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Chapter 338: What Will You Do?
Once the swords passed through his neck, the head of the former leader of the Larson Grand Duchy rolled onto the platform, blood flowing from the severed wound.
Clark, who had remained motionless until now, finally showed some expression as his eyes trembled at the sight of his father’s head.
He then turned to look at Carol as she approached and took her place beside him. His focus was solely on her, and the sounds of his surroundings became nothing more than muffled noise.
It finally dawned on him—he was next.
"Carol, f-forgive me. I’m really sorry, but I truly couldn’t do anything at that time," Clark pleaded, his eyes searching Carol’s face for mercy.
However, all he saw was a cold, unyielding expression—void of even the slightest compassion.
Without hesitation, she raised her sword high above her head, ready to strike.
"No, no, Carol! Listen to me—"
Swiiish!
With a swift motion, the blade sliced through Clark’s neck. His head rolled onto the platform, stopping not far from the severed head of Grand Duke Larson. Even in death, Clark’s face remained frozen in panic, his lips slightly parted, as if still trying to plead with his executioner.
"Uwoo!!!" The crowd roared, raising their fists in the air as they witnessed the execution. The criminals were finally dead, and the truth had been revealed.
Carol picked up the severed heads and raised them high for everyone to see.
"This is the fate of those who conspire with devils and betray the empire!" she declared.
"Yes!" the crowd shouted in unison.
From afar, the troops of the imperial family watched the execution without interfering. They had already been ordered to keep their hands off the Duclan family and allow them to do as they pleased in their pursuit of revenge.
However, there was another reason they refrained from intervening—the appearance of the mysterious swordsman.
They suspect that he had some connection to the Duclan family, as he appeared at the same time they did. Had this all been planned beforehand? They did not know.
It was safer to simply watch the events unfold.
"So, is this the sign that the Duclan family is making a comeback?" Commander Viktor said as he watched Carol display the severed heads to the crowd.
"Yes, I think so," Commander Shang replied, his expression filled with concern. "But I wonder if they also hold a grudge against the imperial family. After all, it was the princess’s judgment that led to the Duclan family’s execution."
"I hope they know when to stop," Viktor said. "If the bloodshed extends further to the imperial family, it won’t be something they can control."
"Well, that’s true. However, we still have to consider another factor—for example, the mysterious swordsman. What if he decides to help the Duclans? That would be truly terrifying, don’t you think?" Commander Shang said.
Silence fell over them.
The presence of the mysterious swordsman was a serious deterrent. Having seen him up close, they knew just how extraordinary he was. If he truly had a connection to the Duclan family, it would be disastrous for the imperial family.
A man strong enough to face an entire troop of imperial soldiers was not someone they wanted to recklessly challenge.
Without anyone noticing, Aldrian and Sylphia watched the scene unfold from the rooftop of a nearby building.
Aldrian nodded in satisfaction. With this execution, his business in the city was essentially complete. The only matters left were the resolution between the imperial family and the Duclan family—and his meeting with his father and Grand Duke Flamecrest.
Just as he was thinking about the imperial family, Aldrian noticed a group approaching from one side of the plaza. They were coming from the direction of the teleportation station, and judging by their attire, it was clear they were representatives of the imperial family.
Leading the group was a messenger dressed in imperial robes, a scroll secured at his side.
As he walked toward the platform and stopped a short distance from it, the messenger unrolled the scroll he carried and began to read its contents aloud for all to hear.
"The emperor’s decree has arrived!" he proclaimed.
At his words, the crowd immediately dropped to their knees in respect. However, Carol and the members of the Duclan family remained standing, their gazes fixed on the envoy.
Ignoring their defiance, the messenger continued reading.
"For the great deed of the Duclan family in uncovering the Larson family’s plot against the empire, and to compensate for all they have endured, His Majesty, the Emperor, has made a decision. He will reinstate their noble status and elevate the Duclan family’s rank to that of a Grand Duchy. They will be granted their former Duclan territory, along with the Larson territory. Additionally, the Emperor will present them with 50,000 peak energy stones as a gift for their return to the empire as a great noble family."
