Chapter 3

Just one word.

Anyone could have said it, but the effect was undeniable.

Not just me, but the crowd surrounding me also froze at her words.

It was the tone of a noble—soft yet commanding.

Thick golden hair, a height above average, and a confident expression.

It was a face I remembered. Not mine, but the Princess’s.

After stopping us with a single word, she approached me with graceful steps.

The crowd that had tightly surrounded me parted to the sides as she came closer.

It was a ridiculous sight.

Those who had harbored such hostility toward nobles were so weak in the face of a “powerful” noble.

“Princess Adelian, do you perhaps remember me?”

“Ariana Wharton… that was your name, right? I remember.”

“Oh my, what a relief! I was worried you might have forgotten.”

Ariana Wharton.

The second daughter of the Wharton Count family.

A family that rose to prominence after catching the Emperor’s eye despite their wild past.

Though they held titles and the skills to match, their origins caused them to be looked down upon, so they clung to prestigious noble families like parasites, sucking away their honor.

Until a few years ago, Adelian had been their host.

The Princess, being around the same age, had been acquainted with Ariana.

Back then, she had treated her with such humility.

Even the Princess, who was awkward in dealing with people, had felt comfortable around her.

She had always stayed by the Princess’s side, attending to her needs.

Yes, a follower. She had been my follower.

At the level of a Duke, it wasn’t uncommon to see people following you around.

The same went for other high-ranking nobles.

Their attitude was their way of survival, so there was no reason to blame them.

But I could never adapt to their habit of picking at the remains of their former masters after their downfall.

Like now.

“You can’t imagine how shocked I was to hear that the proud Princess’s family had fallen.

When the news of your disappearance came, I was so worried I couldn’t sleep at night.”

Despite the words, the tone carried clear mockery.

Mocking someone who had once been far above her, now fallen to her feet.

No, it was more than mockery—her exaggerated gestures hinted at a deeper humiliation.

“But isn’t it strange?

I heard the traitors fled the Empire, but seeing you still here, Princess…

Ah, you were abandoned! How pitiful.”

“……”

“Well, they were always a bunch who didn’t know their place, reaching for things beyond their station.

Maybe it’s better that you were abandoned.

It’s too sad to see something bad happen to your own parents, right?”

“…Ah.”

“If it were me, I’d want to die. Ugh, just imagining it is horrifying…

But seeing you alive, I guess you weren’t sold off to some brothel or something!”

Her words were deliberately provocative, poking at the Princess’s lingering affection for the family that had abandoned her.

The Princess’s parents.

The ones she both hated and loved.

I thought I could suppress my feelings about them, but hearing something so close to the truth made something rise within me.

Without realizing it, I glared at her with wide eyes.

“Oh my, what’s with that look? Are you angry now?”

But that was as far as it went.

I couldn’t resist.

The balance of power had been tilted from the start.

A frail Princess with nothing left but a broken body.

The only thing I could do was raise my delicate hand to slap that smugly smiling cheek, but even that would only hurt me more.

And afterward, I’d be trampled by the dozens of people surrounding me.

…Well, to be honest, I’d already given up before even trying anything.

A terribly weak way of thinking.

A survival tactic I once despised but now depended on.

“No… I’m sorry if it seemed that way.”

“Wow, you’ve really changed. Then why don’t you try it?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“You’ve never apologized before, have you?

You need to bow your head lower. And kneel.”

I slowly got down from the chair and knelt on the floor.

Bowing my head deeply, I spoke again.

“I’m sorry.”

“Good! Now, what exactly did you do wrong?”

“I reacted negatively to what you said.

…Even though it was clearly the truth.”

“That’s right. Your parents were traitors and committed unforgivable crimes.

As a citizen of the Empire, shouldn’t you do something about it before disrespecting my words?

Since you’ve inherited their tainted blood, you should at least prove that your soul isn’t tainted as well.”

Was she asking me to insult my own parents?

Well, it wasn’t that hard.

They were the ones who abandoned me, so what was there to hold back?

If anything, I was itching to curse them myself.

“……”

But why couldn’t the words come out?

“Why so quiet?”

“…That, that’s…”

“Hmm. Well, if it’s too hard, you can stop.”

