Chapter 29

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Execution
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A massive crowd had gathered at the execution grounds.

“It hasn't been as fun since they switched from the gallows to the guillotine.”

“Still, it's been a while since we've had a nobleman.”

“Here he comes!”

The crowd laughed and threw stones at Mattio, who was tied to a post on a cart. Dazed, Mattio took the full force of the flying stones.

Public executions were a popular spectacle for the masses. The gathered crowd waited eagerly for the execution to begin, chatting amicably among themselves.

The guillotine was placed on a high platform so the crowd could get a good view of the execution. Mattio was led by soldiers and stood before the guillotine.

Facing death, he let out a grief-stricken cry filled with fear, but it was drowned out by the roar of the crowd. Struggling Mattio was finally forced onto the guillotine.

The executioner carried out the sentence swiftly. The rope was cut, and the heavy blade plunged downward. *Slice.* His head fell, and blood gushed out. As the thick, coppery smell of blood spread, the people cheered.

And so, the real festival began. Onlookers rushed forward like vultures and began to tear the condemned man's body to pieces.

They fought tooth and nail for the head, while those pushed to the back scrambled to collect even a bit of the blood that flowed from the corpse. This was due to the superstition that possessing a part of an executed person’s body brought good luck.

The most popular condemned were nobles and young maidens. Mattio's execution was the first of a nobleman in a very long time, driving the crowd into an even greater frenzy.

Before long, Mattio—the son-in-law of Marquess Meneguin, the President of the Senate, and a young, competent member of the House of Commons—vanished without a single piece of flesh left behind. Only the dark red stain on the square's stones marked the trace of his existence in this world.

Cesare watched the entire spectacle from beginning to end. He watched the crowd delight in obtaining parts of the corpse, then quietly twisted his lips into a smile.

“Not a sight that's good for one's mental health.”

Rotan glanced sideways at his master, who had spoken as if in jest. Cesare's expression was serene.

He had seen far more gruesome sights on the battlefield. Was that all? He had committed even worse acts. Cesare was the kind of man who could be covered in blood and gore one day and still casually cut into a steak and sleep soundly that night.

One need not look far; just the other day, he had turned all those involved in Aileen's kidnapping into minced meat.

From the traitor in the military high command to the men at the villa that day, all had died after horrific torture. All but one: Mattio. He had been kept alive solely to bring down Marquess Meneguin, and only today was his head taken by the guillotine.

For such a man to speak of mental health. Even as a joke, it was the first time Cesare had said something like that.

Rotan recalled something that had happened a short while ago. He had been secretly summoned by the Emperor. A summons made without Cesare's knowledge.

The Emperor of the Traon Empire, Leone Traon Kal Imperator, was Cesare's own brother. In the heartless Imperial Palace, where blood ties meant little in the face of power, the twin brothers shared an unusually deep bond.

The young emperor cherished his younger brother, but Cesare, in comparison, was rather indifferent. He never spoke of his troubles, no matter what happened. Since he rarely spoke of himself, Leone had always made a habit of asking Rotan about this and that.

The Emperor must have also sensed the change in Cesare, so Rotan had anticipated being summoned soon. The reason he specifically summoned Rotan was that the other knights all had their own issues.

Senon was brilliant but timid, unable to speak frankly to his superiors. Michele, a former palace maid, would freeze up with nervousness before the Emperor. Diego was emotional and couldn't express his thoughts coherently, which made Rotan the most suitable choice.

“Greetings to the Imperator.”

“Sir Rotan.”

Leone's face was fraught with worry. He had Rotan sit in the audience chamber and spent some time sighing heavily. After a while of nothing but sighs, Rotan, knowing it was a breach of etiquette, spoke first.

“His Excellency seems to have changed a great deal recently.”

“So it's true, isn't it? Ever since that boy, who never cared for power, suddenly demanded a Triumphal Arch…”

Leone trailed off, wiping a hand over his face.

“He said something strange to me. As his brother, I can't help but worry.”

“May I ask what His Excellency said?”

