TOPWL 234

“Darham, I know this was the best choice you could make. And… thank you for coming to save me.”

Darham lifted his head with a blank expression. It was as if he had never imagined he would hear something like that. Tears welled in his eyes, and before anyone could stop him, he threw his arms around Billian.

“Billian!”

“…!”

Darham’s build was large, so Billian’s thin frame disappeared in his embrace. Struggling at first, Billian eventually accepted defeat and patted his back. The scene looked like an enormous puppy clinging to his smaller master.

Before the promised two hours were up, Billian entered the room where the lord had been confined.

“Mmff!”

Recognizing Billian, the lord screamed through the gag. He had woken up about an hour ago and had screamed so much that Bagon had “taken care of him” a little. Because of that, the lord’s whole body shivered the moment Billian [unauthorized copy]approached. Billian came behind him and untied the cloth covering his mouth.

“Are you ready?”

“Wh, what… what must I do?”

The lord suddenly spoke in a polite tone. Billian looked at him, seemingly asking how he could be this clueless.

“Read the contents of the oath, and sincerely apologize to the people you’ve harmed.”

“……”

“Answer?”

“A-alright. I’ll do it. Then… you’ll let me live, right?”

Billian nodded. The lord took a deep breath, relieved that he could still survive.

More people had gathered than expected. Half came because they heard food was being given out, and the other half came because the lord had commanded it. The lord looked out from the balcony at the crowd packed like ants and made a strange expression. Nearly forty percent were his own soldiers. He gave a sly smirk as if scheming something.

At that moment, Billian pushed him forward. As soon as the lord stepped outside, the noisy crowd fell silent. He held the oath in his hand, but even so, he hesitated and grumbled. Then Bagon nudged him, and suddenly the lord’s voice began rolling out almost like he was singing.

“I, Barkla Jerion, Lord of Calmor, admit to using drugs on my people for many years to strip them of their will and exploit them, neglecting the addicted, and forcing them into labor.”

His voice was too hushed, so Bagon nudged him again and whispered something in his ear. The lord’s face turned corpse-white, and he began shouting at the top of his lungs.

“I acknowledge all the violence, excessive taxes, forced labor, and illegal imprisonment I inflicted on the people of my territory. I express deep remorse to all who suffered because of my actions. Fully recognizing my crimes, I hereby transfer all my property and authority to the people of the territory. Furthermore, I permanently renounce all positions, rights, governance powers, tax authority, land ownership, and rights of succession within the territory. If I violate this oath or attempt to dispute it, the revolutionaries may arrest or execute me at once, and I acknowledge that I will receive no protection. I declare that I understand all the above, and sign this oath voluntarily without coercion. I, Barkla… Jerion, Lord of Calmor.”

As soon as he finished, Bagon nudged him again.

“An apology isn’t complete with just words, right?”

“Th… then…?”

“You kneel and beg for forgiveness. Isn’t that right?”

“Y-yes. That’s right.”

And so, the lord knelt in front of the people and begged for forgiveness. Those watching wore shocked expressions. At that moment, Darham walked up behind him. As Darham stepped onto the balcony, everyone stared at him in confusion. Then he took something from inside his coat and raised it high.

A palm-sized object gleamed under the sunlight. It was obviously precious. Inside the intricately carved rectangular gold frame rested a necklace, a ring, and a seal. It was the royal insignia.

“I am Darham Alterion de Lumien Gotha, King of the Gotha Kingdom. I sincerely apologize for failing to recognize the suffering of the people, and as their king, I acknowledge every part of former Lord Barkla Jerion’s oath.”

His words made the crowd erupt in whispers.

“King? Did he say king?”

“Is the king really here right now?”

“So that is why that wicked lord was groveling like that.”

People were shocked, but one by one they began to understand. If it was the king’s command, the lord had every reason to act that way. The lord had only caved under force, but the moment he learned that Darham was the king, he could not hide his panic. Since the king was involved, the lord’s soldiers also could not act rashly. Stepping forward now would count as rebellion.

“Billian.”

Darham, who was standing on the balcony, turned around and looked at Billian. Billian, standing behind him, blinked and pointed at herself.

“M-me?”

“Yes. Come here.”

Flustered, Billian stepped forward. When her face became visible in the sunlight, people in the crowd murmured loudly.

“That is Billian.”

“What is their relationship?”

Darham brought Billian to stand beside him and spoke.

“We were able to learn the situation in Calmor thanks to Billian. Billian organized the revolutionaries and worked to free the people from suffering. She cared for those who had become disabled because of the drug, day and night, and even while imprisoned she managed to inform me of what was happening here. If not for her, Calmor would still be suffering under the lord’s cruelty. The truth is, the clever and brave Billian deserves more praise than I do.”

Billian’s face turned bright red at the smooth praise.

“From this day on, Billian and I, Darham Alterion de Lumien Gotha, will work to make Calmor a place where not only nobles but everyone can live well. A land where the sick can receive treatment, where those who cannot read can learn, and where no one goes hungry. This I promise.”

As Darham finished speaking, the people shouted with joy. Despair began to fade from their faces as hope took its place. Darham reached out to Billian. With ears burning red, Billian took his hand. Darham lifted Billian’s hand high. Another wave of cheers exploded. Everyone loudly welcomed their new lord.

***

“Your Highness, let’s stop here for today.”

Yudit lifted his head as he heard Bagon’s voice. After the agreement, Yudit’s soldiers had all entered Calmor. Many of them had been confused by how peacefully everything ended, since they had expected heavy sacrifices, but once they were briefed, their doubts slowly faded. But there was a mountain of work left undone from their time in hiding, so Yudit barely enjoyed the celebration and had been drowning in paperwork.

“I would like to stop, but everything here is important.”

“It is past two o’clock. You will wake again at six anyway. Even if you postpone these matters for four hours, nothing disastrous will happen. And you must be careful, since you are not alone.”

Yudit finally looked down at his belly. It was indeed past two o’clock, and his eyes were so heavy it was hard to keep them open. The baby was quiet, but as Bagon said, staying awake too long would not be good.

“Yes. You are right.”

“Please bathe first. I will warm the bed in the meantime.”

Yudit suddenly felt grateful. Bagon was caring for him like a devoted steward.

“Thank you, Bagon.”

“It is nothing. Then please enjoy your time.”

With a strange smile, Bagon guided Yudit to the bath.

The bath was large enough for thirty people. Steam filled the space. Yudit took in a long breath of the rose scented vapor and removed his robe.

The water was perfectly warm. When he slid into the bath with a soft splash, leaned against the wall, and exhaled, his fatigue began to ease little by little. Just then, the steam thinned, and at the far end of the bath, someone’s silhouette appeared. Startled, Yudit covered himself and backed away. Unlike the panicked Yudit, the other person stretched comfortably in the water.

“Do you always sleep this late?”

Through the hazy steam, Khalid’s face was the only thing clearly visible, he smirked.

“No wonder you never grow tall.”