Chapter 339 (1/2)

As if he was so dumbfounded by Jiun’s response, Rublis said, staring at her, “The late emperor gave you the opportunity to choose a family you wanted to join. He even said that he wanted to adopt you as a royal daughter. Despite such options, you chose the Jena family, right? Then, why is it that you don’t want to share his destiny now?”

“That’s because…”

“You claimed I used you, but didn’t you approach me to use me, too? I admit I treated you too coldly, but I did so because I realized that you were not as useful as I thought, and that you did your best to use me without any sincerity.”

“…”

“You approached me because you needed me, and I used you for my own needs. We met for each other’s needs, to say the least. Don’t you think it’s funny that you accuse me when you are also at fault?”

Although he spoke to me coldly, he hit the nail on the head. Looking at her pale face for a moment, he said, “Everyone demanded you be executed, and I agreed. The only one who asked to save your life was Aristia.”

“…”

“She visited me even after the meeting and begged me to save your life. It wasn’t an easy decision for me, but I had to accept her request, after all. I had no choice but to accept it because she said she wanted to repay her debt to you who had saved her before.”

Jiun released her clenched fists unconsciously. Then she opened her trembling lips and asked, “Oh my God…Then, what’s that bottle?”

Until now she gave up all hope because she was going to die anyway, but when he said that, she began to feel that she could survive.

“It’s a drug that temporarily puts you in a state of suspended animation.”

“Then…”

“It is a simple choice. In other words, do you want to die like a nobleman or survive as a commoner? If you want to remain an imperial noblewoman, come to the execution place ten days from now. If you want to live as a commoner in a small country, drink that. It doesn’t matter which one you choose. Whether you drink it or not, ten days from now you will be recorded as dead.”

After he was done talking, he put his hood on. Then he turned coldly and said, “I know it’s useless to tell you this, but…”

“…”

“I really want to thank you for saving her life.”

Then he walked toward the door without hesitation. The solid iron door opened, then closed silently. Finally, there was only darkness hanging over her room.

How much time passed? After looking at the door for a long time, she slowly turned her gaze to the doorknob, the cold stone wall and finally the soft carpet, where there was a glass bottle colored black because of the shade.

“…”

She slowly bowed down and picked up the bottle. The small glass bottle that fit into her palm was cold as if it had ice in it. She felt as if the cold that started in the palm reached her ears, but she only bit her pale lip without relaxing her clenched fists.

‘It’s a matter of choice …’

She unconsciously tightened her hand holding the bottle.

She got angry. It was a question of whether to live or die until a moment ago. Now that she heard his explanation, she knew that she had a third choice, which was to survive at the same time while choosing death. If she chose this way, she would only live with a deep sense of defeat, which she knew.

If Aristia were in her shoes, she would certainly choose death like a noblewoman. In fact, before returning, didn’t she die without losing her dignity until the end?

However, she was different. She was sick and tired of harboring hostility alone or being gripped by an inferiority complex. But she didn’t want to end her life, which she barely regained, in vain like this, even if she was despised by that noble couple.

“Hahaha…” She made a hollow laugh.

What she had now until the last moment was only defeatism. She now had nothing left.

Staring at the bottle in her hand for a long time, she opened it with a determined expression. Then, she drank it quickly.