"I'm going to kill three heartless men."

...

My story ended at the height of glory, when everything was grand and lavish.

I had a magnificent wedding, with 128 dowry carts circling Nevaeh three times.

The peach blossoms of Nevaeh fell gently in the breeze, covering the ground and creating a path that led straight to the majestic palace.

Jason Evans, the top nobleman from the Ramirez and the man every girl dreamed of, helped me onto the horse. He and Austin Bell, the world's best assassin, escorted me into the palace.

That day, I rode through the grand street in my bridal crown and robes, passing through April's bloom and crossing the nine red gates to marry Vincent Morris, the man who had once been a young lord and was now the emperor.

Tradition said a bride should ride in a carriage, accompanied by her family and the officiant. But I refused. For one, my parents died when I was young, and my only master had been gone for years. Also, I didn't want to ride in a carriage.

When I told Vincent, he frowned. In the end, he agreed.

The palace walls on both sides were dark red, tall, and oppressive. As I finally crossed the last gate, the golden one, I saw Vincent in his deep red, embroidered robes.

His brows were sharp like swords, his eyes bright as stars, standing tall at the top of 45 jade steps. Even from a distance, with all the people between us, I could still see the smile on his lips.

"Layla."

Behind me, Jason suddenly called out.

He said quietly, "I'm sorry, I can only take you this far."

Austin wanted to say something too, but he was always quiet. He opened his mouth, and after a pause, simply said, "Take care."

"Alright." I turned and smiled at both of them. Without hesitation, I jumped off the horse, grabbed my gown, and ran toward Vincent.

The music played loudly, and the sound of the horn echoed.

I thought, "This is probably the happiest day in my tumultuous life."

The 45 steps were too short to recall all the memories Vincent and I shared, whether warm, painful, sad, or touching.

"Vincent..."

I ran toward Vincent. Just as I was about to touch the hem of his robe, an arrow shot through the air and pierced my body.

Slowly, I looked down and saw a large blossom of blood spreading before my eyes.

The pain exploded in my flesh, in my bones, and deep in my soul.

Screams of shock erupted around me.

As the cold wind howled, I suddenly heard icy voices in my ears.

"What a perfect ending!"

"Vincent is definitely my top favorite male lead!"

"I love this classic novel."

"Layla, under the guise of marriage, you secretly conspired to mobilize the 72 water forces and the northern army camp, ordering your men to gather troops, intending to rebel and kill me for power. Do you admit it?"

Vincent's sharp voice cut through the air, every word like a decisive blow.

His gaze was as sharp as a blade, each glance slicing deep into my heart.

"Why..."

Trembling, I lifted my head in disbelief, looking at Vincent.

Vincent glanced coldly, his voice icy and unfamiliar. "Layla, why keep lying? Did you think I didn't know you were the lost princess of the royal family?"

I froze, then suddenly shivered all over as if my body was being hacked apart. A burning pain spread through my organs. I forced a smile, but tears fell instead.

Bitter, thick drops of blood fell, one by one, onto the jade steps.

In this moment, there was no point in denying it anymore.

"It's a happy ending, why am I crying?"

"Vincent is so amazing, he really loves her!"

"Please write a side story! I want to see Vincent and her happy after their wedding."

The cold voices slithered into my ears like snakes. My head pounded, and I bit my tongue to stop the physical and soul-deep pain.

"What are they talking about? Don't they see what Vincent has done to me?

He's going to kill me! For a crime I didn't even commit!"

"Ah!"

I screamed hoarsely, clenching my teeth against the unbearable pain stabbing at my heart. I pulled the sharpest hairpin from my head.

"Vincent..."

The hairpin pierced my flesh with a dull thud. As I looked into Vincent's eyes, I saw a flash of pain that quickly turned into overwhelming cold indifference.

The next second, I was thrown down, tumbling down the forty-five jade steps and landing heavily in front of Jason and Austin's horses.

My spine shattered.

Dark blood flowed, winding down the steps.

Barely alive, I saw Jason pull out a handkerchief, covering his nose and mouth. He stepped back, pulling the reins of his horse.

As for Austin, he remained cold and indifferent, showing no reaction.

"Why didn't she choose the second lead? Jason is so gentle, I'm crying!"

"Austin, my sweet Austin, he's the one who's been protecting the heroine all along!"

"Why can't the three of them just be together?"

My soul was tearing apart.

"Have they all gone mad?

They're all trying to kill me! None of them love me!"

Hot, thick blood blurred my wide eyes. My vision was red when something gentle suddenly fell on my face. It felt like a straw hat.

"Kingston, you're still alive?!" Vincent's voice was filled with anger and shock.

No one answered, only the mournful sound of clashing swords filled the air.

It took a long time, a really long time.

For the first time, I realized that death doesn't come as quickly as I thought.

Suddenly, the hat covering my face was lifted away.

I couldn't see anything, but I could feel someone trembling as they kissed my bloodstained lips.

Cold, yet tender.

"Kingston, that villain, is so awful. I'm glad he died in the end."

Kingston, in the end, you were the only one who truly loved me.