That day, the sun returned.
A sharp white light poured through the small window where the little princess lay.
“Milady, it’s time for breakfast.”
Airi slowly opened her eyes. As always, the sunlight did nothing to warm her heart — it was merely a silent flame, burning away the last remnants of her effort.
Airi Yukihana.
Princess of the Kingdom of Grav.
A child appointed to the royal academy — a place that nurtured those who would one day hold the fate of the continent in their hands.
Each day, she threw herself into sword practice, devoured dry political texts, and endured harsh combat training.
She was a princess. She wasn’t allowed to make mistakes.
After bidding farewell to her father, she stepped out into a new day — cold, like every other.
“Yukihana! Relax your body. You’re tensing one-third into the diagonal strike!”
The voice of the old instructor cut through the training ground like steel.
Airi didn’t particularly like him — but she still held a certain respect for the man.
“Slash!”
A sharp blade sliced cleanly through the air in front of her.
If a diamond had stood in its way, it might’ve shattered.
As always, Airi needed only one or two attempts.
But even so — the blade felt too cold, not yet heated.
“Airi!”
A familiar voice called from afar.
She turned. It was the one person Airi had always considered a close friend — and perhaps, vice versa.
“Wanna grab lunch outside today?”
Her friend asked, beaming brightly.
Airi merely furrowed her brows slightly. No answer.
“Hmph… Fine, we’ll eat on the rooftop like usual.”
Her friend pouted and walked off.
Airi chuckled — softly, like a breeze.
That was the only smile she gave that entire morning.
Stolen story; please report.
A smile for someone she cherished.
Day by day, Airi’s life continued in monotony.
Sometimes, she wondered if things would always stay this way.
Yet, in that quiet rhythm, she found a strange sense of peace.
But lately, something was changing.
She couldn’t ignore it — the way her father, the King, seemed burdened by a growing weight.
Every time he sat at his desk, his fingers would interlock before his face, eyes deep in thought, like he was unraveling an unsolvable riddle.
Airi could only watch him, the worry rising in her chest.
“Your Majesty! We’ve completed the investigation. There are indeed suspicious disruptions in several areas, but nothing alarming. Most seem to be random anomalies,” a general reported.
The King remained silent for a long time, his gaze distant, seemingly staring through the wall.
His hands folded, and a dry, cold smile never reached his lips — only a chilling resolve.
“Tomorrow, everything proceeds as usual. But no one is to be careless. Full inspection orders are in effect. No exceptions — students, teachers, everyone is to be thoroughly checked…”
He paused. The room fell silent, not a breath dared break the moment.
His eyes, razor-sharp, scanned the room.
“…Be ready. And show no mercy.”
“SIR, YES SIR!”
The room echoed with unwavering loyalty.
Beside the King stood a thin man with a mocking expression, his voice dripping with doubt:
“You’re serious? These are all royal blood.”
The King’s cold gaze met his.
No explanations. No trace of softness.
Just raw, unyielding authority.
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
“Click…” — The sound of chalk touching the board.
Three days had passed since the kingdom’s ruler had enacted the inspection decree.
Airi — while slightly annoyed that the rule applied to her as well — understood there must be more to this school than met the eye.
She thought to herself:
“Could it be… a monster in disguise?”
As usual, Airi and her close friend bought lunch from the cafeteria, then retreated to the rooftop for a quiet meal together.
Airi didn’t have many friends.
She didn’t understand much about fun or pleasures.
The only thing she felt she truly understood — was her own heart.
She could tell when it was sad, when it ached, when it grew cold.
And she wanted it to stay calm, forever.
She stood up, her gaze caught by a dark speck on the school grounds.
Looking closer, she saw the figure of a man in a black cloak.
Perhaps her eyes had been blinded by the sun, so she hadn’t noticed him sooner.
He walked slowly toward the school gate, then turned and gave her a nod — and suddenly collapsed.
She froze, her friend beside her equally stunned.
Beep… beep…
The sound had been going off for a while — now it was accelerating.
“Click.”
Then came the sound that tore the very air apart.
A blast.
Smoke.
One breath, and it was like stepping into an abyss.
Airi forced her eyes open.
It felt like she had fallen into the chemistry lab beneath the rooftop.
Her wrist was broken.
Her leg, torn open.
Not much blood. But the pain was beyond words.
She didn’t know whether this was right after the explosion or if she’d blacked out.
The room was dark, smoke clouded her vision.
She wanted to give up, to just let go — hold onto her peaceful heart.
She wanted to curl into the place that felt safe.
But fate had other plans — the cloaked man was standing right in front of her.
Flames surrounded the room.
She lifted her body, looked beneath him.
“Clang…”
“You get to choose.”
A pistol landed in front of her.
Right — the bullet in that gun could save them all.
Three soldiers lay unconscious in the corner… and herself.
Her hands trembled as she reached for the gun.
“AIRIII!” — a desperate scream.
Her eyes widened, lifeless.
She looked again at the cloaked man’s feet.
Her lips trembled, but no words came.
If she shot him, the vial in his hand would fall — straight onto her friend.
“Don’t, Airi! Don’t shoot him, I’m begging you! I’ll give you anything you want! Friends! You want more friends, right? We can hang out and laugh and talk and— PLEASE!”
Her voice grew frantic, near hysterical.
The choice was Airi’s to make.
The red hue deepened.
No time left to hesitate.
“Airi, you don’t even know those three guys, right? Just let them go… they’ll die for their sins — convenient, isn’t it?”
The red turned crimson, tearing the world apart.
The moment she pulled the trigger, the man collapsed.
The vial slipped from his hand.
Her friend — the girl who had always been with her — screamed in agony.
The toxin crept through her bones.
Pinned under rubble, she writhed — but wouldn’t last long.
Airi — witnessed it all.
She couldn’t let go of the gun.
Her eyes, heavy, unable to hold back any more tears.
The red flames in the room had already stolen them away.
A soldier pulled her out of the burning room.
“Th… There are people still inside…”
Her voice, shaking.
“No, milady! You were the only one in there… I swear it.”
Airi blacked out, unable to hear the last words.
Three days had passed since the terror attack.
She was told it was a gas explosion in the kitchen — but Airi knew the truth was far worse.
The red of that day still burned within her.
She couldn’t forget the fire that devoured her very soul.
That drop of blood — like a cruel stroke of ink — had stained her already-marked heart.
She didn’t know why.
Who had cast her as the executioner?
In the end, she hadn’t saved anyone.
Haunted and lost, all she knew…
Was that everything now pointed toward her.
