V. Maiden
"I don't get it..."
By the point Rack's body stopped swinging from the noose, I had collapsed to the ground in heavy sobs. A guard tried to touch me, but I violently slapped his hand away and continued to wipe tears from my eyes. I breathed heavily, irregularly, with all the force of a woman who had lost absolutely everything dear to her. And, in fact, I had lost everything.
My father had already died, a drowning incident long ago. And now, both of my sisters were gone. I'd give everything just to see them again.. Alive. Not in Heaven, or Hell, or wherever people like us went after death.
Townspeople who had been eager at the beginning now gave me sad, sympathetic stares as they wondered whether it would be best just to kill me now and put me out of my misery. I would love that so much, no matter what the cause of death be. I'd rather die, die, die…
"Maiden Fieron."
Nothing answered the voice besides another, chest-wrenching sob. Quite suddenly, I was jerked to my feet by the guard who had previously held me back. He looked to the commander questioningly. Obviously, I missed some important development in my moments of despair. Knowing this, my voice silenced itself and I stared, naïve and childishly, to the commander.
"Maiden Fieron. You will be allowed to live. You will carry the weight of your family on your shoulders. A guard will be assigned to watch you all hours of every day, and if you break any of the laws of the Aliech Kingdom, you will be severely punished. Your father may have been a great man, a hero even, however it does not excuse the actions of you and your sisters."
I couldn't believe my ears. Being allowed to live?
"Furthermore, you will be allowed to return to your tower. You, however, will not be allowed to move locations.. Or leave Lion City."
"..I don't get it." My voice came a shaky, hoarse whisper. "Why don't you just kill me..? Like my big sisters… Why don't you just end my life and get it over with?"
"…Because you will be a symbol of how we will not tolerate such actions. I am quite sure that, with the others gone, you will not dare to harm anyone again."
He had a point… I'd harm myself sooner than anyone else. In fact-
"If you dare try to commit suicide, the assigned guard will stop you. He will also monitor your purchases and will stop you from buying any poisonous items."
Oh.
I sighed, leaning to the guard behind me. He untied me, and as such I was able to brush away the tears that had dampened my face. Oh, I must have looked terrible, if how I felt was any indication.
"…Alright. Can I go now?" The previous shakiness had almost vanished, replaced by a monotonous voice that showed the loss of emotion.
"Yes. Braze, you will be her guard until we decide of a long-term one. Understood?" The guard behind me nodded. The name was familiar… Ah, it was that Braze. He frequented Stella's bar, and Gibbet talked of him very often. Well, I suppose it wouldn't be bad if she had spoken so nicely of him…
Braze handed me a handkerchief, allowed me to wipe the remaining tears, then walked me down the stairs. Enduring the stares of others, we headed back towards my home, now a place of dread.