Chapter 111: The Last Breath

Astrid’s POV

I wished I could make him change his mind—or at least try—but I didn’t even get the chance. He soon turned and began walking toward the exit.

—Lysander, stop. Please, stop —I begged desperately, needing to convince him not to do something reckless.

I couldn’t allow him to get hurt… or worse, simply because of his stubbornness. I needed him to understand that doing this would be suicide, and I couldn’t let him make such a mistake.

I knew the only way he would truly be safe was if my father died—and I was willing to do the same if it helped… but not if it meant he would die too. The truth was, in that moment, the last thing I cared about was saving my own life… which was madness in itself.

Unfortunately, Lysander wasn’t willing to listen. He simply ignored me. He left without hearing me out, without even turning to look at me—and that was a blow far too cruel.

As soon as I saw the door close, all I could do was bring my hands to my face, trying to ease at least a fraction of the pain and desperation consuming me.

I stayed like that until I heard my father begin to laugh loudly, forcing me to look at him immediately.

—What is so amusing to you? —I asked, even though something told me I was better off not knowing.

He slowly calmed down, until at last his laughter faded and he turned to look at me.

—It’s just that I find the way things turned out… curious. What a remarkable twist of events we have before us —he admitted with clear satisfaction, as if my suffering pleased him.

—And you caused all of this, didn’t you? —I asked, growing more certain by the second.

—I have no idea what you’re talking about. Whatever happened, you can be sure it has nothing to do with me. I did nothing —he replied quickly.

—You’re lying —I shot back without hesitation. I knew perfectly well what he was capable of.

—You’re mistaken. I don’t lie… I don’t need to. You’re well aware that in the past I tried to kill him… —he began.

—Exactly. That’s precisely why I’m saying it —I admitted.

—However, I didn’t do it this time. And if I had, I wouldn’t even bother hiding it from you —he said.

A part of me believed he was telling the truth… but I also knew it hadn’t been me. That’s when something far more important struck me. If what Lysander had said about the vial was true, then it meant my father had deceived me.

—Why is there aconite in my medicine? —I demanded, watching as he stepped back into the shadows.

—What exactly were you trying to do by deceiving me like that? —I pressed.

—I have not deceived you —he stated.

—Then why am I more and more certain that you did? —I challenged, stepping closer to the bars that separated us.

—I have no idea what you’re talking about —he insisted.

—What am I sick with, exactly? —I asked the question I had longed to know for so long.

—I don’t see why that matters now. All you need to know is that you are very ill —he said with a conviction that only made me more certain he was hiding something.

—If that’s true, then why give me aconite as medicine? Lysander said it himself—it’s poison —I reminded him, waiting to see how he would justify it.

—That may be true for the rest of the wolves… but not in your case —he replied vaguely, only confusing me further.

—Speak clearly. Why give me aconite? —I insisted, growing tired of his evasions.

—That is your medicine —was all he said.

—It’s not medicine.

—The word “medicine” refers to something that keeps a person alive. And that is exactly what aconite has done for you. It is the only thing that has kept you alive all this time —he declared.

Unfortunately, his answer only left me with more questions. I was about to demand a clearer explanation when something stopped me.

At that moment, the dungeon door opened once more—and Patrick appeared.

His presence there confused me, but I didn’t get the chance to question him. He immediately approached my father.

—Everything is ready, sir. It happened just as you ordered —he reported quickly, descending the stairs and stopping in front of my father’s cell.

I turned to look at my father, desperate to understand what was happening.

—What did you do? —was all I managed to say before I noticed smoke beginning to seep in through the door.

It only took me a few seconds to realize what was happening—especially when I saw the look of satisfaction on my father’s face.

Patrick soon opened his cell, and the two of them began walking toward the exit.

—You can’t leave me here —I said desperately. It was clear now what they had done—they had started a fire in the palace, and it was probably already spreading.

—Please… I’m begging you, help me —I pleaded, fully aware that if he didn’t, I would die in there.

To my despair, he merely glanced at me over his shoulder as he walked away.

—You shouldn’t have betrayed me. Now you will pay the price —was all he said before disappearing.

Even then, I continued screaming and begging for help—but he ignored me.

He treated me as if I were nothing. He abandoned me… to die there.

My throat began to burn from the smoke that now filled everything. Soon, I could no longer scream. Even breathing became difficult.

In that moment, as I collapsed onto the ground, I saw the fire begin to consume everything in its path.

And I knew…

That was my end.

I was going to die.