Chapter 104

The maternal uncles perished in the flames.

Victoria watched the scene until the end, covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief.

‘There was a way to reduce the pain.’

In ages where executions by fire were common, it was often the case to end one’s life beforehand and then set the body alight.

However, Victoria showed no mercy to her uncles. It was to clearly express her intent to show no shred of leniency.

There were several moments when she almost faltered.

When the flames began to spread in earnest.

When the onlookers’ gaze shifted to her during the execution.

And when she realized the eyes watching her were filled with fear.

But she somehow endured.

“Sir Alan. It’s all thanks to you.”

“Your Highness.”

It was thanks to Alan Medoff, who stood by her side throughout the execution.

Undoubtedly, it must have been a great burden for Alan as well. Among the crowd thronging the square, some surely recognized his face. The nobles in the front row were no exception; they were undoubtedly aware of Alan’s presence.

A royal knight standing calmly beside the princess as her uncles burned to death in the emperor’s court.

‘Perhaps he was trying to lessen my burden.’

It was possible that he judged it would harm the imperial court if the empire’s princess bore the brunt of this infamy alone. Or, and maybe it was a delusion, Alan genuinely cared about her well-being. The latter option would be preferable.

“I witnessed the execution by the Emperor’s order, Your Highness.”

“Indeed.”

It was her father’s doing.

Victoria gazed at Alan Medoff with a wry smile.

Honestly, she hadn’t initially felt good about him when they first met at the military hospital. It wasn’t a problem of beauty—his facial features were as good back then as they were now. However, what was missing was ferocity.

That void was filled with a profound sense of duty and composure.

There was also a hint of weariness, a testament to Alan’s busy life.

‘His Majesty has indulged in a futile deed.’

The Emperor seemed to underestimate her feelings for Alan.

At first, when Alan was considered as a potential consort, there was no special affection. To be precise, her feelings bordered on admiration and reverence, but it wasn’t romantic.

Now, things were different. Watching Alan solemnly discuss royal commands only increased her attachment.

Was it appropriate to feel this way while watching her uncles burn to death? Am I any better than Siena for having these thoughts?

As Victoria wrestled with this confusion,

“Did all of them have to die this way!?”

A voice filled with fury snapped her back to reality.

Turning around, she saw a young man sobbing and struggling against the royal guard.

Of course, she knew who it was.

The fiancé of Hayden Wolphall’s daughter—someone who was almost a son-in-law but stopped short of becoming one. He had been courting Hayden’s daughter for a long time. Had the purge happened a couple of months later, as a Wolphall in-law, he might have met the same end.

But now, he was grieving publicly in front of Victoria.

‘Ah.’

This was a poignant moment that underscored the weight of the purge.

Certainly, Victoria knew she was supposed to coldly warn, “Consider yourself fortunate to be alive.” But, given the situation, with the execution site yet to be cleaned, her mouth wouldn’t quite form the words.

“You didn’t need to send them off in such a terrible manner! Rather, why not kill me too…!”

It wasn’t easy to hurl cruel remarks at a person crying so despairingly.

Someone would surely step in to handle this situation. Sure enough, Alan Medoff, standing nearby, sighed and prepared to intervene. He seemed driven by an obsessive need to solve any problem placed before him.

This time, however, she decided not to delegate the task.

“Fine. If you wish, I’ll gladly kill you.”

With a stern expression, Victoria spoke.

The young man looked stupefied.

“Eh…?”

“I just bound two of my uncles to the stake and sent another off to the gallows. The rest of the family will live quietly twisting ship ropes in some obscure town you’ve never heard of.”

“…”

“Is it wise to protest to a royal who executes people with such calm assurance?”

“Umm…”

“I don’t know. That’s for you to decide.”

The young man stood stunned for a while, then, reading the situation, slowly knelt down. His face was now filled with terror.

“Your Highness, I…!”

Judging that kneeling wasn’t enough, he awkwardly bowed his head—a gesture more common in the East.

“Forgive me. I must have been mad.”

“Please spare my life… spare my life.”

Begging for his life in the aftermath of a lapse in judgment wasn’t pitiful—a lie if anything.

But Victoria observed him without furrowing her brow, her gaze calm, almost haughty.

“If you want to survive, don’t even breathe a sound and prostrate yourself.”

After delivering this cold verdict, she left the square.

