There was no need to avoid it, no reason to blame anyone. In the end, it was Liam’s crime and punishment.

He just has one thing to ask now. Liam deeply bowed his head.

“Please… let me go honorably.”

“Honorably?”

Cassian asked back.

An emperor had to be just. Especially when calculating punishment. That was true even if it was his subordinate, even if it was his lover.

“I didn’t expect you to say such things without a single excuse after massacring hundreds. As Duke Blumir knows, that’s not something I can do.”

Though Cassian calls him Duke Blumir, Liam is no longer Liam de le Blumir but Liam Cheval. What he did to avoid losing something ended up making him lose it instead.

“However, Duke Blumir’s end won’t be difficult. I promise you won’t meet a painful end.”

Usually when executing political enemies, they would choose an unskilled executioner and give them a dull axe to make the death as painful as possible. The neck of any poor soul who dared to cross the Emperor fared worse than firewood in a roaring fireplace. Beneath the weight of a dull axe blade, they would be struck over and over, each blow dragging them closer to their final breath.

At least that wouldn’t happen — it was the maximum consideration the executioner could offer. It was thoroughly characteristic of Cassian.

Perhaps it was a completely unnecessary kindness. Looking at the emperor he had chosen, Liam finally managed a faint smile.

“You asked… why I did it?”

“Yes, I did.”

“It was like how Your Majesty thought about my end.”

“…What does that mean right now?”

“I… had to send Tina off honorably.”

It seemed he had interpreted Cassian’s ‘why’ as a different question. About something from the distant past that neither had brought up.

For Cassian, he had no choice but to take it that way. The memories of that time stumbled out from Liam’s lips.

“Before anyone could torment Tina, before they could reduce her to a living death… as the Duchess of Blumir and Marguerite… I sent her away by my own hands. Because I thought it was the right thing to do.”

Cassian stared blankly at Liam.

At that time, Cassian hadn’t given any orders. He had merely sent Liam to Astaire. He hadn’t reproached Liam for what he did when he returned, nor had he praised, rewarded, or punished him. Cassian I could do nothing.

What was possible for Grand Duke Cassian Pendragon was impossible for Cassian I, who would ascend as Emperor of Sehera. That was the plea for Madame Marguerite’s life.

And so ended the story of the woman who had bound these two men together.

Cassian finally muttered an answer about that day’s events. In truth, Cassian had known what feelings drove Liam’s actions.

They say that long ago, a famous strategist wept while beheading a great general.

“…I know.”

“But for Tina… it wasn’t right.”

Cassian’s eyes darkened at his confident tone.

“I always had doubts within me. I wondered about what I had done. And I realized. I just…”

Liam raised his hand. His head bent toward the floor. The scent of blood seemed to still emanate from his dry fingertips.

“I wanted to possess Tina, even if it meant killing her.”

Now, he admits it. Thus Liam, weeping, cut down the most precious person in his life.

“I didn’t want… to lose her to someone else. That’s why.”

Cassian watched Liam without a single gap in his attention. Thanks to those blue eyes that held not a trace of doubt, his current appearance seemed rather grotesque. Like someone who had gone completely mad over something they couldn’t handle.

“Because I didn’t want to lose Blumir, which Tina left behind, to others either.”

Liam’s lips twisted upward. The forcibly moving corners trembled pitifully.

“I killed them all to possess it.”

His hand dropped to the floor with a thud. A dark bruise immediately formed where his wrist hit the stone floor.

“So that no one else could take it.”

“…Duke Blumir.”

It was almost a groan, seemingly genuinely regretful.

“Nothing can be possessed that way.”

That was the truth and the principle. Harming others only accelerates the loss of something greater.

Looking at Liam, Cassian asked another question in a low voice.

“What was our main reason for overthrowing Astaire?”

Because Astaire was tyrannical, because he simply took countless lives. Because they couldn’t just watch. To create a better Sehera.

There were many justifications, but the conclusion was this: that too many people had been sacrificed.

“Duke Blumir, you have now done the same thing as Astaire.”

That was why Cassian couldn’t save Liam. The moment he extended his hand to Liam, who had massacred hundreds even as a vassal, the foundation upon which the dynasty was built would crumble.

