The stairs leading to the underground prison were extremely steep.

I descended them with intense nervousness.

When I reached the underground where even the torches fixed to the solid stone walls flickered precariously—

“……”

Just a few more steps and I would be at the underground prison where Foil Viper was confined.

I wanted to turn back midway, but I continued walking, remembering what Millean had said.

‘If you bury it out of fear, it will remain somewhere, constantly reopening the wound.’

‘……’

‘It’s better to resolve old emotions and move on.’

Perhaps I was overthinking.

It was just walking down stairs, yet I felt dizzy.

But that didn’t mean I had changed my mind about turning back.

My steps slowed compared to before, but my resolve remained unchanged.

I gathered my scattered thoughts and descended one step at a time, following Ainberg’s back.

Before I knew it, we reached the entrance.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The underground prison became extremely busy due to Ainberg’s arrival.

The guards who had been leaning against the walls all stood up, lighting the extinguished torches.

While Ainberg surveyed the surroundings, my gaze was fixed on only one place.

In that rough and dark space, I could see a dim silhouette beyond the iron bars.

“……”

As I tried to compose myself by clenching my hands, Ainberg turned to look at me.

He whispered to me in a barely audible voice.

“You don’t look well.”

“It’s because it’s dark in here.”

“Sienna.”

Ainberg extended his hand and continued.

“If you don’t feel like it, why not go back now?”

I shook my head and answered.

“I have something I must say to him. If I don’t do it now, I’ll never have another chance.”

I gave him a small smile, then carefully approached the iron bars.

He must have sensed my presence, but Foil didn’t move at all.

It was as if he had frozen in his seated position.

His dirty clothes and head hanging down toward the ground looked very unfamiliar.

‘They said his execution is tomorrow.’

I couldn’t see his face, but I could feel he had resigned himself to everything.

During my descent here, I had constantly thought about what to say when I met him.

At times my mind felt completely empty, but then burning anger would surge when I remembered how he had demoralized me with insulting behavior and ultimately tried to kill me.

“……”

But facing this man who had lost everything, all those thoughts scattered into thin air.

At that moment, Foil slowly raised his head and discovered me.

“Sienna?”

When I heard his severely cracked voice, I couldn’t help but squeeze my eyes shut.

“Oh, goodness. This can’t be.”

Foil muttered a few more words, then put strength into both arms.

“How, how is this possible.”

He stared at me intently, seemingly confused.

Like someone who had seen something wrong, or as if he doubted whether it was really me he was facing.

His rough breathing reached me completely as I stood beyond the bars.

“Father.”

When I opened my mouth, Foil smiled broadly as if he had met a savior.

“Oh, my. I wasn’t hearing things, nor was I seeing things.”

“……”

“It is my daughter, my beloved daughter!”

Then he suddenly burst into tears.

“My daughter, my daughter who fell unjustly and suffered all kinds of hardships has returned.”

Anyone would think he was sincere.

I was so perplexed by his behavior that I was at a loss for words.

“Now, now I can clear my name. When you learn how unjustly I’ve been treated, you won’t possibly forgive His Majesty!”

Foil was going out of control.

He pleaded his innocence like someone with a split personality, but soon began to rage like a madman.

“Your father is facing death under false accusations, so where have you been until now!”

“Lord Viper!”

As Foil’s behavior became more agitated, the guards surrounding the prison gripped their spears tightly.

He paid no attention and stared straight at me.

“Still, still, I can’t tell you how fortunate this is. It may be a bit late, but how fortunate that you’ve come like this.”

“You said you were falsely accused.”

Unable to hold back any longer, I spoke for the first time, and Foil, who had been sniffling continuously, looked up at me.

“Yes, falsely accused. Your father is about to die under accusations too horrible to even mention.”

“……”

“This is all Chadmon’s doing. That man must have used cunning tricks for his daughter!”

Now he’s planning to drag in the Chadmon family.

Well, he always considered Leonora a thorn in his side.

But the Leonora you faced was actually me.

When I stood there without saying anything, Foil looked somewhat impatient.

“You don’t know how urgent this is. We need to move right now. I don’t have much time left!”

Then he completely changed his expression.

“No, that’s not it.”

“……”

“Sienna, let’s go into exile together.”

What?

His execution is tomorrow, yet he’s suddenly talking about exile.

And who with whom?

Stop talking nonsense.

I was about to speak, but Foil immediately blurted out.

“Sienna, listen carefully to your father. The Emperor doesn’t love you. After I die, you’ll be next.”

“I’ll be next?”

“Yes, think about how the Emperor has treated you all this time.”

Not realizing whose fault that was.

“Weren’t you treated worse than a maid? And no one was there for you. There’s no hope left in this land.”

“And what about you, Father?”

I thought there was no need to listen to him anymore.

It was obvious he was looking for a way out, using my visit as an excuse.

‘Yes, it was good to face him like this.’

Rather, after facing him like this, my mind became calmer.

“When I was struggling, you weren’t by my side either.”

“Child, why suddenly……”

“No, it’s all over now.”

“What do you mean, over?”

“I just regret having to face you like this.”

When I spoke, Foil’s face contorted.

“Regret?”

“I heard you tried to harm His Majesty.”

He let out a hollow laugh and then shot back harshly.

“That’s not true. It was a trap set by those trying to eliminate me! His Majesty fell for the tricks of those wicked people!”

Foil growled with reddened eyes, but I no longer felt afraid or wanted to avoid him.

“Then was your attempt to kill me also because you fell for someone’s trick?”

“……”

For the first time, he said nothing and just stared at me.

His expression showed he didn’t easily understand what I was saying.

So I decided to make it clearer.

“No, actually, you probably didn’t intend to kill me from the beginning. When things didn’t go as planned, you thought of using me.”

“What are you saying now.”

Foil, who had been roaring like a beast until just now, asked me in a very calm tone.

As if he had become a different person.

“But I didn’t die according to your wishes. I spent a whole year neither dead nor alive.”

“……”

“Meanwhile, you’ve been very busy. Raising private soldiers, adopting a daughter, and planning to harm His Majesty while disguising as a band of thieves.”

When I said that much, Foil looked at me with a completely dazed expression.

“Did you think everything was proceeding perfectly? Did you dream of soon ascending to the imperial throne?”

“……”

“But that was a flawed plan from the beginning. It was greed you shouldn’t have harbored and an empty dream.”

“What on earth are you saying.”

By this point, I felt sorry for him.

A pitiful and pathetic person.

An unfortunate human who had rejected even the opportunity for atonement.

“You’re deceiving yourself until the very end. I had hoped your final appearance wouldn’t be this wretched.”

What meaning would there be in talking further?

I slowly closed and opened my eyes, then turned around.

Foil crumpled his face and grabbed the iron bars.

“Sienna!”

I stopped walking again.

There were words left unsaid.

As I slowly turned back, Foil was glaring at me with bloodshot eyes.

“Father.”

“……!”

“Go to hell.”