All my supposed relatives and family are now facing the so-called hostage prince from the Amethyst Empire.
 
If I'm correct, it's Prince Kian Amethystia, the second prince of the Amethyst Empire. When we were kids, he was so weak that when the people of the Black Lion Empire came for the Union, he was the only one they took hostage to solidify the agreement. The emperor had no choice but to send the weak prince, expecting him to die at the hands of the enemy.
 
His face matured and became fierce. Those dead eyes, familiar to me, how much pain did he endure to reach the point where they lost their sparkle?
 
I snapped out of my thoughts when the cries around me intensified, so I lowered my head.
 
The heads of the emperor and the princes rolled in front of us, causing everyone to scream and fill with grief.
 
"I wasn't going to kill them right away, but they reminded me of what they did back then, so my hand moved on its own to slit their throats," he said with a smile, his dead eyes fixed on the sword.
 
"You'll never change, you're still a low-born! No royalty will kneel before you! We'll never accept someone like you in the empire!" the empress beside me shouted. In a few seconds, blood splattered on my face, and her head was severed.
 
I couldn't move, not even blink.
 
"Princess Lithea, of all the pure-blooded, you are the only one left," he said cheerfully.
 
Honestly, I don't know if I should be afraid because pity overwhelms me. The friend I've longed to see, whom I thought was safe, is now before me. Like me. Like me, his fate has become.
 
"I-I'm sorry..." I whispered, and when I looked into his eyes, I couldn't help but cry and feel pity.
 
"Sorry because I didn't check on you. I wish I had chosen to be strong and save you. Sorry because I didn't fulfill my wish." I couldn't help but be out of character. It wasn't Lithea in front of him, but Cia, whom he knew.
 
"Have you gone mad after seeing your family die? Don't forget, you're the root of all this. PRINCESS LITHEA!" he shouted angrily and appeared in front of me, choking me.
 
"Lithea, do you think I'll kill you right away? No. I'll make you experience the humiliation I endured!" he shouted, then threw me to the ground and took the whip, giving it to a maid.
 
"Lithea, let's play a game. For every lash on you, one of your relatives will die," he said cheerfully, making me shake my head.
 
"No. Kian, stop. You know you can't do this. Kian, this isn't you," I pleaded with him, but I cried out when the whip started to lash my back.
 
"Ah!!"
 
"Ouch!"
 
"It hurts!"
 
He wasn't joking because with every lash, a body fell.
 
"KIAN STOP!"
"Ouch!"
"I'll take it!"
"KIAN!"
 
"IAN!!!!!" I screamed his nickname, causing him to stop and appear in front of me, throwing me to the ground and choking me.
 
"Don't call me Ian, only one person can call me that!" he shouted.
 
"Ian, I'm sorry... I don't know what happened, but please don't involve anyone else. Just me. Aren't you angry at her? Then just hurt me," I begged while struggling against his chokehold.
 
"STOP IT!" he shouted.
 
I looked at him and couldn't help but sob and touch his cheek.
 
'Cia, don't anger him too much, or you'll die without seeing the author again!' -Fate.
 
"Ian, I'm sorry. I promised to bring you back, but I forgot. I prioritized myself. If I had just come back, I wouldn't have believed the rumors that you were fine here, and I wouldn't have gotten married..."
 
Because of the mix of emotions, I lost strength and couldn't help but pass out.
 
'Cia. You haven't restored your strength to withstand great damage!' -Fate
 
Someone's POV
 
"Ian, I'm sorry. I promised to bring you back, but I forgot. I prioritized myself. If I had just come back, I wouldn't have believed the rumors that you were fine here, and I wouldn't have gotten married..." Lithea's face turned pale from Kian's chokehold, and for some reason, Lithea's face changed in Kian's eyes.
 
A girl who strongly resembled the child he knew inside the Amethyst Empire.  "Cia."
 
He released his grip.
 
"I've lost my appetite. Imprison her, tell me if she wakes up," he ordered.
 
His shadow guard, whom he had ordered to stay in the Amethyst Empire, suddenly appeared.
 
"Your Majesty, the Amethyst Empire is in chaos, it's not a good time to return," he said.
 
"Cia, any news?" Kian asked, but the shadow guard remained silent, hesitant.
 
"Lady Gracia, despite the Amethyst Empire's victory, there is one piece of news circulating in the Amethyst. Lady Gracia is dead," he reported, making Kian flinch.
 
"According to what I gathered, Lady Gracia married the empire's recognized Hero and had two children. But she was betrayed and killed. To survive, she used forbidden magic, but in the midst of her revenge, the magic claimed her and she lost control. To destroy the Amethyst Empire's Saintess, her life was ended," he reported, causing Kian's legs to weaken upon hearing this.
 
He was handed a picture of Gracia, and he finally realized that the soul that had possessed Lithea was Cia.
 
"She visited me to check on me, but I just hurt her. Cia! I don't believe what happened. I know there's another reason for your death. I'll clear your name!" Kian lamented.
 
"Oh, by the way, your majesty. Princess Lithea is awake. Should we end her life?" the shadow guard asked, but Kian shook his head.
 
"No. Keep an eye on her, watch for any changes in her behavior," he ordered, and the shadow guard nodded before disappearing.