Chapter 177

“Wha— What’s happening?! Nooo! Don’t do this!”

She flailed about, letting out incomprehensible sounds.

Robes Fiora.

With her jaw completely gone, she was dragged by soldiers to the guillotine against her will.

That very execution device where she had taken the lives of hundreds, thousands of others.

Fear was etched deeply onto the face of Robes Fiora, who was now confined there.

She wanted to live.

She did not want to die.

Not like this…

She didn’t want it to end like this.

At this point, she didn’t care what would happen next.

Power, the revolution, the Republic of Frantz—she could forfeit them all.

Please, just…

I want to salvage my life, at any cost.

However, she no longer had the strength to even voice her thoughts.

No one here could understand her cries, with her jaw blown away.

“Aah… Aaaaah!!”

Robes Fiora struggled, letting out a scream that resembled a wail.

And toward her neck.

The blade of the guillotine fell.

– Thud!

With that, her head was severed from her body.

In her fading consciousness, the last scene she beheld was…

The citizens cheering in delight at her death.

*

“Ah… General Charlotte…”

Upon receiving news later, Napoleona wore a bittersweet expression.

Charlotte, who had killed Marquis Maraang and taken her own life.

In the late-discovered letter, the contents were said to convey her intention to embark on a long journey with her friend as atonement for her past crimes.

However, Napoleona felt that it was not merely a simple act of atonement.

She had held Maraang’s hand tightly until the moment of her death.

It was unclear whether that was a sign of remorse for betraying her friend,

or a deeper sentiment that she did not want to leave him alone…

Regardless, the fact that she chose to depart this world with a man she held affection for, rather than remaining here to indulge in wealth and power…

Somewhat made Napoleona think…

This was rather romantic.

At this very moment, she was a woman cherishing someone in her heart.

‘Well… that doesn’t mean I want to die together in such a way, though.’

While she thought eternally being together after death could be nice, what Napoleona truly sought was different from that.

To live together from life to death and beyond,

enjoying life and raising children—that was true happiness in Napoleona’s eyes.

And for that purpose,

she finished contemplating the deceased,

and redirected her gaze to what she needed to do.

Robes Fiora had been confined, and all resisting factions had been suppressed.

Though order was not completely established, it was practically as if the rebellion…

No, the revolution had succeeded.

Now all that remained was tidying up after the revolution.

And in Napoleona’s hand,

there was an excellent tool she could utilize for that.

“Immediately convene an assembly. Send letters to all the generals and officials in Pare, as well as to the local lords.”

“Yes, General.”

Her subordinates immediately began to move at her command.

Sending letters not only to the revolutionaries who had seized Pare but also to the local lords where noble forces still remained was a risky yet intriguing matter.

The revolutionary forces had ruthlessly purged the nobles until now.

The local nobles would definitely not take kindly to this, and there was the risk that disgruntled lords could exacerbate the situation.

Yet, Napoleona proceeded with it.

To take the first step in executing the desires she had long nurtured…

*

“What? A rebellion in Pare?”

“Napoleona has mobilized her army for a coup… and in the meantime, Robes Fiora has been executed?”

The news of the revolution quickly spread throughout the Republic of Frantz.

When the local nobles heard this, shock filled their faces, and they couldn’t help but smile broadly.

“Haha, is that so? That traitor finally met her end?”

“Good, I was worried about Pare but now I can at least breathe easier.”

Robes Fiora was a mad butcher that nobles had wished dead no matter what.

While they were uncertain how Napoleona, now in power, would act,

at the very least, they expected she would not be a madman like Robes Fiora.

She had built a considerable reputation and, most importantly, recently collaborated with the nobles to pressure the Brittania Empire.

All in all, she was seen as someone far easier to negotiate with than Robes Fiora.

At this moment, as the local lords’ views toward the revolutionary forces became slightly more favorable compared to before,

a letter from Napoleona arrived before them.

It was an invitation to attend the assembly being held in Pare.

She stated that they could come personally or send a representative—either way, it was important to express their intentions.

Though half-skeptical, the nobles decided to send someone.

In the brief time after the revolution started,

for Napoleona to hold an assembly and invite the local lords seemed to indicate that she would consider their opinions in moving forward with the country’s political situation.

Although complete trust couldn’t be given yet, sending a representative was manageable.

Thus, most lords agreed to send someone to response to Napoleona’s invitation to Pare.

They felt both anticipation and worry about what would transpire there.

Among those deciding to respond to Pare’s call was the man…

Lord Adun of Cala.

However, unlike most who were sending representatives, he and the surrounding lords were heading to Pare in person.

“Adun, are you really okay? No matter what, they are revolutionaries. Isn’t it better to send a representative quietly?”

Alis, the Lord of Burgon, asked with concern.

Adun replied in a steady voice.

“It’s fine, there’s no need to worry. I know well what kind of person Napoleona is. Although she belongs to the revolutionaries, she was also a loyalist who served the King until the end. Besides, she and I have fought against Brittania’s ambitions together. The accidents you’re concerned about won’t happen.”

Their past bond.

Most importantly, Adun had already been tipped off about the revolution from Napoleona.

Additionally, she had asked for his support shortly after.

There was a reason why he had persuaded the surrounding nobles to head to Pare with him.

“Hmm… I understand, Adun. Then we will trust you.”

“Indeed, trust me. If things go well, I’ll be sure to express my gratitude.”

“There’s no ‘if’ about it. We will certainly do that.”

Thus, with both reluctance and a glimmer of hope, the nobles began to move.

Moments later…

The silhouette of Pare finally came into view for them.

The place felt much more welcoming than during their previous visit.

Armed soldiers patrolled everywhere, yet it seemed the people weren’t particularly feeling any danger.

Compared to the Robes Fiora era, the atmosphere undeniably felt improved.

Observing this, Adun and the nobles felt their tension ease as they proceeded directly toward the assembly building.

*

The assembly was packed with countless people.

What was already a cramped space now felt even tighter with the addition of attendees from the provinces.

However, despite the overcrowding, the atmosphere remained surprisingly solemn within the assembly hall.

Everyone was filled with concern about what would happen next… along with a slight bit of expectation.

Before them,

the person they’ve all been waiting for began to appear.

Admiral Napoleona Bonaparte.

The current power-holder of the Republic of Frantz and the one who put an end to the vile traitor, Robes Fiora.

She gazed at the crowd gathered before her and spoke earnestly.

“I sincerely thank all of you for being here today.

From now on, I, Napoleona Bonaparte, would like to speak to you all.

As you all know, this place was once the existence of the wicked tyrant, Robes Fiora.

That brutal, violent, and utterly inept person stirred discord between the nobles and citizens under the influence of her power and desire for revenge, and in that turmoil, countless lives were extinguished.

Eventually, she even turned her blade against the starving people due to the evil laws she created, crossing the final line.

Thus, I took on the burden of being labeled a traitor to remove her.

To prevent further innocent deaths.

To unify the people of this nation and foster their solidarity once more.”

Having finished her words, Napoleona glanced around at the crowd.

Then, as if having made a decision,

she spoke with an even more resolute voice.

“And now, having removed Robes Fiora, I bear the responsibility to lead this country. To rebuild the collapsed stone tower and restore the wealth and glory of the past King Henry’s era.

For this purpose… I have made a resolution.

At this moment, I hereby declare…

that from now on, this nation…”