Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 221 Execution (2)

221: Execution (2)

221: Execution (2)

“‘Today, a villain would be brought to justice whose existence was nothing more than a blight on our great history’.”

Speaking low so that only Lucretia could hear, the emperor watched the sea of waiting citizens and the vacant gallows in front of them as if it was all distant.

“…I’m sure the people would be delighted for that to be the result of today.”

The people of the empire were not vicious by any means.

The meaning of it all was just that high.

“The future would doubtless be as radiant as the Sun Father and the sky that holds Him on this day.”

“…”

The Imperial Princess only listened to the emperor’s words, but although her expression remained as silent and stoic as always on the outside, anyone who knew her well would be able to tell.

Inside, she was surely furious.

Whether wholly ignorant of his successor’s sentiments, or simply deciding to dismiss them for the moment, the emperor continued.

“Nevertheless, what no one considers is one vital thing.”

When making a choice as a leader, you must make decisions.

Faced with having to decide between one or two outcomes, or three or four or even a few dozen, you must make only decisions that will lead to the betterment of the people you rule.

“‘Certainly, that would assuredly lead to a bright future.

However…'”

But, you must also consider.

When faced with turmoil that, at first glance, might have only one answer.

“‘Couldn’t there be an even brighter, hidden path?'”

There will always be a path you don’t see at first.

You might never find it, in fact.

But it is there.

It is there, and, sometimes, it will be the exact path to lead to the most desired future.

All that was necessary was to find it, and then, to take it by force.

“You are a smart decision maker, Lucretia.”

“…”

“Of course.

That’s why I chose to name you as my heir despite the engagement falling through.

I trust you to be very well capable of leading the empire forward when I am gone.”

“…”

“I also know you inherited more than just your father’s features.

To be cold and calculating, that’s what he would try to preach even to me when we were young.”

Turning his head partway to face her, who had already gone back to gazing vacantly at the gallows and the bustling crowd just beyond, the emperor finished his thoughts.

“That’s why, I am deeply intrigued to see what decision you have made.”

“…”

Will the unseen saviour of the empire be executed just to raise the morale of its citizens?

Or, as the emperor had said, had Lucretia managed to find the hidden path to an even brighter future?

That’s what he was here to discover.

“…Ah.

Finally, it’s starting.

I was beginning to grow impatient.”

Shortly noticing a commotion to one side of the crowd, the emperor muttered and moved his gaze just in time to see a small convoy of Imperial Knights escorting a single prisoner to the wooden foundation on display.

Naturally, the princess’ attention likewise snapped towards the escort, a subtle air of tension gradually infecting the surrounding atmosphere.

Watching the knights drag the restrained prisoner up the rickety wooden steps to the main platform, the already rowdy crowd of spectators only grew even more severe in their jeering.

As the prisoner turned his head every which way, it was clear for all to see the plain disgruntlement painting his face.

“Hm, he’s just as dashing as I recall…

And more collected than I would have expected.”

The emperor, himself, appeared surprisingly composed.

As for the princess…

“He certainly is…

perhaps calmer than most.”

Donning a slight grin as his anticipation swelled, the emperor asked.

“And why do you think that might be, I’m curious?

Could it be that he merely resigned himself to his fate? fгeewebnovёl.com

Perhaps he is feigning his composure only to appear as such on the outside.

Or, consider this…”

Taking an intentional pause, perhaps with the intention of building tension, the emperor slowly continued.

“…What do you think the chances are that he is so calm because of his trust in you?”

“…”

Lucretia did not reply, only continuing to gaze distantly at the prisoner with feigned aloofness.

At that very moment, as if feeling her intense attention on him, Enki snapped his head to face the princess, his eyes flicking between both her and the emperor for a short while as he stared at the imperial duo.

‘…What a fucked up day.’

❖─────★★☆☆☆─────❖

Being brought up onto the raised wooden platform in front of all those citizens, a countless number of people and an audience bigger than anything I had ever experienced before, I didn’t even know what to think.

I had never seen a guillotine with my own eyes before, and suddenly being thrusted so close to one was honestly quite intimidating.

