Soon, Kian’s drowsy nodding made it impossible to keep avoiding the awkward gazes of the two men.

“Sikar. It seems Kian is dozing off?”

Sikar frowned slightly as if tired, but picked Kian up and placed him on his lap. At that moment, Reidox’s words came to mind.

‘My lord looks quite fitting holding a child.’

Back then, I hadn’t fully realized it, but now it truly seemed fitting. Sikar looked unmistakably like a father cradling a sleeping child.

Kian remained deeply asleep until they arrived home, so Sikar had to carry him into the manor.

It felt like watching a harmonious family returning from an outing, and inwardly, my heart warmed.

As I stepped into the entrance hall, weary from walking around a bit, Andrea hurried out and bowed his head.

“My lady. We have a guest.”

“A guest?”

“Lady Hersia of the Mobiat Marquisate has come to visit you. Since she is none other than His Majesty the King’s cousin, we could not refuse her entry.”

Sikar, who had entered with us, glanced over briefly, then climbed the stairs while saying,

“I’ll go put Kian to bed then. Please welcome the guest properly.”

“Sikar. Also change Kian’s clothes.”

Sikar acknowledged with a finger-circle gesture and disappeared up the stairs.

“That’s fine. Since she’s His Majesty’s cousin, we certainly must not be rude. Well done, Andrea. But when did Lady Hersia arrive?”

“About three hours ago.”

‘She’s waited a long time. But why has Hersia come all the way to the manor?’

“Have fresh tea prepared.”

“Yes, my lady.”

‘Three hours is far too long to wait.’

Without even time to change my clothes, I headed to the drawing room where Hersia waited.

“I heard you’ve been waiting a long time.”

Hersia, who had been dozing off, startled at my voice, leapt to her feet, and hastily bowed toward me.

“Oh, hello, Duchess.”

I sat before her with a gentle smile.

“Please sit.”

“Th, thank you, Duchess.”

“But what brings you to my manor without prior notice?”

“I, I’m sorry. I thought sending notice might make me late. I felt it would be more proper to offer my thanks quickly.”

“Thanks…?”

“I wished to thank you for saving me yesterday. I heard those assailants were remnants loyal to the deposed king, who had broken in to assassinate me. I’m so grateful—and so sorry—that you were nearly endangered because of me. So I wanted to express both my gratitude and my apology.”

I widened my eyes in feigned astonishment.

“Goodness. If that’s true, it was truly a terrifying near-miss. Remnants of the deposed king… You were in grave danger, Hersia.”

“Yes. His Majesty said that thanks to Duke Sikar capturing the assassins yesterday, they extracted information through interrogation. He also mentioned bestowing a great honor upon Duke Sikar.”

In the original story, Sikar had captured all the factions supporting the deposed king by reading the assassins’ memories.

This time, though Sikar had completely withdrawn from the matter, it seemed the king had resolved it thanks to the captured assassins.

So perhaps he wouldn’t receive the same grand commendation as in the original.

Hersia suddenly touched her blushing cheeks with both hands.

“Of course, Duke Sikar saved me because you, Duchess, were there.”

‘But why is her face turning red?’

“He really was… so impressive.”

After all, he had dropped down from above like a knight on a white steed to rescue us—it was undeniably heroic.

Hersia’s eyes, which had been shyly downcast moments before, suddenly sparkled brightly.

“Especially! He subdued all the assassins because he didn’t want you, Duchess, to be frightened!”

Ah, that story. How long will this tale keep being glorified?

“My boyfriend Aaron was also there that day. Duke Sikar said he had a request, so Aaron went—and then that incident happened.”

Though I already knew the story, I raised my eyebrows again as if surprised by unexpected news.

“Your boyfriend must have been very startled.”

“He was startled, but also amazed. Master Dark Elf said, ‘Go cut their heads off!’ but Duke Sikar said, ‘My wife will be frightened,’ and then ordered, ‘Put them to sleep.’”

Just from hearing Hersia’s imitation of Sikar’s tone, I could vividly imagine his expression and manner of speaking. I stifled my laughter with a few coughs and offered a subtle smile.

“How embarrassing. You must have been very frightened yesterday, Hersia. Are you alright?”

Hersia lowered her eyebrows with touched eyes and smiled gently.

“I was very frightened, but I’m fine now. You must have been frightened too, Duchess. Are you alright?”

It wasn’t just frightened—I was on the verge of fainting. If the fallen assassins hadn’t been snoring loudly in their sleep, I probably would have passed out.

“I was quite startled yesterday too, but I’m fine now. Your boyfriend must have been very shocked.”

“Yes. Aaron said he was extremely surprised. So His Majesty has assigned several royal guards to accompany me starting today. He promised to protect me until the remnants of the deposed king are completely eliminated.”

So assigning guards is exactly as in the original.

“And I also wished to personally thank Duke Sikar, but he must be very busy, right?”

“He’s not terribly busy, but right now he’s putting the child to bed, so he can’t leave.”

It was an offhand remark, since Sikar truly was putting the child to bed, but Hersia’s eyes widened momentarily before returning to normal.

“So Duke Sikar is personally putting the child to bed.”

Though she didn’t audibly exclaim “Oh my!”, Hersia’s expression clearly screamed “Oh my!”

‘So the original Hersia was this bright and cheerful.’

I felt truly fortunate to have saved her.

“Hersia, it’s getting late today. Would you come visit again next time?”

