The Execution (3)
* * *
With a soft *thud*, the knot came undone and the rope fell away. It was the line that had held Karina in place.
I lifted the axe once more and severed the knot binding her arms. Then I pulled her forward and shoved her down from beneath the guillotine.
Now freed, Karina immediately tore the gag from her mouth.
“Y-Your Grace, the Duchess!”
She stared up at me with eyes full of disbelief.
“Step back.”
I raised the axe again and moved in front of the guillotine. When I brought it down on the taut rope, a chilling sound rang out as the massive blade plummeted.
Screams erupted from the crowd. No blood had been spilled, yet the sheer terror radiating from the gleaming blade left every soul gathered in the square frozen with fear.
I tossed the axe aside. My legs threatened to give out beneath me, but I summoned the last of my strength and forced myself to stand. I walked over to Karina and positioned her behind me.
“It was not a mistake. It was a choice. Since no crime was committed, I will not correct it.”
I shouted with every ounce of energy I possessed toward the Marchioness, who was watching me.
“There will be days I regret this. Days when I loathe myself for it. But… even those moments, I will endure.”
Only after standing before the guillotine had I realized the truth: I had never wished for her misfortune.
Though she had stood between His Majesty and me, coveted what was mine, and tried to steal it away, I had never desired her death.
I did not know the full story of her life. All I had were the fragmented tales she had told me, along with a few facts I had heard from others like Esi.
Had there ever been even a single moment of happiness in her life? Surely there must have been at least one. But it seemed her existence had been filled far more with sorrow than joy, with despair rather than hope.
And what of my own life? I had suffered painful partings from those I held dear, yet the happy days had far outnumbered the sad ones. There had been tears, but there had been far more laughter.
The descendant of the victor and the descendant of the defeated. Our lives were perfect opposites. The measure of my happiness had been exactly equal to the depth of her misfortune.
‘If her grandfather had been the one who won the war…’
Those moments might have become my life instead. I might have become her. That was why I could not kill her.
Just then, the deep blast of a horn echoed from the direction of the imperial palace. It was the signal announcing an imperial message.
“Stop! By imperial decree!”
At the words “imperial decree,” every head in the square turned. A squadron of imperial knights was riding toward them from the palace.
The herald at the forefront reined in his horse sharply before the platform where the Marchioness stood. He dismounted in a single fluid motion, approached her, and presented a letter bearing the Emperor’s seal. The Marchioness rose from her chair and accepted the imperial missive with respectful hands.
Behind her, the murmurs of the gathered crowd swelled even louder. The imperial knights pushed through the throng, carving a wide path.
“Who are they…?”
“It’s Their Graces, the two Archdukes!”
Two men appeared at the end of that path. It was Hellion and Illid. The nobles who recognized the two Archdukes bowed first in greeting, and the commoners quickly followed, dropping to their knees to welcome them.
Hellion and Illid came to a stop before the Marchioness.
“Marchioness Lilche. His Imperial Majesty has ordered the execution halted. Lower the guillotine at once and release Karina Linton.”
At Illid’s words, the Marchioness slowly lowered the hand holding the Emperor’s letter. The seal remained unbroken.
“His Late Majesty granted our family the right to handle all matters concerning the Regentera house without imperial approval. Surely His Majesty does not intend to overturn his father’s decision?”
“Marchioness.”
Illid continued in a calm, persuasive tone, attempting to sway the stubborn old woman.
“You would not have gone to such lengths merely to kill one powerless woman.”
“Yet is His Majesty not once again clashing with the Regentera house simply to spare that one powerless woman?”
The Emperor’s letter alone could neither subdue nor persuade the Marchioness. Illid immediately presented his best alternative.
“Marchioness, name what you desire.”
“What I desire… what I desire…”
Only then did the Marchioness’s rigidly frozen expression soften slightly. She lifted the corners of her mouth in a meaningful smile as she looked at the Emperor’s two nephews.
“If His Majesty truly wishes to spare that criminal, then I suppose it cannot be helped. This old woman shall step back. However, I must receive suitable compensation in return.”
“Compensation?”
“Grant our house the right of amnesty.”
“The right of amnesty?”
“Yes. I speak of the special privilege that prevents the Emperor from interfering in or punishing any matter concerning the Regentera and Lilche families.”
At the old woman’s words, Illid’s face hardened instantly.
Amnesty. Such a privilege was reserved for those who had helped topple a tyrant and install a powerless emperor. Yet here she was, demanding it in a time of peace. Not only the Archdukes standing before her, but even the nobles gathered in the square began murmuring in shock.
‘Grandmother, what on earth are you thinking…?’
The way she demanded amnesty as if she had been waiting for this moment only deepened my confusion. Perhaps this had been her goal from the very beginning.
“Why? Can you not grant it?”
The Marchioness pressed Illid with a tone that bordered on accusation.
