Chapter 49

49.

“The weather is nice.”

After gazing at the modestly accumulating snow for a moment, Cain turned his head.

Yesterday’s weather, which had been brilliantly sunny all day, seemed like a lie as the sky had turned dim and ash gray, while heavy snowflakes rapidly covered the capital.

The environment is also one of the finest staging elements.

If one were to intuitively perceive the white snowfield being stained with dark red blood, there would be no greater show.

The stage is set, and the audience is ready.

“I sincerely hope you make a foolish choice.”

While looking at Norman being dragged to the grand plaza, Cain moved his steps leisurely.

*

Kiersen Lucanov hastily changed his steps towards the east grand plaza upon hearing the untimely news.

After conducting the usual comprehensive meeting at the Inner Palace, he had been leisurely enjoying a meal and resting when he heard the news of the Royal Knights’ deployment.

It may seem like their going outside had nothing to do with him, but since someone had taken the role of captain, the knights’ movements had become a matter of unprecedented interest.

The nobles, knowing well that this was a signal of bad news, couldn’t help but react sensitively.

When the knights of the royal army stormed out of the palace one day, a storm of blood swept across the entire empire.

Many nobles and officials had their heads cut off or were dragged into the capital, and those who were thus captured faced trials where the facts of their corruption were fully uncovered, leading to imprisonment or punishment.

Currently, the Huie Palace, responsible for these trials, is overwhelmed with the sudden influx of cases.

And yet, another deployment.

“…Bradden, is it?”

Kiersen recalled a letter that had arrived last night.

A letter from Norman Bradden.

Though filled with eloquent phrases and greetings, the conclusion was simple.

Cain MacBilian must be overthrown.

His sword is pointed towards the faction, and he stands at its forefront. Assistance is needed.

There was nothing surprising about the content.

Kiersen already knew that MacBilian was targeting factions.

During a conference held after a policy meeting, he had not sided with either side, and as soon as winter began, he had swung his sword.

It was unlikely they would form an amicable relationship anytime soon.

Norman must have known this point as well. If so, why had he sent the letter?

“…Looks like you’re in a precarious situation.”

“Excuse me? Did you have something to say?”

“It’s nothing. Please continue moving forward.”

After giving a casual response to the other noble who had interrupted his thoughts, Kiersen delved back into contemplation.

He may have believed he had hidden it well, but Kiersen knew Norman had sent the knights with the intention of assassinating Cain. Being the Chancellor and a Duke, various pieces of information naturally came his way.

The problem was that even before dissuading Norman of this futile endeavor, he had already sent the knights south, and it was too late to mend the already-released arrow.

Now that Cain has returned to the palace, it is evident that the assassination attempt has failed.

When the target survives, the one in peril is the one who hired them.

Having experience working in the capital, Norman must have severed all connections as much as possible. But Cain is not someone who would easily let this slide. Even from their brief meeting, Kiersen’s memory vividly recalled Cain’s bellicose nature.

“Punishing nobles isn’t an easy task.”

In cases related to the agents of Sylvester, the explicit crime of high treason allowed for immediate execution without question.

However, Norman Bradden is far from being associated with treason.

Even if he committed minor offenses, repenting for his sins, apologizing, and donating his assets to the national treasury would suffice to let the situation settle down while remaining incognito.

If Kiersen himself and other nobles were to defend him, there was a high possibility that Norman would only receive a light punishment. And yet…

“…Strangely unsettling.”

Kiersen weighed the option with the least damage.

Abandon him or protect him.

After finishing his contemplation, he quickened his pace and arrived at the grand plaza in the east.

The grand plaza was already filled with a large crowd.

Despite the cloudy weather with falling snow, people had buttoned up their thick clothes, murmuring quietly while scrutinizing the center of the plaza.

In the middle stood a variety of people, kneeling like criminals with snow accumulating on their bodies, simply waiting for their fates like pigs in a slaughterhouse, trembling faintly.

As Kiersen’s group pushed through the crowd to reach the center, all the whispers around them ceased at the sound of a low rumble.

Thud.

With the tap of a sword sheath, Cain stepped forward.

After checking the attention of the onlookers with a turn of his head, he calmly announced:

“An emergency trial for alleged treason begins now.”

At his proclamation, a little commotion stirred.

The dark-haired man with dark eyes, towering over commoners with his height and stature, was well-known to the residents of the capital.

The man at the side of the Empress had spoken.

This commotion was a trial to dispose of the alleged traitor.

Among those kneeling were merchants who believed they had connections to protect them, officials known for demanding bribes and acting superior, and mercenaries clad in rugged armor, among others.

The crowd among the residents was quite familiar with them, mostly for negative reasons.

A strange atmosphere spread among the people, and the expressions of the high-ranking nobles observing the scene grew serious when Cain pulled a piece of paper from his coat.

“The first one: Jaeman, Chairman of the Karam Merchant Guild. Charges include human trafficking, organizing and supporting organized crime groups, and lastly, facilitating and/or cooperating in illegal slave production.”

Cain tossed the paper towards the ashen-faced Jaeman.

“We have the testimonies secured, and the records and business data of various transactions are in the hands of the Royal Knights. The sin of mocking and deceiving the valuable resources and subjects of the Empire. His actions that shake the foundation of the state are by no means a trivial matter.”

As Jaeman, trembling violently, tried to skim through the paper that had fallen onto the snowy ground, Cain’s words pierced his ears.

