“Give Aaron back to me!”

“The execution is tomorrow.”

Her eyes flew wide. At last, the execution. Then had the coronation already taken place in the meantime? Trapped here, she hadn’t even known the princess had become empress.

“Let me be with the child until the very end.”

Reina demanded calmly.

“In case…”

Zephion’s lips curved into a crooked smile.

“You’re going to kill the child and then yourself? Is that what you’re planning to do?”

“I would never commit s*icide.”

She bit down hard on her lip. If she had known this would happen, she would have killed Aaron herself sooner. She hadn’t expected him to be taken away so suddenly.

At her words, the man let out a short, derisive laugh.

“So that means you intended to kill him.”

She could have lied. But she chose silence instead. She didn’t want to tell another lie to a man who already believed everything about her was false.

“At the very least… let someone else be the one to kill Aaron.”

“…Why?”

“Because he’s your child.”

At her words, a large hand gripped her chin and lifted it.

“You’re still spouting that nonsense.”

“…It’s not a plea for my life. I’m only asking that someone else be the one to kill him.”

Zephion’s expression stiffened slightly at that.

“I don’t want you to be the one to kill Aaron.”

“Because he’s my child?”

At his sneering question, she lowered her gaze.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to complete my revenge until the Berend family has been wiped out completely.”

“Please…”

Reina clutched at his wrist, almost in supplication. Her lashes fluttered slowly, tears welling in her eyes.

As the man watched her silently, he lowered his head. She felt the firm pad of his thumb gently brush her lips.

Their breaths mingled; they were so close that they could feel each other’s exhale. Yet she didn’t want to turn away.

Ready to accept everything, she slowly closed her eyes and whispered Zephion’s name in her heart. Her hands slid up to rest on his shoulder.

“Ah…”

Their lips met softly.

It was nothing like the times they had spent together in the underground prison. Back then, all they had felt was hatred and vengeance. Now, however, it was a careful kiss, reminiscent of the autumn they had once shared a year ago.

Reina parted her lips without resistance. A supple tongue slipped inside, tracing the soft lining of her mouth and brushing slowly against her even teeth. Her breath trembled as she exhaled.

His large hand stroked slowly through her hair, then pressed firmly at the nape of her neck.

“Mmh… ha…”

A faint m*an escaped her lips.

She thought how fortunate it was, to share this last embrace with Zephion. The memories of that prison had been too horrific. Now, whether it was l*st, pity for the woman he had once loved, or a touch of tender regret, she was glad for the gentleness that made her recall the past.

Tomorrow, she would die—perhaps this was her final gift.

Or maybe… it was only a dream.

Reina pulled him closer around his neck, clinging tightly. Their tongues slid together, a creeping shiver of pleasure spreading through her body.

“Ha… ah.”

Barely catching her breath, Zephion lifted her easily. With a soft thud, her back met the not-so-plush bed. Reina opened her eyes, gazing quietly up at him. Their eyes met.

Perhaps because they both knew this would be the last time, no words came. With a shadowed expression, the man pressed his lips to hers again.

“Mmph… mhh.”

His tongue plunged deep, as if he wanted to know every part of her.

Large hands slipped her clothes away. A chill brushed her skin, raising goosebumps. His fingers stroked the bandaged neck, then slowly cupped her br*ast. He kneaded the soft flesh, teasing a n*pple that had yet to respond.

“Ah…”

A breathless sigh escaped her. As he tugged at her tongue, Zephion nipped and sucked at her trembling flesh. Fingers pinched, then firmly rubbed her bud. Heat slowly began to stir low in her belly. She could feel the small peak hardening under his touch.

“Haah… mmh.”

Zephion pulled his lips away from the bandage and pressed them gently against it. She could feel the warmth of his breath slowly seeping through the cloth. When he touched the spot where the blade had cut her, it hurt slightly. Instead of pushing him away, however, she held on tighter.

She ran her fingers through his dark hair, tugging lightly. His tongue traced her collarbone before he took a br*ast fully into his mouth and sucked hard, leaving crimson marks behind. He sucked hard, leaving behind crimson marks. Again and again, he branded her skin with his mark, breathing hotly against her. The sticky warmth of his breath made her body tremble all over.

By now, her n*pples were swollen and *rect. His tongue circled and lapped at them before closing around one and sucking as though he expected it to spill something forth. A faint ache sparked from the pull. When his teeth grazed the reddened bud, she gasped for air.

“Mmh… ah…!”

“Ha…”

With a low groan, his hand slid down, caressing her leg. Fingers traced the long scar etched across her thigh. Was he remembering the past? Reina gazed quietly at him.

He looked back at her with golden eyes. Was he curious what expression she wore?

His hand moved over the scar again and again, and at last he pressed his lips together, reaching up to cup her stiff cheek. She wanted to tell him it was all right. That everything was fine.

Even the fact that he meant to kill her.

‘Because it’s what he’s supposed to do.’

She knew it. Zephion had the right to do so.

Reina slowly brushed her fingers over his eyelashes. With his eyes closed, they trembled faintly, and she felt every delicate quiver against her fingertips.

With a long sigh, Zephion opened his eyes and pressed his lips firmly into her palm. The hand that had caressed the scar on her thigh again and again slid inward, moving slowly.

“Haah…”

He stroked gently along the parted folds, then spread her entrance and slowly pushed a finger inside.

Her p*ssy twitched at the sensation.

It was different—utterly different—from the times with Kaelid. His touch lingered, feeling her dampness, exploring and stirring deep within as though to confirm it for himself.

Reina closed her eyes halfway, trying to take in everything about him. It wasn’t like when she had been violated in the prison. Back then, it had only been to defile her, to humiliate her in front of Kaelid.

But now…

It had been a year since the last time he had touched her with tenderness, and yet Zephion still remembered everything. Where to touch, how to stroke, the places that would make her tremble.

She had thought he had forgotten it all when they had been together before Kaelid.

“Ah—ah…”

Her hips shifted lightly. As if wanting more, her legs parted wider, clutching tightly around his fingers. Warm nectar overflowed within her, slick against his touch. The sensation of him gliding over her drenched flesh was intoxicating. Heat flooded her entire body.

Breathless gasps slipped between her lips, leaving them dry and parched.

“Ha… ngh.”

The man let out a low groan. She could feel how hard he already was, straining to the limit within his trousers. Pressing that hardened p*nis against her thigh, Zephion squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again.

Since their reunion, those golden eyes had been a whirlwind of emotions. Now, she watched them gradually succumb to pleasure.

She felt his fingers spread her open. Each time they moved skilfully inside her, a wet sound echoed softly. She wanted him so badly that it ached deep in her belly.

And yet, Reina didn’t rush him. She wanted to savour this moment a little longer. After all, it was their last night. It had been far too long since Zephion had touched her with such tenderness.

Her slender fingers tangled in his hair again and again.

“Haah… mmh…”

Her body trembled, covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Reina pulled him closer, gripping his back tightly. She wanted to feel Zephion’s warmth and his skin against hers all over.

She felt his fingers slowly slip free from inside her. He settled between her thighs, unfastened his trousers, and drew out his *rect p*nis.

Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of it — his flesh was flushed dark red, straining hard, and the tip was already gleaming with a bead of clear fl*id, proof of just how aroused he was.

Her wet, aroused hand slowly stroked the length of his p*nis. Wrapping her fingers around the thick shaft, she guided the blunt tip to her wet opening. Her whole body trembled with anticipation of the pleasure to come.

Reina’s legs locked around his waist.

“Ah… ngh…”