Chapter 1 Poison
A dark night, on the outskirts of a deserted capital.
Veronia opened the door of a dilapidated shack that stood alone and entered, her robes pressed tightly around her.
Despite the shabby exterior, the interior of the hut was tidy.
If there was anything out of place here, it was the body of a blond woman lying upright on the bed.
Approaching the bed, Veronia took the corpse’s hand.
The already stiff body was chilled.
“Thank you.”
Veronia closed her eyes tightly and prayed for the woman’s peace.
If there is a next life, may it be one with half the troubles and twice the happiness.
When she opened her eyes again, Veronia began to undress.
It was a gorgeous pale pink dress she had received from the Emperor three months earlier, as a gift for her 20th birthday.
The hem of the gown glistened with sparkles, as if it were the last dress Veronia would ever wear, as she was the favorite of the Emperor and the entire imperial family, the center of affection and attention.
‘Soon to be ashes, of course.’
Veronia stripped the corpse of its clothes and slipped the pale pink gown she’d been wearing over her own body.
The necklace, earrings, rings, and bracelets she had worn were all placed on the dead woman’s body.
She hoped that those who found the burnt corpse would think that Veronia was dead without question.
After removing her dress, Veronia put on the clothes she had brought with her.
It was not the costly dress of a noblewoman, but a simple garment that a common man might wear.
Finally, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a piercing enchanted with a transformation enchantment made from a violet magic stone.
As soon as she put it in, her sun-blonde hair was replaced with silver hair that resembled moonlight, and her ruby-red eyes were replaced with green eyes as clear as peridot.
‘Your scars are quite realistic.’
Veronia’s gaze, as she checked herself in the mirror, fixed on the burn mark that ran down her right cheek, across her chin and down her neck, and the tattoo that covered it.
It was a geometric design resembling a vine, and she liked it.
‘I’ve never had a tattoo like this in my life.’
Even though it wasn’t real, it was a trick of the eye.
She couldn’t help but smile, and it was clear that he was lighthearted despite the fact that this was a pretty big moment for him, facing a new life.
“Goodbye, thank you, I will repay this favor.”
With a final bow to the woman whose name would soon be joined with her in ashes, she left the hut.
A horse, was tied to a tree by the side of the road.
‘Onyx has come and gone already, as expected.’
Veronia’s lips curled into a smile, pleased with her architect’s flawless.
Mounting her horse, she drew a fist-sized round box from her pocket and lifted the lid.
A violet magic stone button glowed faintly.
Veronia pressed the button firmly. There was no hesitation in her action.
Poof! Pow!
Poof!
Hwah! Hwah!
The hut exploded, blowing off the roof and engulfing the entire house in flames.
A pillar of crimson fire roared through the black night.
Leaving the roaring hut behind, the horse carrying Veronia galloped away.
Her long silver hair fluttered in the wind and glistened in the moonlight.
‘Farewell, Veronia! Farewell, Death! Let us never meet again!’
It’s really over now. She is finally free of the original.
For the past three months, she has been living with bated breath, waiting for this day.
Veronia’s face lit up.
Her mouth was full of a smile.
“There is… new life… new hope, surely!”
A future that deviated from the original, full of predestined misfortune, would be life instead of death, happiness instead of misery.
Veronia’s heart swelled with bright hope and all sorts of possibilities.
Hope and possibility.
Things she hadn’t even dared to imagine three months ago.
***
The sky was cloudless and clear, and the sun shone brighter than ever, as befits the birthday of the favorite of the goddess.
“Happy birthday, Your Highness!”
“Long live the Princess! Long live the Princess!”
The glass carriage carrying Princess Veronia on her 20th birthday drove slowly through the central streets of the capital.
The boulevards were lined with people who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the beautiful Princess.
“Long live the Princess Veronia!”
“Waaaah! The Princess waved to me!”
“She is so beautiful!”
“She looks like an angel!”
The people, young and old alike, cheered over and over again, praising the beauty of the Princess.
Their excited voices were like waves, rising and falling in time with Veronia’s every move.
Every time she moved her head, every time she changed her waving hand, every time she squinted in the intense sunlight, the cheers rose an octave.
The glass carriage arrived in the golden square in front of the palace’s main entrance.
Crown Prince Jonathan, waiting by the central fountain, personally opened the carriage’s door.
“Happy birthday, Veronia!” he said.
“Thank you, brother.”
Escorted out of the carriage by Jonathan, Veronia waved to the crowd again.
Her rich blond hair fluttered in the breeze, dazzling in the sunlight.
Her flawless, white face was framed by a lovely, sunny smile.
The orchestra’s music echoed throughout the square, and colorful scraps of paper fluttered in the breeze.
