Chapter 124

“The Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Empress are entering!”

 

At the knight’s cry, the chaotic and noisy atmosphere instantly turned somber. Through an amplification magic, Ivailo’s voice filled every corner of the execution ground.

 

“Today’s execution is to punish a criminal who illegally mined mana stones. It is also a place to ensure such an example is never made again.”

 

The Empress’s voice cut in, overlapping his.

 

“It is not a pleasant event with the Crown Prince’s wedding just around the corner, but it is necessary to show the people the power and authority of the Empire and to prevent the same thing from happening again. The Imperial Family intends to eliminate any further acts of lawlessness.”

 

As the Empress signaled with her hand, a knight clad in silver plate armor and a steel mask stepped forward, heavy iron boots kicking up dust from the floor. As he drew the sword from the scabbard at his waist, the blade, cold and ruthless, glinted in the sunlight pouring from the sky.

 

“Serves him right!”

 

Whistles, jeers, and all sorts of insults erupted from the spectators. Smelling the sharp scent of iron at the tip of his nose, Percival squeezed his trembling eyes shut.

 

Soon, the raised blade flashed eerily, and just as it reached Percival’s neck—

 

“No!”

 

“My Lady!”

 

“Stop this!”

 

Lilithia, who had been stamping her feet in desperation, shook off Winnie’s hand and ran across the execution ground.

 

A woman in a cloak rushed through the crowd, leaped over the fence, and threw her arms around Percival. The sudden intrusion caused the blade descending toward Percival’s neck to stop dead in its tracks.

 

“Please spare my father.”

 

Lilithia raised her voice toward the Crown Prince and the Empress, her voice trembling with tears.

 

“Lower your sword.”

 

As Ivailo raised his hand, the knight who had held the sword high sheathed it.

 

Ssssh—

 

At the sharp sound of the sword sliding back into its scabbard, I finally took the breath I had been holding.

 

‘I bought some time.’

 

“I never dreamed that Lilithia Baimery, the daughter of a criminal, would personally come to the execution ground.”

 

Raising my head toward Ivailo’s position, I prepared to speak. Behind me, I could feel my father’s terrified grip on the hem of my clothes.

 

“Lilithia…”

 

“My father has been framed. Please, delay the execution date!”

 

“To call it a frame-up, there is clear and undeniable evidence, Lady Baimery.”

 

“Those mana stones were not mined within Imperial territory; they were mined before the land was annexed!”

 

I shouted at Ivailo, raising my voice as loud as I could.

 

“We weren’t aware when the territory was annexed! We will accept a reasonable punishment for that, but the mana stones excavated then were of the lowest grade, and the stones found at the mansion were ones mined previously!”

 

“You’re telling the same story as your father.”

 

“If you just give us a little time, I will bring the evidence!”

 

“The Imperial Army has already turned the mansion upside down, and no evidence was found. Furthermore, the whereabouts of the branch manager are unknown, so we can only suspect that Baron Percival ordered him to hide.”

 

Ivailo’s expression sank coldly. I had stalled for time, but he didn’t seem to have a shred of intention to listen to my story.

 

“Lilithia… run away right now.”

 

A heavy voice, thick with heartache, reached me.

 

“I cannot lose you too.”

 

“I cannot lose you, Father.”

 

I grabbed my father’s hand with wavering eyes.

 

“Immediately! Cut that girl’s throat as well!”

 

“Are they not just plotting to escape!”

 

“Interrupting an execution is also a serious crime!”

 

The noble seating area began to grow rowdy. Hearing the commotion, the Empress rose from her seat and approached the railing.

 

“I can no longer listen to the words of a criminal. Proceed with the execution.”

 

The Empress’s faint smile reached Ivailo. With a nod, the knight raised his sword again, and I hugged my father with all my might once more.

 

“Lilithia…!”

 

If only I hadn’t run the merchant guild, if only I hadn’t made things so big—would my father not be in this dangerous situation?

 

Clang!—

 

Just then, a black-haired man who had entered the center of the execution ground blocked the knight’s sword.

 

“Lilithia. I told you to wait. You did something dangerous again.”

 

“Prince Freyer?”

 

It was Freyer, dropping his disguise. Percival stared at Freyer with trembling eyes.

 

“I heard His Highness had passed away…”

 

Freyer placed his index finger to his lips and made a soft “shhh” sound.

 

“Seize that man at once!”

 

Knights surrounded Freyer, who moved with a speed that made him impossible to catch. As Freyer parried the blades, the knight in charge of the execution stumbled backward.

 

“I have brought evidence that Percival is innocent.”

 

“Evidence?”

 

The gazes of Ivailo and Freyer met. As Freyer signaled toward the spectator stands, a cloaked man dragged another man out by the scruff of his neck.

 

Seeing the man being dragged, Percival’s eyes widened.

