As Bill slowly approached, Ariel gradually stepped back.

‘Seeing those eyes flashing with murderous intent, he really intends to kill me.’

Had I known that such people would drain my mana and kill me, I wouldn’t have even tried to change my fate.

Then I wouldn’t have gone to Kolnman to learn swordsmanship. Nor would I have met Hyle.

I should have just stayed quietly at home. Without trying anything. Living as if I was dead, as if I didn’t exist.

‘I shouldn’t have gone to the victory celebration either.’

Thinking I could avoid meeting Leopold Diaz while coming and going from the imperial palace was a great arrogance.

Foolishly, I only realize it now.

The moments when I ignored the love emanating from his actions, words, and gaze have surfaced from my subconscious to my conscious mind.

Throb-!

Ariel felt a sharp pain in her chest.

The emotions she had hesitated to face now surged within her like a whirlpool.

I never properly accepted his kind and warm gaze.

If I had known it would come to this, I would have treated him better. I would have leaned on his broad and firm embrace.

But it’s useless to regret now.

Death’s threshold lay before her feet.

‘The sword, the sword is on the table.’

Ariel turned towards the table and slowly backed away.

“Where do you think you’re sneaking off to?”

‘Such an annoying noble brat.’

Bill’s eerie voice tone rose.

‘My mana has recovered. Albeit very little.’

There was nothing in the way that could obstruct her path back.

If only I could take care of Bill, maybe I could escape this building.

Thud-

The table bumped against Ariel’s thigh.

“Stop bothering me. Bringing you here has exhausted me to death-!”

Bill shook his head in annoyance, causing his bangs to fall forward.

He reached out his hand to brush back his hair.

As Ariel reached back to fumble for the sword,

‘Now’s the time.’

She pushed the scabbard with her thumb and sent a blade of energy towards Bill.

Whish-! Swoosh-!

Golden mana pierced through Bill’s arm.

“Arghhh-!”

While the mana wasn’t strong enough to sever his arm, it inflicted a deep wound.

Bill clutched his bleeding arm and screamed in agony.

Ariel didn’t miss this opportunity and quickly fled the room.

“I will kill you with my own hands-!”

Bill’s blood-curdling cry echoed behind her, but Ariel didn’t hesitate and descended the stairs.

Taking two steps at a time, she quickly reached the entrance of the castle.

The injured Bill did not chase after her.

‘I must open it quickly.’

Ariel glanced back and pushed against the door with all her might.

But the giant iron door did not budge.

Behind her, she could hear Diaton’s footsteps.

Thud, thud-!

“Did you really think you could escape from here?”

Over the white marble of the castle’s corridor, Diaton’s dark silhouette flickered.

Ariel quickly turned around. She could feel the cold, hard iron door against her back.

‘I already knew you would appear.’

But to die by your hand without even trying…

Ariel refused to give up and raised her arm holding the sword high.

“It’s a pity, such a pity-!”

Then she accurately slashed at Diaton’s neck with her sword.

But just before the gleaming blade could carve into his flesh, black smoke enveloped Ariel’s body.

“After knowing full well that you couldn’t lay a finger on me after all your mana was drained, you still charged at me. You truly are remarkable. Well, that must be why you were chosen by the Demon King.”

An immortal being capable of transcendent abilities.

Diaton could not forgive Ariel Clark for reducing the Demon King he worshipped and revered into a mere human.

Thus he lured her in order to steal her mana and now intended to take her life as well.

‘Yet, what’s remarkable is indeed remarkable.’

The spirit and courage she displayed, unseen in other women, were enough to intrigue him.

“But playtime is over now. Farewell.”

Diaton unceremoniously gathered the black smoke with his hand.

As the smoke moved, the golden mana emitted from Ariel’s body wavered.

‘Ugh… So this is what deathly agony feels like.’

Diaton’s magic drained Ariel’s life force. Her eyes, reminiscent of a jade sea, momentarily lost their light.