The chattering crowd fell silent for a moment.

But Victoria maintained her composure. It was possible because Alan Medoff stood by her side, and she intended to keep him close in the future.

Anything.

She could swear it.

*

I escorted Victoria to her palace.

Before parting, her expression seemed tense and rigid.

“Thank you so much today, Alan.”

Victoria likely believed she was acting coldly.

But she wasn’t in her right mind. Her cobalt eyes had lost their vitality and her lips were slightly parted, as if ready to incinerate anyone who offended her at a moment’s notice.

This meant one thing: the Emperor’s plan was thwarted.

‘Perhaps it even backfired.’

How disappointed would the Emperor be upon learning this?

That he’d increase the amount of whiskey in his tea was certain.

Given his penchant for mixing it with tea, it was likely he did so secretly to avoid rumors. Still, if he reached a state of complete intoxication, it would be hard to hide.

The Emperor, with his whiskey tea.

The Empress, with her psilocybin.

The three imperial princesses… including Siena.

As I mulled this helplessly, Victoria placed her hand lightly on my shoulder.

“Sir Alan. It’s time for you to go.”

“Your Highness, if you need any counsel…”

“No, Sir Alan, you’ve done more than enough. More importantly, if you come any closer now, I might lose control. As things are, I don’t want to propose to you on the very day I’ve killed my uncles.”

You’re free to leave now.

While her mouth urged me to go, her hand on my shoulder lingered. Eventually, she let go after some time had passed.

I bowed respectfully and took my leave.

As I turned around, she was still watching me.

…

After Victoria, it was Siena’s turn.

I returned to the production room, pondering my next steps.

My intention was to calm myself by producing some solvent, but I never had the chance.

“Lady Siena requests your presence for a shared dinner.”

Siena summoned me almost immediately.

‘She would call.’

Siena surely knew about today’s events.

Perhaps she was even informed about the undisclosed meeting I had with the Emperor in his study.

That woman boasts formidable information-gathering skills without relying on anyone.

I anticipated either questioning or reprimand.

But instead,

“Eat your heart out, Alan.”

What awaited me from Siena was unexpectedly a lavish banquet.

A meal starting with low-alcohol wine and elegant finger foods.

“Siena.”

Certainly, many in this world lived to eat. Luxurious evening meals lasting several hours weren’t uncommon.

But Siena wasn’t one of those people. She likely spent no more than an hour combined for her daily meals. Her staples were oatmeal, sandwiches, and pudding. Fine dining wasn’t her thing.

Today, however, it was a conspicuous feast.

It was clear she hadn’t prepared it for her own enjoyment.

“This isn’t to commemorate the closure of the Wolphall family, so don’t misunderstand.”

“…”

“Incredibly, I didn’t even watch the execution today. But I wanted to have a calm conversation with you, Alan, so I gave the instructions hours in advance.”

“Siena.”

“Eat first.”

Given the delicious food, there was no reason to refuse.

The expensive pre-dinner wine and appetizers, the chef showcasing their skills after so long; for someone like me who didn’t view meals as wasted time, these were satisfying moments.

The only oddity was Siena’s demeanor during the meal.

“I see, you really are different. Watching executions all day and yet your appetite… No.”

“Please just act as you usually do.”

“I don’t want to today. So… does Alan have any hobbies, apart from making narcotics? I used to think your hobby was gambling at boxing or dogfight arenas, but you’ve been less visible lately.”

“…”

“Do you have any hobbies?”

I never expected to be asked such a trivial question by Siena.

I had no hobbies, both in my past life and in this one. After cutting ties with my father, I lived in constant tension for years—attacking and defending, barely keeping up with my parents’ retaliation. I managed to watch over my younger sibling as well.

Certainly, I could fabricate something.

But I didn’t understand why Siena was behaving this way.

“Your Highness.”

“I know what you’re thinking, Alan. Don’t worry. I’m merely trying to find a way to win your heart.”

Siena smiled gently at me.

Then she proudly added, “I even contacted the maternal grandfather, reassuring him not to worry about what happens in the state.”

It felt like she was asking for praise for her good behavior despite the purge of maternal relatives being an accepted practice in the empire.

“So, how about it, Alan?”

Siena asked with a grin.

When the first princess, Victoria, had mentioned marriage on execution day, and now Siena was inexplicably being kind, it was clear:

The crisis was right before her eyes.

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