Thirty minutes earlier, in the emperor's dining hall where Hibbort regularly ate his meals, Astrid lowered her head and sipped some red wine after satisfying her hunger, speaking softly.
"Once Father finishes dinner, please return to rest as soon as possible."
Although Astrid had been swamped with duties these past few days, busier than ever before, she still visited twice daily, morning and evening, to pay her respects to the aging lion, mindful that Hibbort's days were numbered.
Precisely because of this, she had witnessed Hibbort's decline step by step, his bodily functions deteriorating irreversibly.
Hibbort nodded slightly upon hearing her words. His withered facial muscles twisted as he moved, his once-golden hair now dull and lifeless.
"Mm."
He murmured faintly, his weary blue eyes fixed on the silver-haired, crimson-eyed imperial princess before him.
"It brings me comfort to hear you say that..."
