Alpha and Zeta had originally been under the command of Marquis Regniar.
Regniar was the father of the former Empress and currently served as the focal point for the 1st Prince’s faction within Kazen.
Once Cezare died, everything that had transpired in Baldina would inevitably reach the Marquis’s ears.
‘If it’s Regniar, he will try to eliminate her.’
The Marquis was a man who had protected Cezare even against the Emperor and countless acts of sabotage.
He had supported Cezare despite his unclear status and precarious influence, simply because he believed Cezare was the talent meant to lead the Empire.
As a man who cared for the Empire that much, once he learned of Medeia’s prowess, he would not only be wary of her but would undoubtedly move to eliminate her.
“Cezare, that could put the Empire in danger. Who could stand against the Princess of Baldina when we are completely unprepared?”
Terence warned. He had already experienced the Princess with his own eyes and body.
The Regent Duke and the delegation had been toyed with on the chessboard she had created while hiding beneath the surface. The Empire would surely be no exception.
His point was valid.
This was truly unlike Cezare—leaving behind the lurking dangers for the sake of a foreign princess.
“And?”
Cezare asked back.
“I am already a dead man. Therefore, it is only right that Kazen faces the Princess without the help of the one they cast away themselves.”
Since I could neither break the curse nor find my own life, is there any passion left in me to offer this country?
Kazen. The Empire. The Throne.
He felt the colors of everything that had sustained him beginning to fade.
The fire of vain desire was dying out.
A void similar to what Kensington had felt bloomed in Cezare’s heart as well, only his was deeper and darker.
“Terence, answer me. Is there anything left for me to gift to the Imperial Father?”
“……”
“I am merely covering their eyes for a moment. She won’t stop anyway.”
Even if I disappear, nothing will change.
Medeia’s blade, which would soon strike down Iason, will likely turn toward the Empire next.
He knew neither the reason nor the background—as if she held some long-festering grudge against him—but she would surely tighten the noose around her enemy’s neck just as she was doing now.
It was absurdly regrettable that he could no longer witness that spectacle.
‘Did I simply want to see how far she could reach?’
For the first time, he felt a sense of kinship with another person.
He never thought he would find someone in this distant land of Baldina who shared the same vision and perspective.
That must be why the Princess—that small girl’s presence—refused to be erased, even in this final page where his life was ending.
He recalled Medeia, weeping as she collapsed in her brother’s arms that day.
A strange sense of rivalry arose. He even felt an impulse to reveal himself before the Princess, thinking she had chosen the wrong embrace.
Striking away the descending sword or holding her shoulders would never be his role now.
Nevertheless, an unavoidable bitterness remained on the tip of his tongue.
He wanted to watch that woman.
He wanted to be part of her vision, to see how far Medeia could go.
Was it because he knew he couldn't that he couldn't let go? Where did this inexplicable obsession, this inability to cast her from his mind, originate?
The emotion, soon to be shrouded in the veil of death and vanish into the distance, held Cezare back.
From his elegant fingertips, the torn fragments of the letter fluttered down like flower petals.
“If you will not obey my command, return to your former master.”
“Our only master is Your Highness!”
Alpha shook his head abruptly.
“Then make sure you do not forget my final wishes.”
Cezare’s languid authority declared that he would tolerate no further overstepping.
Final wishes.
Alpha flinched. He felt the reality that his mountain-like lord was truly preparing for the end deep within his skin.
“……Yes, I uphold your command.”
The subordinates withdrew. Cezare stared out the window.
The sky was black and thick, as if mocking his efforts to prepare for a composed, noble end.
***
Baldina Prison.
In a cell reeking of dampness and filth, the small sound of something being crunched—*crunch, crunch*—echoed.
“Is this all there is?”
Samon snapped in irritation as he rummaged through the basket of medicine and bread Mariyu had brought.
“I’m sorry, the chef has become very difficult since we were caught last time……”
Mariyu watched Samon shove the bread into his mouth as if she were his mother.
“You’ll get indigestion. Drink this with it, darling.”
*Gulp, gulp.* Sweet fruit juice spilled greedily down the corners of Samon’s mouth.
Normally, it was a cheap drink he wouldn't have even looked at, but now it was sweeter to him than the nectar of the gods.
“Damn it, I’ve starved for three days straight. Three days!”
Even as he chewed, his stomach thundered, screaming for more food.
As if even rock-hard black bread and thin oat porridge were luxuries, Samon had suffered from a hunger that felt like his internal organs were being clawed for the past four days.
This was because the enraged 4th Imperial Princess had completely blocked all rations entering the prison after his scheme.
Since it was a matter of tormenting the traitorous Claudio Duke Family, the jailers also turned a blind eye to her harassment, not reporting it to their superiors.
‘My poor love, to treat a royal bloodline so harshly!’
Unaware of the truth, Mariyu felt her heart breaking at Samon’s skeletal complexion.
“I’ll try to bring meat somehow before the execution ceremony.”
Mariyu reached through the bars and carefully wiped the juice and crumbs from Samon’s mouth.
The time for the traitors' execution was drawing near.
After the fall of the Claudio Duke Family, Mariyu had kept her head down and hidden her presence.
However, she could no longer stand by as the days dwindled and the life of her beloved연인 grew increasingly endangered.
“Don’t worry, darling. You’ll surely be able to avoid execution.”
Eventually, Mariyu spoke resolutely, as if she had made a decision.
“Because our child will save the father.”
“What?”
Samon lifted his head, doubting his ears. The hand greedily shoving bread into his mouth stopped.
“What does that mean?”
Mariyu nodded as if she had expected Samon’s surprise.
“Yes, I have a plan. I’ve made contact with a servant in the Queen Dowager’s Palace, so I’ll soon be able to meet the Queen Dowager—”
“No! Not that!”
Samon shook his head in frustration. His arm reached through the bars and grabbed Mariyu’s wrist.
“A child? What do you mean by that!”
Samon gripped both her wrists so she couldn't move and interrogated her in a low, threatening voice.
Confirming the glint in her lover’s eyes, Mariyu instinctively shrunk her shoulders.
“I—I went to a physician, and he said I am with child.”
Mariyu twisted her hands free from his grip. She answered while cradling her stomach.
“Inside my body, the bloodline of the Claudio Duke Family is right here.”
“……”
“Samon, aren't you happy? If the Queen Dowager knows of this child’s existence, she won't be able to turn her back on you.”
Mariyu spoke urgently to her silent lover.
“The royal bloodline is so rare; for the Queen Dowager, this is her first grandchild. If we just survive, we can live quietly with the child and plan for the future whenever we can.”
Her eyes held both cunning and fear. She was terrified of Medeia, but she targeted the Queen Dowager’s recognition.
It was a royal bloodline that was practically non-existent except for the Medeia siblings.
No matter what treason the Regent Duke had committed, was he not the biological son the Queen Dowager had carried for ten months?
If she knew the bloodline of her own child, who was about to be executed, was alive and breathing, her frozen heart would surely melt. What parent would want their child’s lineage to end?
Mariyu was confident.
“……Samon?”
However, she was bewildered by Samon’s reaction.
She thought he would be overjoyed at finding a way to avoid execution, but contrary to her expectations, his reaction was far too quiet.
The chilling air of the cold prison rushed in as if to bite her cheeks.
Mariyu flinched as she saw Samon’s face distorting.
