44 Public Execution

***

Next Day.

Calden Castle.

Lanercoast.

"Where's Lady Arabelle?" asked Quentin, turning his head to take in the surrounding area.

Quentin, in a fancy royal shirt and long red coat, was standing tall in the front yard of Calden Castle, accompanied by Sir Dorren.

Right in front of the two was a horse-drawn carriage made of iron, commonly used to pick up or deliver criminals.

That morning, Quentin and Dorren agreed to use the iron chariot to escort the most ruthless criminal in Helferich's history, Colton.

He was charged with the alleged assassination plot against Lord Edgar Helferich, with evidence of a bag full of Ether found in his study.

The soldiers were still preparing the carriage, including carrying Colton and two of Edgar's former advisors. 

The three men would be sentenced that morning to pay for all the crimes they had committed.

"It looks like she's still locked up in her chamber, Lord Quentin," Dorren explained, turning and throwing his head back, looking straight up.

"What happened to Colton must have come as a shock to Arabelle, especially since she's known the man for a while," Quentin stated, sympathizing with Arabelle's grief.

"A criminal is a criminal, after all, My Lord. It's possible Colton was being nice all this time to deceive people," Dorren explained.

"I thought the same thing. The plan to poison Lord Edgar couldn't have been organized overnight; it took careful planning so he wouldn't get trapped in it," revealed Quentin.

"If so, how did Colton end up getting caught up in his own plan?" asked Dorren, curious.

Quentin fell silent, then crossed his arms in front of his chest with his eyes glued to the activities of the soldiers near the iron horse carriage, "Because I gave him the responsibility of caring for Edgar. I suspected that he had planned something to trap me from the start."

"Set you up?" asked Dorren.

Quentin shifted his eyes to the right side, trying to explain his suspicions to Dorren, "When I was at Calden Castle, Edgar's health was my responsibility. If anything happened to him, I would take the blame."

"But I went to Sideriver, leaving Edgar in Colton's care. The effects of the Ether that had been inhaled since the first Lasage was stored left Colton confused," Quentin replied.

"I see. His plan didn't work because you went to Sideriver. He can't accuse you of poisoning Edgar," Dorren explained.

"That's just my guess, but now he's been proven guilty, what's all the guessing for?"

Quentin stepped closer to the iron-clad carriage when he saw the two soldiers carrying Colton from the dungeon. 

He was in terrible condition, both eyes puffy with a body stinking of sweat mixed with his own urine and shit.

Seeing Quentin's arrival made the two soldiers start to stop their pace, making Colton stop walking as well.

"I'm not guilty, Lord Quentin," Colton whispered, looking weak.

Quentin stretched his hand forward, seemingly smoothing the collar of Colton's shirt, "I know. That's why I told you not to mess with me from the start."

"So, you're the one who—"

BUGH!

The man in front of Colton landed a crushing blow on the old man's belly, making him grimace in pain with both hands still grasped tightly by the two soldiers.

He brought his head forward, next to Colton's ear, "Don't worry. I will make sure your family also follows you."

"Take him and gag his stinking mouth with a cloth!" ordered Quentin, agreed by the two soldiers.

"You can't—"

Before Colton could finish his sentence, one of the soldiers placed a cloth over Colton's mouth and tied it to the back of Edgar's former advisor's head. Now, Colton could not say anything regarding the main perpetrator of the poisoning plan against Edgar.

All three of Edgar's former advisors were already inside the barred horse-drawn carriage. The metal door is closed and padlocked with a large padlock and strong chains. Now, they were ready to escort the three to the city center, where the gallows awaited them.

Quentin walked back, approaching Dorren. Near the Sage of Calden Castle, a soldier gave information to Dorren.

"What is it?" asked Quentin.

Dorren, from looking at the soldier, now looked at Quentin standing in front of him, "It's about Lady Arabelle. She wants—"

"I'll be there when Colton's neck is wrung!" said Arabelle, arriving at the castle door in a different color dress, black.

Dorren and Quentin's attention was drawn back, and they were surprised to see Arabelle's appearance was far different from what they had imagined. 

She appeared to be wearing a beautiful long black dress, with her reddish hair, which used to be long and flowing, now pulled into a bun at the back of her head, exposing her beautiful white neck.

Her facial expression was cold, black eyebrows bent sharply with focused eyes looking forward at Quentin and Dorren.

"Are you going to forbid me?" asked Arabelle.

Quentin shook his head while still looking at Arabelle, "No. You need to know the end of Colton's life."

Arabelle was silent. She stepped down the stone steps in front of the castle door without talking much with Quentin and Dorren. By now, Arabelle was entirely in her carriage.

"Alright! We're leaving!" said Quentin.

