As the Sun Sets
As the sun sets, a group of people kneel in the center of a massive stone colosseum. Before them, a knight clad in ornate armor unfurls a long scroll of parchment and reads aloud in a booming voice. "Having held the supreme office of Emperor, yet conspiring with the demons and betraying humanity..."
Before the knight, who reads the parchment with utter indifference, kneel men in a wretched, battered state. Bound tightly in ropes, they hang their heads as if they have abandoned all hope. "Furthermore, ignoring the customs of the Empire, mocking the Imperial Senate, and oppressing the various lords..." Their faces are devoid of hope. Having likely endured brutal torture, a swift death might be the only mercy left for them. At the very least, once dead, they will no longer suffer such agony.
"P-please... spare us..." A young boy, barely ten years old, whimpers through his tears, but the knight continues to read the parchment without a single pause. "And mocking the laws of the Empire, extorting its citizens..."
Anyone witnessing this spectacle would find it impossible to comprehend. For the men dragged into the center of the arena like common criminals... are none other than the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the princes of the Empire.
The Emperor, revered by his subjects as a benevolent ruler, along with the beloved Crown Prince and the princes, have been dragged into the arena like cattle to the slaughter—by the very family that had sworn eternal loyalty to the Empire for generations.
The architect of this horrific nightmare... is my biological father, Valorang, the Grand Duke of Francesco. Under the pretext of reinforcing the eastern border, Valorang marched his army into the capital. Having bribed the gatekeepers beforehand, he breached the city walls and successfully executed a coup d'état. And that is why... the noble male members of the imperial family are being subjected to such humiliation.
A coup achieved through despicable conspiracy. To secure his grip on power and bring a swift end to the transition, he has forced the Emperor and the male imperial heirs—beings of supreme nobility—to kneel here like common felons, crushing them beneath his heel.
"Therefore, in accordance with the verdict handed down by the Imperial Senate, the execution of the current Emperor and the imperial family members who conspired with him shall now be carried out!" As the herald makes the proclamation, executioners with their faces shrouded in black cloth march in, taking their positions beside the Emperor and the princes with disciplined precision.
"Boo! Down with the traitors!"
"This verdict is invalid!"
"Release His Imperial Majesty!"
"Usurper! Step down, Valorang!"
"The Empire belongs to the Emperor and the Senate!"
A few citizens, unable to accept this reality, begin to shout. Soon, the furious roars of the crowd fill the colosseum. Displeased by the commotion, the Grand Duke standing beside me barks an order.
"What are the executioners waiting for?! Hurry! Execute those demon-worshipping scum at once!"
"No! Stop! Please, stop! You said you would spare them! You promised to let my family live!"
Kneeling beside the Grand Duke, screaming in despair, is the beautiful Theodora Augusta. Her pale gray hair and crimson eyes are proof of her imperial blood. Though her thick, elegant gray locks sweep against the dusty ground, she pays it no mind. As the executioners grip their axe handles with both hands, she lunges toward the edge of the balcony. She reaches her hand out into the empty air, but the merciless executioners raise their massive axes high. And then...
Thwack! With a sickening, wet sound, fourteen heads roll across the stone floor. Princess Theodora—no, as of yesterday, Crown Princess Theodora—reaches out as far as her arm can stretch, but she cannot undo the deaths that have already occurred.
"Ah! Nooooo!" Screaming in agony, her body sways, and she begins to collapse as if fainting. I quickly step forward to support her.
"Stepmother... are you alright?" Though she is younger than me, she is the Grand Duke's fiancée—the woman destined to become my biological father's new wife. Well... she will never actually become my stepmother. Once I kill the Grand Duke tonight, she will be the sole lifeline to save my own neck.
Slap! A sudden, burning sting flares across my cheek. I taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth. The inside of my lip must have split.
"Debian! What do you think you are doing?" Valorang glares at me, his eyes burning with fury. He has always looked for an excuse to kill me. Now that the Emperor, who served as his only restraint, is dead, he will undoubtedly try to dispose of me soon. Meeting Valorang's beast-like gaze, I bow my head politely. For now... I must submit. If I give him even the slightest pretext, he will have me executed on the spot. I raise my head, forcing a bright, pleasant smile.
