FLNL 25

Chapter 25

Unlike the day of the banquet, he was now dressed in a black outfit adorned with geometric silver patterns.

Her heart was pounding. She couldn’t tell whether it was from nervousness—or something else entirely.

“Lord Riheil is here as well. Please, have a seat.”

The emperor’s voice came from just above her head. Riheil slightly lifted his gaze and looked at the emperor.

The twisted curl of Riheil’s lips felt like a warning sign—like he was about to stir up trouble again.

Maia bit her lip and subtly shook her head.

His sharp golden eyes quickly picked up on her signal. With a sigh-like breath, Riheil calmly moved to sit beside Maia.

“……”

The Duke of Western sat in the remaining seat with a tense jaw, clearly displeased.

Who had decided on these seats? Curiously, it ended up with Maia sitting between the Duke of Western and Riheil.

Maia glanced sideways at the two men on either side of her, her expression faintly bitter.

“We shall now commence the execution of the criminal Helia Jabez Delphonne!”

At the emperor’s signal, the executioner raised his left hand and announced the beginning of the execution.

A slender figure, hidden beneath a black hood, was dragged forward. Maia’s hand, resting on her lap, clenched tightly.

The woman’s frantic struggling looked pitiful. But those desperate writhings did little to delay her fate.

With a rough hand, the executioner removed the darkness that had covered her eyes.

“……!”

Even though the distance wasn’t short, Maia could clearly see Helia’s wide, black eyes.

Maia stared at her, watching as the rope was tightened around her neck and her body trembled violently.

In that moment, their eyes met.

Had Helia seen hell in Maia’s gaze? Her face twisted with indescribable hatred and disgust.

Her pale, dry lips parted, as if to spit something out.

Go ahead. Speak.

Maia held her gaze steadily, silently inviting it.

Her hand gripped the armrest of the chair so tightly that it hurt.

‘Have you no shame before the heavens? Tearing apart the love between two people, forcing yourself into a place you don’t belong, dreaming of happiness far beyond your station!’

Fierce hatred, cold contempt—those condemning words returned to her.

‘……I did not love you.’

The voice that followed next belonged to the man sitting beside her.

‘But you were the one I chose. As the Duchess of Western, enjoy the position, honor, and power. That alone should be enough.’

And after that… what happened again?

Ah, yes. I had left his room—feeling as if my soul had been torn to pieces and drained from my body.

And then I met her.

‘……Didn’t I tell you already?’

There she stood—waiting with a smug, disgustingly arrogant smile.

‘If you wish to avoid realizing the cruelty of reality, then leave… as soon as you can.’

The head maid had approached silently and whispered close to her ear.

‘Leave this estate.’

You told me to leave.

But even until the moment you died, I remained in that estate.

And you—whom I so despised and who scorned me—ended up with your life in my hands.

So go on, speak your final words of hatred.

Not that they’ll harm me. Not in the least.

Such arrogance. A low, petty attempt to soothe a twisted heart.

Maia ridiculed her own warped emotions as she waited for Helia’s curse to spill from her lips.

“You’re just as guilty for driving me to this—!”

But Helia’s words didn’t get the chance to finish.

Maia gasped as a warm darkness suddenly covered her eyes.

“……So bothersome….”

A familiar voice whispered softly above her head.

Riheil?

“What are you—!”

“Quiet.”

The Duke of Western’s sharp voice cut through, but Riheil’s icy tone cut him off.

…She couldn’t see.

Maia felt conflicted. Should she remove Riheil’s hand, which was clearly covering her eyes?

Just then, the hand lifted away. She blinked and turned to face Riheil.

He didn’t say anything—just curved his eyes playfully and smiled.

…Somehow, the emotions she had just been chewing over felt blurred and muddled.

Maia tried to recall that bitter sense of self-mockery as she turned back to the execution platform.

“……!”

But apparently, Riheil had once again silenced Helia before she could speak.

The head maid—Helia’s eyes were bloodshot, ready to burst.

