Chapter 77: Loyal retainer without loyalty

Nguyen returned to the royal palace for the first time in ten days and met the new king, Arsames, in his private chambers.

The third prince, Weneg, who was brought back from the kingdom, has already been placed under house arrest and has a guard.  This time, he came to report on the situation.

Arsames’s cheeks were gaunt and skinny, and dark circles were floating in his eyes. The beautiful young man who had been hailed as a treasure of the Allied nations had been completely transformed.

Nguyen did not move an eyebrow when he saw Arsames in such a state.

“You’re starting to look like a king.”

“Is that supposed to be a compliment, or what?”

“You’re much more likable than the overconfident men.”

It was very unbecoming language for a lord, but Arsames did not blame him and only smiled wryly.

“Every night my father appears in my dreams.”

“Would you like to say it’s a grudge?”

“No, he’s laughing and meddling in national affairs. It’s all on point, so it’s even worse.”

“That’s just… it must be tough.”

“It would have been much easier to be hated or scolded.”

Nguyen was thinking in the corner of his head as he spoke. It is impossible for spirits to appear night after night to give advice. All of them are illusions created by Arsames.

As for the national government, Arsames is merely organizing his own thoughts by copying them onto the figure of Cassandros.

My father gave me a push. Only in that way can you make big decisions.

…a pathetic person.

Arsames had a beauty that attracted people. He had the talent to lead others.

He was a bit narrow-minded, or rather, he had a habit of taking it for granted that things would go as he wished, and becoming upset when things deviated from that. He would have been able to calm down if he had trained under Cassandros for five or ten years. He had enough qualities to become a great ruler surpassing even Cassandros.

But it didn’t happen.

The bridge of glory prepared for him was destroyed by his own hands.

It is not hard to understand how Arsames came to kill Cassandros. First of all, it was Cassandros who changed.

Cassandros, energized by the possession of the one and only Amaterasu, the holy sword, changed his mind. He decided that he would not have to entrust his aspirations to his son, but would do it himself.

An excellent successor, a cute son, suddenly reverted to a mere pawn.

Because of his talent, Arsames sensed the change in his father. And he could clearly see the future in which he would be tamed.

“I was surprised that you were the first to come to me after I killed my father. I had long suspected it was a trap.”

“You still don’t believe it.”

“Fu, fu… Of course.”

Arsames smiled as if to return the favor. It’s a dark laugh that makes the viewer uneasy.

Nguyen spoke with a solemn tone, as if opening a stone door.

“My only hope is the development of the Allied nations. If King Cassandros were alive, I would have risked my life to fight you to protect him. But if I strike you now, my country will only become more confused.”

“Will you serve your enemy for the sake of your country?”

“On your will”

Nguyen replied briefly.

He knew that he was being called ungrateful and a pervert behind his back. Nguyen also wanted to die with Cassandros if possible.

But he survived. There was still work to be done because he was alive, and for Nguyen, that was loyalty. Being a martyr to the king would not help him in any way.

“It’s pointless to think about what it would be like if you were there. I was aiming for a place where you weren’t there.”

It was Arsames’ true feelings and comfort to Nguyen.

If Nguyen had been there at the time of the attack, he would have taken arrows all over his body, protecting the king. Naturally, he would die. But if the king was given time to pull out the amaterasu, and if the soldiers who saw the light were upset, who knows what would have happened afterwards.

“I’m talking about when you went to the kingdom…”

Arsames lowered his eyes and said,

“My brother committed suicide.”

“huh……?”

Nguyen, who was not surprised by the incident, was speechless.

Arsames’ older brother is the first half-prince who abandoned the right to succeed to the throne and became a monk because he suffered from an eye disease.

He and Arsames have been close since childhood, and it is only with the encouragement of his kind older brother that Arsames has been able to devote himself to his martial arts and studies.

You killed him. Nguyen swallowed the words. It couldn’t be, he didn’t want to believe that.

Arsames, sensing what Nguyen was about to say, said in his dark voice as usual.

“… my brother was on my side. He scolded me for killing my father, but he still put me first.”

“It’s a suicide note,” said Arsames, holding out a piece of parchment.

The text must have been written orally on his behalf by someone he trusted. There was a signature on the edge of the parchment that looked as if it had been traced with ink on a finger. It was undoubtedly the First Prince’s.

There is a movement to make him the standard-bearer for the usurpation of the throne. It is written that he will commit suicide because he cannot be used by such people.

To my beloved brother, follow the path you believe in. That was the last sentence.

