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“I’d rather die here! I, I will never be dragged to the, the execution ground!”
Charles could finally understand the Emperor’s sudden actions.
It was then.
Thud!
The Emperor, who had lost a lot of blood, staggered and collapsed on the spot.
“Brother!”
Charles rushed over and embraced the Emperor.
The Emperor gasped for breath as if he were about to die, but strongly refused the healer’s touch.
Faint breaths and a bloodless, pale face.
Looking at the Emperor, Charles felt that death was already imminent. He then spoke in a low voice to Iana.
“Iana, bring the Empress.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Understanding the meaning of those words, Iana hurriedly went outside.
The Emperor, with a pained expression, struggled to speak.
“E-Everything felt like mine. Looking back, I, I had nothing…”
Charles pressed the Emperor’s wound with a handkerchief he received from the healer and soothed him.
“Brother, don’t speak. The wound will open and the pain will worsen.”
“I, I miss Mother so much.”
“…”
Charles silently shed tears.
The Emperor slowly closed his eyes and conveyed his last words in a faint voice.
“…I’m sorry.”
The Emperor left those words and breathed his last in Charles’s arms.
✦ ✦ ✦
Three days later, the day of the execution dawned.
Early in the morning, Iana entrusted Ru to Vera, who had come to the Imperial Palace, and returned to her room.
Charles stood blankly, staring out the window.
'Your Highness seems to be in pain.'
Iana thought, looking at Charles’s back.
Due to the Emperor’s sudden death, the scheduled execution date was postponed.
Because of this, Riel had to wait two more days for the execution while under Immobility Magic.
There were also changes for Iana.
During that time, rumors spread throughout the capital that Iana had been afflicted with black magic.
Through Duke Havel and the Imperial Army, who had heard the words of the leader of The Nine.
Iana quietly approached Charles and stood beside him.
Charles, with his eyes fixed on the window, spoke in a low voice.
“I thought I was doing the right thing, but now I don’t know anymore.”
Iana could tell from Charles’s mumbling, as if talking to himself.
That Charles would live with the guilt of the Emperor he had overthrown with his own hands for the rest of his life.
Iana wanted to lighten the burden of guilt that was weighing him down, even if only a little.
“If your heart is heavy, please remember those who risked their lives for the rebellion like me.”
“…”
“Those who believed in Your Highness’s will and followed you.”
Charles’s gaze, which had been fixed on the window, turned to Iana.
“I’m sorry. For showing you a weak side.”
Charles apologized, but his face was still dark.
To ease his heavy heart, Iana spread her arms and joked.
“Since your heart has weakened, shall I give you a hug?”
Charles smiled, tilting his upper body.
“It’s troublesome if you reveal your ulterior motives like this at any time.”
“Ulterior motives? It’s not that, I just… Your Highness…”
Iana opened her eyes wide and flared up.
At that moment, Charles pulled Iana into a deep embrace.
His breath and warm body temperature were conveyed to her.
Iana hugged him tightly, as if conveying comfort.
After a while, Charles looked at Iana and said as if making a pledge.
“I will endure it well.”
“…”
“For you and those who believed in me and followed me like you.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Flapping-.
The Imperial flag fluttered above the execution platform erected in Rubena Square.
The square was packed with people, leaving no room to set foot.
Riel, bound, headed to the execution platform in a line with those who were to be executed.
Men from the Duke Havel’s family, the healer Mer who had helped with the false pregnancy, nobles who had defended the Emperor, and the leader of The Nine were together.
“Kill them!”
As those to be executed appeared, people jeered and threw stones.
Amidst the shower of stones, Riel’s eyes met Iana’s, who was sitting on the platform.
It was then.
Thwack!
A stone thrown by someone hit Riel’s forehead.
“Ugh!”
Red blood flowed down her face. But Riel’s gaze was only directed at Iana.
The execution date was postponed because the cowardly and foolish Emperor suddenly died.
Riel had been under Immobility Magic all along, and the magic was only released when she arrived at the execution ground.
