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Balron is in solitary for 15 days.

Serena… 30 days in solitary.

I couldn’t wrap my head around why Serena’s sentence was harsher than Balron’s, but Vivian was firm.

She said Balron made a mistake as a first-time offender, while Serena’s offense was intentional and repeated.

The only action I took was to let out a long sigh.

Arguing in Serena’s defense here would only make her situation worse.

Besides, I didn’t even have the energy to think about that.

Vivian’s actions were twisting my insides.

‘-Then I’ll kiss your cheek again. This time, I won’t frown, I’ll smile while doing it.’

It was an offer that could see straight into my heart.

She understood exactly what I wanted.

It was shameful, yet hard to refuse.

If I wanted to keep my pride, I would shout ‘No need!’

But was there any reason for that?

My feelings were already exposed, and once feelings are out in the open, they can’t be hidden.

Did I really need to make a lame excuse? How much longer could I deny it?

Vivian asked for Brinden to be killed brutally.

Honestly, I wanted that too.

He would serve as an example.

A lesson on what happens when you fail to target Vivian.

To set that standard, I needed to execute Brinden cruelly.

After all, beheading is merciful, but I needed to show that there are degrees to that mercy.

If I was going to do it anyway, why not get a little reward?

Thinking I’d take control by asking for a reward, I was confident until Vivian realized my desires, and then she took the reins again.

For being greedy, I felt like I was discovered amidst my own confusion.

How much easier would it have been if my feelings for her were purely noble?

Because there was hatred and disgust entwined with my goodwill, I was only more troubled.

Not only was I harboring goodwill, but also ill will… Yet Vivian was riding high on my goodwill alone.

But perhaps this was Vivian’s strength.

She knew how to exploit my weaknesses to her advantage.

I learned the sword, and she learned politics, so she was likely more skilled in this kind of fight.

But, there was one thing.

What tormented me the most was Vivian’s mocking smile.

From the moment I didn’t reject her offer, Vivian snickered at me whenever she got the chance.

“…”

Even now, she cackled with her mouth covered.

In the end, I rebelled.

“Am I funny?”

“Of course it’s funny. I didn’t think it would be so easy to toy with you. I never knew your deep desires were aimed at me.”

I tried to douse her confidence like a splash of cold water.

“My desire is real, but that’s just because it’s nice to see you submit.”

“…”

“You’re using me, selling yourself to me like a whore. What could be more satisfying than that? Especially since you were the one singing about how filthy desire is.”

Vivian fell silent for a moment and then replied with a relaxed expression.

“…Well, think whatever you want. Anyway, I’m holding the leash.”

“Leash my ass…”

“Then should I not kiss you?”

“…”

The words ‘I don’t care if you don’t’ barely came out of my mouth.

Last night, the feelings she invoked in me rushed back vividly.

The overwhelming pleasure that could easily suppress the complicated emotions I felt then.

In my life, I had never felt such intense emotions.

That’s why I couldn’t say don’t act recklessly.

I walked past Vivian, trying to ignore her.

Vivian, in response, giggled triumphantly again.

****

The execution ceremony was hurriedly prepared.

News spread throughout Roktana that an execution was going to take place, and many were astonished by how suddenly this event was happening.

“There’s going to be an execution?”

“Who? Who’s dying?”

Vivian sat in the carriage, waiting, listening to the raucous voices of the citizens.

Across from her sat Kyle, armed and ready.

His face was covered by a red bear helm, exuding an intense presence.

If Vivian, who held Kyle’s leash, felt this way, others must have felt it even more.

Moreover, if today’s event went as planned, Kyle would once again instill fear in the hearts of the people.

A towering figure from the North.

Dragon Slayer.

Firstborn of the Allen Family.

Executioner.

None of these traits were lacking in intimidation.

Kyle was Vivian’s sharpest weapon.

Taking away the political aspect, there were probably countless lords hoping for Kyle’s loyalty.

For him to be so easily wielded as mere payback was mind-blowing.

The moment Vivian was sure she held his leash, she couldn’t help but adore Kyle.

My own. My property. My knight.

There’s a significant difference that arises from such small realizations.

This was one of those times.

When they were adversaries, he was a nuisance… but now that she embraced him, it was different.

Could there really be a being so perfect in the world? Vivian pondered.

Beautiful body, handsome face, amazing voice, skilled in swordsmanship, and…

“…”

Yet, Vivian quickly closed her eyes.

She calmed her racing heart.

She hadn’t forgotten. She needed to keep some distance from Kyle.

There was still time left.

