Gate of Memoirs/Schism and Sorrow

What is better? To kill them with kindness, or let them live in fear?
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Overcome"	Music: "Overcome"
 	
—Western Elysia
 	
*Miriam: Take your failings elsewhere. There is nothing else for you here.
*Miriam: Go crawl back to your estate and I'll pretend you didn't try to disrespect the crown.
 	
*The young duke spits on the floor and glares up at Miriam atop her warhorse.
*Young Duke: Neither of you are my rulers, least of all an Alethi.
*Young Duke: This country doesn't deserve a magic-abusing spy for a queen.
 	
*Miriam's face hardens into a mask of cold fury as she draws the saber at her side.
*Miriam: General, remind me again of the punishment for treason?
*Miriam: Or perhaps the son of a traitor might like to remind me instead?
 	
*Gortius: That's enough!
*Gortius: Stand down. And you—Surrender yourself to custody.
*Gortius: I will have you dealt with later.
 	
*The young duke gives his lieges a mocking bow and walks away, head held high.
 	
*Miriam: Gortius. I wasn't expecting you...
 	
*Gortius: I've had to find out from my advisors where my own *wife* has gone.
*Gortius: Why didn't you tell me?
 	
*Miriam: He was hardly worth your effort getting here in the first place. 
*Miriam: It's certainly not his first time pushing his luck.
 	
*Gortius: You were about to execute him on the spot!
*Gortius: Had I not arrived in time, we'd have another dead noble in our books.
 	
*Miriam: Might I remind you that kindness wins no battles, my *king*?
*Miriam: If Elysia is to survive with you upon its throne, we cannot let anyone—
*Miriam: ANYONE at all—doubt our abilities to deliver swift judgement to those who dare to sneer at us!
 	
*The generals around them quietly retreat as their king and queen glare daggers at each other.
*The long ride back to the castle was spent in frigid silence, and for the first time in their memories,
*neither Gortius and Miriam felt the need to apologize.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Tree of Gaia"	Music: "Tree of Gaia"
 	
*Estia: You're back! Evie, we shall have dinner with them after all!
 	
*A smile breaks over Gortius' face as he addresses a wiggling Evie in Estia's arms.
*Gortius: Yes, we're home. And what would my little princess like for dinner?
 	
*Evie: Cake! And lots of it! None of that soggy vegetable soup.
 	
*Gortius: Now, now, I don't think your mother would approve.
 	
*Gortius casts a sidelong, almost pleading, glance at Miriam. An olive branch for Evie's sake.
 	
*Miriam, in turn, sighs and holds her arms out to take her daughter.
 	
*Miriam: You can have cake when you finish the soup. Fair?
 	
*Evie: Yes mama...
 	
*As Evie continues pouting over her shoulder, Miriam's eyes flick toward a corner in the room.
*Miriam: (... ...)
 	
*Gortius: Are you all right, Miriam?
*Gortius: You look a little pale.
 	
*Miriam: ...Yes.
*Miriam: The day's fatigue. That's all.
*The royal family heads toward the dining hall; no one sees Miriam linger her gaze upon the shadow out of sight.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "A God"	Music: "A God"
 	
*That night, Miriam sinks into a dreamless sleep, through waves of darkness and dust.
*When she next awakens, there is only the sound of wind in a desolate landscape with a single throne in the center of it.
*The Elysian throne.
*Upon it sits an ailing Gortius—
*Decrepit. Disintegrating. Dead.
*Just like his father before him.
*Miriam stumbles backwards as the figure rises, rasping in a terrible voice.
*Gortius' Shade: Miiirrriaaamm...
*Gortius' Shade: Was it worth the price I paid...to keep you alive...?
 	
*Miriam: What-
*Miriam: Keep me alive? What do you—
 	
*"It hurts, Gortius. I can't—Speak—"
**cough cough*
*"Miriam?!"
*"Quick! A healer! Someone!"
*"Miriam! Stay with me!"
 	
*Miriam: Ah...
*Miriam: Aaahh...
*Miriam: But how? WHY?!
*Miriam: What is this?! Who are you?!
 	
*Gortius' Shade: A life for a life...
 	
*Miriam: No...! NO!