Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Surrender and Succession
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In battles, it's common for the situation to end when the commander is killed or captured.
That's because there's no one left to issue orders.
Moreover, the one giving orders usually bears the ultimate responsibility, so when the commander dies or is taken, the subordinates often choose to surrender.
But what if the subordinates also have to share some of the blame?
They won't surrender easily.
When their own lives are on the line, who would just give up without swinging a sword even once?
That was exactly the situation with Paloma and the nearby knightly clans.
"Let's surrender. It's all over."
Those who saw the heads of Gede Sion and Hozart Sion hanging from a half-broken spear shaft all fell into panic.
No one had seen or heard anything.
There had been no rain or thunder all night. It was a cool, quiet night.
Yet no one knew that the two men had died inside their tent.
Even if their deaths could be overlooked somehow, the fact that no one had noticed their headless necks hung at the camp entrance was beyond shocking—it was something else entirely.
The knightly clans were gripped by fear.
What if the one who killed the Gede father and son and left them in that state came for them next?
"How do we even defend against an assassin like that? Let's surrender and beg for mercy."
Those advocating surrender feared immediate death. Besides, killing Gede and Hozart meant chaos was inevitable afterward.
The lives of the direct descendants of the Sion Duke family carried that much weight.
Even if Siony nobles had carried out the assassination, the direct descendants of the duke's family and the knightly clans who had gone to other villages and cities in the dukedom wouldn't just let it slide.
"That's when our chance will come. At least nothing changes for us."
Blinnt, who likely orchestrated this, and at least some of the nobles below him would have to take responsibility.
Thus, they themselves could survive.
That was the calculation of those pushing for surrender.
"Nonsense! Our lord fell victim to vile trickery!"
"Do you think this makes any sense!? We need to muster all our forces and march on Siony right now!"
Those crying for revenge were mostly Paloma's knights.
Even if the enemy was from a completely different territory—a true foe—killing the top commander or a noble was considered taboo.
Even if it happened by a stray blade or arrow in battle, they would preserve the body as much as possible to honor them.
But what had happened today?
There was no honor to be found, even if you searched with wide-open eyes. Only horrific mockery remained for the father and son.
Paloma's knights could never let it go.
Yet they didn't immediately leap up and charge toward Three-Headed Eagle Castle to punish this outrage because nearly half their forces were knights from the knightly clans.
Without them and their troops, revenge was impossible.
"So what? What do we say when we get there? If we demand they hand over the culprit, do you think they'll actually do it? Blinnt Sion himself needs to take responsibility—do you really think that kid will step forward?"
"If he doesn't, we'll make him!"
"That would mean full-blown civil war right then! Don't you get that Fland and Rozin's direct lines won't stay neutral anymore?"
Mentioning the other two cities in the dukedom made the revenge advocates pause for a moment.
The second- and third-generation direct descendants—sons and grandsons of Duke Jang Sion—served as governors and lords in those two cities, which had maintained neutrality until now.
But if they stepped in because of this incident, things would get even more complicated.
"Let's surrender. If not, just go home. We'll head back, watch the situation, and figure out a plan."
"No!"
"What's no about it!"
The rest couldn't reach a decision.
If only Gede had died and Hozart survived, it wouldn't have come to this. At least he could have served as a focal point right there.
But with both father and son dead, the survivors couldn't unite their opinions and could only bicker.
"Argh! I'm just going home!"
"I'll go with you!"
Some even started talking about acting independently.
In this way, the resolve that had seemed so solid just yesterday crumbled like a sandcastle.
They had built a plausible cause, but in the end, it was the true face of those united by self-interest.
At least some of the sharper-minded knightly clans decided they would stay one more day to watch the situation.
They would also decide whether to rebuild the collapsed sandcastle or not.
But they couldn't make a decision.
More precisely, others decided for them.
That afternoon, as the bodies of Gede and Hozart were being embalmed, a group of troops from distant Siony approached, kicking up clouds of dust.
* * *
"...And so, the deaths of the previous Duke Brian Sion and his two rightful heirs! Were caused by the heinous treachery of the wicked witch Katrina Bellin and the foolish Blinnt Sion—an outrage that deserves the wrath of gods and men!"
"......"
Neither Paloma's knights nor the knightly clans knew the truth about the deaths of Brian Sion and his two sons.
They had believed the previous duke, who was originally frail, had inherited the title but died after only a few years, and that his sons had unluckily succumbed to chronic illnesses.
So Paloma's knights and knightly clans could only stare blankly as the roaring proclamation burst forth before them.
"Furthermore! The ones who delivered poison to the wicked witch Katrina Belloa and incited the foolish Blinnt Sion were none other than! The traitors of Sion, Gede and Hozart, as confessed by the mother and son themselves!"
"Urk!"
"Th-this is insane...."
"No. This can't be."
People collapsed on the spot or even fell to their knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
Though they had joined Gede for personal gain and ambition, they were still people of the Sion Dukedom.
They were among those who knew at least the basics of duty and honor in the Sion territory.
So they despaired.
They felt disgust toward themselves for having served such men—perpetrators of rebellion and unspeakable filial impiety—until yesterday.
Of course, it could all be lies. A despicable ploy to strip them of their cause.
But no one could voice that.
Because...
"Surrender! Bow your heads beneath the banner of the Three-Headed Eagle! Do not make foolish choices!"
