Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Victor's Plea for Mercy
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After arriving at the garrison.
Josef had temporary barracks erected next to the garrison to house the soldiers.
He banned weapons and assigned some of his own troops for guard and surveillance duty, but otherwise imposed no hardships on the prisoners.
Even as he began gradually moving his forces out of the garrison, it was clear Josef was gunning for the Ruth Kingdom.
Now, my task was simple.
The moment our surrender was confirmed, Josef would have dispatched a messenger to the capital.
The emperor had wanted to win me over even after my execution was decided, so she would try to overturn that ruling.
But the other nobles would act according to their own interests, making it far from a simple decision.
Once word of the surrender reached the palace, the nobles would convene immediately. To have even a sliver of influence on the outcome, I needed to reach Reinesberg before it was finalized.
And to curry the emperor's favor, the sooner the better.
I'd used Phegeton on the way here, so I could afford to take it easy and still catch up to the messenger. But for the return trip, that aid was unavailable.
I'd have to rely solely on the pass the emperor gave me, switching horses along the way. This time might be a rough ride.
"Anna, Alexandrov. I'm counting on you."
"Understood."
I handed the soldiers over to my two legion commanders and set off for Reinesberg without delay.
Josef had put some surveillance on me—a few gray dots trailed after me on the minimap—but they dropped off one by one as I rode without rest.
...The turning point would come upon reaching the empire and meeting the emperor.
My hands trembled, but the plan was set.
All that remained was to put it into action.
After Josef's letter detailing Victor's surrender with his army arrived at the palace.
Emperor Luise and the nobles had been debating Victor's fate for days.
"Your Majesty! Now is the time to embrace him and demonstrate your magnanimity!"
"If we make use of him, we can turn the Ruth Kingdom's entire military strength into the empire's own!"
The Emperor Faction argued to reverse the execution.
Those truly loyal to the emperor took into account her desire for Victor.
Even setting that aside, they cited the many uses for keeping him alive: exploiting the prisoners, administering the kingdom after its fall, and more.
"The execution is already a settled matter!"
"Victor is dangerous! If we annex the Ruth Kingdom later, his influence will grow beyond control!"
The Noble Faction pushed to carry out the execution.
They believed the Ruth Kingdom's surrender was only a matter of time.
News of the rebellion within the kingdom had arrived alongside, so the moment the truce ended—or even before—the kingdom would likely capitulate.
Sending Victor back to the Ruth Kingdom had been close to the emperor's unilateral decision, so the nobles saw this mass surrender as an Emperor Faction achievement.
And if Victor officially joined the empire, he would bolster the faction with the massive base of the Ruth Kingdom.
Moreover, executing Victor and minimizing his presence would dilute Josef's battlefield feats with the impending surrender and 20,000 prisoners.
The Noble Faction, which had been striving to preserve their strength, seized this chance to raise their voices.
"Wasn't it Your Majesty who decided on the execution?"
"Flexibility according to circumstances is key, isn't it?"
Normally, Theodore was the loudest voice in these meetings, but he was holding back now, sensing the emperor's displeasure.
With the Emperor Faction's leader stepping aside, the two sides clashed evenly despite the power imbalance.
Luise rubbed her temples as she watched the nobles raise their voices before her.
She had grown weary of these unproductive meetings and had lately just silently observed their squabbles.
Meeting promising individuals, sharing stories with them up close—that was why she had begun her amusements.
But choosing the throne of the empire's emperor had become a problem.
The Emperor Faction was saying things she liked now, but just yesterday's meeting had rejected her proposals like additional Phegeton constructions and more.
It hardly felt like they were fully her power base.
And the Noble Faction only obstructed her at every turn.
In the end, both factions were obstacles to her.
She could do far less than she had anticipated.
"If you lot had won in the first place, we wouldn't be having this mess."
"What did you say?"
"Hah..."
Luise was gradually losing her motivation.
She let the meeting's content flow past her ears while pondering other ways to satisfy her desires.
Like wandering as a simple human, seeking out promising souls.
At that moment.
-Bang.
"Your Majesty!"
A messenger burst through the door and knelt at the entrance.
"Victor has arrived!"
"Victor has?"
Luise, who had been sitting with a bored expression, shot to her feet the instant she heard of the man who had dared threaten her.
"Where is he now?"
"At the palace's main gate!"
"Good."
Her excitement built at news of the most impressive human she had ever met.
"Adjourn the meeting! We'll reconvene in one hour—no, three hours!"
"Your Majesty!"
"By Her Majesty's will, the meeting will resume at 5 p.m.!"
She declared an immediate suspension and swiftly exited the chamber.
Before the other nobles could protest, Theodore—ever observant—stepped forward to affirm her decision.
