Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: The One Who Was the First Prince
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“Your Highness?”
Quintana bowed her head slightly to draw Arsen’s attention.
They were walking along the garden path leading to the outdoor opera theater where the execution would take place. Nobles gathered in small groups, chatting idly on the palace lawns. They pretended to shield themselves from the sun with fans and hats, but their eyes kept flicking toward Arsen.
“Ah. Yes.”
“Are you all right? Shall I have a carriage brought around?”
“It’s not far. And the weather’s nice.”
“…If Your Highness insists.”
It seemed particularly burdensome for him to face the nobles without Ian. Until recently, Arsen had never met privately with the central nobles, and most of them were older than him anyway, so their interests didn’t overlap. Without Ian to act as a bridge, it was only natural that he felt more tense.
Quintana and the ministers matched his pace, watching his expression closely as they walked.
“By the way, Your Highness. Who is that man behind us?”
“Xiaoshi?”
“Did Lord Ian assign him to you?”
Ian’s subordinate was famously the red-haired Sword-Mage. He had never heard of a heterochromic-eyed man called Xiaoshi. With his upright bearing, he seemed like a knight brought in from outside through Romandro.
Quintana whispered to Arsen, eyeing him warily.
“He’s not there to monitor Your Highness’s every move, is he?”
“Quintana. I truly appreciate your concern for me these past few days. But nothing like that is going on. Xiaoshi is my escort. Ian is the same.”
“That’s a relief, then.”
Only then did Quintana relax her guard a little and smile brightly. Even though Arsen was a Mana User—which could be intimidating—she was glad to see him as bright and unchanged as ever.
“This way, please.”
“Your Highness, over here.”
The opera theater was already more than half-filled with nobles. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, as if they were awaiting a famous performance.
Just as imperial authority waned in inverse proportion, the nobles welcomed the appropriate downfall of imperial kin. And today’s star was none other than First Prince Marib. What grander spectacle could there be than watching the man who had ruled the empire for over a decade meet his end?
“The gallows are bigger than I expected.”
“It’s your first time seeing one, isn’t it, Your Highness? The elevated stage makes it look that way. And the higher it is, the graver the criminal’s crimes are said to be.”
Arsen, Quintana, Xiaoshi, and the other ministers settled into their seats, leaning back. It was the seat of honor among seats of honor—the closest to the stage.
A moment later, Ian returned after inspecting the site.
“Did you enjoy your walk, Your Highness?”
“Ian! Come sit here.”
“It’ll start soon. If you’d like, you can close your eyes.”
By simply attending, Arsen had already done his part, and Ian was being considerate. As soon as Arsen nodded, the execution officer climbed onto the stage holding the verdict.
“Normally, His Majesty the Emperor would write it himself, but due to his health, we are using the imperial execution verdict from twenty-one years ago.”
At Ian’s explanation, the officer offered a formal bow. The murmuring hall fell silent in an instant. At last, the execution of First Prince Marib was beginning.
Bwoooo—
The clear, resounding blast of the water buffalo horn trumpet echoed. The officer solemnly unrolled the parchment and stood before the magic amplifier.
“By the name of His Majesty the Emperor, I now declare the crimes of the criminal Marib.”
It was a recitation that had been repeated countless times in the courtroom. No one particularly welcomed it, but the nobles applauded elegantly.
The atmosphere was utterly different from Derka’s execution in Bratz territory. Back then, they had been busy controlling the crowds hurling stones and filth. Now, it was calmly poised, like waiting for a true performance.
‘That’s why it feels eerie instead.’
An execution was meant for the criminal to pay for their sins with death. Crimes inevitably had victims, making the crowd’s anger a natural phenomenon.
But now? No one was angry.
“…Therefore, Marib shall be forever stripped of the honor and glory of the imperial family. By the Emperor’s command, Marib is sentenced to hanging.”
The verdict, which had been half-ignored, finally ended. Then Marib walked out from behind. Blindfolded and gagged, he appeared resigned, though the heavy shackles clanked loudly at his feet.
Bwoooo—
The trumpet blared again. The purpose of hanging was to inflict shame to the last. The executioners removed Marib’s blindfold, forcing him to realize he was kneeling before a throng of nobles.
“Put the noose on.”
“Put the noose on him!”
Creak. Creak.
An executioner lowered the rope beside him. Marib kept his gagged lips still. He seemed to have given up, offering his neck willingly. The thick rope tightened around it.
“Oh my. How cruel.”
“I still can’t quite believe it.”
“Tsk, tsk.”
At the executioner’s signal, Marib’s body rose slowly into the air. But he didn’t struggle, relaxing his body with dignity. He swayed slightly in the breeze, but offered no resistance.
“Higher!”
“Lift him higher!”
Creak! Creak!
In his final moment, Marib looked up at the sky. It was flawlessly blue. Clearer and purer than his own gray eyes. It seemed a silent promise that even after his life ended, time in Variel would flow on.
“Kh…!”
His long hair fluttered faintly. Tears flowed unbidden. Would anyone see them dripping from his chin?
In his blurring vision, Marib thought of his mother. If he met her in death, he would embrace her first. He would say that though he had failed, he had truly loved Variel and given his all.
‘And if there’s a next life, I won’t end up like this.’
