If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 95

The plaza, of course, is used for various purposes, but holding executions and festivals at the same time is unprecedented. That they would celebrate with blood was something only demons would do. It showed just how corrupt the present empire had become.

 

“Thanks to the efforts of Count Gawain, the captain of the capital guard, many criminals have been apprehended. We’ll be grouping together those with similar names and executing them all at once, but as a surprise event, one person from each group will be specially pardoned. Who will be granted the right to decide the fate of these sinners? Please look forward to it.”

 

“Oooh!” The crowd cheered as if this would be entertaining, sending chills down my spine.

 

“What in the world…” Regen seemed shocked at the spectacle of people playing with human lives.

 

I murmured quietly so only he could hear. “It’s hopeful, isn’t it?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Look at the citizens. Only the nobles are cheering.”

 

Except for the planted instigators, most of the commoners were just staring blankly at the execution platform.

 

“Silence without opinion is consent, but silence without cheering is resistance. The citizens clearly do not approve of this execution.”

 

“Weren’t they the same people who blessed the emperor just a moment ago?”

 

“Just because you love the absolute ruler doesn’t mean you have to love the ruler’s subordinates.”

 

“Then that means…”

 

Regen seemed to realize something and surveyed the plaza. He found the focal point where all the citizens’ hostile gazes converged. At the end of those stares stood a black-haired man beside the execution platform, Raval Gawain.

 

“Your Highness has created negative public opinion against Count Gawain.”

 

There was no point hiding it.

 

“That’s right. I just gave a little push so he’d lose whatever little favor he had left. Count Gawain, obsessed with results, wronged many innocent people. Most of the prisoners are someone’s good family or friend.”

 

People were being dragged roughly onto the platform as the execution seemed about to begin.

 

I narrowed my eyes until they ached. “My power is too weak to save them, so at the very least, I must give them revenge.” For the daughter of the emperor who could never be a hero, this was the best I could do.

 

I wondered how someone born a hero would see me, who could do nothing more than this despite being a princess. I was both curious and afraid of how Regen was looking at me now.

 

“Someday, Your Highness will become a savior.”

 

“…”

 

“Just like Your Highness was to me.”

 

His words were a great comfort for my guilt.

 

Marquis Osbond, making three prisoners kneel, announced the rules for the special pardon. “For the first pardon, I humbly request Your Majesty, the master of Magnarod and bearer of almighty power! From then on, the right to pardon will be given to whomever Your Majesty designates.”

 

“Oho, so it’s my choice? How amusing.”

 

“It is an honor that Your Majesty enjoys it. Now, let me introduce the prisoners. From the left: Robin, murder. Rox, arson. Rowina, theft.”

 

The mad emperor, listening with his chin in his hand, asked lazily. “Rowina, what did you steal?”

 

“Me-Medicine… My older sister is sick… My father stole all the money I earned and gambled it away…”

 

Sighs and jeers rose from the crowd. Sympathy for her unfortunate situation mixed with anger toward Gawain for arresting her, regardless, filled the air with a heavy noise. It was absurd to weigh murder and theft for survival on the same scale.

 

That woman named Rowina had clearly been included intentionally by Marquis Osbond. The reason was…

 

“I pardon Rowina.”

 

“Wooooah! Long live Your Majesty!”

 

To make the people praise the mad emperor. It was nothing but theater. I had to bite my lower lip tightly to keep from letting out a bitter laugh.

 

“Now, the next prisoners. Nenson, assault. Neila, assault. This is a mutual assault between lovers.”

 

“We’re not even lo— mmph!” The woman tried to object, but her mouth was covered. Compared to the man, her injuries were incomparably worse. She sobbed, and anyone could see it was not mutual violence but one-sided assault.

 

The mad emperor passed on the right of pardon. “Verche, you do it.”

 

“Oh my, Your Majesty. Me?”

 

All eyes turned to Count Gawain’s mother, Verche. Being called immediately after the emperor was proof of favor.

 

After fully savoring the attention, the madam looked at the two prisoners. The female prisoner, her mouth still covered, stared at her with desperate eyes. The citizens watching also waited anxiously.

 

The madam put on a sympathetic face, but not for the one who deserved it.

 

“Nenson reminds me of my own son. How troubled he must have been to raise his hand. He must have been surprised himself at how his hand struck her cheek. I think it’s too much to execute a young man with such a bright future just for assault.”

 

A judgment so out of touch with legal sentiment drew boos. Startled and cowed by the reaction, the madam shrank back, but when the emperor laughed in amusement, she ignored everything else.

 

After several more rounds, my own crisis came.

 

“We should reward the winner of the competition too. The next right of pardon goes to Princess Silver Bird.”

 

Regen and I both flinched.

 

“Sasha.”

 

“I know.”

 

To put me on the spot, Marquis Osbond was sure to present a devilish moral dilemma. Three prisoners were brought up. The trap Marquis Osbond prepared for me opened its jaws.

 

“Bazel, murder. Bemon, murder. Berak, murder.”

 

“…I will hear each of them speak.”

 

Starting from the left, they spoke in turn.

 

“I’m innocent, Your Highness! I’m just a witness, not a criminal!”

 

“I-It was just an accident. I loved her so much!”

 

“I never meant to kill anyone. I didn’t know it would go that far.”

 

One drowned a neighbor who lent him money. One had habitually beaten his wife to death. And one killed someone while bullying them, thinking it was just a game. They were all trash. Yet I had to choose one among them to set free.

 

“I have one more question.” I pointed to one man. “Benon, did you really love your wife?”

 

Given this last chance to plead, Bemon’s eyes lit up as he begged, “Of course! I loved my wife as much as my own life! I cry myself to sleep every night these days…”

 

“Is that so? Then can you prove your love for her for the rest of your life?”

 

“Yes, yes! I’ll do anything. Please, pardon me.”

 

I made my decision. “I pardon Bemon.”

 

Naturally, the citizens booed.

 

“That’s not love!”

 

“Foolish…!”

 

But no matter whom I chose, this was always the reaction.

 

Freed from his shackles, Benon raised his fist to the sky. “Yes! Ah, thank you! Thank you, beautiful prin—”

 

“Bemon, I’ll be watching to see if you keep your promise.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“You said you’d prove your love. If you truly loved your wife, you should follow after her. Shouldn’t you?”

 

“…!” Bemon’s mouth dropped open in shock.

 

I stood up and turned to the mad emperor. “Your Majesty, if Bemon doesn’t follow after his wife by this time next week, please allow me to personally take his life.”

 

“You’re cunning, Rosasia.”

 

“Aren’t you enjoying this?”

 

“Of course, and I permit it.”

 

“I am grateful, Your Majesty.”

 

The jeers that had mocked me as a foolish princess obsessed with love soon turned into cheers.