Chapter 47

The scheduled time had ended, and Eitana escorted Alesia to the palace exit. Alesia said her goodbyes without speaking to Eitana and left quietly.

*It can't be. It can't be. Lady Aura was indeed beheaded and passed away. So she shouldn't be appearing before me.*

She repeatedly told herself this to keep from losing her composure.

At that time, she was among the gathered crowd. Amid the people who were shouting in frenzy for the woman to be killed quickly, she witnessed her final moments. She thought it was her duty. She watched, stifling her sobs under the sunshade cloth to avoid being noticed by the people around her. The great sorceress, whom she revered, had been interrogated and tortured but never admitted to her crimes.

Before becoming the king's fiancée, Lady Aura had traveled to various places to help the people of the country, creating water and aiding the growth of crops. After being imprisoned, Eitana, who was assigned to clean Lady Aura's room, visited her daily to offer encouragement.

"You are the only one who believes in my innocence, Eitana. Thank you. May the blessings of the gods be with you."

Her throat was burned to prevent her from casting spells, and she was beaten and kicked, leaving her body covered in wounds and bruises, yet Lady Aura remained dignified. Her hair, matted with blood, did not diminish her majesty. Eitana, who was younger, had always admired her like a sister, like a goddess.

*It was I who planted the forged letter in Lady Aura's room.*

......

"Prime Minister, I can't do that!"

"Is that so? Then your mother and siblings might die in an unfortunate accident. They could live longer if you just showed a little flexibility. How pitiful."

"My family has nothing to do with this!"

"They do. You understand, don't you? You can protect your family by just planting a letter. I'll even give you a reward. You can be filial. Be smart, Eitana."

The country was in chaos due to the great flood. Eitana had no connections or money to protect her family. She didn't have the courage to die, and she didn't want to frame Lady Aura. But she knew that if she refused, someone else would be forced to do it.

Lady Aura had been imprisoned and shackled since she was suspected of causing the great flood. A guard stood watch outside her room, but Eitana was allowed to enter by claiming she had been ordered to dispose of Lady Aura's clothes.

No one suspected that the one Lady Aura favored the most would plant a forged letter. The guard, who accompanied her inside, averted his gaze when she packed the women's undergarments.

Ten days after Eitana planted the letter, a letter of secret agreement with a foreigner was found in Lady Aura's room, and she was sentenced to death for treason.

When Eitana visited for a final farewell, Lady Aura expressed concern for her future.

"You might suffer because you served me. I'm sorry, Eitana. Live a long life. Thank you for everything. May the gods bless you with a long life."

Lady Aura's voice, weakened by her burned throat, was so faint that Eitana had to lean in close to hear her.

......

Early in the evening, in her room at the palace, Eitana vividly recalled every detail as she drank unfamiliar alcohol.

She had packed her belongings and written the letter, pouring her penitence and repeated apologies to Lady Aura into it. She wanted to end it all.

She hinted that she would take her own life while away. She planned to leave at dawn and live quietly somewhere far away.

She tried not to think about her family. She had never married and had supported her siblings until they grew up. She had carried the burden of guilt for decades. She wanted to be free.

This couldn't be a coincidence. She could almost hear Lady Aura's voice, or perhaps Alesia's, accusing her: "You did this, didn't you?"

The king and queen, the prime minister, the ministers, and their families were all killed. A massive uprising by the people swept everything away, and executions were carried out without trials. Among the maids, the daughters of noble families suddenly disappeared, and rumors spread that they had fled the country or been killed by vigilantes.

Eitana, being the daughter of a low-ranking noble, was not targeted and continued to work under the new king. Her family was safe.

Eitana poured a strong drink into a glass and drank it in one gulp.

"But the gods did not forget what I did."

When Alesia, the young girl, was served her second cup of tea, she said, "Thank you, Eitana." Eitana didn't introduce herself. Had Princess Edna told her who would greet her?

No, that's not right. Mimir was supposed to greet Alesia, but Eitana had taken her place at the last minute. Yet Alesia knew her name. She must be Lady Aura reincarnated. But reincarnation...

"Perhaps she could do it."

Lady Aura had accomplished countless things that seemed impossible. She might have been able to be reborn to avenge her wrongs.

Eitana drank the alcohol and became drunk, sitting on the floor and leaning her head on the bed, dozing off. In her dream, Lady Aura praised her as a new cleaner.

"You are such a hard worker. I am fortunate to have met such a good maid. Here, take this. It's a thank you for your hard work and for always bringing me hawthorn candy."

Lady Aura handed her a bracelet made of large, round crystals. Eitana woke up with a severe headache.

Eitana thought of her parents, who were buried in a grave, and the faces of her brothers, who had happy families. At that time, she had wanted to protect her family.

She remembered the prime minister's thin, wrinkled face.

"It's his fault."

If she could restore Lady Aura's honor, she might be forgiven. It would be a burden for her brothers, but they would have to overcome it on their own. She had worked hard for her family. It was enough; she was tired.

She decided to take the crystal bracelet from the back of the drawer. Selling it would help her financially.

However, something seemed to be caught in the drawer, and the small bag containing the bracelet wouldn't come out smoothly.

Drunk, Eitana pulled hard, and the bag suddenly flew out. The bracelet inside the bag fell to the floor and, upon impact, the string holding the crystals together broke, scattering them.

......