The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

68 – 68. Executioner of the King (2)

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The refugees who had entered the country without permission, the Luinongs, were recognized for their contributions by the Valtaria Imperial Family and were granted citizenship.

It was an unexpected outcome.

From now on, the Luinongs would receive the empire’s protection.

The mysterious race known as the mascot of the Holy Maiden’s Party had gathered in the Hohenberg Duchy and were living together. As a result, the empire’s citizens began to show interest and curiosity about the Luinong race.

“It seems we can earn a huge income by allowing people to touch and pet the adorable fairies. Perhaps we should build a Luinong experience center in the Hohenberg Duchy…”

If they were to exploit the vanity of the nobles who spared no expense for new stimuli and interests, they could surely make a fortune.

And by promoting the Hohenberg Duchy extensively with the Luinongs as mascots, they could quickly gain fame.

Her mind raced.

The opportunity for a fortune seemed to be within reach.

“No! Using the Luinongs for profit… absolutely not!”

The blonde princess exclaimed, hugging the Luinongs who were happily sucking on candies. She appeared very determined, like a mother fiercely protecting her children from a wicked influence.

Scratching the back of her head with a sheepish expression.

“W-well, it was just a joke.”

“Lies. It was no joke at all.”

Quick on the uptake.

Truly the antagonist to the heroine, Elizabeth…

Raising both hands in surrender to Elizabeth’s sharp gaze, she declared a retreat.

“I hope the Luinongs can experience the outside world and learn happiness and joy. They have lived isolated in the stifling underground world for a long time.”

Elizabeth smiled as she gently patted the Luinongs’ heads. In response, the Luinongs, smiling broadly, carefully placed a handcrafted wreath on the princess’s head.

The relationship between the antagonist and the Luinongs was truly strange yet fitting.

Gazing at the beautiful sight, she decided to postpone the plan for the Luinong experience center.

“By the way, can we freely pick the flowers in the garden?”

“Well, why not. Who would dare question the princess?”

She expressed regret to the gardeners who were looking in shock at the ruined flower bed. They must have put a lot of effort into beautifying the Emperor’s sponsorship.

She felt disheartened by the messy appearance of the garden.

“Edanant Master.”

While watching Elizabeth and the Luinongs’ intimate outing,

A priest in robes approached.

He was the Vice Head of the Holy Kingdom, who had been overseeing Javelin.

“Lady, you are being summoned.”

“Me?”

It was far from the appointed time…

Was something wrong?

Nodding at Javelin’s prophecy, she got up.

* * *

The shocking news spread that the Pug Kingdom, which had miraculously recovered from the Dark Sorcerers’ attack, had been destroyed overnight.

The king and nobles were all massacred.

The perpetrator of the brutal massacre was surprisingly the Sword Saint Regnus.

The kingdom on the northern border, under the control of the Sword Saint, had fallen to ruin. The news from a distant land quickly spread, leaving many dignitaries including the Emperor in shock.

“Did the Sword Saint… really kill the king?”

“It’s a message sent by the surviving crown prince. It must be an undeniable fact.”

The Sword Saint.

The Sword of Justice and Chivalry, the First Blade.

The saint of the sword who had vanquished the great demons of the abyss to save the world had forsaken his oath as a military god and murdered the king.

Unbelievable.

How could they accept him?

Barbarossa, upon receiving the news, let out a heavy sigh and clenched his jaw. The tragedy caused by the Sword Saint in the remote village on the outskirts was sure to have a devastating aftermath that would shock the continent.

“We must confirm the truth immediately!”

“I cannot believe it at all! How could the Sword Saint commit such a senseless act…!”

The imperial scribes who managed the emperor were also thrown into confusion.

Among the heroes, Maximilian, who recorded numerous epic tales, was a figure known as Regnas of the Black Castle. It was not easy to accept the outcome that such a hero had committed the audacious act of regicide against his own king.

“Your Majesty…! It has been reported that Prince Eric has arrived at the imperial capital.”

“Bring him to me at once!”

The prince of the doomed kingdom, who had miraculously survived a catastrophe, arrived at the imperial capital of the Baltaria Empire through the warp gate.

Upon hearing the news, Barbarosa immediately gave orders.

“Your Majesty. The prince of the Pug Kingdom requests an audience.”

“Let him in.”

Some time passed.

Knights clad in resplendent armor led in a hooded figure.

The emperor gestured.