Doing my best to ignore that elephant in the room, I looked around at everyone spectating.

Endless jeers, boos, and all sorts of verbal abuse rang out, but it all sort of meshed together into one, and strangely enough, quickly began to feel like background noise that I was able to tune out, so even though I was never someone who liked being in the public eye, it wasn’t too bad, and definitely not like anything I thought it was going to be.

If you just think of them as NPCs, it really makes things easier.

Although, there were some rogue spectators throwing rotten fruit at me, which was more annoying than anything.

‘Bastards, don’t get my damn Draconic Shadow dirty…’

The guards and knights didn’t seem eager to do anything about it either, but I guess I couldn’t blame them.

In the eyes of everyone here, I was, and still am possibly the worst criminal in the entire history of Drakon-Rasa.

‘What a title, huh…’

Of course, there were those who knew the truth, and to be honest, they were the only ones whose opinions I had a reason to care about.

Specifically, the two main spectators sitting right over there.

The sun-soaked emperor and the princess of the north.

‘Lucretia…

You are gonna save me…

right…?’

Back when I was her attendant, I had spent enough time by her side to know more or less what she was thinking just by looking at her expressionless face, but now, it seems my skills in that department had rusted a bit.

Although, a long time had passed since then, and it was clear that she had grown a lot.

I wouldn’t be surprised if she simply got better at hiding what she was thinking beneath that stoic mask.

Of course, even if the situation was like this, I didn’t doubt her.

Not only was my instinctive feeling to trust in her, but I also simply wanted to.

I did not genuinely believe that she would execute me like this, no matter what the situation was, no matter what kind of hit her reputation would make, no matter how grievous the public thought my crimes to be.

Even if it was foolish, both on her part if she did, and on my part for having such blind faith.

There had to be some kind of a plan in motion, whether I was made aware of it or not.

‘…Well.

Maybe it’s just cope.

I’d like to think she would do that, at least…’

Interrupting my thoughts, one of the knights who escorted me up to the main platform of the gallows abruptly grabbed my arm.

‘Tsk…’

Shooting a glance at him with an expression I’m sure wasn’t anything that could be called pleasant, I felt him momentarily flinch, followed by an immediate retaliation as he roughly pulled me along towards the prepared guillotine.

‘Oh, fuck that.’

Dragging my feet and digging my heels into the ground, the singular Imperial Knight’s strength wasn’t enough on its own to make me move.

With the shackles around my wrists, it was the most I could do to drag things out without bringing too severe consequences onto myself, but alas, resistance was futile regardless.

Thud.

“Gh…”

Seeing his struggle, two more knights approached and simply pushed me forcibly to my knees.

At that point, it was no trouble for them to yank me over and shove my head down onto the bottom half of the lunette that would lock me by the neck.

The crowd cheered at that sight.

‘Lucretia…’

Gritting my teeth as my head slammed against the wood, there really was nothing I could do to fight back.

Rather, even if I did, there were dozens of city guards and Imperial Knights on standby, not to mention the personal guard of both the emperor and the princess located behind me.

I was confident I wouldn’t die, but that didn’t make the current situation any less uncomfortable.

‘Damn it…

Librarian, get ready…’

In the worst case, I would have no choice but to have the Librarian transport me back to the Library.

There was probably enough World Stability to transport me back to this world even if I returned with nothing, but it definitely wasn’t an amount I should waste if I could help it.

The Librarian understood that more than anyone, even me.

More than that, the channelling process of transporting still took a few seconds to fully go through.

Obviously, if I got attacked or struck during that time, there was a low possibility of me being able to defend against it.

In other words, the Librarian would also not want to transport me back unless we really, truly had to, but even with this I was relying on her to get the timing right or else I was dead on the spot.

‘Please…’

Silently praying in this awkward position, I felt the other half of the lunette close around my neck, sending unprecedented shivers down my spine.

For an ordinary person, this meant certain, imminent death.

If you already arrived this far, found yourself in this position, there was virtually no escape.

In the next ten, twenty, thirty seconds…

my head would roll.

“…”

‘Librarian…

Do i–‘

However, right at that moment―

“M-magic…!”

―Commotion erupted.