Ah, I’m done for.

Holding onto useless sentimentality ruined everything.

I bit my lip, trying to suppress the emotions—whether directed at her or myself—that were rising within me.

Ariana simply watched me with a mocking smile before leaning in with an exaggerated gesture.

“Now that I think about it, I had something prepared for the poor Princess.”

I instinctively knew what was coming next.

If she had just wanted to mock me with words, she wouldn’t have come all this way.

Her intrusion into this scene meant she had the intention to use “violence” against me as well.

She smiled, a sticky, emotion-filled grin.

“Ah, why don’t you ask me about it? It’ll make me feel better.”

“…What is it?”

“As you know, one of our family’s specialties is ‘torture.’

The best way to shake off sadness is with even greater pain.

I’d love to see the Princess squirming at my feet… Oops, my mistake.

Crawling on the ground. It’s a win-win, don’t you think?”

It was sophistry.

Not that she cared about convincing me.

It was all a performance. Everything was meant to mock me and instill fear.

She wanted me to understand her roundabout noble speech, lower my eyes, and tremble.

Unfortunately, it worked all too well.

The scenes of Wharton’s torture I had glimpsed over shoulders flashed through my mind like a flashback.

My body, anticipating what was to come, began to tremble from the fingertips.

I tried to hide it, putting strength into my hands and legs.

It was the Princess’s last shred of pride.

A pointless stubbornness, not wanting to show weakness even while trembling in fear.

“We have some time before the professor arrives… Let’s try something simple, shall we?”

“What? Wait. This is our—”

“I’m helping you.

Even if it’s a fallen family, if this state continues, the Academy will have no choice but to step in, right?

This is where Wharton’s torture comes in handy. It’s more effective than simple violence and leaves far fewer traces!”

“…Is that so?”

“Isn’t it fine? If we beat her to death, that’s a problem too.”

“…But she’s still a noble.”

“Shh, quiet. It’s not like we’ll ever get to do something like this again. She’s the weird one.”

“Now, if you understand, hurry up and move. There are a few things to prepare.”

With just a few words, Ariana directed the crowd of commoners, who scattered to their tasks.

Once she confirmed everyone was busy, she turned to me with a smile.

A smile so genuinely pleased it was even more chilling.

I quietly closed my eyes.

Only one thought circled in my mind.

Dear God, please take my breath away.

Before those demons come closer.

***

Drowning.

Literally, dying by falling into water.

For me, it’s a familiar way to die.

To the point where I could joke about the temperature of the Han River today.

Whether it’s a pool or…

It’s a danger you can always face at a summer resort like a beach.

In a way, it might be a death as close to everyday life as a minor accident or illness.

Yet, drowning is said to be one of the most painful deaths.

Like hanging or dying from dehydration, it takes some time until you actually lose consciousness, during which you experience extreme pain.

No wonder there’s an ancient torture method called water torture.

Water torture. Yeah, water torture.

A simple and convenient torture that only requires a basin deep enough to submerge your head and hands to hold you down.

Yet, the victim experiences fear and pain so intense they might think they’re going to die—a cost-effective torture.

Even if you try to hold your breath, the repeated back and forth eventually fills your lungs with water.

Every time water pours into your mouth and nose, your chest burns, and each breath becomes a desperate struggle between life and death.

The excruciating dizziness feels like it’s scraping every blood vessel in your brain, making it impossible to think straight or even struggle.

When your head is submerged, you feel like you’re about to suffocate, and when it’s pulled out, you beg like a madman to be spared.

Is there such a thing as humane torture in this world?

At this moment, I feared water more than anything else.

“Cough! Gasp, huff, ah, hack.”

I gulped down the air as if it were holy water after just a few minutes.

Eyes, nose, mouth, ears.

All the holes in my face were grotesquely leaking liquid.

I used to be told my face was decent, but now even that small advantage was gone.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry. Please, spare me…”

“Why are you begging already? We haven’t even started yet. Here we go.”

“No, no. Please────!!────!────!!────────”

I twisted my whole body trying to escape the hands holding me, but of course, it didn’t budge.

Finally, I gave up all pride and started begging Ariana, who had grabbed my hair.