The eyes of the people, filled with love and desire, never left Veronia’s.
“Your Highness, live long and prosper!”
“Live long and prosper, Princess!”
“Long live the Princess!”
The people began to chant in unison.
Veronia strode up to the dais in front of the central fountain and stood on it.
The sight of her reminded them of a butterfly fluttering through a field of flowers.
Reaching the highest point of the dais, Veronia opened her mouth to address the crowd that had gathered for her.
“People of the Empire of Asnerdom, thank you for gathering to celebrate my birthday!”
Her voice echoed throughout the plaza.
It was the effect of the small ball-shaped sound-amplifying device she held.
“May the blessings of abundance from the goddess Artheon be upon your homes!”
Wow! The crowd cheered.
“And may the blessing of love, from the goddess Selena, be upon your hearts!”
Wow! The crowd continued to cheer at Veronia’s every word.
“The goddess Tess gives me… that…”
Veronia stammered, unable to finish her next sentence.
She had rehearsed it so many times last night that she thought she had memorized it, but in her nervousness she had forgotten the last part.
Veronia’s wavering eyes turned to Jonathan, who stood beside her.
He let out a whoosh, shallow sigh, then stepped closer to her and whispered in her ear.
“Victory blessing.”
The corners of Jonathan’s mouth curved into a smile, but there was a gleam of accusation and contempt in his eyes for his younger brother.
You can’t even get that straight?
You should know you’re stupid, anyway.
If the eyes had a voice, the sentence would have gone something like this.
Her slender hands trembled, her slumped shoulders stiffened.
Smile, Veronia, start talking, people are watching, Jonathan commanded with his eyes again.
She did as she was told, curling the corners of her mouth upward.
“May the blessings of victory from the Goddess Tess be with your country, our Empire of Asnerdom!”
Waaaah! Waaaah! The people went wild.
The air throughout the plaza erupted with cheers.
“Long live the Princess!”
“Long live the Princess!”
The affectionate gazes and voices of the people were all directed at Veronia, but she did not enjoy them.
Her nerves were still stiff from her earlier mistake.
Then it happened.
The gray-haired chief chamberlain brought a tray with two glasses of champagne.
The gray-haired chief chamberlain had a reputation for always smiling, so it was strange to see his face set in a hard line.
‘He must be nervous, too.’
Veronia took some comfort in the knowledge that she was not the only one who was nervous.
She accepted the glass of champagne from Jonathan with a lighter heart.
Amidst the cheers, the Crown Prince and Princess raised their champagne glasses high above the crowd and toasted each other’s glasses.
Clink! A clear sound rang out from the clinking glasses.
Veronia was the first to down her glass in one swift gulp.
She wasn’t much of a drinker, but she’d been taught that on special occasions like today, she should finish the entire glass in one gulp.
Next it was Jonathan’s turn.
He was about to raise his glass to his mouth when he realized that Veronia had drained it.
“Ugh!”
With a deep groan, Veronia’s body jerked violently.
She could feel her entire five organs twisting in agony, and the terrible pain soon robbed her of consciousness.
Clink!
The glass she was holding fell to the floor, and Veronia collapsed on top of the shattered champagne glass.
“Veronia!”
Jonathan shouted in surprise and panic, but there was no answer.
Jonathan quickly scooped her up in his arms.
Her small, slender body sagged in his arms.
Panic gripped the people as they watched Veronia collapse, unconscious.
“Oh, my God! Your Highness! Your Highness!”
“What has happened to your Highness? What is wrong with her?”
“Could it be… poison?”
At first, the people were confused and confused, but gradually they began to understand the situation.
“Poison? Poison! The champagne is poisoned!”
“The Princess drank poison! It’s poison! It’s a conspiracy!”
The faces of those gathered in the square were red with rage, and tears formed in the corners of their eyes.
Some sobbed, others howled and raged.
The atmosphere of celebration and excitement that had filled the air earlier had vanished, and an air of chaos and confusion shook the square.
Jonathan, carrying Veronia, hurriedly climbed into the carriage, and the carriage speed off towards the palace.
The people shouted words of prayer as the carriage disappeared into the palace.
“Your Highness, please be safe!”
“Oh Goddesses! Please look down upon your fair Highness!”
“Please spare our Princess!”
But he could not see the hot tears in his eyes.
Not in the eyes that were fixed on the heavens as they uttered words of prayer.
A small, faint smile tugged at the corners of the crown prince’s mouth as he cradled his dead, limp sister.
A sickening smile.
Depois do jeito que ele falou com ela não me supreende… 🤧
Thanks for the update 🇧🇷 😸 🥰