I Was Wrong, Please Spare My Life

The furious roar echoed above the gates of the Ministry of Justice, lingering in the sky and refusing to dissipate.

Sophie White listened to the angry shouts, struggling to lift her head. She saw the surging crowd below the platform—if not for the constables holding them back, those people would have torn her to pieces!

Staring at the sea of faces, each one red with hatred, Sophie White trembled in fear. Her body shook uncontrollably, like a leaf in the autumn wind.

"Sophie White, tell me—how do you think these people will deal with you?" Princess Lily Hayes’ eyes, clear as day and dark as night, calmly fixed on Sophie White.

Sophie White shivered. Ruthless as she was, she was only fifteen. Faced with a mob that wanted to tear her apart, her fear was real.

"I—I... Don't hand me over to them, please..." Sophie White turned back, sobbing and pleading with Princess Lily Hayes. "They'll torture me! Please, don't let them have me!"

Princess Lily Hayes sighed softly. "When you murdered their children, did you ever consider their pain? Did you ever think about how much agony those grieving parents would endure?"

Sophie White cried and pleaded, "I was wrong, please spare my life!"

Princess Lily Hayes looked at Sophie White, who was kneeling and begging in agony. Memories of Sophie White's arrogant, unrepentant behavior in prison flashed through her mind. She sighed, "There is no such thing as true empathy in this world. If pain isn't inflicted upon you, you'll never truly understand it. Only when your life is threatened do you learn fear. In prison, you thought you had the prince's protection and acted with impunity. Now, I'm simply returning to you what you did to those children. Sophie White, this is the punishment you deserve. If I don't kill you, how can I face the parents who lost their children?"

With that, Princess Lily Hayes ignored Sophie White's pleas and waved to the furious victims.

The angry crowd miraculously fell silent, all eyes turning to Princess Lily Hayes—the one who stood up for them and delivered justice.

Princess Lily Hayes quietly looked at the grieving families and announced, "Three days from now, at the public market, the sentence will be carried out. Each victim’s family may choose one representative for the execution. In the next three days, the constables will register the names of those who wish to take part. On that day, you may use your own hands and blood to mourn your loved ones, to bring comfort to the innocent souls in heaven!"

Thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd. Whether victims' families or bystanders, everyone felt a wave of cathartic relief!

These days, the people had lived in constant fear, terrified their own children might fall victim. The streets echoed with curses for the child-killer; parents, especially, could not bear the thought of their children being harmed. Everyone longed to skin the culprit alive!

Now, Princess Lily Hayes had given them a chance—a chance to take vengeance with their own hands. It was truly exhilarating!

Meanwhile, Sophie White collapsed in the cage beside them, stripped of all former arrogance. Once a tiger, now a trembling, sickly cat—she shook in terror.

"Sean Hayes, keep a close watch on her. I want her alive until three days from now—let her truly taste the bitter fruit she sowed." Princess Lily Hayes turned to Sean Hayes, her voice commanding. "If anything happens to her, if she tries to escape or takes her own life, I will hold you personally responsible."