Now, it’s the limit.

Ariel collapsed onto the floor as her red lips faintly quivered.

‘Leopold……’

But before losing consciousness,

His red eyes flashed through her mind, reminding her of the homework Leopold gave her on their wedding night.

― When I said first time… it didn’t necessarily refer to our first night. Think about it. What other ‘firsts’ have you taken from me?

―Please understand. I’ve endured a lot and waited for a long time.

On a day when snow was heavily falling. A boy shivering in front of the empress’s palace. He had red eyes and black hair.

‘Not long after I arrived in this world, I met you.’

I didn’t realize. It was me and you.

Her empty eyes slowly blinked.

The world is tilting.

Thump-!

A slender woman collapsed onto the marble corridor.

A black robe dragging on the floor entered the fallen Ariel’s view. The sound of Diaton speaking buzzed in her ears.

Ariel’s trembling eyelids weakly closed.

A scene in a greenhouse appeared over the pitch-black imagery.

The day when yellow mimosa flowers bloomed profusely, and white tulips between them flaunted their adorable forms.

―Hmm……. Well… I think I know the feeling you’re describing. It’s like that feeling of inherent limitations, like being stuck in a hole no matter how hard you struggle, right?

―You just need to step up to another class. Become someone they can’t reach. It seems like you already have the abilities to reach that level.

The boy’s red eyes were close-up, moved by the words that freely flowed out.

‘Sorry, Leopold. You attempted a contract marriage just to keep me, who can’t even remember you, by your side. I didn’t know your heart…….’

Ariel realized in her fading consciousness that decorating the wedding venue with yellow mimosa flowers and white tulips was meant to give her a hint.

Her heart was torn apart.

All strength had already left her body. Even if she wanted to clutch her heart in regret, her arms sprawled on the cold floor, wouldn’t move.

―I can’t believe the time has come already. Next time, next time we’ll meet again

He must have been waiting, believing in a promise she made without a fixed date.

‘If, just if……. If I can face you again……. Then I will approach you first.’

Tears leaked from between her lush eyelashes under closed eyelids.

Finally, her bodily sensations completely faded away.

***

“Stubborn, so stubborn. I thought you would lose consciousness right away.”

Diaton, looking down at Ariel, clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Ariel, the Empress of Atlan, wife of Leopold Diaz, finally lost consciousness.

Diaton sat beside her, propping up her upper body.

‘Near-death state.’

He cast a dark magic on Ariel to temporarily maintain a state akin to death.

This magic was an ability he acquired while gathering the devil’s wings.

“Huff, huff-! Fortunately, you caught her, Sir Diaton.”

With Bill’s arrival, Diaton roughly laid Ariel down.

“Stupid fool.”

Diaton scanned Bill with a contemptuous gaze from top to bottom.

Blood from a wound caused by a sword soaked his torn clothes.

‘I thought you would be somewhat useful by bringing the Empress of Atlan. But you’re utterly useless!’

Diaton’s dry and pale lips twisted bitterly.

“I’m sorry. Ahh-!”

Diaton pressed down hard on Bill’s wounded arm with his hand as Bill bowed his head.

Despite the burning pain causing Bill to squirm, he did not push Diaton’s hand away.

Diaton leaned close to the groaning Bill’s ear.

Soon, a voice soaked in madness echoed in Bill’s ear.

“Hang the Empress of Atlan on the gallows. And pile up the firewood high around her–! It’s been a while since we had a splendid bonfire.”

Taking a life in one go didn’t suit his taste.

To slowly feel pain and wriggle in agony.

It wouldn’t be too bad if Leopold Diaz showed up just in time for that.

“As you command, Sir Diaton!”

Bill flung away the arm he was bowing with a flick–.

“Ugh…….”

Bill collapsed to the floor, falling due to inertia.

Diaton looked at him with eyes full of disdain and then,

Thud, thud-

He disappeared down the corridor with his robe fluttering.