Still looking incredulous, Leone relayed to Rotan what Cesare had said. Indeed, it was a statement so out of character for Cesare. Had he not heard it directly from His Majesty the Emperor's lips, Rotan would not have believed it either.

To think he might slaughter the people of the Traon Empire.

Cesare was, to put it nicely, strong-willed, and to put it less nicely, cruelly indifferent. The only small exception to his cold demeanor was Aileen.

He was not one to make baseless remarks, so there must have been a clear reason for his words. But the cause remained a complete mystery. What was clear, however, was that Cesare had changed since the beheading of the Kalpen King.

As his twin brother, Leone had an intuition that this change in his sibling was not ordinary.

“I have a favor to ask, Sir Rotan.”

And so, he had made a request of Rotan, behind Cesare's back. Unlike Rotan, whose heart was heavy with the Emperor's command, Cesare's face remained impassive.

“It seems I'll have to marry soon if I want to stay sane.”

He muttered this to himself, his gaze still on the crowd, before asking a question.

“And Aileen?”

“Today, aside from a brief visit to the bookstore and the market, she has been at home all day.”

Cesare gave a slight nod. To prevent Aileen from drawing attention, the kidnapping incident from that day had been quietly buried. Spreading a story about a young lady being abducted by men would only lead to nasty rumors, so it was suppressed.

Besides, Mattio's execution was already certain, so there was no need to add another charge to his name.

“Also, Meneguin sent a gift to Lady Aileen, but I have taken measures to ensure it was not delivered.”

Cesare laughed out loud.

“Do I inspire so little trust?”

He had clearly promised to spare him, but Meneguin had sent a gift to get on Aileen's good side, just in case Cesare changed his mind.

Marquess Meneguin had paid a sufficient price.

He had come to the Grand Duke's residence in Erzet and, before Cesare's eyes, plucked out his remaining eye with his own hand.

To the now-blind man, Cesare had magnanimously promised to spare his life, and indeed, the Marquess left the capital alive with his daughter. Though he had lost his honor and power, his remaining wealth was intact, which would be more than enough to live on.

“I think Count Domenico would make a fine new President of the Senate.”

Count Domenico was a neutral figure, belonging to neither the pro-imperial nor anti-imperial faction. Rotan weighed his words carefully before offering his opinion.

“I'm not sure he will cooperate.”

The man was known for his rigid and inflexible attitude. If he were to become president, the anti-imperial nobles would likely have no major objections, but he could very well become an obstacle for the imperial family later on.

“Cooperation?”

But Cesare seemed to have already calculated everything. He defined his relationship with Count Domenico simply.

“It's an order.”

***

Having spent the night at the grand ducal residence, Aileen scanned her surroundings the moment she opened her eyes. Upon confirming that Cesare was not beside her, she offered a prayer of thanks to a god she didn't even believe in.

Next, she asked Sonio, who had brought her breakfast and a new pair of glasses, about Cesare's whereabouts. She felt a great sense of relief upon hearing he had gone to the Imperial Palace. It meant she wouldn't have to run into him before leaving the residence.

“Lady Aileen, about breakfast…”

“It's fine! I'll just go back.”

She shook off Sonio, who kept insisting she at least have a simple sandwich if she had no appetite, and hurriedly fled back to the brick house. She was on edge the entire carriage ride from the grand ducal residence, only managing to relax once she reached her bedroom in the brick house.

Aileen draped herself over the small, one-person sofa like a piece of laundry. Then she let out a muffled scream.

“Aaaargh…!”

It was hardly ladylike behavior, but she had no room to care about such things. Alone, Aileen mercilessly tormented the sofa cushion. The events of last night kept replaying in her mind.

She had imagined that she would one day marry and have relations with her husband. She hadn't received any formal sex education, but she knew the basics of the process from reading biology books.

But what happened last night…

The image of Cesare smiling at her with his crimson eyes kept coming to mind. As did the words he had whispered with a smile.

“Next time, I'll let you suck it.”