The Story Of The Second Son Of The Baron Family [EN]: Chapter 79

“Brother! Brother! I was wrong! I am deeply remorseful! Please forgive me just this once! If you spare my life, I will go into the mountains and live quietly! Brother!”

“Shut up.”

Just a year ago, the head of someone who was the envy of everyone as royalty was separated from their neck and flew into the sky. Red blood spurted like a fountain from the exposed cross-section of the neck, and some closed their eyes and turned their heads, while others cheered and enjoyed the rare spectacle.

“There is no mercy. Exterminate the three generations of traitors and enslave the nine generations.”

The Emperor showed no mercy in his actions. In fact, it was too late to hope for mercy. The Emperor had already declared at the coronation that he would not hold anyone accountable if they surrendered. In fact, those who gave up everything and obediently attended the coronation at that time were still alive and well today.

Of course, they were just barely clinging to life. Still, if they lived quietly, they could live without much hardship, so it was fair to call it a completely different world from those who were tied up and waiting for their turn. But in this situation, if mercy were shown to them, what would the remaining people think?

[Oh, the Emperor is indeed wise and generous. Praise his mercy!]

Would they think that? No, humans are not that wise.

[Should I try it too? Even if I fail, I can pretend to repent and save my life, and then live off the hidden wealth, right?]

They would think like that. And the increase of such people would be fatal at a time like now, when they are barely stopping the shaking and trying to find stability, unless the roots are strong.

“Ugh!”

“Kyaaak!”

“P, please, just spare my life, please!”

“It’s unfair! I was just swept up in the moment, I never had any intention of opposing the Emperor!”

If there are those who face such a cruel judgment of the sword.

“Hehehe. With this, I’ll at least get a Count title…”

“This is mine, that’s mine too!”

There were also those who sided with the new Emperor early on and were only left to recoup their investments. Mainly nobles from the South and East, and even merchants who provided funds. Now that the lords of the North and West had disappeared like dew on the execution ground, there was plenty of land and wealth to satisfy their desires.

“Tsk tsk.”

“Blinded by the spoils…”

Of course, there were those who looked at this scene with displeasure. Because their greed was excessive, and the burden of that desire would be borne entirely by the people of the territories who had lost their lords.

However, they remained silent. Not only were they a minority, but they were also criminals who had committed treason, not just any crime. Now that the tide had turned, no one would be foolish enough to side with the perpetrators. If they were that foolish, they wouldn’t have been in a position to watch in the first place.

“With this, the distribution of rewards is complete.”

“We are grateful for the Emperor’s grace and will do our best for the prosperity and well-being of the Empire!”

Many people received dividends on their investments. Among them, some were satisfied enough, and some were quite disappointed, but one thing was certain: everyone received a considerable amount of wealth and land. Even those who received a little less got some crumbs.

“I don’t know whether to like this or hate it.”

“Well, isn’t it a benefit in the end?”

My brother, who had remained in the capital due to my marriage, also received some crumbs, but he couldn’t help but feel bitter. Because he hadn’t done anything. There is nothing as uncomfortable as unearned favor. Also, the envious gazes around him were extremely uncomfortable.

In this coup, neither I nor the Dragnil territory did anything. We didn’t support the Third Prince early on, nor did we contribute to the coup, and we were pushed out when the subjugation forces were sent. However, in the distribution of rewards, the Emperor personally bestowed rewards upon me and the territory. Everyone knew what this meant, but no one openly expressed blatant jealousy.

Thanks to the implicit atmosphere that I was receiving the Emperor’s favor, the rumor that the marriage between me and Signy was virtually confirmed was a big help.

Zick territory.

The biggest connection, Darius III, had died, leaving them in a state of being cut off, but if the kite was big enough to cover the sky, it was a different story. Marquis Zick was still showing off his majesty as a Master [a powerful magic user] and held command of tens of thousands of troops, and the Zick territory was also one of the largest territories in the eastern part of the Empire.

The marriage of the daughter of such a family and the newly emerging star. As it was a combination where the pieces that were lacking in each other fit together, synergy was inevitable, so others watched carefully and could not easily express jealousy.

In the meantime, the curtain was about to rise on the stage where many people’s attention was focused.

“That you have finally found a partner, this mother has no regrets even if I die.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Have you been well! Brother. Congratulations on your marriage!”

“Thank you. Brother-in-law.”

“My brother is finally getting married. I don’t know how uncomfortable I felt that I got to go first, you know?”

“Haha. Sorry.”

“Uncle! Congratulations!”

“Congratulations, Master.”

“Thank you. Sister-in-law.”