Her destination was obvious, so Theodore followed right behind.
"Heh heh heh..."
No human had ever withstood the Red Dragon's presence, let alone met her gaze and retorted—except Victor.
It had been nearly 20 days since Victor left the palace, but Luise still hadn't forgotten that thrill of anticipation.
She strode quickly, her maids and nobles hurrying after.
"What should we do?"
"What's going on...?"
As they neared the palace entrance where Victor waited, more and more servants rushed about in haste.
"We need to report upward... Her Majesty?"
"What's the commotion?"
"Some guy named Victor is causing a scene at the palace gates!"
"Oh? Didn't the guards intervene?"
"He holds a pass bearing Your Majesty's crest, so they're seeking your intent..."
"I see. Maintain the status quo. I'll go myself."
"Yes!"
At that news, Luise smiled faintly and quickened her pace.
Soon, she faced a wall of guards.
"Make way."
"...! Yes! Understood! All of you, step aside left and right!"
At her single command, the tense soldiers parted instantly.
There, in the midst, stood Victor clutching the pass she had given him.
Victor's appearance was worlds apart from when he departed.
His hair was a total mess, as if he'd rushed here nonstop. His slightly bowed head and half-closed eyes screamed exhaustion.
His whole body was soaked in sweat, lips cracked and dry.
"Victor."
But when Victor raised his head at Luise's call.
"..."
"Oh?"
Luise could see his eyes burned with the same fierce resolve as before.
Before she could voice her satisfaction,
"Emperor Luise Zeinburg. I have a plea."
Victor suddenly dropped to his knees before her.
The gathered crowd buzzed in shock at the sudden turn.
"Those who surrendered with me were merely dragged to the battlefield by greedy nobles. Take my head if you must, but please allow my men to choose their own paths."
"..."
"They have families waiting, homes to return to. Show them your boundless mercy."
He pleaded with her in a tone more polite and desperate than any she'd heard from him before.
"Mercy, you say."
Luise halted at Victor's desperate display.
She observed him kneeling there, pondering with evident intrigue.
Theodore, standing behind her and watching, sensed things taking a strange turn.
Whether Victor had kept up the commotion before the emperor arrived, the crowd now included not just guards but throngs of commoners.
And Luise, along with the nobles trailing her, had all witnessed Victor's heartfelt plea.
Had Victor quietly entered the palace to await judgment, his request would have been ignored outright.
But Luise Zeinburg was known for emphasizing mercy.
With Victor's name already renowned, and him publicly begging for it before everyone, the emperor couldn't simply brush it aside.
Considering Luise's attitude toward Victor so far, her answer was predetermined.
"Interesting. What say you all?"
"We defer to Your Majesty's decision."
Theodore could predict how Luise would respond but dared not voice opposition.
No matter their individual power, they were nominally the emperor's subjects. Defying her publicly here was too risky, regardless of influence.
Especially for an Emperor Faction member like Theodore—once the stage was set, he had no choice but to follow her lead.
There were ways to counter even if Victor survived and the prisoners turned to follow him.
Rather than confront Victor now, Theodore held his silence, contemplating the long game.
"Is that so."
Luise slowly approached Victor, kneeling on the ground.
"Basing it on my leniency was a fine idea."
She drew right up to him, bending slightly at the waist.
"But didn't you claim death held no fear for you before? A head already doomed to the block hardly seems fitting collateral."
She wasn't stupid, just utterly disinterested in state affairs.
She knew exactly how to steer this situation.
"It wouldn't be amiss to interpret this as your willingness to do anything for your men, would it?"
"Of course."
"Hahahahaha!"
Luise's dignified laughter drew all eyes.
"Pledge eternal, undying loyalty to me, and prove your value far exceeds the damage you've inflicted on the empire. Do so, and I shall grant that mercy."
She dropped the laughter, proposing to Victor in solemn tones.
"I shall, without fail."
Victor replied instantly, his voice thick with suppressed fury, resolute.
"Very well. Then I shall issue your first command. Rise and receive it."
"Yes."
He straightened slightly, clasping his hands deferentially.
"Go to the Ruth Kingdom prisoners, ascertain their true intentions personally, and dispose of them accordingly."
This mercy stemmed from her fondness for Victor, but it also weighted him with authority—to check the disagreeable elements in both the Noble and Emperor Factions.
"...Thank you, Your Majesty."
Victor's body jolted at the order, then he bowed deeply in thanks.
"Details to be settled later. You there! Escort him to a guest chamber and clean him up!"
"Yes!"
Luise commanded her maids and turned away. Victor, supported by the approaching attendants, shuffled slowly toward the chamber.
A twisted smile lingered on his downcast face.