I Was Told to Drink Poison, So I Drank It - 1 - The Execution of Queen Chalize
“Kill the Queen!!”
“Execute the wicked Queen!!”
“Death to the Queen who cares nothing for her people!!”
Listening to the voices of the people gathered outside the castle, I took a sip of my final cup of tea.
Soon, the commotion would be suppressed by the military police and royal knights.
By then, however, I would no longer be in this world.
“…Your Majesty, it is time.”
At the voice of my personal maid, I rose from my seat.
She looked at me with an expression as lifeless as a wax doll.
Though she was my personal maid in name, I knew the truth.
In reality, she was a spy sent by His Majesty to keep watch over me.
Because of that, I had never once let my guard down in front of her.
“Yes, I’m coming.”
I left the Queen’s chambers.
In the hallway, a dozen royal knights were already assembled.
As if escaping was even a possibility at this point—what a waste of effort.
Click. Click. The sound of footsteps echoed.
At once, the knights parted like the Red Sea.
The man who appeared was my husband—the ruler of this kingdom.
He looked at me—or rather, looked down at me—and spoke.
“Have you admitted your crimes?”
“…No. I have committed no crime.”
“But you can hear the voices outside, can’t you? They are here because of you.”
From the window, I could still hear the people cursing my name.
I glanced in their direction, then answered calmly.
“It is true that I focused too much on political reform and failed to win the people’s hearts. However, Your Majesty…”
I paused.
He looked at me with displeasure.
“After you dispose of me as your scapegoat, the next target… will be you.”
“What insolence…!!”
A nearby knight reached for his sword.
His Majesty stopped him.
He glared at me with open hostility, his eyes gleaming with intensity.
It was the face of a man who truly despised me.
To him, I was nothing but a nuisance—a troublesome, insufferable burden.
That was why he had decided to have me executed.
“Are those your dying words? Do you curse me simply because you are about to die by my hand?”
“…Whether my words are mere resentment or a prophecy—please, see for yourself, Your Majesty.”
This kingdom is in decline.
The temple increases taxes under the guise of protecting the people from magical beasts.
The royal family indulges in pleasure, unaware of the temple’s schemes.
The nobility enjoys their luxuries, blind to how fragile their wealth truly is.
The people, manipulated by false information, have become mere puppets of the royal family.
Eventually, this kingdom will fall.
I had tried everything to prevent its destruction.
But now, that dream is nothing more than a fleeting illusion.
Surrounded by maids and knights, I walked toward my final destination.
Exiting through a back door of the castle, I was led to a tower built solely for the execution of noble criminals.
Climbing the stairs and entering the chamber, I saw a familiar face.
As soon as she spotted me, her face lit up with joy.
“Sister! I’ve been waiting for this day!”
My maid, the knights, and His Majesty followed behind me into the room.
His Majesty escorted her with care.
The two of them stood close together as they looked at me.
She—my sister, Stella—smiled sweetly.
My husband—His Majesty—glared at me with hatred.
Then, His Majesty raised his voice.
“Chalize, the notorious femme fatale who tormented the people, plundered the kingdom, and brought ruin upon this nation—your execution shall now be carried out!!”
His Majesty slammed his hand against the table in the room.
On the table sat a golden goblet, filled to the brim with a deep red liquid, like wine.
“Drink the poison, Chalize. You may be rotten, but you are still a noble. At the very least, I will allow you a noble’s death.”
I picked up the goblet.
A distinct scent wafted up—bitter, with a faint hint of almonds, like the seed of a peach.
…Cyanide.
Realizing this, I held the goblet and smiled.
“…Well then, everyone, farewell.”
Slowly, I brought the goblet to my lips.
I took the poison into my mouth, swallowed—and then—
The goblet slipped from my fingers.
With a distant clatter, it hit the floor.