[Lavinia's POV — The Void]
I reached out, desperate. "Mama—wait, what do you—"
"LAVINIA!!!"
Papa's voice cracked through the void like a thunderclap, reverberating in every corner of my chest.
I looked at Mama, and she smiled gently, brushing my hair back. "It's time… you go back, my child. The world still needs its dawn."
And then I heard it again. "Lavinia…"
I looked forward. There he was, running toward me. The Emperor. My father. And when our eyes met, he froze. For the first time, I saw him not as a tyrant, not as a ruler, but as a man… trembling, tears filled in his eyes.
"Papa…" I whispered.
He didn't answer. He just pulled me into a crushing hug. "My child… my daughter… are you okay?"
Am I?
I didn't know. But I knew one thing—I couldn't hate my Papa. No matter what...I love him and will always love him.
I hugged him back tightly. "Papa… you're a terrible person. You're a Liar."
