Betrayed

Darkness pressed against the cold stone walls of the secret prison, and in its center sat a girl named Odelia —

the name I once carried in my previous life as well.

For twenty long years, this cell had been my world.

A world where breath came heavy, hope remained silent,

and life… was nothing more than a punishment.

My hands were covered in old whip marks,

my feet wounded as if the injuries were carved into my very fate.

Pain was no stranger to me — not in this life,

and not in the life before this one.

Back then too, my mother and sister had treated me like a burden,

like something unwanted.

Compared to that, the torture here felt almost familiar.

Whenever he entered the prison,

a strange wave of restlessness crawled through my chest.

Yet his question never changed.

“Why don’t you accept me?”

And my answer remained the same.

“No.”

I still remember the first day he dragged me into this prison.

The first thing he asked was:

“Why don’t you marry me, Odelia?”

I had refused without a second thought.

How could I accept him?

Every time I saw his face,

the same memory stabbed through my mind —

the moment he thrust his black blade into my father’s stomach…

the moment he poisoned my mother…

All because they refused to marry me off to him —

to Crown Prince Alexander.

My breath hitched.

He was coming.

I could feel it.

Footsteps echoed, and a tall man with black hair and golden eyes appeared before me.

A small smirk tugged at his lips as he looked closely.

“Silver hair… amethyst eyes…” he murmured.

“You remind me of someone.

How could I forget…

It’s you, Odelia. Long time no see.”

I lifted my head with effort.

“Don’t ask me again. You know my answer.”

He chuckled softly.

“Maybe.

But I don’t think your sister will be happy to hear it.”

He snapped his fingers.

“Bring Lirezi.”

My heart skipped.

My sister?

Would she look like me — broken and tortured?

But when Lirezi entered,

I felt the ground shift beneath me.

She was glowing.

Dressed in a white wedding gown,

her skin flawless,

her blonde hair shining as if freshly combed.

Not a single scar on her hands…

not a single wound on her feet.

She looked nothing like a prisoner.

Nothing like me.

“Oh sister,” she smiled sweetly.

“Why don’t you just accept him?

You didn’t even bother answering one of his questions.”

“Your Highness,” Lirezi said politely,

“could you wait outside for a moment?”

“As you wish, my mistress,” Alexander replied, leaving the room.

As soon as the door closed,

Lirezi’s smile sharpened.

“Sister, calm down.

All he wants is to make you his wife.

Is that so difficult?”

“You’ve forgotten, haven’t you?” I whispered.

“What he did to Mother and Father?”

Lirezi rolled her eyes.

“Oh please. Who remembers the dead anyway?

Forget it.

Besides… I have a third option.”

For a moment, foolish hope flickered inside my chest.

Was she planning to help me escape?

I was wrong.

Completely wrong.

“If you miss Mom and Dad so much,” she said coldly,

“why don’t you… go to them?”

She gestured at a guard.

“Bring it.”

The guard — a man named Alan — handed her a small glass bottle.

I frowned.

“What is that?”

Lirezi smirked.

“Exactly what you think.

Don’t waste time — drink it.

Or I’ll call Alexander and tell him you finally agreed to marry him.”

She extended the bottle toward me — poison swirling inside.

I looked at her.

At the sister I once loved.

At the girl who smiled while handing me death.

“You really think I’ll hesitate to drink this?”

I whispered.

“Not even for a second.”

And without breaking eye contact…

I lifted the bottle to my lips…

…and drank the poison in one swift gulp.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***