She smiled contentedly at my pleas and, as if it were the most natural thing, shoved my head back into the tub.

In that long gap between being underwater and above, I begged endlessly.

It hurts. I feel like I’m going to die. It’s agonizing.

Save me. Save me. Save me.

I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die.

No, actually, I want to die. But.

A painful death… I don’t want that.

I’m scared… please…

The same process repeats until it feels eternal, and I completely lose my sense of time.

Gradually, my body loses strength, and I can’t even struggle, let alone utter a single word.

My mind, my judgment, is fading.

It’s been a while since my rationality disappeared, leaving only the survival instinct, but now even that is blurring.

Why is my head submerged in this tub?

Why did I even come here in the first place?

If I’m being punished like this, I must have done something terribly wrong.

Why can’t I remember anything?

I.

I. I.

Yes, that’s right. I remember.

I was taking a walk.

It was a beautiful evening with a stunning sunset.

The cool breeze felt incredibly refreshing.

I exchanged light greetings with neighbors I passed by.

Just a typical, mundane walk.

When I got thirsty,

I would quench my thirst with cold barley tea from a thermos.

When I got home, my parents welcomed me.

They were the kind who often visited their adult son, bringing side dishes and listening to his stories.

There was also a woman I wanted to marry.

We had been together for a long time.

She was almost like a childhood friend.

Somehow, romantic feelings developed.

You never know how things will turn out in life.

And also,

a brother who, though we sometimes fought, cared for each other more than anyone.

A friend I didn’t see often but occasionally checked in on.

A respectable job that I wasn’t ashamed of.

Hobbies that allowed me to socialize with others.

I had it all.

Because I was ordinary.

Because I was an ordinary person.

Because it was natural.

At that time.

That feeling.

That small happiness.

The little pieces of daily life that made me who I was.

They were the most important things that kept my life going.

I should have realized it when I had it all.

Why did it all disappear like bubbles only after it was gone?

I want to go back.

I want to go back.

Give it back.

I miss it.

I want to die.

I don’t want to die.

Why am I.

What am I.

What.

-Dead, she’s dead! She’s not breathing!!

-You shoved her head in like that, isn’t it strange to expect her to be fine?

-You said we could trust you…! You said we could end it cleanly without a trace!

When water fills the lungs, it seems to fill the brain too.

Thoughts blur, and consciousness fades.

Just moments ago, I was in indescribable pain, but now I feel an uncontrollable calm.

At some point, I was laid on the floor, and the ceiling came into my narrowing, blurry vision.

The buzzing in my ears faintly picked up the voices of people around me, sounding like screams.

Ah, I’m dying.

I’m going to die with my head submerged in water, facing a painful death.

My face must be a pitiful sight.

Any dignity I had as a noblewoman crumbled long ago.

-Don’t show me that ugly face. It’s unpleasant. Anyway, no need to worry.

Still, still.

At least I’m glad there’s no pain in the moment of death.

Thinking that makes me happy.

I’m happy.

I can finally be at peace.

I’m happy.

-Of course, there’s a way. Torture that kills people is worse than useless for getting proper information.

Ah.

-The Wharton family is as much a prestigious magical family as they are torturers.

They can revive anyone as long as their heart is still beating, no matter the form of death.

No.

No. Please. I just, I just found peace.

Wait, just a little longer. I’m about to die.

I can finally die now.

Not yet. No.

“Gasp──!?”

The moment Ariana’s fingers touched my chest and something flowed in,

the headache that felt like it was burning my brain and the searing pain in my lungs returned.

Water gushed out of every hole in my face.

“Cough! Cough! Cough. Hack… huff…?”

“Congratulations on coming back to life, Princess!

But we still have some time left. Shall we start again?”

The strong pulse of my heart echoed despairingly in my ears.

I’m alive. I’ve been brought back to life.

The people who killed me have revived me.

I shook my head like a madman.

My body trembled as if it were having a seizure.

“No. No. Ariana. I’m sorry. Forgive me. I.”

“Nope~”

Ariana’s cheerful declaration fell like a solemn divine judgment sentencing me to hell.

I was dragged, wailing, toward the tub filled with water, unable to resist.