“He says that even though he’s a criminal, it’s difficult to move freely as a duke, so he will hand over the prisoner after the coronation ceremony.”

“It will be soon then.”

The final revenge that would allow Connie to close her eyes in peace was close at hand.

It didn’t matter if it was selfish revenge.

As much as Connie suffered in pain, I will make them suffer equally long before they close their eyes.

With Erina’s eyes gleaming coldly, Terik brought up the next agenda item.

“Next, Jarham, who was a sage, will be executed in the empire with the permission of the Grand Sage and the elders.”

Erina nodded.

Although Jarham only created the deadly poison due to a request, distributing such poison was illegal in the first place.

Also, it was hard to say that the deadly poison itself was not directly involved in this incident.

Since the request itself was to create a poison potent enough to kill someone instantly, he couldn’t be let off claiming ignorance.

“Most of the surrounding kingdoms wished to maintain friendly relations, and some small kingdoms even requested to become vassal states.”

Small kingdoms were often targeted by surrounding kingdoms.

Because small kingdoms lacked power and had few people, they were seen as opportunities to expand territory.

So many places thought it would be better to belong to an empire that was more solid and unshakeable than any other after this incident.

“His Majesty will soon announce the punishment of Peiron and Rose along with the continuation of the Iolls and Asila earldoms.”

“It will be announced within this week then.”

“That’s what we expect.”

Erina recalled Enzo’s appearance when he came to see her, avoiding eye contact.

He felt sorry even for considering Peiron’s punishment.

It was more likely due to the child who would have to grow up alone, rather than the awkwardness of directly ordering the execution of someone he had trusted.

Everyone knew the emperor was generous to children.

He would feel endlessly sorry towards her, but this was exactly the result Erina wanted.

She didn’t want to grant Peiron and Rose a completely peaceful death.

She wanted them to suffer as much as she had suffered in the Iolls prison, as much as she had been in pain before her regression.

Erina’s revenge was not yet complete.

“Lastly……”

Terik trailed off.

When Erina raised her head in confusion, she could see Terik’s darkened face.

“Is it about the Zillon barony?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Erina somehow felt like it had been a long time since she heard the name Zillon barony.

Was it because it was after capturing Rose, who had even instigated her death before her regression?

Or perhaps.

“Speak.”

At Erina’s cold and firm command, Terik squeezed his eyes shut then opened them, speaking precisely.

“After the Baron Zillon last visited the earldom, he immediately headed to the Zillon barony.”

Erina was extremely curious about what came next.

At the moment she thought they had stolen everything from her, what would be the feelings of those who had lost everything?

“Since only the mansion remains of the barony, they barely managed to settle down, he says.”

For a brief moment, a thought crossed Erina’s mind.

“Now they’re barely avoiding starvation while living a life no different from commoners, he says.”

Since they felt the loss of having everything taken away, should she make them face death without knowing the reason, like her parents?

Should she pretend not to know and push them with a carriage?

Should she lure them with magic stones and then push them off a cliff?

Erina’s eyes turned bloodshot with these intense thoughts.

“Viana… Lady Zillon.”

What calmed Erina’s intense emotions, which seemed about to burst, was none other than news of Viana.

“They say she’s lost her mind and can’t leave the mansion.”

“Viana has?”

“Yes, so the Baron and Baroness Zillon barely managed to get her medical treatment by begging the surrounding nobles, it seems.”

“Ah.”

In the past, Viana had tormented her with immature actions at the Medelia earldom.

But that was the extent of it.

She had never thought of harming someone to gain something, unlike her uncle and aunt.

Perhaps that’s why the fact that her parents had actually taken action to seize the family was such a huge shock to her.

“I see.”

Just because Viana was in a pitiful position, just because her situation had become sympathetic, it didn’t erase the things she had done to torment her.

Even if she was now a pitiful victim, to her, she was still just a perpetrator.

“Then, please write down a list of the nobles who helped Viana receive medical treatment.”

“My lady.”

“I’m sure I warned the surrounding nobles before sending the Zillon barony away.”

She had said she would prefer if they didn’t provide any help even if there were requests for assistance from the Zillon barony.

She had visited the surrounding nobles one by one, smiling while warning them under the guise of a request.

She wanted them to feel the heart of her younger self who couldn’t find her own life, being swayed by her uncle.