The one shouting it, tears streaming down his face as if vomiting blood, was Sirban Sion.
No one could yell "Don't lie!" at Sirban, who willingly called his own father and brother filial traitors.
And no one could point at Jonas—Sirban's half-brother, who had followed Gede more loyally than anyone—as a traitor.
"Forget not that this is your final chance!"
Sirban, stepping back without even wiping his streaming tears and snot, was not pathetic.
It was impossible to even imagine the immense pain and regret he was enduring right now.
No one could point fingers at a son who personally exposed his father and brother's crimes.
At that moment, Jonas, who had stood silently beside Sirban, stepped forward.
"Hear me, my lords. This is not a warning or a proposal—it is an immediate order. If you do not comply, you will be regarded as sharing the will of the traitorous filial rebels... Gede Sion and Hozart Sion."
"......!"
Those on the ground and those still standing all trembled.
Even those who had cried for revenge that morning turned their heads in shame at their own foolishness.
Revenge was out of the question now—they couldn't even just go home.
It would forever brand them as followers of a filial traitor and rebel.
"Sir Jonas. One thing...."
One of the knightly clans raised a hand. He was one of those who had advocated surrender. Under everyone's gaze, he cautiously continued.
"I have one question."
"Ask."
"Then... who will ascend to the duke's seat?"
"......!"
With such shocking revelations, everyone had momentarily forgotten.
Now that both Gede and Blinnt—who had vied for the title—had been exposed as less than human, the candidates for succession had narrowed even further.
'No way to Fland or Rozin's direct lines?'
'They're practically collaterals now—do they even have succession rights?'
'Or perhaps....'
Even in this chaos, a few sharpened their eyes, calculating.
Then, two figures stepped forward from among those who had arrived with Sirban and Jonas.
"The nobles of Three-Headed Eagle Castle have decided."
"Master Blaho...."
Everyone fell silent again at the words of the swordmaster, perhaps the most neutral figure present.
Blaho scanned the Paloma side before fixing his gaze on one spot and speaking.
"Three-Headed Eagle Castle has decided to revive the Hander. We have unanimously concluded to appoint Sir Jonas Sion here as temporary lord proxy, the Hander."
There was no time to be shocked by yet another bombshell statement. Baron Beltman of Three-Headed Eagle Castle, who had stepped forward with Blaho, continued immediately.
"The Hander's term is three years, and per the laws promulgated by our founder Duke Jang Sion, he may be extended once via secret ballot of the councilors. After the Hander and councilors' rule of three or six years, the next Sion Duke shall be...."
Blaho, Baron Beltman, and Jonas—who had been nominated as lord proxy—all turned toward one person.
There stood a young man frantically wiping away tears and snot.
"We have decided to elevate Sion direct descendant Sirban Sion, who severed his father's treachery with his own hands."
"Ah...!!!"
The eyes of Paloma's knights and knightly clans widened in shock.
* * *
Elevating Sirban as the next duke was, of course, Sion's decision.
Not an opinion or proposal, but literally what Sion had "decided."
No one could object to a decision from the legendary founder who had descended upon this land once more.
However, even if someone else had voiced the same opinion, a debate might have ensued, but Three-Headed Eagle Castle's high nobles would likely have followed it in the end.
The justification and qualifications were perfect.
Though he was the son of the traitor Gede, Sirban was a direct descendant from founder Duke Jang Sion.
His great-grandfather was the duke before last, and his uncle was the previous duke whose line had fully ended.
Of course, Sirban had other brothers besides the deceased Hozart.
But they had "sympathized" with Gede and remained in Paloma.
Only Sirban had opposed Gede, stepping forward to uphold the family's justice and restore the broken order.
The truth was that he had coincidentally met Sion and, half by choice and half by circumstance, acted alongside him.
A perfect justification of rebelling against his traitorous, impious father, plus the firmest legitimacy among the remaining direct descendants.
In the end, Sirban was the only candidate for next duke.
Appointing Jonas as Hander—lord proxy—and having the councilors assist him would also secure time for Sirban to gain learning and experience. It was a good—no, the best—plan.
Jonas had an excellent reputation in Paloma.
Not only Paloma's knights and officials, but hardly anyone among the knightly clans disliked him.
Putting such a Jonas in the Hander seat?
It was a conciliatory gesture toward those who had followed Gede.
Since Three-Headed Eagle Castle's councilors would assist him as equals, those who had followed the foolish Blinnt would be satisfied too.
"Good is good."
Sion muttered as he sat atop Blackie, gazing at the backs of Jonas and Sirban.
Just half a day ago, he had personally beheaded his great-grandson and great-great-grandson and cut out their tongues, yet he was calm.
He had merely removed two vermin worse than beasts from the world.
"Grandfather, is it... finally over now?"
Piot asked, unable to hide his bitter expression. Having directly witnessed and experienced Sion's ugly, dark side—the one he had so desperately hoped for—left him feeling far from pleased.
"How could it be? This is just the beginning."
"The beginning, you say...."
Sion turned his gaze toward the distant northwestern sky, away from the knights and knightly clans who were one by one kneeling beneath the banner embroidered with the Three-Headed Eagle emblem.
"Isn't there still the one who dared scheme against my land and my descendants? Just as those two beasts did, they too must pay the price."
Somewhere beneath that sky lay the Pamell Count family.