“Don’t fear death….”

Rene muttered after reading the note.

“Isn’t it written too ambiguously?”

“What if it’s not?”

Riz, who had been strolling around the room with his hands on his waist, turned from one corner to another and spoke.

“What should I say? Should I straightforwardly say not to join hands with the Duke because I have everything planned?”

“Well, that wouldn’t be ideal.”

Rene nodded, moving her body back and forth. The rocking chair she was sitting on also moved.

The morning sunlight illuminated half of the garden. The other half was covered by the main palace’s shadow, but it would soon be lifted. And then, they would find out what choice Ishar had made.

“What do you think he chose?”

Rene asked.

“I don’t know. He probably chose what he wanted.”

Riz replied calmly, turning a corner. The sunlight passing through the lattice window cast a short shadow of her on the floor. In that moment, her stomach in the shadow appeared more rounded than usual.

“In my opinion, he probably joined hands with the Duke.”

Rene speculated from the shaking chair.

“Don’t fear death…. It just seems to mean ‘Die well’ no matter how you look at it. If it were me, I would betray him in anger.”

“Fortunately, Ishar is not you. He’s not as emotionally charged to be angered or manipulated by my words.”

“Love makes people emotional.”

Riz’s footsteps, walking as if brushing the floor, abruptly stopped at the mention of love. Rene realized her mistake.

“Love?”

Riz turned around. Having just passed by Rene, they were at a suitable distance to face each other and inquire.

“Ishar in love? With whom?”

“Whom? Well…”

Rene thought to herself. She wanted to say it out loud. She was curious about the reaction this brat would show.

Examining her memories with a distressed expression, reviewing the behaviors he showed, and newly recognizing the actions she had casually overlooked, she wanted to witness the whole process of him being amazed.

But…

“With whom is he in love?”

“…”

Perhaps due to her affection for him, the truth lingered only in her mouth. Saying it out loud would only feel empty.

It seemed better not to say anything at all than to feel that emptiness.

“It’s just… It’s just words.”

Rene decided not to speak a single word about what she had seen, known, and felt.

It was her final consideration for this fool and the way not to spoil her pleasant mood.

“A man at the age of twenty-five without loving a woman? That’s impossible.”

“Is it?”

Riz chuckled. Gradually, the rigidness in her eyes that had been there seemed to be melting, as if evidence that she had fallen in love.

“Come to think of it, he’s much softer than he used to be.”

“…”
“His way of speaking has become kinder, and he’s become more considerate. It’s all because he’s in love.”

Riz said with a regretful gaze.

“If this ends up in a bad direction, I will…”

“Okay, that’s enough.”

Rene abruptly stood up as if she couldn’t listen anymore. The chair shook back and forth due to the wind she created.

“What are you trying to do when they’re not even married? If you’re not planning to stop the severe lady, just pretend you don’t know.”

“…”

“After all, sorrow is bound to be forgotten.”

With those words, the sense of guilt that lingered in Riz’s eyes eased slightly.

While Rene put on her cloak and groomed herself in front of the mirror, Riz stared out the window.

The shadow in the courtyard had become shorter than before. It meant that noon was approaching.

When noon arrived, the lock on the gallows in the Mariad Square would be removed, and the blade would rise. Instead of children’s swings and the average gallows, a dreadful execution device would replace them.

People would gather in the square, guards would be deployed, and a trial would be held. Meanwhile, Ishar would leave the prison gate with the guards. That would happen half an hour from now.

And Rene had to confirm whether Ishar would board the escort carriage at the prison’s main gate or the Duke’s luxurious carriage prepared at the back gate.

If he boarded the Duke’s carriage… he would die in her hands before setting foot on the platform. That was my judgment, in the words of a betrayer.

But if he boarded the escort carriage, it would be luck rather than judgment that befell him…

“Do you really believe luck will save him?”

Rene asked Riz as she looked in the mirror. Riz nodded confidently.

“I believe.”

“If you say so, then maybe it is.”

Rene shrugged and turned away. Her cloak’s hem followed a little late.

“Is this your last mission?”

Rene asked. Riz nodded again.

“Take care.”

“I won’t come back.”

“…”

Riz widened her eyes at the unexpected reply. To her surprise, Rene approached her and said.

“Even if there’s only reporting the result left, many people can do that without me, right? There’s the boring and uninteresting court lady, and the palace staff. Well, I may not be able to deliver the news as quickly as I do, but it’s not urgent enough to compete for the speed. So… let’s say our goodbyes here.”

Rene extended her hand.