For the first time in a while, all the family members came up to the capital. The difference from last time was that the number of people had increased by two. The brother-in-law and nephew were the main characters.

The wedding was decided to be held at the Zick family’s mansion in the capital. It didn’t matter to me whether it was held in the Zick territory, the capital, or my hometown, but this marriage was a political union between two families, not just a union between two men and women, so it needed to be large in scale as if it were a declaration to many people. In that sense, there was no place more suitable than the capital, where countless nobles resided.

In addition, there were several minor reasons. Except for the capital, the only other options were the Zick territory and the Dragnil territory, which were located in the east and southwest, respectively, and were far apart. Similarly, the guests also had to come a long way, and so on.

Anyway, now that the wedding was about to begin, it was a problem that I, as the person involved, didn’t need to worry about.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Brother.”

“Willand!”

“It’s a small gift, but it’s my gift.”

“Thank you. And I’m really sorry I couldn’t make it to your wedding. It was because I was in the North at that time.”

“Are you still holding it in your mind? You don’t have to. It’s my fault for not telling you before I left.”

Willand, with whom I have been continuing my relationship for a long time since the duel at the Magic Tower. I heard that he had solidified his position as the successor through this coup. It was the price for successfully persuading Count Willand, who had not yet made up his mind, to support the Third Prince and bet on the future.

Unfortunately, I was wandering north of the Tera Wall [a fortified border] during his wedding, so I couldn’t attend, but I was grateful that he came to visit me today.

“The groom’s face is bright. He doesn’t seem nervous, and he seems to have slept well?”

While I was continuing my conversation with Willand, a familiar face came to visit. Sigurd, who was in charge of the mansion instead of Marquis Zick, who eventually could not attend, took the time out of his busy schedule to visit.

“What’s there to be nervous about? I’ve experienced much worse.”

“You’re so stiff.”

That’s a lie. In fact, I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep well, so I had to borrow the power of the engraving a little. That’s because it was the first experience in nearly sixty years, spanning two lifetimes. It was bound to feel different from anything I had experienced so far.

“Are there any problems?”

“There won’t be any problems unless the groom is stunned by the bride’s beautiful appearance. Are you ready not to do that?”

“Oh, I’ll have to brace myself since you said that, Brother.”

A peaceful and harmonious atmosphere befitting a wedding. However, the commotion that suddenly started from outside grew in scale and became audible even inside. When I hurriedly went outside, I couldn’t help but be surprised by the red flag fluttering in the wind with the double-headed eagle engraved on it. Because that flag was for only one person, only one person could hang it.

Thud-

“Your Majesty!”

“Everyone, stand up. I just wanted to congratulate you on your new beginning, but I wonder if I’ve made a wasted trip.”

“There’s no way that could be. Please come inside.”

Sigurd and other high-ranking nobles hurriedly escorted the Emperor into the mansion. However, even after that, the commotion showed no signs of subsiding. The time he showed his face was short, but it was a more impressive appearance than anyone else.

‘What are you thinking?’

Logically, there was no reason for the Emperor to come to this wedding. It would be one thing if he sent someone to convey his words. He didn’t have any special connection with the main characters of this stage, and his connection with the Zick territory was with the former Emperor, not the current Emperor.

Nevertheless, the Emperor personally moved and revealed his appearance. If we try to infer the intention from this action, wouldn’t it be to make allies?

The new Emperor, Darius IV, is ultimately an Emperor who ascended to the throne with the power of the nobles. Since he did not inherit the throne through normal means, he was relatively weak. In addition, the nobles who followed him were in a stronger position than ever before.

Before ascending to the throne, they were a reliable background to support him, but now that he has ascended to the throne, they are bound to be the most dangerous enemies. If it is to keep them in check and gather new forces to support him, it would be a sufficient reason to come all the way here.

‘Politics is not something to do. Just a while ago, they were so close that they couldn’t live without each other, but now they have to be careful not to turn their backs and stab each other in the back.’

Even in the meantime, time continued to flow. It was a bit chaotic due to the Emperor’s appearance, but it would be a bigger problem if the ceremony could not be held normally because of that.

Fortunately, the wedding started smoothly as planned, and I still had some worries in my head until then. However, when I faced another protagonist of the stage who appeared a little later, the worries so far began to shout goodbye from my head.

Sharararara-

It is true that a calm music sound is being played in the wedding hall. However, it felt like something that could not be expressed only with that was being played in my head. I think I know now what Sigurd meant when he said that there would be no problem if I didn’t space out.

The curtain of the first and last wedding in both lives was opening.