Merchant Noble is out! (6/6 chapters)
Martyrdom
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Fran was placed on a horse and paraded through the city as a criminal, then taken to the outskirts of the royal capital where a temporary execution site had been set up. Along the way, the only ones present besides Arc and Fran were the escort, Yulia. It was a surprisingly poorly guarded procession.
“…” (Fran)
“…” (Arc)
The three of them advanced on horseback in an awkward silence.
“Fran-san. Are you truly all right with this?” (Arc)
Arc spoke to Fran. He found it strange how calmly she had accepted her fate. In a sense, it was a rude question. He was the one who had declared her execution. What face did he have to ask that? However, Fran answered without showing any particular anger.
“As long as Queen Casablanca’s remnants remain in the provinces, we cannot punish Her Majesty directly. But if no one is punished, the anti-Casablanca factions cannot be restrained. My execution serves as a compromise between both sides. It is the perfect resolution. If I were in your position, Arc-san, I would have made the same decision.” (Fran)
Fran’s reasoning was exactly the same as that of Arc and his allies, down to the last word.
“I see.” (Arc)
Arc looked up at the sky and let out a sigh of admiration. Though an enemy, one could say she understood things better than anyone outside the Warden Household. The difference between her and Randol, who tried to soothe his resentment by killing Casablanca, was like night and day.
“…You are far too valuable to be executed.” (Arc)
Muttering this, he got off his horse and knelt before Fran.
“Please, join our side and lend us your strength.” (Arc)
“Heh.” (Fran)
Fran let out a dry chuckle. She could not help but laugh at Arc’s merchant-like nature, trying to win over even an enemy if it served his interests.
“You’re the one who decided to have me executed, aren’t you?” (Fran)
“No, it was actually my sister who proposed it, and I was more against it, or rather…” (Arc)
To her teasing tone, Arc mumbled awkwardly.
“If I am not executed, the unrest in the country will not subside.” (Fran)
Fran had fully resolved herself to the end of her life. But Arc had never intended to execute her. That was why the execution site had been set up in the outskirts instead of being made public. That was why only Yulia accompanied them. That was why Fran was allowed to ride freely on horseback. Arc had planned to secretly recruit her as an ally, without even telling Yanna.
“Many citizens have seen you being escorted. That makes it easy for us to spread the information that you were executed. Do not underestimate the Warden Household’s ability to manipulate information.” (Arc)
Arc was desperately trying to persuade her. She had been Casablanca’s right hand. Capable in combat, strategy, diplomacy, and politics. She supported Casablanca and the other royal guards in all aspects. She was a true all-rounder. It was solely due to Fran’s presence that Casablanca, unlike her younger brother Louis, had been able to establish an absolutist regime that dismissed the nobility. To waste such talent by killing her was too much of a loss.
“We will provide you with a new family registry and a new residence. We will help you start a new life as someone else.” (Arc)
“That plan is your own decision, isn’t it?” (Fran)
Fran saw through it easily. As Casablanca’s right hand, she had trusted and remained wary of Arc. It was fair to say she knew him better than anyone.
“Even if that’s your intent, what about Yanna-san? What about Minerva-san? Even if the Warden Household allows it, the military and the remaining nobles will not stay silent.” (Fran)
What Fran said was absolutely correct. If Arc saved her on his own accord, many problems would arise. The factions that had united under the anti-Casablanca banner within the Warden Household would split. Even his sisters might not forgive him. But Arc had already accepted that.
“I will protect you.” (Arc)
With those words of determination, Fran’s eyes widened slightly.
“That sounded like a proposal.” (Fran)
Fran chuckled softly. It was a lonely kind of laugh.
“But, I’m sorry. I cannot accept that feeling. I will die as Queen Casablanca-sama’s royal guard.” (Fran)
“If you die, who will protect Casablanca?” (Arc)
Arc was a coward. He wasn’t even concerned with Casablanca’s life, yet he pretended to worry in order to shake Fran’s resolve. Fran glared at his face with a look of resentment for the first time. Then, she dismounted from her horse and knelt.
“Arc-sama. Please, take care of Casablanca-sama.” (Fran)
“Are you entrusting him to me? To an enemy like myself?” (Arc)
Not willing to give up, Arc emphasized the word “enemy”. It was a sort of threat, suggesting that he didn’t know what would happen to Casablanca. However, that threat did not affect Fran.
“You are a person capable of rational judgment. You would not take unnecessary actions like killing someone you’ve already captured.” (Fran)
She answered with conviction. Before they realized it, they had arrived at the execution site.
“Where is the executioner? Where is the executioner?” (Fran)
Fran looked around and asked. Though it was called an execution site, there were no executioners or even any execution tools. It was simply a cleared patch of land.
“Do you really intend to not execute me?” (Fran)
“I told you, didn’t I? I don’t intend to kill you. I’ll make it appear as though you’ve been executed, and then I’ll have you lend me your strength.” (Arc)
This was entirely Arc’s reckless decision. Not only would this anger the military faction led by Randal, but it could even turn his sister Yanna into an enemy. Having lost Tyr and Hal, and with no choice but to rely on Randal, Arc’s current situation had driven him to become a collector of talent.
“Casablanca-sama is a great person. She ousted her brother Leo from the throne, and she destroyed his younger brother Louis as well. Shee defeated the nobility and subdued the Church. She brought the neighboring kingdoms of Lureid and Kali under her influence. If we had maintained our alliance with your Warden Household, things would not have turned out like this. As a royal guard, I was unable to stop Casablanca-sama, who was in direct opposition to you. This is my greatest regret.” (Fran)
Perhaps having opened her heart slightly to Arc’s passionate persuasion, Fran spoke of her evaluation of the Warden Household.
Yes! I can win her over!
Arc mentally fist-pumped as he took Fran’s hand.
“Fran-dono, please, join my camp. The Laplace Kingdom has been deeply wounded. We need as many talented people like you as we can get. I will do everything in my power to suppress the anti-Casablanca faction. I will risk my life to protect you. So, please. Won’t you lend me your strength?” (Arc)
“Arc-sama…” (Fran)
Fran’s cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head in embarrassment.
I can do it!
Arc extended his hand to her.
“Come on. Take my hand! Together, let’s rebuild the kingdom.” (Arc)
“…” (Fran)
Fran raised her head. She looked at Arc and smiled brightly.
“My life is a testament to my loyalty to Casablanca-sama. Please, let me die as I am.” (Fran)
Then, she jumped up. With an incredible leap, she lunged at Arc.
“!!” (Arc)
“Prepare yourself!” (Fran)
Fran’s voice, filled with determination, rang out. At the same time, a shadow intervened between the two of them.
“Arc-sama, watch out!!” (Yulia)
“Stop, Yulia!!” (Arc)
By the time Arc shouted, it was already over. Yulia’s sword had pierced Fran’s body.
“Ah…” (Yulia)
Yulia let out a defeated sound. She was unarmed. There was no way she could have killed Arc.
However, her warrior instincts had reacted reflexively to Fran’s powerful performance.
“This… is fine.” (Fran)
Fran, smiling contentedly, spat blood from her mouth.
“Arc-sama. Please, let this blood be the last blood to spill in the kingdom…” (Fran)
—
The next day, it was announced that Fran, the first guard of the Queen’s Royal Guard, had been executed for causing the kingdom’s unrest.
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