Chapter 114 (2/2)

The emperor who survived the rebels’ attack.

His wife who was just about to be executed.

The chancellor who was held hostage.

Lucretius raised his voice and proclaimed, “The stated crimes are beyond forgivable. Even the sentence of death will not be enough.”

The chancellor looked excited. After all, the dowager empress was the one who murdered his beloved granddaughter.

“She needs to be executed!”

All the other noblemen agreed.

“Execution!”

“Please order her execution!”

Lucretius raised his hand and declared.

“Dowager empress Katleyanira le Cransia is from now on no longer a royal member. She will be executed.”

Katleyanira laughed silently.

Lucretius continued without hesitation.

“Her head will be displayed for the public to witness. Her execution will be carried out immediately.”

***

The order of execution was decided quickly. It would be Marquis Galisia, Marquis Toruka, and the dowager empress last. I thought I could guess the reason. The fear she will feel as she watched the men lose their heads… As she waited for her turn…

The execution couldn’t take place right away, however. The executioner who was brought for me was killed during the fight. We had to find another one.

I heard Lucretius asked the chancellor to find a horrible executioner with minimal experience. I didn’t say anything as I didn’t feel the need. These two men were victims of the dowager empress. They lost their family members because of her. This was their justice and revenge.

While we waited, Lucretius asked me.

“This won’t be pretty, so if you want, you can return to your chamber.”

I shook my head. “No, I will stay till the end.”

I then turned towards the dowager empress, who was kneeling on the floor glaring at me. I looked into her eyes and didn’t look away.

I had to witness her death with my own eyes.

Lucretius nodded.

After a little while, a new executioner arrived.

A royal guard was ordered to escort Marquis Galisia. It was, in a way, an honor to be escorted by the emperor’s personal royal guard, but the marquis was in no position to notice it.

“Please…! Please let me live! I only did what I was told to do! Your highness!”

Marquis Galisia’s excuse was pathetic and meaningless. The knights pushed him down onto the block and he died with a single swing.

However, his neck wasn’t completely severed and so the executioner had to swing the second time.

I couldn’t help closing my eyes when the ax hit his neck, but I did see the blood and the head rolling onto the floor.

Next was Marquis Toruka. After seeing Marquis Galisia’s gruesome death, his hands were shaking visibly. However, he didn’t scream or make an excuse like Marquis Galisia.

He pretended to look calm, but unlike Marquis Galisia, he didn’t get an immediate death. The first swing didn’t kill him because the ax was too dull. It took another swing for him to finally die.

The dowager empress didn’t say anything as she saw her brother’s head being cut off. She turned towards us again and glared without any signs of fear.

When she was about to be dragged to the execution block, Lucretius stopped it.

“There is something I want to tell her. Bring the prisoner here.”