Chapter 95

In the capital of the Kingdom of Frantz, Pare,

a multitude of people gathered in the Grand Council located at its heart.

Nobles adorned in extravagant attire and the High Clergy were present.

And then…

the armed “Revolutionary Army” stood before them.

While a few nobles mixed in among them, most of the soldiers hailed from common backgrounds, and they were originally barred from entering this Grand Council.

However, at this moment, no one dared to utter such thoughts.

The law seemed a distant memory, while the guns were all too close.

In front of the armed force holding sword guns, no one had the guts to talk carelessly.

Especially now, with rumors circulating that Duke Ocleang, the leader of the nobles, had fled with the Queen.

Amidst the heavy atmosphere,

addressing them,

Robes Fiora, representing the Revolutionary Army,

drew out her chilling voice while observing the sight of the haughty nobles looking down, unable to speak.

“Now, esteemed nobles and Clergy who serve the Will of God, please make a decision quickly. At this rate, night will fall.”

“But… but Fiora… umm… Lady Fiora. How could we possibly do such a thing?”

“How could we betray none other than His Majesty, the King of this country? As courtiers, how can we even consider—”

“Is that so? Then…”

As she extended her hand, a soldier promptly placed a gun into her grip.

And then—

-BANG!

-CRACK!

“EEEK!”

“Ugh!”

In that instant, Robes Fiora shot one noble right between the eyes.

The nobles, caught off guard by the audacious act of a mere commoner, attempted to protest, but—

-CLICK!

Seeing the gun aimed right at them, no one dared to speak.

The atmosphere froze instantaneously.

In that moment, Robes Fiora spoke softly,

“It seems you are under a misconception… Right now, I am trying to offer you one last chance to survive. If I were to open the Assembly Hall doors and let the citizens in outside, what do you think would happen? Do you believe the armed crowd would simply let those who have exploited them go unpunished?”

“W-Well…”

“Th-That’s…”

All the guards who had been stationed here had either been disarmed or surrendered to the Revolutionary Army. Following Fiora’s words, if mobs stormed in here, no one would be left to save them.

“You must think of your families back home. If a head of the household came to Pare for a meeting and was murdered by the citizens, how grieved would they be? To prevent that, you must gather riches to placate the citizens with your own hands. Do you understand what I mean?”

“…Ugh…”

Words cloaked in threats disguised as concern.

The nobles and High Clergy exchanged wary glances, plunged into deep contemplation.

Now that the Assembly building was completely overrun, there was no escape.

It was impossible to simply wait for the Queen and Duke Ocleang to return—who knew when they might return, or even if they would.

Ultimately, one noble, unable to bear the crushing fear on their shoulders,

the Chairperson Athos, responded weakly as the representative of the group.

“…Fine… Yes. I will sign.”

“Chairman!”

Despite the protests from those around him, trembling hands signed the document laid before him.

The contents read as follows:


– “For the crimes that have led the Kingdom of Frantz into despair, King Louis shall be sentenced to death.” –

“Now, you too should sign… We cannot afford to create meaningless sacrifices when the tide has already turned.”

“Ugh…”

The Chairperson, with a voice devoid of strength, pushed the document aside.

Seeing this, the other nobles and clergy members helplessly began to sign as well.

“This filthy scoundrel… How dare this be accepted! Fiora, weren’t you once loyal to His Majesty? As a courtier, how can you commit such acts against the King?”

In the midst of this, a middle-aged noble attempted to voice his anger and dissent.

At that moment.

“! Ugh!…”

“Do you truly not understand why they are enraged? It’s because they have no option but to stand armed before you!”

Robes Fiora pressed the gun’s barrel against his chin.

Then, in a voice dripping with coldness, she continued,

“Those people are here because of you! Because of that revered King! They’ve witnessed their families being beaten and starved to death right before their eyes! You say murder merits a death sentence? You slice the necks of petty murderers without hesitation, yet why is it that you cannot punish the one who has sent thousands to hell without a care?”

“…”

The noble, overwhelmed by her wrathful tirade, could barely manage to keep his mouth shut.

Though thoughts emerged in him,

ranging from traditional apologies based on the caste system to the pragmatic need for sacrifices in governance…

in the end, everyone in this room understood that such arguments were meaningless.

Politics operate according to the will of the powerful.

Principles or theories were merely tools for the strong; to the powerless, they were but hollow echoes.

Recognizing this truth all too well, the nobles had no choice but to sign.

To sign off on the execution of their own world…

Their agreement on the execution of their monarch, the apex and symbol of the class system.

All the while hoping Duke Ocleang and Queen Louis had escaped safely.

At that moment…

-CLUNK!

“Lady Fiora!”

A man rushed into the room with a sudden opening of the door.

Minister Nekker.

Despite his noble background, like General Rafael, he was an active supporter of the revolution and one of its leaders. He approached Robes Fiora and quietly whispered something to her.

Immediately afterward…

“Is that really true?”

“Indeed, it is. Admiral Napoleona is bringing her here personally.”

“That is quite fortunate. Then I shall go out right away. Please take care of matters here.”

“Understood. Shall do.”

Robes Fiora hurriedly rushed out, leaving the council’s affairs behind her.

Seeing her face alight with deep joy, the nobles felt a mix of unease and questions arise within them.

“What is happening, Minister Nekker? What is going on?”

Chairperson Athos raised his voice with these emotions.

To this,

Minister Nekker responded, his tone now carrying a cold undertone different from before.

“The Queen has… returned.”

“What?!”

“What did you say?”

“How… how is that possible? Duke Ocleang—”

“Duke Ocleang abandoned the Queen and fled. And just now, the Queen has arrived in Pare with Admiral Napoleona.”

“This… this cannot be…”

“Such…”

In the face of despair as their last hope dwindled,

Minister Nekker held up the document,

with the signatures of the noble and clergy members present.

“I will see that your wishes are fulfilled. We will meet again at the trial soon.”

“You scoundrel, Nekker! How could you do this!”

“You, a low-ranking noble from Schwitz, have risen to minister thanks to the mercy of the Queen!”

“You ungrateful wretch who knows no gratitude! You shall surely pay for this!”

“…”

The nobles hurled their furious words at Nekker.

Yet, Nekker offered no response as he exited the Assembly Hall.

‘You folks are beneath my concern… I warned you over and over…’

*

A procession entering Pare.

Leading this entourage, receiving the attention of many, were Admiral Napoleona and the now widely known Pirate King.

And right behind them came a black cart.

“Is that it…”

“Inside that cart…”

Its interior remained unseen.

However, rumors had already spread through the core leaders of the Revolutionary Army.

That the King had fled and that Napoleona and the Pirate King had gone after her, leading the people to easily deduce:

In that cart lay the one person…

the Queen Louis, who had returned after her escape.

“Goodness gracious… I cannot believe a king would dare to abandon his country…”

“Not just any flight, but fleeing to the Holy Empire to bring back troops?”

“It’s said he even offered the Kingdom of Frantz in exchange for the army!”

Exaggerated tales mixed with the truth began to circulate.

However, whatever the reality may be, all of it served to deepen the citizens’ anger toward the Queen inside that cart.

“We sacrificed our father just to keep someone like her alive…”

“If that fool had only acted properly, my son wouldn’t have died!”

Disappointment and rage surged from the betrayal implicit in the Queen’s actions, intensifying the citizens’ fury, compounded by the resentment they had long harbored within.

Thus, the procession moved forward, soaking in the collective wrath of the citizens.

Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Admiral Napoleona furrowed her brows in silence.

‘Robes Fiora… what on earth have you done while we were away?’