 

“The agent…”

 

Freyer blocked the knight’s sword and stared sharply ahead as the strangers continued to appear.

 

“The agent of the Baimery Shutra branch. Aldo Ficara.”

 

“P-please spare me!”

 

As Freyer showed the documents he took from his coat, Aldo slammed his head against the ground and cried out desperately.

 

“These documents list all the mana stone mining statuses and the stones mined after the annexation. Additionally, there is a letter sent down with the Crown Prince’s signature. Can Percival Baimery still be labeled a criminal who intentionally mined the mines illegally?”

 

He showed the document stamped with the seal of the lord where the branch was located and the letter my father had sent.

 

“Furthermore, the period stamped by the lord is different from the annexation period. Will you still continue with the execution, Crown Prince?”

 

“Where do you dare discuss lies!”

 

“I-I’m sorry, Crown Prince… P-please save me, Your Highness!”

 

The agent stole a glance at Freyer. When Freyer gave a small nod, the agent’s eyes darted around before he raised his voice while staring at the ground.

 

“I was only carrying out orders! To delete all the mana stone mining records of the Baimery Merchant Guild… I was just following those orders!”

 

“You…!”

 

“I-I was dispatched to the branch under the Crown Prince’s orders! But recently, I was told to destroy the mining records of the Baimery Merchant Guild and not to deliver any additional information from Percival…!”

 

“How dare you lie!”

 

The sound of gasps echoed through the stands. Ivailo surged up from his seat and slammed the railing. Under his sharp, burning gaze, the agent trembled and lowered his head.

 

“P-please save my family. Please! You told me to leave, but I couldn’t because of my family!”

 

“Keep your mouth shut!”

 

“It seems all of this was the Crown Prince’s scheme, but seeing as His Highness didn’t know, it must be someone’s plot targeting the Crown Prince. However, now that you know the truth, shouldn’t you set things right?”

 

The spectators all looked at Ivailo.

 

“The country runs only when the Crown Prince, the sole blood relative of the Empire, sets an example.”

 

Ivailo swallowed hard and finally spoke with a grim expression.

 

“……Release them.”

 

Freyer snickered, a corner of his mouth curling upward.

 

“The Crown Prince’s heart is indeed vast.”

 

Freyer supported Lilithia and Percival as they stood up. The knights, sensing the mood, unlocked the shackles binding Percival’s hands and feet. With a clinking sound, the handcuffs fell to the dirt floor.

 

Staggering, Percival embraced Lilithia. With trembling hands, he stroked her back.

 

“T-thank you. And thank you… Prince Freyer….”

 

 

***

 

 

Norman was cleaning the ransacked mansion. Deep shadows hung under his eyes. The execution date had arrived, and Norman’s sighs showed no sign of stopping.

 

“Master…”

 

He didn’t have the courage to go to the site of the Master’s public execution. He had spent days and nights in tears and resentment.

 

He had never felt so much like a speck of dust. Having protected the Baimery family for decades, he never thought he would be caught up in such an unfortunate event.

 

He had told the knights that the Master had not illegally mined the mines, but they only moved on their superior’s orders and wouldn’t listen to him.

 

Documents and books were scattered all over the mansion floor.

 

The knights had even removed the portrait of the Master’s late wife, wondering if there was a safe hidden behind it, and had thrown decorative items to the floor.

 

Seeing Norman with tears in his eyes, the passing maids also had expressions of gloom. The cold wind of the Empire made Norman’s heart freeze even more.

 

“The Lady’s drawing…”

 

The drawing the Lady had made when she was five years old was also rolling on the floor. Norman bent his hunched body, picked up the drawing, and wiped the dust off with his palm.

 

“It’s a relief that the Lady is in another country.”

 

With the Master taken away, it would have been difficult to avoid the situation if the Lady had been in the Empire as well.

 

He had sent a letter telling the Lady not to return, and seeing as she hadn’t yet, she must be on the run.

 

She must have also heard the news that Prince Freyer, whom she held in her heart, had passed away.

 

To make matters worse, how shattered must the Lady’s heart be at the news that her only family, Baron Percival, had been captured?

 

Was it because he was thinking of her?

 

The Lady’s cheerful voice sounded vividly in his ears. Norman opened his tightly shut eyes, placed the drawing on the cabinet, and tried to start cleaning again.

 

“Norman!”

 

Once again, Lady Lilithia’s voice was heard, and Norman turned his head, eyes wide.

 

“My Lady…?”

 

Was it not his imagination? Norman rubbed his wrinkled eyes. Looking at Lady Lilithia, who had a heavy expression, and the Master beside her, Norman bowed his head deeply.

 

The Lady had been unreachable because she was busy saving the Master. Percival smiled as he spoke to Norman.

 

“Shall we all have a meal together for the first time in a while, Norman?”