Long ago, the Holy Empire of Erlain was founded with the blessing and love of the Goddess. 

But then a “Witch” descended upon the land and with her schemes, the humans that the Goddess oh so loved betrayed her. 

Instead of falling into rage, the Goddess wept, and withdrew from the world. 

Then, there was a prophecy. It said, “A child will be born into this world. A blessing from the Goddess. He will bring eternal prosperity to the world, so that no more will anyone suffer. The day that child is born is when the Goddess has forgiven us at last." 

And so the Holy Empire devoted themselves to seeking forgiveness from the Goddess. 

Several hundred years later, it was at night, in the castle that stood in the city of Aris; the sacred territory up in the north of the Holy Empire in the Archdukedom of Aleister, when the streams of Holy water flowing from the Holy Grail overflowed and the first cry of a child was heard. 

At long last, their centuries-long wait had ended.

***

“Kill that wench!”

“She deserves to die!” 

“Kill her!” 

“Kill that villainess!” 

I do not understand why they thought that killing the Curse would end their suffering. 

I do not understand how the Bringer of Misfortune could also be referred to as the Witch. 

In fact, I never thought that I had lived a vicious life. In fact, it was the opposite. 

I was weak, a coward who hid behind the protection of others. A truly...powerless person. 

Yet perhaps it's because of their faith in their own beliefs, that they believed me, a completely innocent person, to be a vile wench who caused the death of the Blessing, the Hero, and the millions of innocent people that died in war, hunger, and plagues.

Such ridiculousness. 

I haven't even touched a weapon. I've been imprisoned all my life. Yet it has come to this. 

It's cold

I looked up and released a foggy breath towards the sky. The white puffs quickly faded in the wind. Just like all the good things I had. 

My memories of the good days were foggy at best, but I still recall how the people who cared about me would fuss over the thinness of my clothing. 

I was born unexpectedly, a being born from the essence of betrayal and misery. So perhaps it was only normal that my life had become like this. 

But right now, I'm nothing but a prisoner about to be sentenced to death. None of that mattered anymore. 

I stared at the blade that would bring me my desired death in a moment. It's dull so it would needlessly put me in a lot of pain, but I really couldn't care less. 

I just wanted to die. 

So that all this suffering would finally end. 

"This is the end." 

I turned to look at the man who stood in front of me. He was dressed in lavish clothes that didn't match the occasion. If I didn't know any better, I would've thought that he was attending a ball, and not an execution. 

He was the current Emperor of the Holy Empire of Erlain. 

Leonard de Erlain. 

Beside him was a priestess whom people like to call the Saintess. She looked so pure in the white garments worn by priests, that I couldn't help but scoff. 

"I hope you won't stop me this time." 

I smiled, but he had no changes in his expression. This man for some reason wanted me to keep living, even though he knew that living for me, is nothing but suffering. Perhaps as his mind grew hazy, he no longer had any love nor mercy for me.

“You really are a vile woman, but I pray the Goddess has mercy on you.” 

“Hahahaha!” 

I couldn’t help but cackle at the words I heard. 

Mercy huh… 

“Ahh, it’s very funny.” 

A witch praying to the Goddess? What a shameless lie she dared utter with that filthy mouth. Not that I have much faith upon the Goddess myself. 

This woman, which they all called the Saint, has a kind appearance, light platinum blonde hair, and a smile that fools everyone. However, as the true Saint, all I could sense from her is the vile stench of a jealous demon. 

Her powers aren't even that strong, but strange enough, using the people's own faith, she managed to fool everyone. 

The corners of my mouth rose slightly as I suppressed the urge to laugh again. it wasn't a laugh of delight, it was more of mockery. 

The world would end soon. 

That was in accordance with the fate of this world, after all. The fate that ruined our lives as much as it blessed us. 

It doesn't sit right with me to rely on the powers of the Goddess, but it was the only way I could think of as a means for revenge against everyone that made my life so miserable. 

Either way, I had nothing to lose.

I'm dying soon anyway. 

"I guess...this is the last time." 

The Emperor muttered in a low voice only the two of us could hear. It was a sorrowful voice that didn't match the expression on his face. 

I glared at him in hatred as he did so.

"I understand why you would look at me with so much anger, but I only did what I must." 

I was so speechless at his sheer ridiculousness that I only scoffed. 

"Lucena...." 

"Shut up." 

At my command he finally stopped.  

This man was obsessed with me. The cause of most of my pain. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have to suffer as much as I did — I would have been free. 

He loved me, this was the truth. But a maniac's love could only be defined as madness. Because of his so-called love, he was willing to do anything, to "protect" me, even if that meant he had to hurt me.

It was truly ridiculous. 

I could not comprehend what was going on inside his mind. But if I was sure of anything, the Witch had already taken a hold of his deepest desires. And was using him to do her bidding. 

That much was obvious when they both paraded as a righteous and pitiful couple in public, hindered by the oath that made him unable to divorce me, an Aleister and the rightful Empress. 

However, though I knew that much, even if our life would be rewound and he was no longer bound by the Witch, I still wouldn't forgive him. 

Afterall, his first betrayal was something he did of his own accord. 

I spent four years locked in a cold and dirty prison. Because of him, I suffered four years full of pain and humiliation brought by the abuse and hatred of the Witch and everyone else. Because he decided that I must live, did I lose everything I had left, and even myself. 

I was put into so much pain and despair, that I couldn't even remember the faces of those I used to cherish so much. 

I hated him. 

"I hate you." 

I hated him with every speck of my own existence. 

"All I wanted was to protect you. Why can't you just stay with me?" 

