Execution Day.
“Wow… Look at that crowd. I’ve never seen the capital this packed before.”
“Well, we did send out a nationwide summons. There must be at least two hundred thousand people here.”
“Looks like going out for a stroll will be impossible for a while. Even getting back to my old home would be a hassle.”
Thanks to the massive public announcement and summons, Rahator was experiencing an unprecedented population surge.
Surviving nobles from across the empire, commoners who had traveled for the event, and merchants hoping to profit from the spectacle had all flocked to the capital.
For a medieval fantasy world without teleportation magic, it was astonishing that so many had gathered.
After all, this was a once-in-centuries grand event.
“I think the crowd below just spotted us, Your Majesty.”
“Wave to them. Or better yet, put on a little miracle performance.”
“Oh, that sounds fun!”
While the Saint used holy energy to put on an impromptu light show, earning roaring cheers from the audience, I descended with Camilla to the imperial palace’s banquet hall.
There, our pre-selected guests—some allies, some people worth keeping an eye on—were waiting.
As the attendants gave my outfit a final check, I adjusted my military cap.
Then, taking Camilla’s hand, I strode in with confidence.
Immediately, all eyes turned toward me.
“His Majesty, the great Emperor of the Empire, has arrived!”
“It has been a while, gentlemen. Or is this our first proper meeting?”
The nobles gathered here were the ones who had avoided getting caught up in the mass purges and trials following the coup.
They had also managed to stay neutral during the rebellion of the high-ranking aristocracy.
Their power was middling, their private armies were small, and they lacked the courage to fully commit to any side.
In short, they were spineless opportunists—a gathering of cowards who played it safe in every way.
And yet, there were enough of them that, if they united, they would form a considerable force.
Currently, these worms controlled roughly 20 to 30 percent of the empire’s total territory.
“…”
“I-It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Askin von Ansbach, a minor noble from the western territories.”
“Ah, the Count of Ansbach, was it? You must have endured quite a journey.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty. If the Emperor calls, it is only right to come running.”
Of course, crushing them outright would be easy.
But without the right justification, it wasn’t an option—yet.
If I couldn’t eliminate them outright, I would have to establish dominance.
I needed to ensure that these worms never even considered rebelling against me or my descendants.
That was why I had arranged this gathering.
To show them exactly who I am and teach them how they should live from now on.
“Good attitude. You’d do well to keep it that way. Not just today—always.”
“O-Of course, Your Majesty…”
I gave his shoulder a firm pat—both a warning and a command—before turning to the others.
Their eyes flickered with a mixture of caution and fear.
I raised my hand with an easy smile.
“Come now, let’s have a toast. Today is a joyous occasion, isn’t it?”
At my signal, the attendants entered, distributing glasses of champagne to everyone.
The nobles took their cups with stiff expressions.
I walked over to the large windows, allowing them to see the execution platform outside.
A clear reminder of what would happen to those who opposed me.
“Cheers!”
—Clink!
I clinked glasses with Camilla.
The others followed suit, exchanging toasts with whoever stood nearest to them.
The champagne was surprisingly sweet—aged to perfection in the palace cellars, no doubt.
“Do you all see that execution platform outside? In about an hour, the prisoners will be led onto it. How many were there again?”
“A total of 97, Your Majesty.”
“Ah, yes. Ninety-seven executions. Quite the spectacle, don’t you think? There’s never been a mass execution of this scale before.”
I flashed a broad grin, as if genuinely excited.
The nobles, however, did not share my enthusiasm.
I slowly swept my gaze across the room, wordlessly pressuring them.
Only then did they force awkward smiles onto their faces.
“These parasites exploited the people and refused to support the war effort. But at least they’re finally doing something useful for the country.”
I chuckled.
“After all, by giving up their lives, they’ll bring joy to the citizens.”
“H-Haha… Truly, Your Majesty.”
“Y-Yes, of course! If they spent their lives committing sins, it’s only right that they pay with their blood.”
Their words were forced.
Hollow.
It was obvious they hadn’t expected this turn of events.
“I have business to attend to, so I’ll be heading down shortly. But you all—stay here and watch until the very end.”
“Surely, none of you are cowards who would turn away from the sight of a little blood?”
My tone was light.
But the meaning was unmistakable.
If anyone dared to refuse—if anyone flinched at this display of justice.
I would cut them down just the same.
No one wanted to witness the beheading of people they were once connected to by blood and marriage.
But none of them had the guts to resist.
Regardless, all of you are potential criminals in my eyes.
So watch.
Engrave this tragedy into your minds.
I don’t expect true loyalty from you, but at the very least.
You should never dare to oppose me.
“My love, shall we head down?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As Camilla and I leisurely exited the banquet hall.