Nguyen silently rolled up the parchment and returned it, and Arsames put it in the drawer with a hand as if receiving a treasure.

“… Do you have any regrets?”

“I don’t have time for that”

Arsames answered in a powerful voice. He seemed to be in a state of weakness and only his eyes were glazed over. There will be no more nights of restful sleep for him. That is the price of ambition.

“You’re going to kill your brother, too. His brother committed suicide, there is no reason to let that pig live.”

The risk of being used as a banner for rebellion was the same. The difference was whether they relied on him because of his intelligence or because he was easy to manipulate.

“I haven’t decided on the execution method or the timing, only that I’m going to kill him. You tell Weneg that.”

Arsames waved his hand as if to ward off a fly.

Not even angry at such a rude attitude, Nguyen bowed and left.

… He probably needs time to cry.

While thinking so, I headed to the room where Weneg was under house arrest.

“You traitor!”

Nguyen was being beaten by a fat man. The fist was covered with fat down to the fingertips. It didn’t hurt at all, but it was also sad.

Nguyen didn’t even try to avoid it and was still beaten.

The death penalty had been decided. So the third prince, Weneg, was told, and he struck at him.

Weneg lowered while breathing on his shoulder, whether he was tired from hitting or hurt his hand.

“…I know, Arsames is going to kill me. That’s why I fled to the kingdom, and I made a stupid proposal. There was no way for me to survive except to go through with it!”

Weneg desperately tried to show his worthiness for use in the kingdom. But all he got in return was a cold smile.

He couldn’t see things, he had no political sense, and he was fundamentally stupid. All of this is true, but being silently killed was unacceptable. It was probably the first time in his life that he had ever been that desperate.

So it happened.

“Nguyen, do you know how I will be executed?”

“It’s undecided at this point, but I think you’ll probably be beheaded.”

Speaking of public executions, beheadings were so common.

“…I see, you’re telling me to die in pain.”

“I think the execution will be over in an instant.”

“Are you serious?”

Weneg glared at him with sticky eyes.

“It would be nice if they could cut off the head with one blow. It would be instant, it would be merciful. But that rarely happens!”

The bones of the neck are sturdy, as the head is always supported by the bones of the neck. It is difficult for even a skilled executioner to cut them off with a single blow.

There are many patterns in which the blade stops in the middle of the neck, and the pain is prolonged due to being cut repeatedly in the shoulder.

Even if the executioner’s skill is good, there are cases where the criminal goes on a rampage and ruins it.

Crying out in pain, splattering blood and fecal matter, and slumping about are the beheadings.

“Do you think I will die a peaceful death?”

Weneg placed his hand on his neck. There was so much flesh on it that he wasn’t even sure where his chin was and where his shoulders started.

Oh,” Nguyen grunted. I can’t imagine the sight of his head being cut off with a single blow.

Weneg began to tremble. Scared, he was now dreading the day of his execution and couldn’t bear it.

There are also cases where the blade is slammed many times and the head is cut off as if to be cut into pieces. He is also afraid to cry out in a state of helplessness in front of an attention-seeking public.

If my brother was alive, would he have interceded?

No, the fact that he quickly killed himself without any follow-up was probably because he decided that it would be better for the country if neither he nor Weneg were there.

“Hey Nguyen, where is your loyalty? Have you sold out to Arsames?”

“My loyalty will always be for the sake of my country.”

Weneg grabbed Nguyen’s arm. He was crying and had a runny nose. He could not pretend.

“Then do me a favor, please, listen to my last request. Do me the favor of the son of King Cassandros!”

“If you’re talking about something other than that you don’t want to die…”

“I don’t want to suffer, but I want to die with dignity. Find a skilled executioner who can cut off this ugly head!”

“If you don’t want to suffer, why don’t you poison yourself?”

“… I think it’s probably the royal family’s mission, including being executed in front of the people.”

Weneg said sadly.

…… Oh, he is definitely royalty too. He is the son of Master Cassandros.

Nguyen swore to himself that now was the time to repay the king for his kindness.

“Leave it to me, I will prepare the best executioner and the best sword. Also, I will ask Arsames-sama to wait until I can prepare them.”

“I thank you. And make sure that everyone will say that your execution was brilliant. It is shameful that the only way to make a name for yourself is to die. ……”

“Most people in the world can’t even do that.”

“Hmmm, thankfully or sadly ……”

Leaving Weneg who had stopped crying, Nguyen went back to Arsames’ private room.

He was no longer sure if he could call it loyalty, sending the son of a king he respected to death.

However, this is something only I can do.

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