"Do you really need to ask? But no. In fact, I hope we never meet again." 

The End would come soon. He will no longer interfere. I would no longer be swayed. 

I have nothing to fear anymore. 

This is the end.

A knight approached the Emperor and bowed. 

“Your Majesty, it’s time.” 

Despite looking irritated, he didn’t say anything, and I took that as a cue to leave.

Finally, it's time. 

“I’ll get going then.”

Before the person holding the rope tied to me could pull, I nonchalantly walked towards the guillotine with a smile. However, the Emperor spoke again. 

"Your wish will finally come true, but what you hope you will find, you won't." 

"That's not for you to decide." 

I didn't bother to look at him, and just continued my merry way to the podium. 

Looking at the people at the plaza for one last time, my heart was beating fast, wildly beating excitement, and bitter resentment while receiving those glares. 

They hate me. All of these people have hated me since I was born. 

Really, what have I done to deserve this?

All I wanted was to be loved. But the Goddess is cruel to the children she blessed, even to herself. She has no mercy. Her actions created a witch who bores hatred towards her. And that witch made my life a living hell, while the Goddess just stood by and didn’t do anything. 

Miserable wasn't a word fit enough to describe it. 

The bitterness that swelled in my heart cannot be described, I was the precious daughter of my family. I was weak, stupid, naive, but I was dearly loved. Our family wasn’t perfect but it was all I had. But they were all taken from me. 

My brother and Father died for me.

…Because of me.

I didn’t do anything, but I was looked down upon, hated, abused, and, in the end, to them, I was only a curse. 

"Our fate should’ve been a blessed and happy life."

But, I felt as if my whole life had only been full of pain and hardship.

"Our home is where we’re all together."

I miss you...

But I have nothing left. 

Perhaps it was about time I accepted it. The Goddess isn't fair, and she despises me. However, today, that will end.

“Kill her!!” 

“Kill that bitch!” 

“Kill her!” 

-Crack~

-Booooom! 

"KYAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

The moment I reached the center of the podium, lightning fell from the sky. Followed by numerous others. The thunder roared loudly while I laughed.

"Ahahahaha!!”

"FIRE!"

"KYAAAAA!!"

"HELP! It's so hot–AAAHHHHH!!!!"

"NOOO!! My child!"

"HELP ME!! Somebody, please help me!!"

"Fire! Put out the fire!"

"Mama! Mama!"

I laughed even louder when lightning struck one of the trees near the plaza, burning in red flames, causing a pandemonium to erupt within the people. 

"Mages! Stop the lightning! Protect the city!"

“Priest! We need a priest here! Help the injured!

"Urk!"

"Dammit! We can't do anything about this lightning!"

And then the wind started blowing, swallowing up everything and destroying them. 

"AHHHHHH"

"NOOOO" 

"HELP MEEE!!!" 

And when the chaos was at its peak, someone screamed. 

"It's the witch!"

"Kill that witch!!" 

Even as several strong men pinned me down, I continued laughing. 

How ironic.

The Day of Blessing is also the Day of Mourning.

It was strange, but perhaps it isn’t surprising. The Blessing died because of the Witch. But they condemn the Curse instead, while they hail the true witch.

How truly ironic.

I never killed my brother! I never killed my Father!

Fools. Everyone in this damned Holy Empire are fools!

This wasn't enough for my revenge. But the blood which drenched the ground was enough to alleviate the bitterness in my heart, even if only for a little bit. 

"Feel fear!! Wallow in despair!! You worthless lowlifes! This is the curse that you have set upon yourself! Pay for it with misery!"

Hearing my voice, the people started falling to their knees, bringing their hands together to pray and beg for mercy. 

"No…"

"Oh Goddess please…"

"Please save us!"

"Have mercy!"

The Goddess hasn't forgiven the world.

It seems they were still unable to understand. Perhaps they never will, however, I need them to realize what exactly they did so that they could wallow in despair. 

Though, I’m sure that would happen soon enough. After my death, it would be impossible for the Holy Empire to recover back its old glory. Even after building up all the city which is now burning, the Holy Empire could only fall more and would never rise again. Not after failing to protect the blessing the Goddess has given them.

As for the rest of the world, they would be unable to bear the weight of the apocalypse. The curse of the Goddess will drench the land, starting from the Holy Empire until sand and ash is all that's left. 

The men that were holding me suddenly lit on fire and fell down one by one, not breathing, out cold, or to be exact, dead. Anyone who dared touch me faced the same fate, it always made me wonder how no one was able to understand. 

Were they really idiots, or was that Witch so strong to force them to be blind despite their eyes being open? Regardless, it's not something I need to know now. Unbothered, I casually reached for one of the fallen swords.

"YOUUU DAREEE!!" 

I heard the wretched Witch's scream. I couldn't help but continue to laugh and smile. 

In the corner of my eyes, I caught sight of the Emperor rushing towards me with a sword in his hand. Pointing the sword I was holding in my chest. I raised it high.

Memories of my miserable and pathetic life flashed in front of my eyes. Almost all my entire life, I was nothing but a doll, no, I was nothing but a slave. That was enough to make me yearn to decide something for myself, even if it was my death. 

I hold no attachment to this world anymore, I've lost everything. So I felt nothing when I—

—Brought the sword down, killing myself. 

I decided to commit suicide right before I was supposed to get executed, but at the last second, I was still able to see the damned Emperor slicing my head off. 

Truly, what a hateful man. 

Even with that, I didn't feel sad, instead I was happy. 

This way, I could see you again. 

My dear brother. 

Louis. 

My consciousness faded, only that name lingered in my head in my last moments.