Quentin and Dorren rode off on their mounts, Arabelle sat pensively in the chariot, and the prisoners were inside the iron bars of the chariot.

The procession left Calden Castle to reach the center of Calden. All the city folk had been informed of the execution and were told what crime Colton had committed against Lord Edgar Helferich.

This is the first execution carried out by House Helferich after not doing it for five years. The execution would be led by Quentin, with three prisoners ready to have their lives taken in front of all the people of Lanercoast.

All along the city streets, crowds lined the sidewalks left and right, watching the procession of horse-drawn carriages drive past them. 

After the horse-drawn carriage passed them, the people started to walk along with the procession from behind.

"They looked as excited as if they were waiting for a festival," Quentin said.

"Understandably so, My Lord, this is the first time they've seen an execution carried out in this city," Dorren replied.

"Has Edgar not done it so far?" asked Quentin, curious.

"Not yet, Edgar doesn't want to do it. He thinks it's better for them to be imprisoned for the rest of their lives than dead," replied Dorren.

"That's an old-fashioned thought. It costs much to feed them unless you starve them!" insisted Quentin.

"I agree with you. Putting them to death would solve the whole problem and show everyone your firm rule," said Dorren.

Quentin nodded, silently agreeing with what Dorren had said. Quentin's two eyes could clearly see the gallows firmly installed in the Calden City square from a distance.

Not only were the gallows already in place, but also a crowd of people had gathered at the execution area. 

They came in their droves to see Colton's face after the old man was convicted of treason for poisoning Lord Edgar.

Arriving at the city square, the city soldiers began to form a perimeter to limit the crowd from approaching. Quentin and Dorren dismounted; Arabelle opened the door and exited the carriage.

The attention of the whole city focused on the three of them, stunned by Arabelle's beauty, amazed by Quentin's handsomeness, and enlightened by Sir Dorren's wisdom.

Mayor Calden invited Quentin and the remaining two to sit on the chairs that had been provided, leading directly to the gallows prepared earlier. 

Now, there were cheers and jeers from the city folk at the three prisoners who were being taken out of the carriage.

They walked in the same clothes as last night, the only difference being that their hands and feet were wrapped in the shackles of iron cuffs, and their mouths were gagged to prevent them from speaking.

"I'm sorry about what happened to Lord Edgar, Lady Arabelle," stated Mike, Mayor of Calden.

"Sit down, Mike. You're blocking my sight!" complained Quentin.

The man nodded in agreement. Now, Arabelle sat to Quentin's left, Dorren to his right. Their gazes were directed forward, watching as the hangman began to tie the ropes around the necks of the three old men.

Two of the counselors had pitiful looks on their faces, afraid to die. However, Colton was different. After discovering that Quentin had devised the plan to frame him, he looked angrily at Quentin.

Before the hangman pulled the lever, Quentin stood up from his seat on the stage. He walked forward while raising his right hand, asking everyone to stop talking or doing anything.

"Yesterday, when all the family members of House Helferich were leaving to establish an agreement with House Archibald. Sir Colton, who was still serving as an advisor at the time, had planned something heinous!" stated Quentin.

"He smuggled a bag of Ether from a black market, then used it without the Sage's care to affect the very ill Lord Edgar. Now, as a result of his actions, Lord Edgar is on the verge of death," Quentin continued.

"He did it in order to overthrow the rightful rulers, me and Lady Arabelle. He wanted to manipulate Lord Edgar into making his final decision by dehumanizing him!" Quentin continued.

"We are in agreement. Sir Colton's crimes cannot be forgiven. We arrange for a public execution to serve as a warning to everyone in Lanercoast!"

"Whoever dares to destabilize the peace of Lanercoast for personal reasons, the gallows await around your neck!" threatened Quentin.

The gathered folk listened to Quentin's explanation and showed sympathy. Their minds had been influenced by Quentin, who they thought was a true leader, brave enough to take action against anyone, including advisor Edgar Helferich.

"Sir Colton!" called Quentin.

"May God spare your soul!" declared Quentin.

The man looked at the hangman while giving a nodding gesture. The hangman retook hold of the lever and pulled it backward. 

The floor on which the three men stood spontaneously opened and dropped the three with their necks tied.

Their faces turned blue, their bodies floundering in agonizing death. Arabelle saw it firsthand, then smiled with a smirk.

Now, all three of Edgar's former advisors died hanging, with the city folk cheering in relief and pleasure at their pathetic deaths.

Quentin sat back in his chair, asking the servant to serve wine. He looked to the side, seeing the hatred growing in Arabelle's heart and eyes.

"He's dead," Quentin stated.

"It's not over yet. He must have done it with someone's help. I need to hunt down the person who helped him," Arabelle replied.

"Let me do that."