At that, the knights swiftly removed the hood covering the man’s face.

“In a world like this…!”

“He bears ghastly wounds. Could it be inflicted by Regnas?”

His handsome features were nowhere to be seen.

The bandages covering his face like a mask revealed a visage marred by tragedy.

Deep scars were etched upon his face.

The vivid traces of blood beyond the bandages spoke volumes.

“I ask you, Prince. Is it true that Regnas murdered the king of the Pug Kingdom?”

“T-That… That’s correct! The treacherous rebel attacked the palace and slaughtered the king and nobles!”

The casualties in the palace amounted to hundreds.

The culprit, Regnas von Pug, was unmistakably identified.

The sole survivor of the massacre recounted the harrowing events that had unfolded amidst the scent of blood. The emperor and his ministers nodded gravely, swallowing their dismay.

“Why has Regnas, who went missing with the maiden, suddenly reappeared? And why has he suddenly emerged to commit the heinous crime of regicide? Is there no justification for Regnas’s actions against the prince?”

Barbarosa inquired solemnly.

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In response, Eric cleared his throat before speaking.

“How can one discern the true intentions of a traitor…! His Majesty, who is infinitely merciful, took in Regnas, who roamed the streets with his widowed mother, as if they were family. However, Regnas, in an act of ingratitude, committed the heinous crime of regicide against the benevolent king!”

Eric emphasized his unjust victimization, omitting the misdeeds committed against Regnas and his mother.

Sympathy needed to be evoked.

He had to somehow gain favor from the imperial court.

With the king and nobles slain and the Pug Kingdom fallen into ruin, Eric, having fled the kingdom with nothing but the clothes on his back, knew he was in dire straits.

Returning to the kingdom would mean facing a wrathful mob.

Hence, the prince of the doomed kingdom repeatedly expressed his dire circumstances, keeping an eye on the emperor’s reaction.

“It is an undeniable fact that Regnas murdered the king and nobles of the kingdom. For now, as the prince is severely wounded, he should receive medical treatment first. Until the full details are revealed, he shall be treated as an honored guest of the imperial court.”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The lord who had pledged allegiance and was like a father to him had been slain.

It was an undeniable fact.

Barbarosa, with a heavy heart, gestured to have the prince of the doomed kingdom escorted out.

“The revered Knight of the Sword, known as the embodiment of chivalry… How did he end up becoming a regicidal king.”

Regicidal king.

A term attached to the traitor who betrayed his oath of loyalty and murdered the king.

Regnas had fallen to the title of regicidal king.

Many rulers of the continent would both fear and scorn him.

Arguments advocating for declaring the regicidal king a public enemy would soon follow. His blade might turn towards other kingdoms; that was a possibility.

* * *

Regnas had slaughtered the king and nobles.

She felt dizzy at the news relayed by Jeblinne.

What a cruel joke,

she thought momentarily, but Jeblinne’s expression was deadly serious.

“It can’t be true! Maximilian, with a foul temperament, perhaps, but… Regnas is not the kind of person to commit mass slaughter!”

Regnas, a renowned investigator who had vanquished numerous demons, had never once turned his sword towards a human.

He wielded his blade to protect humans.

That’s why he vowed never to harm humans under any circumstances.

Regicidal king.

Regnas, with his noble character, was truly fitting of the name Knight of the Sword.

He rose above his dark past.

He abandoned his boiling thirst for revenge and embraced noble justice.

He led the brutal war, not out of a desire for revenge, but to protect his beloved maiden and countless humans.

It couldn’t be true.

Regnas was never the kind of person to commit such a massacre.

He could guarantee Legnas’s noble character to the extent that he could express his strong conviction right away.

“Well then, would you like to meet the Crown Prince of the Pug Kingdom first? He must have just arrived at the capital.”

“…Yes, of course.”

Erik von Pug.

He was the lunatic who had abused Legnas in his childhood. Also, he was the human scum who had conspired to assassinate Legnas’s mother using a vile scheme.

When Ludmilla had set out to support the Pug Kingdom last time, he had remained silent. It was because he had to protect the kingdom, even if it was infested with vile human scum.

But now, there was no need to hold back.

He was nothing but a fallen Crown Prince of a doomed kingdom, who had been so arrogantly powerful.

He would emphasize the disaster caused by Legnas while taunting him with his insolent remarks. He had to make contact with that despicable person, even if it was to uncover the detailed truth behind what had happened in the Pug Kingdom.