Ch-124

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The nobles of the kingdom of Carta were imprisoned. They couldn't be released off of their narrow cells until their respective families were to send a ransom.

One could say the level of punishment was meager compared to what they had done, but Cloud wasn't having it easy either.

He'd Lorian's food supply to bear through, but that wouldn't make Lupus's situation any better.

Food shortages will rear back and money was needed to rebuild the city.

In order to obtain that money, it was best to accumulate as much as possible, but of course, in order to receive these ransoms, the hostage must not have a hand or leg missing.

So, as a matter of fact, not a scratch was to fall on them.

At least, that was possible if they were the nobles of the neighboring kingdom.

The vassal families of the royal family of the Kingdom of Prona weren't ordained to escape the death penalty. An uprising in one's own country was a different matter than the invasion faced from neighboring kingdoms.

Calion and Lewis had claimed that it was their own independent action instead of their families, but…

'It's bullshit.'

Even if they were the heirs to great aristocratic families, they weren't endowed with the authority of an independent army without the permission of the head of the family. Therefore, it was safe to say they were granted authority from the family heads.

Originally, the crime of treason was ruled by extermination of the whole lineage.

But this time, it was decided to execute only the ringleaders and move on.

Right now, Lupus didn't have the resources to wipe out two great aristocratic families, and even if they had, Cloud had no desire to start an internal war.

Instead, he intended to put blades through the two families in the name of neglect of their successors.

A very big, huge blade.

However, there were also minor problems with this method.

Calion Oler.

Eri's older brother.

No matter what bad blood they shared, or even if she was disowned, blood was blood. He didn't want Eri to be depressed by Calion's execution, or even come to resent him.

That's why Cloud took Eri's counsel on the disposal of Calion.

As the leader, it was his duty to accommodate his colleagues.

For Cloud, the solution was simple enough.

On the other hand, Eri's head was teetering.

Calion.

The name of her brother she disliked.

Oler.

The family she had tried all her life to truly belong, but was eventually thrown out. Which she too disliked.

When two dislikes are combined, it becomes hate.

Contrary to her thoughts, however, she did not readily answer.

Although there was not much left, the bond of blood and kinship still remained.

She hoped that perhaps, with this incident as an opportunity, she might be able to enter the family register of the Oler family once again.

These thoughts also made her hesitate, and then, steadying herself, she replied.

"Let me meet… Let me meet and decide."

* * *

"No need."

"…did I hear you wrong?"

He said "no need."

Eri was momentarily slumped by his words that were as firm and sharp as a knife.

Coming to her senses, she asked, "Are you sure you understood what I was saying?"

"Of course. That I'm about to be executed and you can prevent it. And even swear that the nobles of the Kingdom of Carta will survive. I got it alright."

"So what do I make of your answer?"

"Hah. What did you think? I would crawl between your crotch and beg to save my life?"

Calion snorted at her as if she was being ridiculous.

"Not that I have any inclination of doing that, but even if I did, what would be left of me? There is only this honor that has not fallen to the floor."

"Goodness! You would give up your life just for your pride?"

"Not just."

The look on his face as he spoke as he leaned back in his chair was impeccably serious.

"Aristocrats are rulers. And they have people who rally under them. If such an aristocrat bends his pride, even his vassal's pride will be dishonored. Would the lower ones look up to such seemingly craven lords? Will they believe and follow me? At least I don't think so. That is why the honor of the nobility is important."

His hair was a mess and his face was rugged.

Nevertheless, the dignity engraved deep in his bones showed he was still an aristocrat.

Eri felt her mood rapidly become unpleasant. Why? Shouldn't she have the upper hand in this conversation?

The reason was not difficult to find.

For her, it was a familiar feeling.

The overwhelming sense of defeat.

How would she have reacted if she had been in this situation herself?

Would she have laid down her life as courageously as Carlion?

Probably not.

Even if she wanted to deny it, she couldn't.

Eri had been pursuing practicality rather than honor since ever.

Her way of thinking was different from that of Calion, who valued ​​honor.

Yes, it was different.

Born and raised in the same family, the two were so different. Perhaps that was the mindset of a great aristocrat. Since they were born with everything, they didn't have to struggle to get anything.

Unlike her.

"Well… I'm not saying this because I've already lost most of my honor."

Calion laughed bitterly.

Eri stood up from her seat.

"I definitely gave it a chance. You were the one who said you wanted to die."

Saying that, she turned her back and walked briskly.

Or wanted to.

Wanted to get out of this unpleasant space as soon as possible.

"Congratulations anyway, Eri Oler. It's your victory."

""

What caught Eri's brisk footsteps was a jeer from Calion that came from behind her back.

With that, her feet stuck to the floor as though she had been sprayed with glue. She asked without looking back.

"What do you mean..?"

"You are the only hope of a family that has lost ground due to my foolish judgment. The family will try to accept you into the fold again. Of course, on much better terms than before. Maybe you can be the next head of the household. That's why I said it was your victory."

Eri's clenched fist quavered. She whipped her head around and shouted at Calion.

"You are f**king next level arse!"

The next head of the household? Victory?

Had she ever wished for that?

"I just wanted to be accepted into the family. How many times have I told you, sh*thead!"

She wanted to be praised by her father.

She wanted to live without strife with her half-brothers and sisters.

She wanted to say the surname 'Oler' proudly in front of others.

"That was all I wanted… why…"

Tears welled up in deep sorrow. Eri bit her lip tightly. She erased her sad expression and glared at her Calion with ferocity.