The room remained silent, heavy with unspoken fear.
Finally the time had come.
“Attention, all!”
The executioner stepped onto the platform and raised his voice as loud as he could.
“From this moment!! The execution of the deposed king, Carl VII, the deposed queen, Jalomier, and the 97 traitors shall begin!!”
His booming announcement ensured that everyone in the crowd could hear.
The moment that all citizens had long awaited had finally arrived.
The last remnants of the old regime would be wiped away.
A new era was about to begin.
“Their crimes are countless! They plunged the nation into ruin! They ignored the will of the people and ruled as tyrants! They embezzled tax money and squandered it on luxury! They collaborated with enemy nations! Their sins are too many to name!”
The executioner took a deep breath.
Then, holding up the imperial decree, he pointed toward the condemned prisoners.
“Thus, by His Majesty’s order, They shall beheaded today, their sins cleansed in blood!!”
“Kill them already! Get them on the guillotine!”
“Cut off their heads and hang them on pikes!”
The crowd’s reaction was overwhelming.
Some fainted from joy, unable to believe the day had finally come.
Others wept from relief, overcome with emotion.
Some screamed in ecstatic rage, while others sniffled, their hearts heavy but vindicated.
Each person expressed their excitement and satisfaction in their own way.
“Shut up! Shut your mouths, you filthy vermin!”
“How dare you bastards talk about executions?! Unbind us immediately!”
“Do you really think you’ll get away with this?! Armies from all over the continent will soon march here to crush you!!”
Carl VII and the fallen nobles roared in defiance.
But their desperate screams meant nothing.
On the other hand, the prisoners still hadn’t come to their senses.
Even after being locked away in the underground prison for months, they remained arrogant and defiant.
Did they still believe they were noble aristocrats?
Their titles had been stripped away long ago, both from their families and from themselves.
“Silence them.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I ordered the soldiers to gag them—I was tired of hearing their useless shouting.
Each of them had a wooden block shoved into their mouths, leaving only the deposed king with the right to speak.
“Carl von Riudolph, last king of the Ulranor Kingdom. Do you have any last words?”
Given one final mercy, he hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“I have made countless mistakes, and they have led me here.
I sent my child to the Empire but did not compensate for his faults.
I waged war but failed to properly manage my generals.
Because of these failures, I was overthrown by rebellion.”
“That damn bastard—”
“Calm yourself. Getting angry won’t help us now.”
He hadn’t said it outright, but his words were clearly aimed at me.
It was as if he were lamenting that all of this had happened because he had allowed me to take control of the Northern Army.
Camilla was furious at the veiled accusation, but I held her back.
Losing our temper in front of the people would only be a disadvantage.
“I will not deny the mistakes I have made. Even looking back, I cannot understand why I made so many poor decisions and misjudgments.
My rule was undoubtedly a failure.”
After taking a deep breath, Carl then spoke to me in a calm yet resentful tone.
“But Carolus, you—my usurper—do not think for a moment that this fate is mine alone. I was foolish, yes. But who is to say your sons and grandsons won’t be even more foolish than I was? Who is to say they won’t commit outrageous tyranny and destroy all that you have built?”
“It may not happen soon. It could take centuries, or it could happen in mere decades.
But mark my words—when that day comes, I will be waiting for you in hell.”
His words, laced with hatred and curses, were meant to shake me.
But I simply responded with indifference.
“Stop projecting your failures onto me.
You are the one who ruined your own country. You are the one who destroyed your own rule.
This is no one’s fault but your own.”
“…What?”
“Did you really think I would see your failure and not prepare for the future?
I am not as careless or foolish as you.”
Do you know why, even after becoming Emperor, I chose to keep the constitutional monarchy?
I have more than enough power and means to abolish the parliament and rule as an absolute monarch.
But I didn’t—because I have foreseen the possibility that my descendants might ruin this nation.
There is no guarantee that my heirs will be as intelligent or as capable as I am.
So, for the sake of a stable future, I have deliberately limited my own power.
Reducing the monarch to a symbolic figure rather than a sole ruler.
Besides, if I were to cling to power, Camilla would be disappointed in me.
“I gave you a chance to speak, and this is all you have to say? Then there is no need to waste any more time. Lay the prisoner on the guillotine!”
“W-Wait—!”
Carl barely had time to protest before the gag was shoved back into his mouth.
The soldiers dragged him onto the execution platform.
He struggled, but with a body untrained for combat, he was powerless.
His arms and legs were soon bound to the frame.
The executioner stepped forward—gripping the rope connected to the blade, awaiting my command.
“Proceed.”
As soon as the rope was released, the blade fell—gravity pulling it down at terrifying speed.
In that long, fleeting instant.
—Schk.