THE VENGEANCE SHE WORE

The Kingdom of Veronica was known for its beautiful capital, powerful noble families, and ancient traditions. Yet far from the noise of the capital, a quiet village stood surrounded by endless forests and rolling green hills. It was here that Eva had spent the past year recovering from a mysterious illness. At twenty years old, Eva was gentle, innocent, and perhaps a little too trusting. Her father, one of the Emperor’s most beloved ministers, had sent her away from the capital when her health suddenly began to deteriorate. That morning had been peaceful. Eva sat near the window of her room, slowly drinking tea while enjoying a simple breakfast. For the first time in months, she felt almost normal. Then— Bang! The door suddenly flew open. A servant stumbled inside, breathing heavily. His face was pale, and his hands were trembling. “Miss Eva!” Eva immediately stood up. “What happened? Why are you so frightened?” The servant struggled to catch his breath. “Miss… you must return to the capital immediately.” Eva’s heart skipped. “Why?” The man looked at her with trembling eyes. “Your family…” He swallowed hard. “Everyone in your household… they are dead.” Eva stared at him. For several seconds, she couldn't understand what he had said. “What?” “Someone poisoned them,” he whispered. “Your stepmother, your stepsister, your stepbrother… your uncle and his family… the servants who were present…” His voice broke. “And your fiancé was there too.” Eva’s face instantly lost all color. “My… fiancé?” “He died as well.” The teacup slipped from Eva’s fingers and shattered against the floor. “No…” She shook her head. “No, that’s impossible.” Her fiancé was a wealthy and powerful nobleman. He had been the man she was promised to marry. He was supposed to be waiting for her return. He couldn't be dead. The room began to spin. “Miss Eva!” She heard someone calling her name, but the voice seemed to grow farther and farther away. Then everything went black. When Eva finally opened her eyes, several hours had passed. She learned the horrifying details. Her family had been holding a private gathering in the capital. Eva’s father, her stepmother, her siblings, her uncle and his wife, their two daughters, her fiancé, and a few servants had all been together in the same room. Then, without warning, they had begun collapsing one after another. The investigators had already taken control of the scene. But there was one person missing. Eva’s younger brother. He had been away at the Imperial Academy, preparing for the Imperial Examinations. He was the only member of their immediate family who had not attended the gathering. And now Eva was the eldest surviving member of the household. The people who had come from the capital urged her to return immediately. “We must leave at once, Miss. Your family needs you now.” Eva stared silently through the carriage window. Her hands trembled in her lap. She had left the capital as a sick young woman, believing she would return to the family she loved. Now she was returning to a house filled with death. And somewhere deep inside her heart, a terrifying question began to grow.