“By the Empire’s law and doctrine, I ask you one last time. Prove your innocence.”

Swish-

A gray-haired royal knight standing nearby drew his sword.

The other knights who had been guarding the criminals also drew their swords.

Jaeman shut his eyes tightly.

Behind the captured employees of the Karam Merchant Guild, knights armed with drawn swords also stood.

What would happen after the final answer was no secret.

With a trembling voice, he spoke.

“I-I’m innocent! All this is due to the envy of another merchant guild against ours…”

“Silence.”

Interrupting Jaeman’s speech, Cain turned his head.

“Carry out the execution.”

“No…”

Thud.

The sword flashed, and Jaeman’s head fell.

The heads of several other bodies followed, tumbling onto the snowy ground, as dark red blood slowly spread around.

The knight who had swung the sword dispassionately wiped it off and returned to his position.

The crowd held their breath at the surreal scene.

Before the shock had even subsided, Cain spoke again.

“Next. The Sib Mercenary Corps, Leader Kant.”

Cain listed the same crimes for the Sib Mercenary Corps, and as expected, gave them a chance to refute.

Leader Kant and his subordinates desperately claimed their innocence, mostly incoherent pleas for mercy or angry growls.

Once again, Cain ordered the execution, and the swords of the royal knights severed the mercenary corp’s heads.

The situation continued similarly after that.

The innocent claims of criminals and remorseless swords.

The plaza, which had been silent at first, quickly heated up with excitement.

People are dying!

The necks of those usual troublemakers have been severed!

The excited frenzy swallowed the entire plaza, and the residents of the capital, forgetting that they were in the company of nobles, enthusiastically cheered.

Amidst the chaotic scene, Kiersen bit his lip.

“Madman. Calling this a trial?”

Though he had requested proof of innocence, everyone’s heads were cut off.

The counterarguments were nothing but procedural, and none of those brought here could have proven their innocence.

This isn’t a trial but an execution.

It’s merely a theatrical performance presented while everything has already been decided.

“Still… it’s alright.”

At least it was fortunate that Cain was holding this execution in the form of a trial.

If so, there was room for Norman to get out of it.

To decapitate a noble on the spot, it would need to be proven as an act akin to treason.

Norman is not a traitor.

Precisely, there is no evidence connecting him to treason.

There’s no way to label Norman as a traitor.

If executed recklessly, his death could instead be used to pull Cain down. If he is labeled as a tyrant who has gone mad with bloodlust and his qualifications are stripped, that would be sufficient.

Given the amount of blood already seen, that claim won’t be taken as a joke.

“The way for Norman to die is…”

Hiring an assassin for a duke.

But that fact cannot be proven.

Looking around, there’s no sign of the assassin who went south, or even his corpse.

“Macbilian. Why conduct executions through a trial?”

Why exactly?

You can’t just cut off a noble’s head with meager evidence.

Kiersen observed the execution in the name of a trial.

Heads continued to fall even now. The snowy field was so soaked in red that it no longer could be called a snowy field.

The trial was drawing to an end.

Only the last person, Norman, was left. A stout figure in a navy uniform had his turn.

The face was familiar.

He didn’t know every bureaucrat in the palace, but he faintly remembered who this man was.

“…The Commander of the North Gate Guard Corps?”

The North Gate Guard Commander and his subordinates lined up to either side of Norman, who stood in the middle. They shivered violently, staring at the crimson pools of blood and shedding tears.

The commander himself, unable to withstand the fear, seemed to have lost control of his bladder, soaking his lower part.

Though it was a frowning sight, Kiersen understood.

He was executing them one by one, having decided to kill them.

All around, severed heads, like wildflowers in a field, were buried in the snow.

The scene of maddened cheering from the residents and the heavy scent of blood was a blood-red spectacle unimaginable anywhere else.

How many people can remain calm faced with the clear approach of death?

“Clear death…”

Kiersen looked over the execution ground again.

The crimson path stretching past Norman.

There was no need to place Norman at the center for the last turn. Yet Cain had placed Norman in the center before proceeding with the executions.

“…”

He swiftly checked on Norman’s condition.

When the central nobles arrived, Norman had been standing upright, but now his shoulders slumped, and the hands that rested on his knees trembled.

And the eyes looking up at Cain with a fearful gaze.

The shocking scenes and atmosphere sometimes make it impossible to remain rational.

“This is bad.”

If Norman quietly accepted the trial, he would survive somehow.

Even if Cain presented some form of evidence, it could have been managed with an appropriate punishment.

Considering his past actions, it would be impossible to prove complete innocence, but with compromises from the Eastern Faction to Cain, there could have been room for agreement.

However, if Norman rejected the trial, there would be no way to help him.

“Good show! You too, the Guard Corps!”

“You miserable guards, just die quietly!”

Amidst the hateful cries of the residents, swords inevitably swung.

As the mad cheering continued, Cain lightly wiped off the sword that had beheaded the guard commander and calmly moved forward.

Splash.

The distinct sound of stepping on a pool of blood.

At that horrifying sound, Norman lifted his head.

The fiery determination reflected in Norman’s eyes.

Before Kiersen could rush out to cover his mouth, Norman shouted.

“Macbilian! To prove my honor and innocence, I hereby apply for a duel, following the long-standing tradition of this nation’s nobility!”

The cry echoed over the residents’ cheering.

Kiersen sighed and pressed his forehead.

At that cry, Cain snarled with a fierce laugh.