"My apologies, Your Grace. I only wished to assist my future stepmother, lest she injure her face before your wedding tomorrow, Your Grace." This beast of a man planned to marry his new bride the very day after murdering her father. Does he even possess human emotions, or is he one of those psychopaths I used to hear about back on Earth? Concealing my thoughts, I play my part to perfection. My performance seems to placate him slightly, as Valorang flares his nostrils and snorts.
"Get out of my sight..." At his command, I look around the arena. The vassals who have served our family for generations watch me with worried eyes. In a corner, the Empress and the Second Princess weep endlessly, their faces hollow with despair. I quietly hand the unconscious Theodora, still cradled in my arms, over to the court physician.
"Please take good care of my stepmother." Offering them a brief bow, I take my leave. Just you wait, Valorang. You won't survive the night. Steeling my resolve, I walk out of the execution grounds.
As I make my way down a long, winding corridor, a handsome blonde man approaches me. "Are you alright, young master?" "Yes. So... how is the plan coming along?" Agrippa nods and hands me a handkerchief.
"Yes, we have won over a significant portion of the guards. When the time comes, they will all head to the banquet." I take the handkerchief from Agrippa and dab at my lip. Seeing the smear of crimson blood on the cloth, I ask, "And... what about the watchtower later?" In the original novel, the Crown Princess escapes tonight through a secret passage in the palace watchtower. I cannot afford to let my lifeline slip away. Agrippa glances around before whispering in my ear.
"I have already... stationed our private soldiers at the location you specified." "Really? That's a relief. What time did you say the banquet starts?" "At... nine tonight." I nod. "We cannot afford any mistakes. You understand, right?" Agrippa chuckles softly. "Do not worry, young master."
"If this succeeds... I'll make you the consort. Your descendants will likely rule the Grand Duchy." I offer him the position of matrilocal husband, but in truth, I am practically begging him to take it. In the future, when the Demon King resurrects, Agrippa will become the supreme commander of the allied forces, saving humanity alongside the hero. He will marry my younger sister, Mary, and their child will inherit the Grand Duchy... so I have no lingering attachments to the title. My only dream is to live a peaceful life and die of old age.
"Haha, I care little for the Grand Duchy. I only need Lady Mary." I honestly have no idea what a handsome fellow like Agrippa sees in that wild, untamed mare of a girl... "Well, whatever," I say, looking back down the corridor we just traversed. "Let's get this over with quickly... We still need to win over the vassals."
Even if I succeed in killing Valorang, it will all be for naught if the vassals refuse to follow me. Though I have made preparations, I cannot help but worry about what choice they will make. For all I know, my own head might roll at the hands of my subordinates, just like the Emperor's did moments ago. I cannot afford to take this lightly. "Do not worry. The officers are on your side, young master." I nod at his reassuring words.
"That puts my mind at ease, at least a little." In truth, I am not reassured at all. We have only managed to win over two generals... I hope this goes well. I am anxious and afraid, but this is something that must be done. "It will go well. Have you not been preparing for this for a very long time?" I offer a bitter smile. The preparations to execute my father, Valorang, are complete.
The die is cast. The famous words once spoken by Julius Caesar. At this very moment, I have cast my own die.
The night is pitch-black. Relying on a small lantern, I walk through the darkness.
Hoot... hoot... The cry of an owl brushes past my ears. I scan my surroundings. The Imperial Palace is brilliantly lit, radiant and magnificent. Though its supreme ruler has perished, its majestic presence still commands awe. Is it because it was built through the joint efforts of dwarves, elves, and dark elves? Though it is an ancient structure, its splendor and grandeur do not fade, even with its master gone.
Tap... tap... My footsteps echo softly against the stone path. Leaving the majestic palace behind, I step into the shadows. I cross the garden behind the palace, heading toward the watchtower rising resolutely at the eastern edge. It is a symbolic structure that has stood for ages—perhaps even longer than the palace itself—though it has long since lost its original purpose. I walk toward it.
