Terot’s standing position was a blind spot where the knights couldn’t reach. The bewildered knights hesitated and tried to approach Terot again to restrain her, but by then, a dagger was already in her hand.

Ustia looked at Terot with a horrified expression. Although she desperately tried to make a sound while shedding tears, she couldn’t utter a single word.

Her heart, as well as her entire body, was overwhelmed by fear. Even without asking, it seemed like Terot knew what she intended to do. Terot was trying to end her own life, and that fact paralyzed Ustia.

“What on earth are you doing!”

Guardro, who had now approached behind Ustia, expressed his anger towards Terot. However, Terot, instead of faltering, smiled more comfortably at Guardro and Ustia than ever before.

“Your Majesty.”

“I’m sorry, but it seems I can’t grant the Empress’s wish. There is no pardon for attempting to poison the Crown Princess, among other things.”

Despite Terot’s earnest voice, Guardro couldn’t easily suppress his anger. He sternly ordered, but Terot didn’t flinch.

“Your Majesty, what the Empress said is not true. This was an action I took unilaterally. The Empress had no knowledge of it.”

“Even if the Empress claims ignorance, she gave you an order with her own mouth.”

“She lied to protect me. The Empress simply spoke false words out of pity for me. Your Majesty, she only shared an untrue story because of her compassionate feelings toward me.”

Even in the face of Guardro’s grim expression, Terot, without a hint of hesitation, spoke on behalf of Ustia.

The enraged emperor was not intimidating. In a situation where death was imminent, what was there to fear for an emperor who was just like any other person?

However, Ustia, left alone, could not help but worry. The unfortunate empress, with no place to comfortably lay down her heart, had lost her only beloved son. Even risking her life just to save one person, she couldn’t bring peace to Ustia’s heart.

Terot was aware that she couldn’t ease Ustia’s mind. Nevertheless, the situation was irreversible.

She swallowed back the rising tears with all her might. Then, she looked at Guardro once again.

“For the crime of attempting harm to the Crown Princess, the punishment will be severe. I will surely pay for my deeds with this wretched life. However, please refrain from misunderstanding the Empress, Your Majesty.”
Terot lowered her head deeply. At this moment, realizing that this was the only thing she could do, her stomach crumbled, but even so, she wanted to protect Ustia in this way.

Guardro remained silent. Terot understood that it was partially an affirmative response. Having confessed to the actions she took alone in front of many courtiers, even though the Emperor regarded Ustia as a thorn in his side, it wasn’t easy for him to reject or harm her.

Once that certainty settled in, Terot could afford to put on an even more comfortable smile. That was the best she could do.

The hand holding the dagger trembled. The moment of death felt imminent.

It was a dagger prepared for unforeseen circumstances, but she never expected to use it like this.

Attempting to end her own life, an unspeakable fear overwhelmed her. However, she didn’t want to wait in prison for her fate to be decided.

Each passing day would surely become more miserable. Even with the anticipation of death, she didn’t know whether she could cling to life, hanging onto everything in the world.

Since the only fate awaiting her was death, she didn’t want to become so miserable. Therefore, choosing death cleanly in this place was the right thing to do.

Taking a deep breath, Terot strengthened her resolve. Then, she slowly kneeled. She wanted to bid farewell to her master.

“Empress, I will not forget the effort you made for me until the end.”

There were countless things she wanted to say. However, she could only manage that much in this situation.

Unable to make a sound, Ustia, who had been shedding tears, sat down and approached Terot, waiting for her.

Terot pitifully looked at Ustia but soon closed her eyes. Then, she slowly raised the hand holding the dagger.

“Terot. Terot, no. Please, please don’t do this. Please, no…?”

Ustia’s desperate voice grabbed Terot’s wrist several times. Even Terot, who had been doing her best to stay composed, couldn’t help but shed tears.

Transparent tears fell between her tightly closed eyelids. However, when the quivering lips met with a strong force, Terot’s hand, holding the dagger, came down forcefully towards her own neck.

…

…

A chilling silence filled the Imperial Palace. Within it, Terot’s body collapsed powerless to the floor.

Ustia, who had been desperately holding onto the ground with all her strength, looked at the fallen Terot with completely unfocused eyes. It was a feeling of unbearable pain, as if her heart were being pierced.

She couldn’t breathe. It was unbelievable. The only remaining Terot was also lost like this.