighting from his mother, the empress, manipulating Reneb. A husband, Lucius, who had devoted his life but ultimately betrayed her. And finally, his beloved mistress, Esica.

“As His Majesty said, I am betrothed to the emperor,” Reneb said, taking in each horrified expression, her smile sweet and sharp.

“This time, it’s your turn to suffer.”

Episode 1: The Deposed Empress

In the reception room, with its high ceilings and crystal chandeliers made of dozens of candles, and cream-colored walls adorned with paintings and statues, Reneb sat on a plush cream sofa enjoying tea—a rare moment of rest granted to the empress.

Yet, stacks of documents she hadn’t reviewed that morning were piled on the table.

Just as she set down her teacup and reached for a document, the reception room door opened without a knock.

A small golden head peeked in. Reneb blinked once, then a smile spread across her face.

“Kael.”

“Mother!”

Kael ran into the room, legs pattering, and threw himself into Reneb’s dress.

Reneb cherished her young son’s affection, but reminded herself that he should have been in class.

“Kael, wasn’t it class time just now?”

Hearing her stern voice, Kael’s small shoulders slumped.

“Yes…”

It was both adorable and pitiful. Even noble children, strictly educated from a young age, played outside at Kael’s age. The relentless education must have been exhausting.

Of course, Reneb herself was also worn out. After a busy day of imperial duties, her only joy was glancing at her sleeping son’s face.

“I missed you so much… Could I stay with you just for a moment?”

Kael fidgeted with his tiny hands, lips pouting, longing for his mother’s warm embrace.

Reneb lifted him, patting his back gently. Kael snuggled into her arms immediately.

“You may visit, but skipping lessons without a valid reason…”

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway.

‘Who is being so rude in the corridor…?’

Frowning, Reneb assumed it was Kael’s tutor coming for him.

“That is not acceptable,” she said.

“Yes…”

Intimidated, Kael’s round eyes drooped.

“Then promise me you’ll go back to class after staying here for a while.”

“Can I really?”

Upon hearing her approval, Kael’s face lit up, and Reneb smiled.

At that moment, imperial knights suddenly poured into the reception room.

Sensing something unusual, Reneb hid Kael behind her and said sternly,

“What do you think you’re doing? Have you forgotten I am the empress? And that this is my place of rest?”

The two knights at the front hesitated and stepped back.

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

When the captain at the back barked orders, the knights advanced toward Reneb again.

“What is the meaning of His Majesty’s command?” Reneb asked, trying to remain calm.

But the knights grabbed her arms roughly.

“This is outrageous! She is the Empress!”

Kael, who had shrunk back in fear, shouted.

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

The captain’s face was emotionless as he ordered the knights,

“Arrest both the Empress and the Prince!”

“…!”

In the capital square, a crowd had gathered to witness the empress’s execution.

“Punish the traitor!”

“Burn the Empress who colluded with the enemy!”

Dragged through the shouting crowd, Reneb frowned at the deafening shouts.

‘Traitor? Colluding with the enemy?’

These claims had nothing to do with her—but the angry crowd’s attention was fixed entirely on her.

“This… is… wrong,” she murmured.

Thunk!

A sharp pain struck the back of her head. Before she could react, something hit her forehead.

Before she could even cry out, hands grabbed her hair and dress from all sides.

Her neatly pinned silver hair was tousled, her once-pristine gown torn.

Pushed and shoved, she soon found herself at the guillotine.

“Patrick…? Why?”

Before the guillotine knelt her brother, the Marquis Seiren, humiliated and kneeling.

Seeing Reneb’s disheveled state, Patrick’s face darkened.

“Reneb, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you…”

Reneb, confused, looked at Patrick, but a knight kicked her knees from the side.

Unable to scream, she was forced to kneel beside Patrick.

From behind came a cold voice:

“For colluding with the enemy, Empress Reneb Paradium is deposed! Marquis Seiren, complicit in this crime, is dismissed. The Seiren family’s lands and assets are confiscated and returned to the Paradium Imperial House…”

The crowd roared. Reneb shouted desperately:

“This isn’t true! Someone is framing me!”

But no one listened.

“Call Lucius! He can prove my innocence…”

Reneb pleaded with a nearby knight.

“How dare you speak his name! Do you still think you are empress?”

Instead of answers, she received blows.

“Ahhhh!”

Falling to the ground, she watched Patrick being dragged toward the guillotine.

“No, Patrick!”

The gleaming blade reflected sunlight, blinding her as she struggled.

“Waaah!”

The crowd’s roar grew, and thunk!

Something heavy fell on the wooden floor, rolling toward Reneb.

Opening her eyes slightly, she met Patrick’s half-open violet eyes.

“Ughhh!”

Her scream erupted, but her suffering only entertained the crowd.

“Execute the deposed empress!”

Like her brother, Reneb, kneeling before the guillotine, shouted at the knight beside her,

“What about Prince Kael, the emperor’s bloodline?”

“You’ll be informed once the deed is done. Likely exiled to a foreign land,” the knight said.

“Exiled…! He’s innocent! Just a child who knows nothing!”

Reneb struggled, shouting, but no one responded. Everyone silently performed their duty.

She had devoted herself to her husband, Lucius, before he ascended the throne and up to this moment, enduring his cold neglect.

She had endured his mother’s scorn for not bearing children, and his taking of Esica as his mistress after her miscarriage, all for the sake of stability and dignity.

And this was the result.

Just as the finely sharpened blade was about to fall,

‘Something interesting is about to happen. Look forward to it, Empress,’

Lucius’s excited voice whispered in her mind from days before.

“…So this is it.”

Tears streaked her face, twisted into a bitter smile. Her expression was strange, almost otherworldly.

Years had passed since she had become possessed by the body of a villainess from a novel she had once skimmed on a subway.

No matter how much she struggled, the villainess’ ending remained unchanged.

At the time of her brother’s execution, Emperor Lucius and his mistress Esica were entwined in the imperial office.

The captain of the knights, observing the familiar scene, reported:

“Your Majesty, the execution of your brother has been carried out as planned.”

“I see…”