The Execution
1391 Words
The Royal Square was filled before sunrise.
Thousands of people had gathered despite the cold morning rain.
They came from every corner of Lunareth.
Nobles stood beneath elegant umbrellas.
Soldiers surrounded the execution platform.
Commoners crowded behind the barricades, desperate to see the cursed princess with their own eyes.
And at the center of it all stood Veyra.
She was kneeling on the execution platform with her hands bound behind her.
A thick iron collar surrounded her neck.
Chains were wrapped around her wrists.
Her once-beautiful coronation gown was stained and torn from the night she had spent in prison.
The golden crown she had been destined to wear was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, an executioner's blade waited only a few steps behind her.
Veyra slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes moved across the crowd.
She recognized so many faces.
People she had once protected.
People whose villages she had helped rebuild.
People she had personally petitioned the royal council for when they were starving.
A farmer near the front pointed at her.
“Kill the witch!”
Another voice shouted,
“Don't let her curse our children!”
The crowd erupted.
“Death to the cursed princess!”
“Execute her!”
“Protect Lunareth!”
Veyra stared at them.
Her lips parted slightly.
She couldn't understand it.
She remembered these people.
She remembered walking through their villages.
She remembered children running toward her.
She remembered mothers thanking her for sending food during the winter.
Now those same people were calling for her death.
A small boy stood among the crowd.
Veyra recognized him immediately.
He was the son of a farmer whose village had nearly been destroyed by famine.
Veyra had once given him a loaf of bread when he was starving.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, Veyra thought he remembered her.
But the boy's mother pulled him closer.
“Don't look at her.”
The boy obeyed.
Veyra lowered her eyes.
Her chest hurt.
Not because of the chains.
Not because of the executioner.
Because she finally understood how quickly people could forget what you had done for them when someone gave them a reason to fear you.
A trumpet sounded.
The crowd fell silent.
King Aldric entered the square.
The people immediately bowed.
Veyra looked at him.
Her father climbed the steps leading to the royal platform.
Beside him stood Celestia.
She wore a magnificent white dress decorated with silver embroidery.
The dress Veyra had once chosen for her.
Veyra's gaze lingered on it.
Celestia looked beautiful.
Perfect.
Almost like a princess preparing for a celebration.
Veyra's eyes moved farther.
Cassian stood beside Celestia.
He was dressed in ceremonial armor.
The sight of him made Veyra's heart ache despite everything he had done.
He looked at her.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, something flickered in his expression.
Regret.
Then it disappeared.
Veyra looked away.
The priest stepped onto the platform.
“Princess Veyra Lunareth has been found guilty of forbidden magic, treason, and attempting to manipulate the royal family through dark sorcery.”
The crowd roared.
Veyra's hands tightened against the chains.
“I didn't do any of it.”
Her voice wasn't loud, but the people nearest her heard.
Someone shouted,
“Liar!”
Another yelled,
“Monster!”
Veyra looked toward her father.
“Father.”
King Aldric remained silent.
“You know me.”
His expression tightened.
“You know I would never betray Lunareth.”
The king looked at her for several seconds.
Then he turned away.
Veyra swallowed painfully.
“Please.”
Nothing.
She looked toward Celestia.
“Sister.”
Celestia lowered her eyes.
Veyra almost laughed.
“Are you going to cry again?”
Celestia looked up.
Their eyes met.
There were no tears this time.
Only a faint smile.
Veyra's heart dropped.
So it was true.
The tears had always been an act.
Celestia leaned slightly toward her.
“I'm sorry, Sister.”
Veyra's eyes narrowed.
“You're not sorry.”
Celestia's smile grew almost imperceptibly.
“No.”
Veyra stared at her.
“You wanted this.”
Celestia didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
The silence was enough.
The priest raised his hand.
“By order of King Aldric Lunareth, the execution of Princess Veyra shall now begin.”
The executioner stepped forward.
Veyra's heart began pounding.
The crowd started chanting.
“Death to the cursed princess!”
“Death!”
“Death!”
The sound became deafening.
Veyra closed her eyes.
She thought she would cry.
She thought she would beg.
But she didn't.
Instead, she remembered something her mother had told her when she was a child.
When everyone turns against you, don't become someone you hate just to survive.
Veyra opened her eyes.
She looked at her father one last time.
“I hope you remember this day.”
King Aldric's expression shifted.
Veyra continued.
“Not because I died.”
She looked around the square.
“But because one day, you'll learn the truth.”
The executioner raised his sword.
Celestia watched with a satisfied expression.
Cassian's hands tightened into fists.
The crowd screamed.
Veyra closed her eyes.
The blade began descending.
Then—
BOOM!
The execution platform exploded.
The force threw the executioner across the square.
Veyra was knocked sideways, but before she could hit the ground, a powerful arm caught her.
She opened her eyes.
A stranger was holding her.
He had dark hair, sharp crimson eyes, and unmistakable wolf-like ears.
Veyra stared at him.
“What…”
His eyes immediately fell upon the Black Moon glowing beneath her skin.
His expression changed.
“You're the one.”
Veyra struggled against his arm.
“Let me go!”
“Not a chance.”
Another explosion tore through the square.
A second man emerged from the smoke.
Golden eyes.
A wicked smile.
Fox-like ears.
“Well, Rhaevan,” he said, looking at Veyra, “she's even prettier than the prophecy described.”
Veyra glared at him.
“Who are you people?”
The fox-like man smiled.
“Azael.”
A third figure appeared behind them.
He was taller than Veyra, dressed entirely in black.
His eyes were cold and watchful.
Auren.
He didn't speak.
He simply stepped between Veyra and the approaching soldiers.
The king shouted,
“Kill them!”
Hundreds of soldiers charged.
Auren drew his sword.
Rhaevan placed Veyra behind him.
Azael smiled.
“This should be entertaining.”
The first soldier attacked.
Rhaevan moved so quickly Veyra barely saw him.
The soldier flew across the platform.
Another came from the left.
Auren blocked the strike.
Azael disappeared into the smoke and reappeared behind three soldiers.
Within seconds, the execution platform was surrounded by fallen weapons.
Veyra stared at them in disbelief.
They weren't human.
She could feel it.
There was something ancient and dangerous about them.
Rhaevan glanced back.
“Can you walk?”
Veyra pulled herself upright.
“I don't need your help.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“Even after nearly being executed?”
“I can take care of myself.”
Azael laughed.
“I like her.”
Rhaevan ignored him.
He looked at the Moon Mark again.
His expression suddenly became serious.
“Princess.”
Veyra looked at him.
“Why did you save me?”
Rhaevan's eyes darkened.
“Because we've been searching for you for a very long time.”
Veyra's confusion deepened.
“Why?”
Rhaevan stepped closer.
His voice dropped.
“Because that mark isn't a curse.”
Veyra froze.
“What?”
He looked toward the king, then Celestia, then the terrified crowd.
“The people who betrayed you don't understand what they've awakened.”
Veyra's heart raced.
Rhaevan extended his hand.
“Come with us.”
Veyra stared at his hand.
She didn't trust him.
She didn't trust anyone anymore.
But behind her stood the people who had condemned her.
In front of her stood three strangers who had just risked their lives to save her.
Then the Black Moon suddenly burned.
A voice echoed inside her mind.
Go with them.
Veyra's eyes widened.
She slowly placed her hand in Rhaevan's.
And behind them, Celestia's perfect smile finally disappeared.
“She survived…”
Her fingers tightened around the railing.
“No.”
For the first time, genuine fear appeared in her eyes.
“She wasn't supposed to survive.”
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