The wailing grew sharper, frantic. Reina gathered him quickly into her arms, rocking him desperately.

“It’s all right. It’s all right.”

But no matter how she whispered, Aaron did not stop. Through the window, she saw several soldiers approaching. She prayed with all her strength that it was someone else they were hunting.

Hunching her shoulders, she turned her head away just as a knock came at the door.

“Excuse us a moment.”

The dull voice was followed by the door creaking open. Two soldiers glanced inside. Their eyes flicked to the cane, then to the child, before landing squarely on her face.

“We’ve found her!” one shouted loudly.

A tall man appeared at the carriage door almost instantly. Reina froze, staring up at him with a rigid expression.

“It’s been a while, Reina.”

“…Zephion.”

His name slipped out on a trembling breath. Nearly a year had passed since she last saw him, and he had changed so much. The bright smile he once wore had vanished without a trace. The boyish softness still lingering in his features was gone, replaced with sharp lines. The golden eyes that had always looked at her with warmth were now darkened to a shade so heavy they were frightening.

“Get down.”

He seized her arm and pulled. Stumbling, she stepped onto the ground. Aaron burst into louder cries, his small body trembling in her arms. Reina rocked him frantically, whispering as if to calm herself as well.

“It’s all right, it’s all right. Aaron, hush now…”

She smoothed the child’s tiny back, her whisper escaping like a sigh. Zephion stood before them, silent, his gaze fixed intently on the baby.

“Is he that man’s child?”

Reina pressed her lips tightly together. Would he believe her if she said he was his child? Or would he laugh bitterly, asking if she thought a lie like that would work on him now? She rocked Aaron gently, her arms trembling.

“You could have been the marquis’s wife. What a pity.”

At his mocking words, Reina shut her eyes tightly.

“He’ll be dead soon enough.”

Dragged forward by the rough pull on her arm, she stumbled as she walked.

“Zephion.”

What could she possibly say? She knew that anything she spoke would sound like nothing more than an excuse. So long as he believed she had borne Kaelid’s child, he would never listen. The iron grip on her arm throbbed with pain.

Without a word, he lifted her onto the horse, then swung up behind her in one smooth motion.

“What… what are you going to do with me?”

Instead of answering, Zephion only tightened his hold on the reins.

As the horse broke into a run, memories returned to her. There had been a time, not so long ago, when they had fled together as though they could escape to the very ends of the earth. Barely a year had passed, yet it already felt like a lifetime ago.

She held Aaron close.

‘Will he try to kill me?’

Why had she never been wrong about anything? She had once fled with Zephion and, as she had feared, he eventually discovered the truth about her past and filled with hatred towards her. Now, after running away with the child, she was being brought to trial, just as she had dreaded.

Reina gave a bitter smile. What is fate, truly? No matter how hard she tried to escape, it always pulled her back.

She felt the warmth of his body against her back. Once, she had thought Zephion was so warm. Now, all she felt from him was coldness. Perhaps it was because his arms no longer held her tightly and kept her from falling.

“Where are we going?”

“You know.”

At his hard reply, she pressed her lips shut.

There was only one place where someone of House Berend would be taken: the imperial palace. It was there Kaelid’s execution would be held as well.

‘So I’ll see it after all.’

The thought of witnessing that man’s downfall, watching him stripped of everything and steeped in Misery pleased her.

She looked down at the child, who had calmed down after crying so much. What would become of him? Would they spare her child if she pleaded and begged for mercy on the grounds that he was just an innocent baby?

The princess was unlikely to show such mercy.

‘If I tell her this child is truly a Baltgar… would she believe me?’

Reina turned her head slightly, glancing back. Zephion’s face was rigid, his golden eyes fixed straight ahead.

‘If Zephion won’t accept it, no one will believe me.’

What should she do? The question consumed her mind. Her own death didn’t matter — she had resigned herself to it long ago. But Aaron hadn’t been part of the plan. If he had truly been Kaelid’s child, she would have killed him long ago, or begged for them to take the baby’s life along with hers. But Aaron was Zephion’s son.

“Will I… be executed as one of House Berend?”

He didn’t answer. It seemed he didn’t even want to speak with her.

“Zephion.”

“Never speak my name again.”

His threatening voice brushed past her ear, and Reina shut her lips tightly.

She had learned, painfully, just how much hatred could change a person. The Zephion she had once known was gone.

She clutched Aaron more tightly against her.

***

“Give Aaron back—give me my child!”

She screamed and thrashed against the men pinning her arms, but they didn’t flinch. She had expected to be dragged to the Imperial Palace. She had even prepared herself to step onto the execution platform. But she had never imagined being separated from Aaron.

“He’s just a baby. Please—please, he’s done nothing!”

Her cries turned to desperate pleading, yet the soldier holding Aaron pretended not to hear, carrying him away as if he were no more than baggage.

“At least let me stay with him!”

Her shrieks echoed as she struggled violently. The moment the man carrying Aaron turned the corner and disappeared, Zephion stepped into view. His expression was so hard, so unyielding, it was terrifying.

“Is that child truly so precious to you?”

“…Give Aaron back. Let me at least stay with him.”

“Even though he’s that man’s child?”

“He’s my child.”

Reina forced the words past her lips. It wasn’t a lie. She had given birth to him. He bore her face.

“He’s my child.”

She tried to wrench free from the hands gripping her arms, but the man’s strength was overwhelming. Forcing her legs to bear her weight, she managed to push herself unsteadily upright.

“Give him back. You can at least do that much.”

Her glare locked onto Zephion. He crossed his arms slowly, the corner of his lips curving into a slanted smile.

“Take her away.”

“Zephion!”

Her shriek rang out. He strode toward her in long, heavy steps. A large hand clamped roughly over her mouth.

“I warned you never to call my name again.”

“Mmph—mmh!”

She shook her head frantically, but his grip pinned her face so firmly that only muffled sounds escaped. Lowering himself, Zephion leaned close.

“If the child matters so much to you, you’d better watch every word you say, Reina Berend.”

His whisper dripped with mockery. He slowly withdrew his hand. With a flick of his fingers, the soldiers holding her arms dragged her away.

They threw her into a damp, dark underground cell. She stumbled and fell hard onto the floor as they pushed her through the bars. The door clanged shut behind her.

“…Ugh.”

Reina pushed herself up, pressing her palms against the wet stone. If only she had her cane! But that had been taken from her, too. This made her feel even worse. Brushing her tangled hair from her face, she let out a long, shuddering sigh.

Then she heard the sound of iron rattling beside her.

“Reina?”

The voice was hoarse, broken, but she knew it instantly. Slowly turning her head, she caught the flash of blue eyes in the darkness.

From the shadows, a man stepped into the faint spill of light.

Seeing Kaelid’s face, Reina couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“They said you’d escaped.”

The man muttered in a low voice.