The locked door rattled, then creaked open.

And the one who entered was Zephion.

She almost called him Pipi without thinking, but quickly pressed her lips shut. The memory of him, enraged, forbidding her from ever speaking his name again, rose in her mind.

“Reina Berend.”

His low voice called her name.

He strode toward her. The man who stopped before her said nothing, only gritting his teeth as he looked down at her. In his golden eyes, countless emotions swirled together. His fists were clenched so tightly the bones stood out white.

“The execution will be held again.”

It wasn’t surprising. It was only to be expected. Reina didn’t ask when, nor did she beg for her life. She simply looked at him quietly.

Once, they had always been together. Now, seeing his face properly for the first time in more than a year, it felt strange.

Was it because he had changed so much? Or because the gaze he turned on her was unbearably cold? Or was it… because she thought of him as Aron’s father?

Hesitating, Reina held the child in her arms tightly and spoke slowly.

“What will you do… with Aaron?”

“I’ll kill him.”

It was the answer she had expected. She looked down at the little face smiling so innocently, unaware of anything.

“…Even if he’s your child?”

“Are you telling such a pathetic lie just to save him?”

Zephion’s voice burned with fury.

“Is the child that important? Because he’s that man’s son?”

She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again. Sensing the heavy chill in the air, Aaron’s face crumpled, close to tears. Reina sighed softly as she gently rocked his small body.

No matter what she said, Zephion would believe only one thing—that she was trying to save Kaelid’s child.

‘So it comes to this.’

She stroked the faint, pale-platinum strands of hair, so light in color they resembled her own.

The only small comfort was that she would be dying with him.

“In that case… I’d rather someone else be the one to kill Aaron.”

She spoke calmly, lifting her gaze to Zephion’s. His expression twisted slightly. If Zephion had to kill him, she thought it would be better to take Aaron with her first. At least then Zephion would not bear the burden of killing his own son. She alone would carry the sin of killing her child.

“My conscience would rest easier if I killed that man’s son with my own hands.”

His sneering tone drew a small sigh from Reina.

‘In the end, will it have to be me who takes this child’s life?’

How selfish could she be to give birth to him only to take his life away? What kind of mother would do such a thing? The worst kind, surely.

As she looked quietly at Aaron, Zephion crossed his arms and leaned slightly to the side.

“Frankly, I wonder if you even know whose seed he came from.”

“……”

“Because you’re that kind of woman.”

His words were meant to wound her, yet they didn’t cut as deeply as one might expect. Perhaps because she had already been branded a shameless woman countless times before Kaelid.

“Or is he Yuta’s child, perhaps?”

Reina’s lips parted faintly. Would he believe her if she said that, since returning to the Berend house, she had lain with no one but Kaelid?

“Since returning to the estate, I’ve had nothing to do with Yuta.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

Zephion let out a short laugh, ha, ha.

“I saw you bring other men into your bed even while that man was still alive. The Marquisate of Berend lay empty because of the war. And you think I’d believe those words?”

“No matter what I say… you won’t believe me.”

“Because I already know you’re nothing but a woman of lies.”

Not a single lie had passed between them that autumn they had shared—how could she ever convey that now? To someone who believed every part of her was false, no words would reach him. The frustration pressed heavy against her chest.

‘What use is the truth?’

And indeed it wasn’t. She had already been sentenced to death, and Aaron was sure to be killed too. What would be the point of confessing that she had truly loved him, or that the child was his?

She didn’t want him to regret it. It was better to bury her feelings and die with them.

It would be far better for him to continue hating and resenting her, and for them to end things that way. Perhaps then Zephion could cast aside his feelings more easily.

Looking at Aaron’s calm face once more, Reina gently patted the child’s small body.

“When I’m gone, make sure you bury me somewhere far away from him.”

Her steady words made the man’s brow furrow.

“Aaron as well.”

“……”

“Is that too much to ask?”

There was no reply. She couldn’t understand why he looked so unpleasant. After all, she was the one about to die — wasn’t Zephion the one who wanted that more than anyone?

She gazed quietly at his furrowed brows. Eventually, his jaw clenched and he answered slowly.

“…Fine.”

“May I ask one more thing?”

“Have you forgotten your situation?”

“I’m asking because there’s nothing else I can do.”

“…Say it.”

His voice was edged with irritation.

“I’ll hear you out.”

“I’d like Eldan Berend’s body to be dug up and cast aside.”

Above all, she wanted to be buried alongside her mother and father. But she knew she couldn’t ask for that. Zephion had no reason whatsoever to grant such a request. However, if Eldan’s grave were desecrated, Zephion might seize the opportunity for vengeance and agree to her request.

His long fingers twitched slightly.

“Fine.”

The short reply brought a faint smile to Reina’s lips. Perhaps it was nothing more than a source of comfort for the living, but she was glad that Yeria could finally be freed from Eldan.

Silence stretched between them.

What more could she say? She couldn’t speak of Aaron. Nor could she cling to Zephion, begging him to believe her. The man continued to gaze down at her.

After hesitating, Reina parted her lips and slowly spoke in the heavy, awkward air.

“You’ll be reclaiming the Marquisate of Baltgar now.”

“Yes.”

“Congratulations.”

At her words, the corner of his mouth twisted upward.

“I don’t need your congratulations.”

If he knew what she had prepared, he would realize those words were genuine. But she spoke nothing of that gift. She hoped he would never know who had truly restored the Marquisate of Baltgar.

‘There’s no point in making things more complicated.’

After she was gone, nothing could be more meaningless than wondering what feelings she had left behind.

“When is the princess’s coronation?”

“In a few days.”

His flat reply was followed by a faint, dry laugh.

“So I’ll die having seen the princess who brought down the Marquisate of Berend ascend the imperial throne.”

“And you’ll be granted the marquisate again then?”

“Most likely.”

A laugh slipped out. Zephion’s brow twitched slightly. She murmured softly.

“Truly… the Marquis of Baltgar will bring about an execution that utterly destroys the Berend house.”

In a way, it was fortunate that she had survived this long. Of course, it was important to secure everyone’s support before reclaiming the title by executing Kaelid Berend. However, it would also be highly symbolic if the Marquis of Baltgar were to bring down the Marquisate of Berend himself.

Well done to him. For her, though, dying as the last Berend survivor left a bitter taste. Although she knew it was unavoidable, she wished she could have died as Reina Helfried.

‘Well… that’s only a selfish wish.’

She gave a bitter smile. She hadn’t spoken the name Helfried aloud since what felt like an eternity ago. And now, it was impossible that she could ever claim it again.

“Mm… ah…”

Perhaps growing tired of lying still, Aaron wriggled, making soft sounds as his arms and legs flailed. As Zephion soothed him in her arms, her golden eyes lingered silently on him.

There were still so many emotions tangled within them. If only hatred and resentment were all that filled them, her heart wouldn’t ache so bitterly. She could feel his gaze fixed on the hand gently patting the child’s small body.