She looked as though she was gathering every last shred of her soul just to speak.

But the man beside Maia—this chillingly beautiful and aloof man—made sure she couldn’t utter even a word.

The rope around her neck tightened. The floor beneath her feet gave way.

Her body twisted desperately in an instinctive struggle for life.

Her figure flickered weakly in Maia’s violet-hued eyes.

Ah, this moment.

Maia thought with surprising calm.

Another act of her life had just come to an end.

The execution was over.

The corpse of the criminal was carried away by indifferent hands, as if nothing had happened.

Maia turned slightly as she felt a gaze on her. The Duke of Western was looking at her.

His pale blue eyes wandered her face as though trying to find some trace of emotion.

Maia calmly met his gaze.

What are you feeling? That the woman you once loved had her cherished maid executed by me?

Are you lost in old memories, feeling regret?

Or do you regret marrying me?

Whatever it is—

“It’s time I took my leave.”

“I’ll escort you to your carriage.”

The emperor’s lazy voice floated by her ear. The Duke of Western rose and replied immediately.

“Very well. Thank you.”

The emperor smiled softly, accepting his nephew’s offer.

Then he began walking away. The Duke turned briefly to look at Maia.

“…It won’t take long. Don’t go back alone. Please wait.”

“I will.”

Maia answered without resistance.

For some reason, the Duke hesitated for a moment before finally turning away, his deep blue hair swaying behind him.

She watched him disappear into the crowd, but then felt something placed gently on her head.

As expected, Riheil stood there.

Maia looked up at her friend’s face, puzzled by his slightly displeased expression.

“…You feel strange anywhere?”

“Huh?”

The question came out of nowhere.

Maia frowned slightly.

Riheil, still gazing at the place where the head maid had died, said,

“I told you, didn’t I? Curses uttered right before death can be pretty troublesome… I stopped her in time, but still, you never know. If you feel even slightly off, tell me. Don’t hide it.”

Maia looked up at his heavy, golden eyes and let out a small chuckle.

“…Why are you laughing?”

Watching his snow-white eyebrows knit in concern, Maia replied with a smile.

“It’s just… funny.”

I don’t know why, but I suddenly wanted to laugh.

I hadn’t laughed even once in the two years you were gone…

But with you by my side, I keep…

“…If you’re fine, then that’s all that matters.”

Riheil gripped her shoulders gently.

“Go back now. Don’t think about anything today. Just rest.”

“…In your letter, you made it sound like you were about to start something big. What changed your mind?”

Maia asked in a teasing tone. Riheil frowned slightly and grumbled.

“I was going to stir up quite the mess… but I decided to put it off.”

So even someone like you—who I thought had no humanity—feels a little reluctant to cause trouble right after someone’s death.

Should I feel relieved?

Maia gently patted the back of Riheil’s hand as if praising him. His eyebrows furrowed again.

She’d briefly forgotten, but now felt the many eyes watching them again.

Maia turned around.

The countless gazes that had clung to her and Riheil scattered instantly.

“…Surprisingly…”

There are a lot of eyes on us.

With her soft purple eyes, Maia stared thoughtfully at the observers.

If this much interest comes from a natural moment like this, then perhaps it’ll be enough—

No need to stage anything elaborate. Maybe just letting the relationship develop naturally…

“I’ll be going now.”

“Ah, alright.”

Riheil slowly removed his hand from her shoulder.

His clear golden eyes, which had captured Maia’s figure, dispersed like stars in a misty night sky.

“…My goodness.”

The noble ladies gasped.

Maia felt slightly awkward.

She wasn’t particularly surprised—this sort of thing happened often.

But their attention made her feel self-conscious.

Maybe it was best to head down early.

“…Oh dear.”

The wooden stairs were unstable—especially hard to walk in high heels.

Other noble ladies were managing fine, but Maia found it hard to move through the bustling crowd.

Thud—

“Ah.”

Eventually, she bumped hard into someone and dropped the fan she had been holding.