"First dig me out of the family register and then accept me again? Do not be ridiculous. Such an obnoxious family, I won't accept it even if I was given!"

Having spat out all the resentment in her heart, she left the room in a fit of rage.

Looking at her back, Carlion smiled dully.

"This is all I could do, father…"

A few days later, Calion and Lewis were executed.

* * *

The dungeon's facilities were mediocre. Stone walls and iron bars.

But those only barred ordinary, the shackles that restrained Lorian and his party were enchanted with restraint magic. Given that Lorian or his party members could break through faced with a little internal injury.

But they did not think of breaking the shackles and escaping.

They knew too.

If they were to attempt escape, they would accept death.

In the hands of none other than Hero Cloud.

Death certainly would not be granted to Hero Lorian, but for others, they would face it unconditionally. Cloud's astute expression they saw that day further backed up the impression.

That was why they had quietly accepted imprisonment.

Although their bodies were sticky because of the dampness, and they couldn't wash it, and the moldy food, which was worse than not eating at all, and the insects and rats that appear from time to time to eat up their spirits…

It was better than dying.

But that was to it, and discomfort was discomfort.

The nobles who had never been treated like this in their lives, as well as Lorian's party members, were distraught and dissatisfied.

And ironically, their dissatisfaction was directed at Lorian, not Cloud.

He was the reason they were half-forced to follow the plan, and he was also the cause of the plan's failure.

Of course, since Lorian was both a Hero and the prince of the Kingdom of Carta, he had no one openly expressing the dissatisfaction.

They just swept him with disapproving looks or didn't look around to meet his gaze.

It was a really minor act of repulsion, but it was enough to set the uncomfortable air flowing in the narrow dungeon thick.

'Not good.'

Of course, Lorian also noticed. And just as he chided his mind to come up with some salvaging assistance.

"How are you all?"

With the steady sound of footsteps, Cloud appeared in the hallway.

"From the looks on your face, you don't seem to be getting along well."

He looked around the bars and smiled. Lorian frowned at that.

"Do you come to mock me, Cloud?"

"No. To get you out, Lorian."

Cloud pulled out a bushel of keys. The eyes of the nobles changed at the sound of the keychain jingling. One by one, they started putting their faces to the bars.

"Did the families send the ransom money already?"

Cloud shook his head in denial toward the anticipation on their faces.

"Haven't received a reply yet, let alone the ransom. And I'm not here to get you all out."

"…then?"

Cloud opened the iron grate of Lorian's cell in exchange for an answer. 'Ah' and sighs were heard from various cells.

Watching Cloud release him from shackles, Lorian frowned.

"What is your intention?"

"What do you mean?"

"There is no reason for you to release me obediently. Unless you have some ulterior motive."

"Don't be joking, Lorian. I'm just catching up with the burden of keeping a kingdom's royalty locked up."

After loosening Lorian's shackles, he immediately released Laurenne's. Lorian's other colleagues, including the candidate saintess, weren't released. Same for the other nobles.

Lorian considered them and said.

"I want the others to be released too."

"No. You and Lorraine are royalty, so we let you go. Just because you're becoming free, don't forget what you did."

"…Then I will stay here as well. I shall not go out alone."

Lorian tried to jostle back into the cell.

Cloud grabbed him by the crook of his arm.

"It looks like you've misunderstood something, this isn't an invitation of goodwill."

"…"

"Follow me."

Before being pushed back by Cloud, Lorian turned his head and looked ahead. He never looked for the eyes fixed on him and on Lorraine.

* * *

"Do I really have to do this?"

A room in an ordinary inn that could be found anywhere in the city.

Lorraine grumbled, wiping her freshly washed, damp hair with a cloth.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't pretend. There's no way a serpent like you wouldn't have noticed the atmosphere."

Lorraine glared at him.

Cloud laughed and slipped behind her.

He pried away the cloth and began wiping her hair instead.

"Hey! What are you doing!"

"Stay still. It's harder to clean if you move."

"Aww..! Ha, don't!"

Lorraine waved her hand at him with a flushed face, but she didn't go through. Cloud skillfully avoided her. In the end, she got tired first and had no choice but to give up.

"What is this really…"

As she pouted and grunted, Cloud opened his mouth.

"I had to, Lorraine. I had to. To make sure this doesn't happen again."

"…wasn't there another way?"

"Was. But I don't want it to end with homicide."

In a calm tone, he replied. Lorraine, slightly appalled, looked behind her. Cloud smiled as if asking what.

"Come to think of it, is there anything you haven't answered yet?"

"What… what…"

"Don't pretend you forgot. You are not stupid."

Cloud stroked her brown hair. Lorraine hesitated with her mouth shut, then looked at him and replied.

"I… can't betray my brother."

"Is that your answer?"

Lorraine gave him a small nod.

"Yeah, well… Let's say that's the case for now."

Cloud cupped her cheek and kissed her on the lips. After sharing a long kiss, he met her eyes.

"There is still plenty of time."

Cloud kissed her again and began untying the laces of her dress.

Lorraine did not oppose.

* * *

A mountain range near Lupus.

There, on a cliff, a young man was watching Lupus and the encamped army, sprawling on the open meadows off the city.

"As rumored, it is very precarious. Is Cloud hyung still here?"

Without him, there was no point in coming here.

As the young man was mulling, he heard his colleague's voice call from behind.

– Mars, what are you doing there? Hurry up, we gotta go!

"Huh? When did you get there? Wait for me!"

The young man, Mars, sprinted toward his teammates.

You can read fully translated chapters, including the last chapter, for $20.

p(a)treon.com/Daoist02