Four heavily armored guards escorted Selina through the dungeon and the halls of the castle, each had a chain to the shackles that she was wearing on her wrists and feet, the guards at the front pulling on them if she lagged. They did not stop walking until they were in the middle of the town square; filled to the brim with people from all walks of life. They erected bleachers to accommodate all of them. She saw a bunch of her old classmates whispering to themselves, pointing at her. Some sneered at her. Only a handful of people looked like they pity her.

She sticks her nose up in the air and looked ahead to appear nonchalant, but it was a terrible mistake. Her eyes almost popped out of their sockets when she saw the three gallows in the middle of the town square. Each gallows had three men hanging by their necks, dead, feet swaying in the air as if swinging along with the breeze.

Selina schooled her expression quickly, but she couldn’t take her eyes away from the bodies. Suddenly, the realization of her mortality struck her like a ton of bricks.

She was going to die.

She will suffer the same fate as those men.

Everyone will see, and everyone will cheer as she dies.

They will leave their corpses at the town square for weeks, months… until the strain of the rope, their weight, or gravity ripped their heads from their necks. Their rotting bodies will be a warning to anyone who even thinks to defy the will of the king. They will defile and inter her in an unmarked grave. Generations will forever know her name in history to be the first royalty to…

Selina’s vision blurred and spun, and her knees folded. She collapsed in the muddy path. Bouts of laughter erupted from the crowd and the princess shut her eyes tightly, face red in shame.

“Get up!” A guard roared again, and when she didn’t budge, they pulled on the chains of her shackles, further damaging her raw wrists.

This is it, she thought. She reached the last moments of her life. Defenseless, friendless, weak… while her enemies sneered and cheered. She was scared, really terrified. But she refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry and break.

Screw them.

Two men grabbed each of her arms and led her to a scaffold. They almost carried her to prevent another tripping spectacle. She did not expect the small tree stump and a basket lying in the plank. No gallows. Her scaffold was directly in front of the monarch’s platform. The princess smiled ruefully. They reserved death by hanging for the commoners. She was going to die as a noblewoman. They, at least, gave her that.

She first looked at the king in the eye before giving the Empress Regent her full attention. They locked gazes until a herald in full regalia marched in front of the audience, presenting a piece of parchment with the Volfenheim Royal Seal.

“Her Royal Highness Princess Selina Mary Persephone of Rozenberg,” the herald announced loud and clear, making everyone silent. “A jury of your peers has condemned you to die by beheading, with the judge’s sentence and compliance with the law in this state. Is there anything you’d like to say before we carried out the court’s decision?”

“Yes,” Selina replied. She looked the young monarch right in the eye, making him uncomfortable. “I will not make excuses and I am not blaming you for my actions, but all that I’ve done, I did them with only your well-being in mind. My only regret was I couldn’t save you from them… Nevertheless, thank you for letting me get to know you as I did. For loving me and showing me kindness, and for sharing with me your hopes and dreams. For being my friend when no one will. I truly love you, with all of my heart. My lord and my king, I …”

The king broke eye contact and leaned towards his mother before whispering something to her. The regent motioned with her hand and, almost instantly, a pair of boot-clad feet stomped heavily on the stairs of Selina’s platform. She turned to look, and she saw a big man wielding an enormous sword. They dressed him in a vomit-colored shirt and brown pants and there was a black sack over his head. It was the executioner. His assistant, also wearing the same get-up, was not far behind him.

The young princess bowed her head and smiled at herself ruefully. Henry couldn’t wait to see her die. This was the man who promised her the moon and the stars. The man who vowed to give her everything her heart desires. The man who broke her and cheated on her with a disgusting were-woman.

“Since His Majesty is so adamant to take my head,” Selina declared fiercely. “Perhaps he should get it himself.”

____