“Didn’t I already say it just now? I…”

Lize once again spoke with her soft voice, “It’s a gift from you, Yerena. I’m happy with anything you give me.”

“…”

“I’m so glad, Yerena.”

Yerena narrowed her eyes, thinking that perhaps Lize was being sarcastic. However, Lize was smiling as if she was undeniably grateful without any pretenses.

“…I’ve finally handed you the present, so I’ll go home now. You should rest too.”

‘Come on, drink that strong liquor and die. You have to rest forever.’

The corners of Yerena’s mouth drew an arc.

“Yes. Please forgive me for not being able to see you off because I’m not feeling well.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not so shameless as to bother a sick person.”

It was quite a snide statement.

Yerena stood up. She put on the expensive outer garments she had taken off before and began to walk out slowly. When she reached the door, Yerena looked back again.

“It was fun, Lize.”

“…”

“I’m serious.”

Instead of answering, Lize bowed her head and gave a farewell.

Soon, she heard the sound of the door opening and closing. Lize raised her face again.

“Your fun ends here…” Her low-pitched voice descended like a curse. “My fun starts now, Yerena,” Lize smiled softly.

In her emerald eyes, the bottle Yerena gave her was reflected.

Lize bowed her head and picked up a glass still filled with wine. Soon, the red wine spilled onto the white marble floor. Lize’s gaze fixated on the wine that resembled blood for some time.

Not long after that, she poured the drink Yerena had given her into the glass. The reddish wine-tinted glass was now filled with a translucent liquid.

“…”

A smile spread across Lize’s face as she set the bottle down on the floor. It was a delighted smile. Now everything is over. The pain that always crept all over her body and all the nightmares would end soon. And, it was the beginning of everything. Her cold lips touched the rim of the glass.

However, at that very moment, the closed door swung open.

“Huff, huff, Lady Lize…”

It was Sezh whose face was turning white because of her anxiety. Her blue eyes automatically fixated on the glass.

There was no time to think anymore.

Sezh rushed toward Lize and then took the glass from her hand.

Shatter!

The glass that Sezh threw broke into pieces with a loud noise.

“Did you… Did you drink it?”

“…”

“You didn’t, did you?” Sezh asked as if she was begging to hear a ‘No’ from Lize’s mouth.

Lize stared at her while carving a smile, “No, I didn’t drink it.”

“I’m truly reliev-…”

Sezh couldn’t even finish her sentence. She lost strength in her legs and fell to the floor.

“…What are you doing, Princess? At this late hour?”

“Ah, that…” Sezh’s words tapered off.

Without even thinking what kind of an excuse to use later, she just impulsively ran from her palace. Sezh hid and saw Yerena as she visited Lize’s palace late at night. Not wanting to waste any more time, she barged into Lize’s room to prevent her death.

“I… That…”

Sezh closed her mouth. No matter what she says, it would sound strange. There was no excuse she could give. Sezh hesitated but eventually continued talking with a downcast face.

“Lady Lize already knew about it too, right? What my mother did to the other concubines.”

“…”

“I’m sorry, but… I’m worried about you, Lady… That’s why I came.”

She couldn’t convey what Yerena had said before, so this was best.

“I’m genuinely sorry for the trouble…”

“Why?”

“…What?”

“Why are you worried about me?”

Sezh gave a bewildered expression at the sudden question.

“I… It’s because I like the Lady.”

“…”

“If something happens to the Lady again, Brother will be sad too… I don’t want tha-”

Sezh was startled. It was because of Lize, who suddenly burst into laughter. Lize was laughing. She laughed hard as if she heard something ridiculous. Sezh had never seen her laugh like this before.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, but Princess Sezh truly is an interesting person.”

“Lady…?”

“Will Raytan be like that?”

From Lize’s point of view, it was interesting that Sezh worried about other people while not even understanding what was going on, but it upset Lize all the same.

“I never taught that child how to feel sad.”

The smile disappeared from Lize’s face in an instant. Suddenly, her face was as cold as ice.

“As a child who only listens to me, there is no way he can feel emotions that I haven’t taught him.”

Sezh had a stupid expression on her face. That couldn’t be right.

‘I smell blood.’

Raytan’s face as he muttered those words was still vivid in her mind.

“I don’t need such a weak son. Raytan must know that too.”

“…”

“So, please don’t concern yourself with such a stupid thing.”

In Sezh’s eyes, Lize was like a different person today. The madness that loomed in her smile, and also that cold expression… Sezh stared blankly at her, unable to find anything to say.

Waking herself up, she reminded herself to take the poison Yerena gave to Lize.

“The drink my mother gave you… Where, where is it?”

There were several bottles of alcohol lying on the floor. Sezh couldn’t tell which one was the poison.

“I know it sounds weird, but… I have to take it with me. So… ”

Lize observed Sezh, who was struggling to arrange her words. Following that, Lize handed Sezh the blue bottle lying on the floor.

Sezh quickly grabbed the bottle. Along with a sour smell, she could see the crimson-colored wine.

“Is that all?” Lize asked with a calm face, and Sezh nodded.

“Yes, yes… I apologize for intruding on your night…”

Here and now. Finally, it’s done. While clutching the bottle tightly, Sezh said goodbye to Lize. She couldn’t disturb a sick person any longer.

“I’ll go back now. Please rest well, Lady.”

Lize didn’t reply. Sezh only stared at her silently and then took a step to leave.

“Princess.”

At the quiet call, Sezh looked back.

“Please come closer.”

With every step Sezh took, Lize asked her to come closer and closer again.

“Princess, I… will tell you a secret.”

“A… secret?”

“Yes. If the Princess allows it.”

Sezh ultimately made a hesitant nod.

A thorn-like hand gripped Sezh’s nape as Lize pulled her closer. Lize then lowly whispered something in her ear.

“…”

The gazes from a pair of bewildered blue eyes and shining emerald eyes clashed in the room.

“Now, please go back,” Lize spoke with her delicate voice.

“La-lady?…”

‘What did she say just now?’ Sezh’s expression was blank.

“I am tired. I think I need to rest.”

Due to Lize’s firm remark, Sezh didn’t ask any more questions. She only tightened her grip on the hand that was holding the bottle.

“Please be careful on your way back.”

In the end, Sezh had no choice but to leave her room.

The sound of Sezh’s footsteps began to fade away, leaving Lize completely alone.

Locked in silence, she picked up a black wine bottle and poured its contents into a new glass. Finally, without hesitation, Lize let the liquid slither down her throat.