The morning sun crept slowly over the noble house, casting its pale light on the Healing Barracks. Inside, Tiffany lay unconscious, her face wrapped in bandages and her body bruised and broken. As her eyelids fluttered open, a blurry figure came into focus, James, standing at her bedside.
"Damn," James muttered, eyes lingering on the swollen, discolored bruises. "The princess really messed your face up."
Tiffany tried to speak, but her throat was dry, her voice a whisper. "Why are you here, James? Just to ridicule me?"
"No…" he said, his usual lighthearted tone replaced by a heavy, sorrowful one.
"You'll be executed today at sunset."
Tiffany's breath caught in her chest. That makes sense. I did attack the Princess. But even in her acceptance, her heart pulled her thoughts toward him. "What about Joshua? How is he doing?"
James looked away. "He's in the dungeons beneath the noble house. Tortured. They plan to execute him with you… at sunset."
Her eyes widened in horror. "But Joshua never did anything wrong!" she cried, trying to sit up, but pain held her down.
"The Queen found out. About Joshua and Blanchette. And about you and him."
Tiffany's heart shattered. Her voice cracked as she clutched her bandaged face. "So it's all my fault… I'm the reason the man I love will die…"
Unable to face her tears, James quietly left the room, guilt written across his face.
Below the noble house, deep in the blood-slick darkness of the prison, Joshua hung limply from the ceiling by his wrists, chains digging into his raw skin. His body was painted in welts and blood, but he no longer screamed. His eyes were hollow, his spirit broken.
I deserve this, he repeated silently. I am a monster… I deserve this because I'm a monster…
The Queen's Guard entered the cell, his voice a harsh reminder of the approaching doom.
"It's almost sunset. Prepare him for his execution."
The prison guards sprang into action. One fetched a bucket filled with salt water and splashed it mercilessly over Joshua's mangled body. The wounds screamed, but Joshua did not. He only stared at the blood pooling around him.
"Not even a flinch," one guard muttered. "He ain't fun anymore."
Another guard unchained Joshua, and he collapsed to the floor. They draped a rough robe over his naked frame, tied his hands, and dragged him by the rope through the cold stone corridors, out into the open air.
The courtyard was already crowded, human nobles dressed in finery, peasants with rotting vegetables in hand. Cheers and jeers erupted as Joshua was paraded like a broken beast. Rotten fruit struck his body, but he did not react. Merlin and Franciele stood among the crowd, unable to contain their tears.
They reached the execution platform.
Two guillotines stood ominously under the crimson sky, the sun beginning its slow descent. Joshua was placed in one, and beside him, Tiffany was brought to the other. She glanced at him, her voice trembling.
"I'm sorry, Joshua… this is all my fault."
"No," he murmured, his voice hollow. "This is my fault. I'm a monster, after all."
Tears ran down Tiffany's face. That's not true. You're far from a monster.
High above, on the balcony overlooking the square, Queen Juliet stood tall and proud in her regal attire. Her eyes narrowed as she raised her hands.
"Today," she proclaimed, "we execute a monster and his whore."
She looked over the crowd. "But first, let the people decide. Should he live or die?"
The response was thunderous and merciless.
"KILL THE MONSTER! KILL THE WHORE! KILL THE MONSTER! KILL THE WHORE!"
Merlin clutched her grandmother's hand, sobbing uncontrollably. Franciele could barely stand.
Queen Juliet's voice rang like a death knell. "Executioners, you heard the will of the people. Off with their heads!"
The crowd roared in bloodthirsty excitement as the executioners took their places. They placed their hands on the levers. One final look passed between Joshua and Tiffany, one filled with sorrow, not regret.
Then...
The levers were pulled.
Two blades came crashing down.
And the square fell silent.