Coronation

The gallows platform was bitterly cold as it faced April's spring cold snap.

But Theodore was in no state to feel it.

The fear of death had come right up before his eyes. The thought that he was really going to die like this mingled with his refusal to accept reality—that surely, somehow, he might still survive.

A cacophony of shouts rose below his feet. For someone who had never experienced such hatred in his life, it was utterly unbearable.

So Theodore tried his best to direct his gaze elsewhere.

If he looked at that crowd, screaming as though it might devour him at any moment, he felt he would truly go mad.

His gaze therefore rose toward a higher place. Past the Imperial Palace where he had once lived, past the tall tower in the square... toward the familiar head hanging in a corner of the square.

There was no way he could fail to recognize the owner of that cascading golden hair. It was Aria, the woman who had been by his side for half his life.

"Aria...?"

And beside her was an empty space. No explanation was written there, but he could be certain of one thing...