That was the one thing Cassian I must not do. Liam had truly been cornered.

If it was a trap set by someone, it was incredibly elaborate, and if it was Liam’s own will, it was simply strange.

Therefore, Cassian could never understand Liam. Having lost his heart and purpose from back then, Liam could no longer possess any honor.

“…You asked what was my main reason for overthrowing Astaire?”

Liam asked, mulling over Cassian’s words.

“I had no such… thing.”

At last, Liam’s true feelings were revealed.

“Of course… I did think someone like Your Majesty should become emperor. But the reason I joined Your Majesty’s side…”

Liam paused, gasping for breath. As if it was extremely difficult to say, something flowed from deep within his chest.

“Was simply because I loved her. Valentine, my Tina!”

Like a death cry, the confession finally made it past his lips and echoed. Upon hearing that sudden shout, the rats living in the tower could be heard scurrying away. Liam lifted his head high.

No matter how much he thought and pondered, Liam was empty inside. Only one person filled Liam’s vast universe.

“A great cause?”

A face that seemed to be crying. Disappointingly shallow words followed.

“Tina wished it, to stand by Your Majesty’s side. Tina wanted it, that’s all. Only Tina… Tina alone was my cause.”

For those who joined the rebellion, Sehera was their cause and justice. It must have been the same for the emperor before him. But the single cause established within Liam was only Valentine.

So if she wanted it, he would have started a war to seize another country’s territory, or even married a nominal royal to expand Blumir’s territory and raise its status.

But what that pure woman wanted was only love.

That’s all.

As soon as Liam’s words disappeared into the wind, Cassian took one step closer to him. He placed a hand on the thin shoulder and slightly lowered his head. His lips approached Liam’s ear.

“Belle is…”

A red warning could be felt in the warm breath.

“My person, Duke.”

Even at this hour, there was an unshed desire. An unmistakably terrible possessiveness.

“Do not covet her.”

“You were the one who abandoned her, Your Majesty.”

Because of that, there is someone who will die today, and someone who stands at the peak of power looking down at the world.

At these blatant words suggesting he had too much to say despite being the latter, Cassian blinked once. Rare confusion showed at the belated response.

“…I understand your thoughts well, Duke Blumir.”

The hand that had been heavily pressing down on his shoulder moved away. Stepping back again, Cassian’s face was no different than usual. It’s still impossible to know what he was thinking.

“Duke Blumir.”

“Yes.”

“Have I ever said these words to you before?”

“Which words do you mean?”

“Thank you for sending Belle to me.”

An unexpected attack is followed by a similar counter. Though the mental struggle was pointlessly base, the verbal strikes were supremely elegant.

“Because of that, there is today’s me, and today’s Duke Blumir.”

It was truly like a blade. The delivery was even more chilling for its emotionlessness.

“I am well aware of what a great concession and consideration it was to entrust your cause to me.”

Only then did Liam understand.

That Cassian Pendragon as a man had always wanted to kill Liam, his competitor and the only one he couldn’t defeat.

Just as Liam wanted to kill Cassian in this moment.

“I will never forget Duke Blumir’s grace. Thank you, Lord Liam.”

The form of address for Liam was downgraded. Cassian bowed his head toward him.

“I hope you rest in peace.”

Raising his head, Cassian turned around. Liam could only watch Cassian’s retreating back.

The end.

This is how it ends. Everything.

Just as she wanted.

* * *

Public executions were extremely humiliating affairs, rarely carried out except for cases of treason.

Yet here was the public execution of someone who was once a duke and meritorious subject.

Even a duke, who stood at the pinnacle of noble ranks, was now merely a death row prisoner. Nothing draws more interest than the fall of someone from high places — he attracted quite a crowd of spectators.

Amaryllis, who lost a friend due to her own greed, shut herself in the Empress’s palace and wouldn’t come out, while Cassian only gave the order without showing further interest. He seemed to think that was sufficient involvement from the emperor.

In the end, the Butler Baptiste ended up handling all the arrangements.

This was the first execution to be carried out under Cassian I’s reign. There were many details that needed attention.