I'm sure they'll be fine. Alex is very attentive to children. Galen had a small patch of eczema as a baby; I didn't even notice it, but Alex did, quickly finding a way to treat it. Although he seems like a man solely focused on business, he's observant of small details and handles them better than I do. He even cooked for us when the servants were on leave. I'm so lucky to have married him. Lily smiled, thinking of her husband and children.

Suddenly, she realized her thoughts drifted to the past, a sign of her approaching end. She shook her head vigorously. "No, no, no! Snap out of it, Lily!" she thought. People are often undone not by their enemies, but by their own beliefs; once those crumble, despair follows easily.

As she pondered, Fred entered with two guards, smirking. "Lily, you know what time it is, right?"

"Time to kick your ass?" she retorted bluntly, without looking at him.

"You—" Fred started, then caught himself, forcing a smile. "I'll let that pass. Say whatever you want while you can. Take her away!" He gestured to the guards. Having been subdued by her before, he dared not approach.

The guards approached, but Lily sprang to her feet. "Don't touch me!"

Perhaps stunned by her sudden action and commanding presence, they obeyed. "I'll go by myself," she said dismissively.

They looked to Fred, who nodded his assent. As she passed him, he instinctively stepped back. Lily chuckled at his fear.

"What are you laughing at?" Fred snarled, his frown deepening. Her laughter always held a hint of unsettling mockery for him.

After laughing, she said, "Do you know everyone has a weakness?"

Puzzled, he narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I just wanted you to know you have one, too," Lily said meaningfully. "If others find out..." She trailed off with an indifferent chuckle.

A chill ran down Fred's spine. "I have no weakness! Stop playing mind games! You're going to die soon! You've tricked me once—I won't fall for it again!"

Lily dug her ear, calm. "Okay, okay. Why the shouting? Are you telling me that, or warning yourself?"

She walked away, leaving Fred livid.