“If you refuse, then there is nothing to be done. I shall simply continue what I was doing. What are you all waiting for? Tie the criminal up again!”
At the Marchioness’s sharp command, the Lilche family’s private soldiers stepped forward and climbed onto the platform where Karina stood. Karina screamed and tried to shake them off, but the soldiers seized her arms and dragged her back toward the guillotine.
“I will grant it!”
At that moment, Hellion, who had been standing beside Illid, spoke quickly.
“The right of amnesty that the Marchioness has requested—I shall grant it.”
“Is that possible?”
When the Marchioness asked, Hellion gave a firm nod. This time, Illid shot him a fierce glare.
“Hellion, you mustn’t.”
“What do you mean, I mustn’t? Just figure out what matters most. His Majesty ordered us to bring Karina Linton back alive by any means necessary.”
Hellion refuted Illid in a strong, unwavering tone. But Illid immediately shook his head.
“They have demanded the right of amnesty. This is not a matter to be decided so lightly.”
“Does it seem His Grace the Southern Archduke is uncomfortable with this?”
At the Marchioness’s pointed remark, Illid turned toward her. But before he could answer, she spoke first.
“If you intend to say you must consult His Majesty first, then please return. In any case, matters concerning our house are beyond even the Emperor’s interference. Let us forget about that trivial right of amnesty. After all, my sole purpose was to kill that criminal.”
“……”
Illid clenched his fists tightly, biting his lip. Unlike Hellion, who had already agreed to grant amnesty, Illid still hesitated.
He turned his head and looked toward the opposite platform where Karina and I stood. His gaze lingered on me for a moment before shifting to Karina behind me. After a brief pause, he nodded at Hellion.
“His Majesty said he would pay any price to bring Karina Linton back alive. So it will be done. I will guarantee the right of amnesty.”
Hellion spoke to the Marchioness. She shifted her gaze to Illid. With a small sigh, he answered.
“Hellion is right. His Majesty will permit it.”
At his reply, the Marchioness burst into loud laughter. Then she turned her back on the two Archdukes and faced the crowd gathered in the square.
“People of the Tebron Empire! His gracious Majesty the Emperor has bestowed the right of amnesty upon the Regentera ducal house! I accept this gift with a joyful heart, and in return, I shall spare the descendant of the traitor. Let everyone gathered here today bear witness to this event!”
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
“Long live the Tebron Empire!”
At the Marchioness’s declaration, the citizens cheered wildly, praising the Emperor’s merciful decision.
“Release the criminal.”
At the Marchioness’s command, the soldiers let go of Karina. Only then did the tension leave her; she collapsed onto the platform and began sobbing loudly. Her violently trembling body soon twisted in painful convulsions.
The imperial servants who had accompanied the Archdukes helped Karina down from the platform. As she was carried on a servant’s back toward the carriage, jeers and curses poured down on her from the crowd.
“Descendant of a traitor, never forget the Duchess’s mercy!”
“Never insult the Duchess again! Never forget what happened today!”
‘It’s over. It’s truly all over now.’
The tension that had kept me upright finally drained away. The strength left my legs, and as I crumpled to the ground, someone caught me.
“Ishtel!”
“Hellion.”
When I lifted my head, I saw Hellion’s blue eyes filled with worry. I leaned my heavy, drooping head against his chest. A dizzying wave of vertigo washed over me so strongly I could barely keep my eyes open.
“It’s all right now, Ishtel. Let’s go back to the palace together.”
Hellion’s hands and arms holding me were warm. The chill that had settled over my body from the tension slowly began to melt away.
The ringing in my ears that had tormented me gradually faded. For just a moment, I wished time would stop right here.
“Ishtel.”
But that brief peace was shattered by the person who pulled me away. It was Illid, who had roughly shoved Hellion’s shoulder.
“Come with me, Ishtel.”
At Illid’s words, Hellion’s eyes flashed with anger as he glared at him. But there were too many eyes watching. Not wanting to cause a scene, Hellion reluctantly took a step back.
I barely managed to open my exhausted eyes and look up at Illid. His black hair had grown much longer since I had last seen him.
It had been a long time. Yet instead of joy, what I felt most strongly was resentment. I deliberately avoided the eyes that had always made my heart race whenever they looked at me.
“I will go with Hellion.”
I released Illid’s hand and moved to stand beside Hellion.
“Let’s go, Hellion.”
Leaning on Hellion’s support, I descended from the platform.
I did not look back. I wasn’t sure whether this was payback for the time Illid had refused to see me, or whether my own heart had truly changed. Even I was confused.
As I walked hand-in-hand with Hellion toward the carriage, voices from the crowd reached me at every step.
“Duchess, may you always be happy!”
“Benevolent Duchess, you are the greatest blessing to the imperial family!”
From the very same mouths that had condemned Karina flowed the warmest blessings imaginable.
It was a truly strange feeling.