Hersia, who had been holding her teacup, nearly dropped it in surprise, barely catching it again.

“Really… may I come again next time?”

She was sincere. I suspected I’d grow curious about how Hersia and Aaron would fare together in the future.

“Yes. Let’s have tea together again next time.”

Hersia covered her widening mouth as if swallowing a gasp, then lowered her hand with a disbelieving expression.

“I, I heard the Duchess doesn’t receive visitors… may I really come again?”

“Yes. Please come again. We must definitely have tea together next time.”

“This is incredible. Thank you, truly thank you, for granting me the honor of seeing the Duchess again!”

Even as she left, Hersia turned back several times to bow, forcing me to wave until she vanished completely from sight—but I still found her bright smile pleasant to see.

Could her love now have the happy ending: ‘They lived long and happily ever after’?

In the original story, Hersia met her death at the hands of the militia led by the man she once loved.

Only at the moment of death did she see the face of the man she had longed for all her life.

Andrea, who had guarded the manor until the very end, urgently called out to Hersia, who sat upright with unwavering dignity.

“My lady! The militia led by Aaron Havicker has reached the front of the manor! You must flee!”

“Andrea. Before you go, will you accept this final cup from me?”

Even the normally composed Andrea, desperate to escape the militia closing in, accepted and drank the cup she offered without thinking.

He soon regretted not realizing her intention—she had urged him to drink wine, which he normally never touched.

That wine was laced with a sleeping draught.

‘Thank you, Andrea, for everything until now.’

After placing Andrea into the carriage meant for herself, Hersia returned to the manor. If someone must remain in this manor until the end, it must be Hersia. It must be her.

The Blake family’s downfall was a burden she rightly bore, a fate she must accept, ever since the moment she first came to this manor.

If this was punishment for being led astray by fate, or the price for her wrong choices, she must accept it willingly.

Not long after, the militia stormed into the manor and found Hersia sitting upright alone.

“We’ve found Duchess Hersia Blake! Hersia is here! Execute her immediately!”

Kian Recador had never ordered the killing of a woman, but the blades of the frenzied militia slaughtered every last remnant of Gillian without mercy.

The moment the militia’s blade grazed Hersia, the pain was fleeting.

Hersia sighed softly, feeling the relief of having washed away her sins.

‘It’s over now.’

Hot tears streamed down Hersia’s cheeks. She collapsed as if crumbling.

“Duchess Hersia Blake has been executed! By the name of the militia, the Blakes have been judged!”

Aaron, arriving belatedly, could not believe it. He had sent a carriage to help Hersia escape.

He had even received a message confirming the carriage bearing Hersia had safely departed the manor, so he assumed she was already gone.

Even when he heard the militia’s shouts declaring Hersia’s execution, he thought they must have mistaken someone else.

But when he reached her side with disbelief in his heart—he could not believe it. No, he refused to believe it.

Yet the woman lying before his eyes—no matter how many times he looked, even in dreams—was the one woman he had longed for all his life: Hersia.

“Hersia!”

Aaron cried out her name and collapsed beside her.

“No! Hersia!”

It was a name he had longed to call freely just once in his life. He never imagined he’d be screaming it before her death. No, it couldn’t be happening!

Having cruelly lost the woman he loved because of Gillian, he had stood against him to reclaim her.

Kian Blake had promised: once this usurpation of the throne ended, he would help Aaron live out his remaining days in peace.

Aaron had planned to take Hersia, once safely rescued, to a quiet countryside and live peacefully with her for the rest of their lives.

But now…

To lose her so emptily like this! To have just barely reunited—only to meet her at the moment of her death!

Love more precious than life itself. He never imagined the love he vowed to protect would meet death.

He could not believe it.

“Everyone, leave.”

The militia, moved by the sorrow in Aaron’s grief-stricken voice, withdrew solemnly.

Hersia reached toward Aaron, who held her. Aaron took her hand and turned his cheek so she could caress it.

“Aaron…”

“Hersia… my love.”

“Aaron, don’t cry…”

“Hic… Hersia…”

“I’m not resentful of this death… because I got to meet you, the one I’ve longed for all my life… I’m grateful for this death…”

Aaron wiped his streaming tears and gently stroked Hersia’s hair.

“Hersia. Hic… I’m sorry I came late… I love you. Hersia. Not once in my life have I ever stopped loving you. Hersia…”

Hersia summoned her last strength, her trembling hands wiping away Aaron’s ceaseless tears.

“I too never pretended, not even once, to stop loving you. Aaron…”

“Sob. Hersia!”

Only then did Hersia feel peace settling over her. She felt all strength drain from her body and closed her eyes.

“Hersia!!!”

Aaron cried out her name again and again, but she, with closed eyes, gave no answer.

He who had vowed never to let her live alone again, after a lifetime of loneliness, had failed to protect her before power.

He had struggled and lived solely for this day, to find her again.

But now, with her gone, Aaron had nothing left.

If there remained even one choice he could make, it was to follow her.

“At least I’m fortunate to still have one choice left. Hersia.”

With a sad smile, Aaron turned his sword upon himself to follow Hersia.

‘If we meet again, I’ll never leave you alone again, Hersia.’

Aaron, burying his face beside Hersia, closed his eyes, glad that even in death, he could be with her.

Quietly, reflecting on the novel’s events, I prayed.

May they, in this life, build a harmonious family and live happily ever after, just as Aaron once dreamed.