His final vow. One that could never come true, fading like a midsummer night’s dream.
Marib exhaled his last breath and met his end beneath Variel’s open sky.
“He’s dead.”
“Prince Marib is dead.”
“Oh, he’s gone! Marib is dead.”
As his head drooped downward, the nobles gasped and applauded. Below the stage, waiting mages confirmed his breath had fully stopped and activated the magic circle.
Ziiing. Ziiing.
Splash!
“It’s magic!”
“Why magic?”
“They’re disposing of the body, I suppose.”
“Well, even if he’s been expelled from the imperial family, they might give him that much final respect. Minister Ian, I didn’t expect such consideration from you.”
“It’s not consideration. It’s a necessity.”
“What do you mean?”
The nobles glanced at Ian amid the sudden magic. But Ian kept his eyes fixed on Marib’s corpse, watching his end.
“His status is ambiguous, isn’t it? Not imperial, so we can’t follow the law for that; not a titled noble, nor a commoner? Best to just erase him.”
“True, and if they set up a tomb outside the palace, ignorant citizens might mourn him. Mourning a criminal? Absurd. If the mourning swells unexpectedly, it could burden the next heir, Your Highness. Better to nip it in the bud.”
The nobles whispered, each adding their thoughts. On the surface, it seemed like proper respect, but their true intentions were clear enough.
“…He truly is intriguing.”
“It hasn’t even been half a year since he came from the border. Look at the position he holds now. Isn’t it frightening?”
“I hear he’s even checking Duke Haiman.”
“If House Haiman falls, the rest is obvious. He’ll threaten all us central nobles.”
“Hush. Let’s hold our tongues for a bit. They say mages’ senses sharpen when using mana.”
Their voices were as small as an ant’s yawn, but the nobles cleared their throats unnecessarily, glancing at Ian’s expression. Not that they could see much from the back of his head.
Splash!
A beautiful aurora-like ripple bloomed on the stage. It enveloped Marib’s already cold body from the toes upward, soon covering it completely.
“Oh!”
“Butterflies.”
Marib’s form blurred from the feet up, transforming into white butterflies. Hundreds of them fluttered their wings softly, rising into the sky. In a brief moment, they scattered in all directions, carried by the wind.
Now, no one in the world would see Marib’s intact corpse again.
“Ian.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“……”
Was it Ian’s tribute, adorning Marib’s end beautifully? Or a measure to leave no body behind? Arsen turned to him curiously but didn’t ask. Somehow, it felt like both were true.
Saaah.
As the aurora faded, only the empty noose dangled, swaying in the wind. With the mages’ help, the execution officer expanded the magic amplifier’s range. Now, Marib’s death would be officially announced across Variel.
“Ahh. This is the proclamation from the palace. Marib Berosion, who was the First Prince, has been stripped of the imperial name for the crime of rebellion and hanged. Any who threaten Variel shall meet the same fate. Citizens of the great empire, take heed and erase Marib from history. I repeat. Marib Berosion, who was the First Prince…”
As the official broadcast to the entire empire continued, the nobles rose, celebrating the event’s end. Their brief applause and flushed faces spoke of a truly satisfying performance.
“Lady Dillaina, Your Highness Arsen. Care for some tea?”
“Sounds good. But first, may I shake your hand? They say a handshake with a Mana User brings luck.”
“Of course. Shall we move somewhere else?”
“With this weather, why not set up tables in the garden?”
Arsen’s side grew rowdy, factions clustering together. Arsen beamed openly as he exited the theater with his ministers, while Arsen stared blankly at the empty stage.
“Your Highness, are you all right?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. It’s just… my heart aches a little.”
They weren’t close, but they were still blood brothers. Arsen had a feeling he would forever remember Marib’s final words from the courtroom.
That he loved Variel more than anyone.
“Lord Ian, heading straight to the Magic Department?”
“No. I have a brief meeting with House Serro. Would Your Highness join us?”
“Is that all right?”
“Of course. Everything is for Your Highness’s future, after all. But the meeting may run long, so if you tire, please say so.”
“Yeah, yeah. The doctor said Berik will be fine as long as he doesn’t swallow meat whole, so I’ll try feeding him little by little.”
“I doubt Berik will take it lying down.”
Ian grimaced with a skeptical smile. But Arsen clenched his fist, full of determination. Getting Berik better quickly was his top priority.
“Quintana, and you?”
“Your Highness, forgive me, but I’ll be with Lord Ian for a bit.”
“Ah, I see. Then I’ll look at the flowers with Xiaoshi for a while. You all go ahead and talk.”
As Arsen stepped back with Xiaoshi, Quintana shot Ian a look to move elsewhere. As Ian followed her around the garden, Arsen crouched in the flower bed, pointing things out to Xiaoshi.
“This flower blooming is the signal that spring has come, so everyone… Huh?”
Swish.
At that moment, a white butterfly landed simultaneously on Arsen’s fingertip and Ian’s shoulder. Arsen curled his hand carefully and whispered—
‘Farewell, brother.’
Ian flicked his hand lightly, sending the butterfly skyward.
‘Farewell, Marib.’
The final two butterflies from the palace swarm vanished. They would exist somewhere, but unknowable. Just like traces of Marib.