"His Majesty also expresses the imperial family’s regret as a whole, for the Duclan family has suffered greatly as a result of the imperial family’s negligence. As such, His Majesty is inviting the young miss of the Duclan family, Carol Duclan, to visit the imperial palace and receive compensation for the imperial family’s wrong judgment."
Afterward, the messenger rolled up the scroll and turned to Carol.
"Your Excellency, I hope you will come to the imperial palace, as His Majesty truly wishes to meet with you," he said, slightly bowing his head before turning to leave with his group.
Carol still felt that her revenge was incomplete without the princess being publicly humiliated and punished. However, she remembered what Aldrian had told her and exhaled, trying to calm herself. She made an effort to look at the bright side. At least this imperial decree acknowledged that the imperial family had a hand in the fall of the Duclan family and hadn’t completely washed their hands of it.
Carol gazed at the sky, her eyes seemingly filled with visions of the many figures from her past family.
"Father, mother, brother, I’ve avenged you all. I hope you’re at peace wherever you are," she thought to herself.
She truly felt a huge burden lift from her heart. Her eyes reddened, tears threatening to fall, but she held them back. She turned to look at the members of her family behind her.
"Let’s go. We’re going home. Let’s rebuild our home, our original home."
Since the emperor had already returned their territory, they would return to the place they had once called home—the place filled with so many memories, and where they had left their hearts.
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"This can be said to be a good ending for them, right?" Sylphia asked beside Aldrian.
"Well, yes. Their revenge has been achieved, and they will return to their territory. Though it’s unfortunate that they had to experience all of that, at least they got what they deserved after everything they’ve been through."
"It’s truly commendable that the emperor is willing to admit the imperial family’s fault and offer compensation for it. I truly feel sorry for him, considering what Princess Loraine has done. He can only try to repair what the princess has destroyed, but it’s come at the cost of the imperial family’s dignity," Sylphia said, her gaze following Carol and the Duclan family members as they walked further toward the teleportation station.
"Even though the princess did all of that, in the end, Emperor Herman couldn’t bring himself to end her life. He is the example of how a father’s love for his child knows no bounds," Sylphia said, her mind wandering to her own father, who had always spoiled her as his only daughter.
She smiled softly as she remembered her father, whom she hadn’t seen in over two years—the longest time apart in her life. She then turned her gaze to Aldrian’s face.
"My dear, if I were to do something wrong, would you have the heart to punish me?" she asked.
Aldrian fell silent, turning his head to meet Sylphia’s gaze. There was no joking in her eyes; she asked with genuine curiosity.
"I don’t know—"
"If I do something wrong, please punish me! I don’t want to burden your morals or your dao heart. If you believe I deserve punishment, then punish me according to the laws you deem fair." Sylphia bit her lip.
"Even if it means—" Before Sylphia could finish her words, Aldrian suddenly hugged her, as if he didn’t want those words to leave her mouth.
"No, I won’t let you say that, and no, I won’t let you make a mistake that would require punishment. I will keep watch over you so you don’t make any mistakes," he said, gently stroking her hair.
Hearing that, Sylphia smiled and snuggled into his embrace.
"Truly, what an overbearing man," she thought. "But I love it."
They continued to hug each other, but then Aldrian’s voice broke the silence.
"Then what if I’m the one who makes a mistake? What will you do to me?"
Sylphia lifted her head to look into Aldrian’s eyes, then smiled and shook her head.
"No way you would make a severe mistake."
Aldrian tilted his head in curiosity.
"Why not?"
"I don’t know, it’s just a feeling, but I know you’ll stand by your principles and won’t sway from them to do something horrible."
"You’re that confident in me?"
"Of course. I’m your woman. At least I have to be confident in my man’s strong beliefs," she said proudly, making Aldrian hurriedly kiss her lips greedily. Sylphia reciprocated, and they kissed each other passionately. After more than a minute, Aldrian hugged Sylphia again before teleporting them near the inn where they were staying.
However, as they were about to enter the inn, Aldrian sensed familiar presences.
"Father and Grand Duke Flamecrest!"
