Third Person’s POV


    Hunt’s lips kept trembling, his words tumbling out incoherently in a rush of emotion. “Daphne, you came to see me, didn’t you? You came to see me off, right? Daphne, you’re the only one who truly cares about me! You’re such a good girl!”


    Daphne shifted slightly, covering her nose with her sleeve. Her tone was t and distant. “I didn’te to see you. I just wanted to ask what it feels like to be executed right now. Are you scared?”


    Hunt froze, staring at her as if he hadn’t heard correctly. “Wh–what did you say?”


    “I don’t know if I’ll get dragged into this messter, but if I do, I might get the death penalty too. So I figured I’d ask about your feelings now, just so I can be ready.” There was absolutely no warmth in Daphne’s voice.


    Hunt’s chest heaved violently, and his face instantly turned ash–white.


    He stammered, “How… how can you say


    that?”


    Daphne continued, “My mother used to say that bad deeds alwayse back to bite you, and sometimes the kids get dragged down too. Being your daughter is the worst thing that ever happened to me.”


    Finished, she stood up and said to Adide, “I’m done. I’m ready to go.”


    Hunt let out a wail of despair. “No! None of this was my choice! I was forced!”


    Adide hadn’t expected Daphne to say any of tChat.


    As they walked away, she couldn’t help but offerfort. “You won’t be executed. Don’t worry.”


    “I know that. I just said it to gross him out. My mom and I both absolutely hate him. He ruined my mother’s whole life.”


    Daphne shrugged nonchntly. “I don’t want to be his daughter either, but I didn’t have a choice.”


    Adide found Daphne to be a truly unique woman.


    Despite her upbringing, she seemed focused only on living well and looking after herself.


    For her father, Hunt, she felt neither love nor hatred, just simple disgust.


    +10 Free Coins


    Daphne asked Adide, “Gamma Adide, where will they dump his body? Are they going to hang it up for a public disy?”


    Adide answered, “If no family ims the body for burial, it will just be given a simple burial. Only the masterminds of the treason case will be hung up for disy.”


    Daphne replied, “Oh,” and didn’t press the matter further.


    Returning to Aldrich, she said, “I still have some cranberry cake left from when we left the house. Let’s go back and eat it. It won’t taste good if we leave it out too long.”


    “You’re not going to watch the rest?” Aldrich asked.


    “I’m afraid of blood. It’s better if I don’t look,” Daphne said.


    Aldrich always indulged her. He readily agreed, “Alright, let’s go. I’ll take you boating on theke tomorrow.”


    Daphne wrapped her cloak tighter around herself. “Boat? In this cold weather? Wouldn’t it be better to stay home, cook some coffee by the firece, and grill a few steaks?”


    “I just wanted to take you out for a change of scenery.”


    Aldrich smiled at Lance. “See? I’ve been bossed around by women my whole life, and I guess nothing changes even when I’m old.”


    Lance felt he should probably point out that they were at an execution site, not a casual meeting, but seeing how genuinely happy Aldrich was, he didn’t want to spoil the mood.


    He yed along. “Same here.”


    Aldrich patted Lance’s shoulder. “Alright, I won’t keep you from your work. I’ll take Daphne out.”


    Lance pointed helplessly at Hunt on the block. “You mean supervise his beheading.”


    “Of course, I know that,” Aldrich said, smiling as he took Daphne’s hand and walked away.


    Precisely at noon; the signal for the execution sounded.


    In his final moments, the terror in Hunt’s chestpletely overwhelmed him. His mind went nk, and he fainted dead away.


    The guillotine de slid down. The crowd immediately erupted in gasps and screams, many instinctively covering their eyes.


    People rushed backward.


    Many couldn’t handle the gruesome sight; a few even fainted and were quickly carried away by the Capital Guard.


    Adide gave Ellen a look–Ellen immediately ordered the area cleared.


    The Shumans never showed up.


    This meant they had no intention of dealing with Hunt’s body.


    Ellen first instructed the guards to process the body and store it at a temporary morgue.


    By regtion, if the body remained unimed after three days, it would be wrapped in coarse canvas and given a quick, simple burial somewhere.


    Everyone knew this was just protocol; the Shumans would absolutely not be iming Hunt’s body.


    Today was also the day of Aireanna’s burial.


    The funeral was simple. The Barkers found workers to help carry the coffin to the hill behind the Pearwater Shelter, where Aireanna wasid to rest.


    Ramona cried as she nted a small pear sapling at the grave.


    Someone advised her that the tree might not survive being nted in winter and suggested waiting until spring.


    Ramona shook her head. “I’m nting it now, and I’ll take good care of it when springes. I believe my mother was so strong in life; her will and spirit will surely allow this little winter- nted sapling to live.”


    Sara Lili


    <strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.