The Emperor got straight to the point.
Unlike some, he's not looking forward to the execution. Though it must be done, he's still uncomfortable with the idea of sentencing a Del Montague princess to death. There was no telling what complications may arise from this amongst future generations. He would have opted for another punishment; life in prison would be sufficient.
Unfortunately, the Pope was breathing down his neck insisting that Felicia must be made an example of.
His own son, who happened to be the Crown Prince was adamant about the little lady being given the capital punishment.
Looking at her frail form now, kneeling before them, bound in chains, it was difficult for him to believe that she was guilty of so many vile things.
He tried to match her crimes to the little girl he once knew. It made no sense.
But the evidence had been presented. Witnesses too. Too many prominent figures who spoke so unfavorably of the little lady's character. And now he must do his duty for the betterment of the empire and for the continued harmony between the royal family and the church. Blast it!
Adopting a cold tone to mask the uneasiness in his heart, Emperor Robert gave his verdict. "There is no reason to prolong this unpleasant business, so I will be frank. Felicia Viviane Del Montague, I hereby denounce you as the Crown Princess of the Elysium Empire! The crimes which you have chosen to commit against your own family as well as my own son are reprehensible! Enough to have you stripped of your noble title and thrown into the dungeons for the remainder of your life! Unfortunately, that is not to be! You crossed the final line when you dared to attempt to murder your own step-sister! Our Saintess! The punishment must fit the crime and by my order a witch such as yourself will not be allowed to live!"
A moment of silence.
Dixie blows away the red hair that smacks into her face from the sudden breeze. She glances at the same knight. "Is he talking to me?"
The man looks at her in complete disbelief. "Yes, little lady. His Majesty is addressing you."
"Quiet!" The Emperor barks. "I cannot believe a lady such as yourself bears the prestigious title of a Del Montague! You have brought nothing but misery and shame upon your household. You killed your own mother! And it appears that, that was not enough to satisfy your appetite for wickedness and sin!"
Murmurs spread through the crowd. All in full agreement of the Emperor's assessment.
The Pope stands up, his presence imposing, and gives his two piece. "The Saintess is a holy being....."
Oh my god! These words! This place! My name! I'm not dreaming at all! I'm in the book! I'm in the body of a condemned woman about to get axed! No, not axed. Burned! The execution was by fire! I'm going to get lit up! Not Felicia. Me, Dixie! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!
Dixie throws her body to the side. The fatigue from being made to kneel for so long causes her to collapse. The wooden block finally falls off her shoulders as she struggles to her feet. A wave of dizziness hits her the moment she's upright. She takes a more thorough look at her body and begins touching her face. The foreign texture of her skin and facial structure flares up her panic even more.
How is she going to convince them she's not the guilty one?
The knights are on full alert. Even though she won't be able move properly with her ankles and wrists chained together, her frenzied state was that of a cornered animal about to attack.
"You cannot escape your punishment, young lady. Whatever ideas you have in your mind, it's best to discard them. Accept your fate." The Pope calmly advised her.
"What kind of stupid ass shit is this!? How could something like this even happen!?" Dixie spun in a full circle, wary of the armed men eyeing her like prey.
"It has happened because of your willful acts of cruelty towards our beloved Saintess." The Pope answered.
"Excuse me, idiot! I am not a cruel person. I'm no saint, but I'm not cruel enough to be granted an execution! Nor have I ever attempted to murder anyone!"
Sharp gasps fill the air.
A priest seated next to the Pope stands up and screams out his displeasure. "How dare you insult the Holy Pope!?"
"Your unholy Pope is trying to have me executed for a crime I never committed! I will insult him as much as I want!" Dixie spat out.
The Pope smiled amicably.
"Goddess, what an abominable creature!"
"An aberration!"
More insults and scorn came from the spectators.
The Duke's head was turned to the side. He could not even stand the sight of this hideous girl who was his daughter. He wanted this over and done with.
Lady Tyren smiled in anticipation.
Bonnie's eyes widen in shock. She could recognize that sass anywhere.
"Silence! We have many witnesses who can testify that you harmed the Saintess greatly!"
Dixie scowled in the direction of the new voice.
This was the final chapter of the book.
She remembered it word for word.
Which meant that this man was the Crown Prince. His royal douchebag, Prince Constantine Elliot Cromwell.
And the woman in his arms was none other than the demon bitch who pretended to be pure. Felicia's step-sister and declared Saintess of the empire, Helena Sweetzel Del Montague.
As always when in the company of others, Helena had an innocent and gentle expression plastered on her face.
"Witnesses! Ha! More like closeminded and biased fools who just believed in the first thing they saw without examining further. Tell me, do you take pride in surrounding yourself with such stupid people, Constantine?!" She spat out her words, her tone patronizing.
More gasps mixed with insults came Dixie's way.
The Crown Prince is shocked speechless by the blatant disrespect of being called directly by name from the condemned woman.
"Silence!" The Emperor bellows. The loud murmurs quieten.
The Emperor narrows his gaze on Dixie. "You have a horrid attitude! How is it that your step-sister, who is younger than you has such good manners, yet you are so vile?"
"That's because unlike Helena, I get abused constantly." Dixie spoke with confidence. "And she's not the sweet girl you all think she is."
Her eyes locked onto Helena's as she continued her verbal assault. "Helena is a greedy, hateful, lying, scheming, jealous, petty minded demon bitch who pretends to be good, clean and pure!
She looked back at the assembly with a smirk. "And you all lap up her nonsense like the obedient dogs that you are!"
More gasps and sputter of outrage. Some of the spectators begin to throw tomatoes and squash at her.
Helena starts weeping in the arms of her prince. "Oh sister, you are always so cruel! How could you say such things to me? I have only ever tried to make peace with you."
"Shut up, bitch! I am not your sister! I have no need for a sister like you! We both know your mask falls off when nobody is watching!"
Prince Constantine pulls Helena's face into his chest and kisses the top of her head. "Tie her up and burn her! We will not listen to this witch spout her nonsense!"
"The witch spouting nonsense is in your arms!"
Dixie didn't know what was making her act like this. Felicia's emotions became her own. In this moment, she felt the other woman's pain and her sense of injustice. Besides that, she had read the book so she already knew what's up. Felicia was a victim of slander and Helena was the one constantly setting her up.
The previous knight began to drag her back towards a pyre that had already been set up as another knight stepped forward with a flaming torch.
Holy shit!