Before becoming an adult, she could distance herself from Kyle… or find something more precious than him, whatever it may be.

-Knock knock.

At that moment, someone knocked on the carriage.

It was the voice of Steward Pippin.

‘Lady Vivian, preparations are complete.’

Vivian nodded at Kyle.

Kyle, grabbing the two-handed sword next to him, reached out to Vivian.

The two of them held hands and stepped out of the carriage.

It was a late afternoon with a setting sun.

Stepping down, they ascended to the platform prepared by Baelor.

On the platform sat a small wooden block.

It was clearly intended to serve as a neck support for beheading.

Under the platform, the crowd of citizens was densely packed, and Vivian pulled out her inner strength that had been dormant.

With sharp eyes, she went to the prepared seat and took her place.

Then she nodded.

The condemned was dragged out.

“No!! You can’t do this to me!! I’ve been loyal to the Rondore Family for years!! Twenty years!! I have dedicated myself longer for Rondore than Vivian Rondore!!”

Meanwhile, Kyle stood right in front of the wooden block, resting the two-handed sword on his shoulder.

Seeing him like that, the crowd swallowed hard.

Brinden, with his hands bound, was dragged out, and Kyle’s towering figure loomed beside him.

Brinden’s legs weakened at that sight.

His body slumped, hanging limply from the soldiers holding him.

Reality began to seep in, and his cowardly demeanor emerged.

“Oh, please… if you do this, the Trelli Family won’t sit quietly—”

“-Does that mean the Trelli Family was also aiming for my head?”

Vivian asked.

Brinden had no choice but to close his mouth against such a sharp question.

Depending on the words he spoke, his entire family could pay the price.

Parents, siblings, cousins, and children…

Brinden was starting to realize he couldn’t escape this death.

His pants began to feel damp.

With his strength draining away, he was dragged toward the block, leaving a trail of urine.

The soldiers placed Brinden’s face atop the wooden block.

At the same time, Kyle lightly pressed down on Brinden’s face with his foot to hold him in place.

“K-Kyle…!”

Brinden, with his face pinned down, called out to Kyle.

Vivian watched Kyle’s demeanor.

As if a laugh almost slipped out, he shook his head lightly before speaking to Brinden.

“…It feels like just yesterday when you called me an Allen.”

“I… I did wrong.”

“…I told you, didn’t I? If you run away, I’d make your death painful. I’ll show you how well I keep my promises.”

Kyle’s gaze shifted to Vivian.

His dark eyes gleamed from within the helm.

Vivian suddenly recalled the first time Kyle became an executioner.

He was barely 14… no, just turned 15 when Kyle looked up at her in front of the gallows.

Back then, they were both trembling as they beheaded many.

They had shared the weight of life and death together.

And now, they had come this far.

To the day when a vassal’s head would roll.

It was evident to anyone that Vivian’s retaliation was in motion.

Kyle slowly addressed the silent crowd.

“The sinner Brinden Trelli has forgotten the duty of a vassal and committed the crime of aiming for the life of Vivian Rondore, the lord of Roktana.”

“K-Kyle Allen…! No, Lord Kyle Allen…! Please…!”

As the execution began, Brinden began to thrash even more.

“Therefore, in the name of Vivian Rondore, lord of Roktana and head of the Rondore Family, I, Kyle Allen, sentence you to death. Any last words?”

Brinden, trembling, tried to get up, but the harder he resisted, the more pressure Kyle applied to his foot.

In the end, gasping in pain, he shouted out.

“You should have killed me when I was a child!!”

His eyes, filled with malice, turned toward Vivian.

-Swipe!

Kyle twisted Brinden’s face so he wouldn’t see Vivian.

Brinden, unable to see Vivian anymore, kept shouting.

“Because of a useless girl, how much has Roktana suffered! The lord who should be governing…! How hard we’ve had it because you can’t do your job…! We needed a leader, not a young child to babysit—”

-Flick!

Kyle swiftly drew a dagger from his waist, removing his foot and stabbing Brinden’s cheek with it.

“Gack..! Gah…!”

Brinden’s cheek was pierced, and the dagger stuck into the block.

As his tongue might have been punctured as well, he could no longer speak.

The gruesome sight made the vassals collectively frown.

Meanwhile, Kyle remained unfazed by his actions.

Leaving Brinden’s head held down, Kyle raised his two-handed sword.

“I’m not curious about your reasons for betrayal.”

With that phrase, he swung the sword.

-Whoosh!

Kyle’s sword descended slowly.

-Thunk!

The heavy blade struck Brinden’s neck.

 

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