During that time, Riel had to wait for death helplessly.
The pain and anger were beyond words.
'Iana, I won’t die so easily.'
Riel thought, glaring at Iana with a venomous look.
“Everyone, be quiet. We will begin the execution ceremony.”
The judge went up to the execution platform and shouted loudly.
The excited people calmed down at once.
The judge bowed towards the platform where Charles and the Imperial elders were sitting.
Charles gestured, and the judge began the execution ceremony.
“The execution will proceed in order of lowest status, as stipulated in the Imperial Law.”
After speaking, the judge looked at Riel. Knights dragged Riel in front of the judge.
The judge began to read the execution statement.
“Riel Estina used Seulanka to kill people and claimed false pregnancy to slander the Empress. Then, she became pregnant with another man’s child and tried to deceive the Imperial Family. She also deceived the Emperor, who was not of sound mind, and obtained an order to depose the Empress.”
“Oh my goodness!”
At the judge’s words, the people were shocked and jeered.
“The crime of killing people and deceiving the Imperial Family is very serious, so Riel Estina is sentenced to death. Does the criminal have anything to say?”
The judge asked with a firm face.
The criminal’s plea.
In the Rubena Empire, those being executed were given a final chance to speak.
“Kill her quickly!”
People shouted and threw stones and eggs at Riel.
Riel slowly looked at the people in front of the execution platform and then shouted loudly.
“There is His Majesty’s child in my womb now!”
“…”
The people who were throwing stones stopped at the words that there was a child in her womb.
“Riel Estina, if you have nothing more to say…”
Just as the judge was about to stop Riel, Riel pointed at Iana with her bound arms and shouted.
“All of this is Iana Rechelles’s scheme to become the Empress!”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Iana, who was sitting in front of the platform.
Riel and Iana’s eyes met intensely.
“Isn’t the one who is trying to become the Empress with a sick body afflicted with black magic and unable to bear an heir the real criminal!”
“Is that rumor true?”
When Riel directly mentioned the rumor that Iana had been afflicted with black magic, the people were agitated.
Seeing that, Riel raised one corner of her mouth.
'Iana, I can’t bring you down directly, but I can tarnish you.'
Iana slowly rose from her seat and said.
“A sick body, then was I fighting monsters and defending the capital with a sick body?”
Silence fell over the execution ground.
Iana continued to speak in a loud voice.
“Riel Estina, you wouldn’t know, since you were safely hiding inside the Imperial Palace. What it means to risk your life to protect people…”
“Do you think you can become the Empress by reminding people of your achievements in front of them?”
Riel sneered.
Iana continued firmly.
“If I were blinded by power like you, I would have attacked the Imperial Palace with my magical power from the beginning. But I protected the capital until the very end. Even at the moment when you were trying to depose the Empress with a false order.”
“…”
“Don’t belittle my dedication as a desire to covet the Empress’s position. Because I will never become the Empress of Rubena.”
“…!”
The people stirred once again.
Riel and Iana’s eyes met once again.
Whoosh-.
The Wizard Robe that Iana was wearing rippled in the wind.
Riel had finally extracted a declaration from Iana’s mouth that she would not become the Empress.
But a deep sense of defeat, which she had never felt before, washed over her.
Iana’s firm eyes were telling her the reason.
'The position of Empress was a desperate goal for me, but not for you, Iana.'
It was at that moment.
Charles rose from his seat and said in a low voice.
“Iana Rechelles will not become the Empress.”
“…!”
Riel, as well as the gathered people, looked at Charles with surprised faces.
“Because I will not become the Emperor. I will return to Ervin as soon as the capital is stabilized.”
“Then who will become His Majesty the Emperor?”
The anxiety of the people in front of the execution platform erupted.
The anxiety that Charles would not become the Emperor.
The imperial citizens who had witnessed the tyranny of the deposed Emperor were afraid that an unverified person would become the Emperor.
Riel was finally able to grasp the situation.
'Grand Duke Ervin used me. To move the hearts of the imperial citizens.'
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