“I wonder who exactly provided such help.”

Erina’s gaze fell on Terik.

At her chilling gaze, Terik squeezed his eyes shut.

“I apologize, my lady. I will find out immediately.”

After Terik bowed his head in apology, he turned around.

What stopped Terik as he was about to leave Erina’s office was her sharp words.

“If you’re going to help them, make sure I can never find out, Baron.”

Terik’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

“Because I neither want to stop, nor can I stop.”

Erina understood Terik, but at the same time, she couldn’t understand him.

To Terik, they were people who had been like parents, but to her, they were people who had taken away her parents.

Because Erina and Terik could understand each other yet couldn’t settle their hearts, they just closed their eyes instead.

[This is the timeline separator]

Late that evening, Erina visited the Jabelle earldom with Sandes.

It was Erina’s first visit since Connie’s funeral.

Fereman, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, looked like he hadn’t been doing well, to put it mildly.

A haggard face, disheveled hair, and sunken eyes.

“Count Jabelle.”

Fereman sighed deeply, repeatedly rubbing his face with both hands.

“I apologize, Countess Medelia, Duke Kerenik. I’m a bit……”

The count’s words, still unable to escape his grief, were soaked in terrible anguish.

Erina could only bite her lip, unable to add any words.

Even Fereman’s sorrow felt like it was all because of her.

“I regret a little.”

“Count Jabelle.”

At Fereman’s words tinged with resentment, Sandes called out to him, quietly comforting him.

“I should have embraced her earlier, even if those bastards found out.”

Fereman stared into space, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his powerless hands.

“I should have kept her by my side and protected her, or taken her and hidden away……”

His regrets seemed endless as days went by.

“It’s still very hard for me to let her go. Would you understand my rudeness?”

Both Erina and Sandes understood.

They had to understand.

Fereman had to send off his wife, and had to let go of his loved one from his heart.

It was too short a time to forget Connie.

“I’m sorry, Count Jabelle.”

“Everything was what she wanted. Don’t be sorry, Countess Medelia. Because.”

Fereman seemed to choke up, pausing to catch his breath before continuing.

“Because Connie will be happy watching the Countess finish everything.”

At Fereman’s words, Erina choked up, remembering Connie’s smiling face as she thanked her.

Erina, trying not to cry, widened her eyes and said to Fereman.

“It seems the rebellion in the Kingdom of Trumto will soon end in Duke Chiwel’s victory. I plan to take custody of the royals who tormented Connie.”

For a moment, Fereman’s eyes gleamed coldly.

At the same time, he thought of someone who was becoming more and more like a rag with each passing day.

“Where do you plan to keep them?”

“I have prepared a separate place.”

“Do you plan to take the one I’m keeping as well?”

“If the Count agrees.”

Fereman contemplated for a long while with deeply sunken eyes before answering.

“I’ll think about it.”

Erina agreed with his words, and Fereman silently guided Erina and Sandes to a place.

Since they could guess where he was leading them, the two followed without a word.

In front of a particularly shabby-looking door, the knight standing guard there greeted Fereman.

“You’ve come.”

“Open the door.”

As the knight quietly opened the door, the interior without a single point of light came into view.

Fereman, seeming familiar with it, entered the room and activated a small artifact at the entrance.

It was an artifact that could be powered even by magic stone powder, replacing candles to illuminate the room.

The room that had been invisible suddenly brightened, revealing the interior.

The sight of Headton tied up in the narrow room was miserable.

His arms were chained to the wall, and his entire body was covered in blood and wounds.

Because his arms were suspended, his legs that could neither sit nor lie down were bent and hanging limply.

His short teal hair had grown a bit longer, showing its true appearance, but even that was indistinguishable due to the dark red blood.

His labored breathing was visibly so poor that it looked like he might stop breathing soon.

If it had been a stranger in this state, it would have immediately evoked sympathy, but no one in the room sympathized with him.

Fereman scooped water from a bucket on the side and poured it over Headton, who couldn’t regain consciousness.

“Kuhup!”

The salt water Fereman sprinkled dug into Headton’s wounds, inflicting pain.

“Kuh, huu!”

Headton writhed and suffered.

Then Headton mumbled, trying to speak.

“Th… kill, …… what…… in……”

But it seemed no one intended to listen to his words.