LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 82
Chapter 82: The Annexation of Gildolq (8)
Reos Markein and his companions were executed in the former royal capital of the Gildolq Kingdom.
Bearing the full brunt of the citizens’ scorn and hatred, Reos and his group were subjected to the sawing execution.
The “sawing” was a method of execution practiced in the Zabeiru Region for criminals.
The criminal was buried in a pit with only their head exposed, and then a saw was used to cut through their neck. The saw used in this execution was not made of metal but of wood. Naturally, being wooden, it was dull and often failed to deliver a fatal wound quickly.
Reos and his group suffered for an entire week before finally succumbing to death. During that time, they were continuously subjected to curses and insults for betraying Sosua, and by the fifth day, their spirits were completely broken.
Those who remained in the castle and did not side with Reos also faced harsh judgment. Simply put, the question was, “Why did you stand by silently while the queen was captured and paraded by Reos and his men?” As a result, the Central Nobles completely lost the support of the people.
Yuan, who supported the execution of Reos and his group, set off for Miressbelle with Sosua in tow.
At the same time, the majority of the Zabeiru Military returned to their homeland, leaving behind a contingent to maintain strict order in the former royal capital. The presence of the Zabeiru Military drastically improved the city’s security. However, this was only temporary. Once Reos and his group were dealt with and the remaining Zabeiru forces withdrew, the former capital’s security quickly deteriorated again.
When this became widely known, some among the populace began to hope for salvation from Zabeiru.
Sosua’s surrender signaled the fall of the Gildolq Kingdom, and it was only natural that the people would turn to Zabeiru as the new enforcer of order.
(Sigh… this is so heavy.)
Sosua sighed inwardly as the carriage rocked her along the journey.
Her treatment during the trip to Miressbelle was far from poor. She was given meals on par with the officers, and her sleeping arrangements were proper and comfortable.
This was clear evidence that she was not being treated as a prisoner, but Sosua couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
What weighed heavily on her mind was the news she received during her meeting with Yuan: her fate would be decided by King Jilvol.
For Sosua, facing Jilvol was honestly terrifying. The thought of bearing the brunt of his hatred was a heavy mental burden.
“Honestly, not knowing whether I’ll be executed or spared is the worst part,” Sosua muttered with a sigh. She had once been ready to face death, but now that the possibility of survival had emerged, her resolve had wavered.
“This is where I fall short… but what can I do?!” Sosua laughed at herself. Even though she had lived as royalty, fear was still fear. Anyone who could mock that must lack imagination.
“Looking back now, I must have been completely insane when I surrendered. Telling Reos to kill me? If he hadn’t been such a coward, I would’ve definitely died that day.”
Sosua recalled the moment she had boldly confronted Reos, and even now, it sent shivers down her spine.
“In a way, I guess I’m lucky. I’m terrified of meeting King Jilvol, but my chances of survival have gone from zero to maybe 10 or 20 percent. Even if I’m spared, it’s not like I’ll be set free or anything. That’s just wishful thinking.”
Sosua fell deep into thought. The truth was, Sosua was a girl who desperately wanted to live. Even if her rational mind had accepted death, deep down, she still wanted to survive. That’s why she kept thinking and acting the way she did. In that sense, her resigned words and actions during the siege of Rekliark could be seen as a momentary lapse of judgment.
“But I’m scared of dying, and I want to live. Most of the people who gathered in Rekliark survived, and there’s no way Prince Yuan would go back on his word now. So, it’s okay for me to take action to survive, right?”
As Sosua thought this, she suddenly felt a surge of energy.
“First, let’s assess the situation… I’m the queen of the Gildolq Kingdom… I was spared to gather the rebels within the kingdom in one place.”
And so, Sosua spent the two-week journey to Miressbelle preparing herself for her meeting with King Jilvol.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
“Brother, I’m back!!”
When Jilvol came into view, Yuan broke into a smile and rushed toward him.
“I’m glad you made it back safely. That’s my Yuan for you!!”
“Thank you!!”
Yuan’s voice was filled with joy at being praised by Jilvol.
“Everyone, thank you for returning safely and for helping Yuan.”
Jilvol expressed his gratitude to the staff, and they all knelt in unison.
“You’ve all worked hard. We’ll hold a celebration feast later, so for now, go show your families and friends that you’re safe.”
The soldiers thanked Jilvol for his consideration, and after roll call, they dispersed by unit.
Jilvol watched the scene with delight. For him, the smiles of the Zabeiru people were a balm for his vengeance-scarred heart.
“Now, Yuan, we need to talk about the future.”
“Yes!!”
When Jilvol called out to him, Yuan readily agreed.
As they entered Jilvol’s office, they found his father, Hector, already there.
“Oh!! Yuan, you did well!!”
Hector stood up and rushed over to Yuan, slapping his shoulders as he spoke. Jilvol watched the scene with amusement.
“Father, that hurts!! You’re still as strong as ever.”
“You need to train more!!”
“Honestly…”
Yuan shrugged as he spoke. It wasn’t genuine anger, just the usual banter between father and son.
“Alright, you two, let’s get down to business.”
Jilvol sat down and addressed them, and their expressions immediately turned serious.
“Ah, so the fourth stage is complete,” Hector said, his demeanor completely different from before. Jilvol and Yuan nodded in agreement. The swiftness of their shift in tone was nothing short of impressive.
“Yes. The rebels who gathered around Sosua no longer have any power,” Yuan reported.
Jilvol nodded in satisfaction.
“You did well. We spared their lives, but confiscating their military funds and the assets of the participating nobles was a masterstroke.”
“It was nothing. I just followed your plan, brother.”
“Yuan, don’t be so modest. The effort it takes to plan and the effort to execute are two different things. Your ability to handle things is undoubtedly top-notch.”
“Thank you!!”
Yuan’s response was filled with joy at being praised by Jilvol. If Giorg had seen this scene, he would have realized that any attempt to sow discord between them was futile.
“Yuan, you also managed to lower the standing of the Central Nobles. Truly impressive.”
“You knew about that!?”
“Of course. Not only did you spread the word about Sosua’s betrayal, but you also made sure to tarnish the reputation of those who were spared. No one else could have thought of that.”
Yuan smiled happily at Jilvol’s words and bowed slightly.
What Yuan had done was spread rumors. The rumors were: “The traitors like Reos are despicable, but those who did nothing to stop them are cowards.” These rumors spread like wildfire, and the backlash against those who were not executed became severe.
“Thanks to your move, the Central Nobles have lost all support in the Gildolq Kingdom. No matter what they plan now, they won’t gain the support of the Gildolq people.”
“Yes. For now, that’s…”
“Indeed, you did well. The nobles’ names hold no sway over the Gildolq people anymore. Naturally, the same goes for the surrounding nations.”
Jilvol chuckled coldly. With no money and no public support, there was no one left to extend a hand to the remnants of the Central Nobles. In reality, even though they were called remnants, they were nothing more than minor figures from the fringes of the Central Nobles. If they dared to rise up again, they could simply be crushed.
“Then it’s time for the final stage.”
“Yes… brother.”
“What is it?”
Jilvol responded to Yuan’s voice, his expression and tone suggesting he already knew what Yuan was about to say.
“About Sosua… are you still planning to stick to the original plan?”
Yuan seemed to have sensed it too, as his question was phrased cautiously.
“Yes, that’s one thing I won’t compromise on. I understand what you’re trying to say, but I can’t agree to it. Please forgive your inadequate brother for not being able to accommodate your feelings.”
“Brother… I understand.”
Yuan responded softly to Jilvol’s words. Hector watched the exchange in silence.
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