Knock, knock. I rap on the old iron door. With a rusty creak, the door swings open. "Young master... you've arrived?" A familiar face emerges from the gloom. "Yes. What about the Princess?" Agrippa shakes his head. "She has not come yet." I nod. "She will try to escape tonight. Keep a close eye out." Though Agrippa looks puzzled by my certainty, he nods.
"Do you not believe me?" "To be honest... it is hard to believe. It was surprising enough to learn that this tower contains a secret passage leading outside... but for you to even know the exact time of her escape... it stretches credulity." "Want to make a bet then?" Agrippa grins. "What kind of bet?"
"If I make it back alive... there will be a mountain of work waiting for us." I look at Agrippa, who is listening quietly, and continue. "When that happens... how about the loser has to work overtime for a month?" Agrippa's face falls, completely deflated by the stakes. "Haha... I am not particularly fond of overtime." "You'll have to get used to it. The position you are destined for comes with a price." "I do not desire such a position."
I stare intently at him. "If Valorang dies tonight... my permission will be absolutely necessary if you want to marry Lady Mary, won't it?" Once the current patriarch dies, I will become the next head of the family. For Mary to marry Agrippa, she will need my consent. "So, you had better help me secure my power." "My... perhaps I should consider eloping with Lady Mary instead." I smile. "I already told you, I'm handing the Grand Duchy over to your and Mary's children..." I pat Agrippa on the shoulder. "I'm counting on you."
I'm counting on you... Those words carry many layers of meaning. If our rebellion fails and I die... I am trusting him with what comes next. And... I am trusting him with my only sister. Agrippa probably doesn't realize the weight of those words. "Well... I shall do my best. At any rate, please come inside. The mercenaries are waiting anxiously." Following Agrippa, I step into the watchtower. Inside, I see three men and one woman. Among them, a familiar man bows his head respectfully.
"It has been a while, young master." "Karl... thank you for making the journey." The man lets out a hearty laugh. He has the build of a bear, with thick, powerful neck muscles that practically scream that he is no ordinary man. "Allow me to introduce our party." Karl points to a gloomy-looking man with long black hair standing behind him. "This is Hans. He is a master of dual-wielding." I extend my hand warmly. "I am Debian Lion. It is a pleasure to meet you." Hans takes my hand and shakes it. Karl continues, "Regrettably... his tongue was cut out in the past, so he cannot speak. I hope you understand." Hearing this, I look at Hans with a pang of pity.
"And the woman next to Hans is..." I look at the youthful-looking woman standing beside him. "Hello. I am Rebecca." I am slightly taken aback by her unexpected appearance. "She is an assassin who specializes in daggers and poisons," Karl adds. Quickly recovering my composure, I extend my hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you. Please forgive my hesitation; I was simply startled to find such a beautiful lady here." Rebecca has a somewhat common but cute appearance, with charming freckles. She beams at me as she takes my hand.
"Oh, stop it! If you ever need an assassin, just call on me anytime." Despite her cute, ordinary face, the thick calluses on her palm tell me that her skills are formidable. I smile and joke, "I have quite a few people who need dealing with. I will be sure to contact you often." "Oh my... you can just reach me through Karl later!" "I will do so soon." I tell Rebecca, who even throws a playful wink my way.
"The man next to Rebecca is Jason. He is an expert spearman." I turn to the tall, well-proportioned man beside her. Standing nearly 190 centimeters tall, he is a towering figure. I offer my hand. "A pleasure to meet you. I am Debian." Jason shakes my hand. "Nice to meet you. I am Jason." "He is a former member of the Giant Corps," Karl explains. That catches me off guard. I see... so you are also one of Valorang's victims. I feel a deep sense of kinship with Jason.
"It is about time we move. Everyone, get ready." Agrippa begins handing out guard armor and weapons to the mercenaries. Watching them, I try to soothe my racing heart. It will go well... it has to. I look at Karl, Rebecca, and Jason as they suit up in the guard uniforms. Since Jason was in the Giant Corps, the armor looks a bit tight on him, but we'll have to make do. "Alright... let's go." I turn to Agrippa one last time. "If... if I fail... I trust you to handle the aftermath." Agrippa replies in a cheerful, confident voice. "It will go well." "Right... I'm off." With those final words, I step out of the watchtower.