Just then, a fierce wind swept through the garden. Beyond the wildly scattering strands of hair, Senevier's figure blurred hazily.

Talia, who had been standing frozen like a statue, lowered her gaze to the pond rippling with waves. More than the news she had delivered, it was Senevier's attitude—treating her suffering as entertainment—that tore painfully at her heart.

Suppressing the turmoil inside, she forced out an even voice.

“Surely you didn't come all this way merely to tell me such disgusting rumors? It seems Her Majesty the Empress has more free time than I imagined.”

“Of course not.”

As though her interest had cooled at the dull response, the corners of the Empress's lips lowered.

“I told you, didn't I? I wanted to see with my own eyes how you and your husband are truly living. And if possible, I intended to persuade the Grand Duke of Siorcan.”

A sigh tinged with disappointment escaped her lips.

“But it was utterly useless. Your husband seems determined to make Gareth Emperor no matter what.”

“Then what exactly were you expecting?”

Talia let out a sharp, irritated laugh.

“Did you really think he would change his position simply because he married me?”

“I can't say I had no such expectations.”

Senevier answered indifferently while gazing at the fortress walls bathed in the colors of sunset.

A fallen leaf carried by the wind brushed her cheek. Grabbing it, she twirled it absently between her fingers before crushing it as she continued.

“Varkas has always shown emotional reactions when it comes to you. I realized long ago that something about you provokes him. So I hoped you would shake him more actively.”

Releasing the crumbled leaf into the wind, Senevier turned back toward Talia. Seeing the trace of reproach in her eyes, Talia's face stiffened.

After staring reproachfully at the daughter who had disappointed her, the Empress glanced toward the knights waiting in the distance and added,

“In truth, your husband seems rather concerned about you. Seeing him on guard against the possibility that I might harm you was quite refreshing.”

“......”

“But unfortunately, he does not seem to value you enough to break a promise made long ago.”

Looking up at her with a bloodless face, Talia forcibly steadied her collapsing expression.

She already knew that.

There was no reason to be hurt anew by it.

She lifted her chin proudly.

“I... don't care in the slightest whom Varkas supports. Whether Gareth becomes Emperor or Asros does has nothing to do with me. So don't think of dragging me into your fight!”

“You are already part of this fight.”

Those abyss-like pupils suddenly drew near.

Leaning in close, the Empress spoke as though carving the words directly into her mind.

“That was decided the day you were born. Do you really think Emperor Gareth would tolerate your existence?”

Talia's lips parted soundlessly, unable to find any words of rebuttal.

In a merciless voice, Senevier declared,

“Gareth won't care in the slightest that you are the Grand Duchess of the East. Even if it means making enemies of House Siorcan, he will seek your ruin. Varkas Laedgo Siorcan seems to believe he can stop Gareth, but he fails to realize that to do so, he would have to kill him with his own hands.”

Words that sounded almost like a prophecy burrowed between her vertebrae.

Before she could object, Senevier pressed on relentlessly.

“Your husband is nearly blind when it comes to emotions. Trapped inside the fortress of reason, he never truly sees human madness. That man cannot see Gareth's hatred, nor Aila's love. He does not understand how destructive hatred can be, nor how ugly love can make a person. Your husband will ultimately contribute to the destruction of you, me, and Asros.”

As though denying those words, Talia staggered backward.

Immediately, rough fingers dug into her flesh.

Senevier seized her daughter's shoulders tightly and finally revealed her true purpose.

“So, Talia, you must help me.”

“What... what could I possibly do? I don't have any power...!”

“You will bear the heir of the Grand Ducal house.”

Talia's eyes froze.

At those sudden words, every thought vanished.

Even amid the chaos, when even the howling wind sounded distant, Senevier's demands continued.

“And you will make that child Asros's friend. Just as your husband is loyal to Gareth, your son will become my son's faithful servant.”

“St... stop saying such nonsense!”

Twisting desperately to free herself, Talia screamed.

“Was using me not enough? Now you intend to use a child who hasn't even been born for your ambitions? Why should I do that? Why would I—!”

“Because it is your path to survival as well.”

Senevier's voice became even harsher.

“Why can't you understand that if Asros fails to become Emperor, you are finished too? Gareth is your enemy as well. For the last ten years, you've persistently torn open those children's wounds. Surely you didn't believe that simply leaving the Imperial Palace would free you from all that karma? After even stealing Aila's fiancé?”

“That was because Mother made me—!”

“You chose it all yourself.”

Her fierce voice cut off Talia's protest.

“Even if I demanded nothing, you would eventually have to bear a child. If you fail to produce an heir, not only Gareth, but even the nobles of the East will urge a divorce. And what do you think your husband would do then?”

A sharp sneer curved Senevier's lips.

“Answer me, Talia. Would Varkas Laedgo Siorcan protect you while turning his back on the Crown Prince, on Aila, and on his own blood and vassals?”

Frozen by the cruel question, Talia suddenly cried out in desperation.

“If Varkas wants a divorce, then let him divorce me! If Gareth wants me dead... then let him kill me! It's not as though I chose to be born in the first place...!”

Howling like a beast cornered to death, Talia suddenly swallowed her breath.

The contempt in Senevier's eyes instantly stole away her will to resist.

The woman who had once been her entire world stared at her with utter revulsion and said,

“Do you know? Many animals abandon weak offspring. That way, they increase the chances of survival for themselves and their other young.”

Talia stared blankly into those swamp-like eyes.

At last, Senevier voiced aloud the threat she had whispered with her eyes for so long.

“But humans, unlike animals, cannot abandon their children so easily. That is why I have not discarded you all this time.”

Soft fingers descended upon her deathly pale cheek, from which all vitality seemed to have drained away.

Only then did Talia realize she was crying.

Imitating the gentle touch of a loving mother comforting her daughter, Senevier whispered softly beside her ear.

“You won't believe it, Talia, but I have feelings too. I felt them the day you were born. You, who resembled me so much, were beautiful, and watching you grow brought me joy. Those feelings made it impossible for me to throw away someone who had already outlived her usefulness.”

Through the endless tears filling her eyes, her mother's figure wavered and distorted.

But the voice echoing in her ears only became clearer.

“So don't disappoint me anymore.”

Talia bit down on her lip.

The bitter salt of tears and the metallic taste of blood spread across her tongue. The sobs choking her throat made it hard to breathe.

“You understand what I mean, don't you?”

When she barely managed to nod, lips as cold as ice touched the corner of her eye.

Was this what it felt like to receive a kiss from a corpse?

Staring vacantly at Senevier's face, smiling in satisfaction, Talia lowered her eyes to the garden where darkness had begun to settle.

Within the twilight, their shadows intertwined and stretched long across the ground, like some grotesque, misshapen monster.