The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 154: The Public Execution

Chapter 154: The Public Execution

Alaric panted heavily inside his prison cell. All he could see was darkness. His arms and feet were tied on two poles. He was covered in his own sweat and blood.

It did not take long before someone entered the dark room.

"It’s been three days, will you not give in? You are going to die soon. Speak now so that we can spare your life," Captain Beru said, pinching Alaric’s jaw.

Alaric just snorted at him.

"Kill me," he nonchalantly said.

He knew that Chancellor Gustav only gave a three-day ultimatum before his public execution. With that, Alaric was confident that Eve couldn’t come even if she wanted to rescue him.

From the town where Eve was staying, it would take four days to reach the capital.

Alaric didn’t want to be the reason Eve would be captured.

"You can be stubborn at times like this. But you will definitely regret this," Captain Beru threatened him.

Alaric sneered at him. "I’m not afraid to die."

’My only regret is that... I won’t be able to fulfill my promise to her. I failed her.’ he thought as he smiled bitterly.

"Bring him now to the execution platform!" Captain Beru ordered the guards.

Alaric could only shut his eyes while gritting his teeth.

The guards entered his prison cell, unlocking his binds. They quickly dragged him out, following Captain Beru behind.

He would be transported to the public execution platform located at the capital. The carriage was highly guarded as they left the prison fortress.

Meanwhile, in the execution platform, Chancellor Gustav had prepared everything. He commanded the knights to build a resting area where King Zaraki, Crown Prince Leonard, and other nobles could watch the execution.

Many elite knights and royal guards were scattered in the capital. The four generals were also there to safeguard the king. There was a threat of rebellion so the King’s army was ready to capture the rebel group if ever they showed up.

Meanwhile, Caleb and others disguised themselves as ordinary citizens. They were supposed to go back to the border. However, they heard the news about Alaric’s public execution.

Without hesitation, they parted from Rolando’s group as they decided to rescue Alaric. Miles, Randolf, and Caleb were roaming around the execution platform, waiting for Alaric’s arrival.

Dillon and Franco were still recuperating from their injuries. They were left in the hands of Rolando’s group.

"Commander, what are we going to do now? This area is heavily guarded. There is no way we can rescue our general. We will be killed on the spot." Miles expressed his concern.

Many archers were stationed on the execution platform. They were all on high alert.

"I would prefer to die fighting and trying than to live by abandoning our comrades. I made up my mind. I will fight to death and rescue Alaric. He is not only my general. He is my best friend!" Caleb’s words were filled with conviction.

"You can still back out, Miles. I won’t force you. You are still young. You have to survive and go back to your brothers." He was referring to Dillon and Michael.

"I understand your feelings, Commander Caleb. I’m not going to leave you behind! We will rescue General Alaric together!" Miles strengthened his resolve.

Randolf approached them. "Commander! We should ambush the carriage first. If General Alaric is put on the execution platform, it will be too late for us to rescue him!"

Caleb nodded, understanding the severity of the situation. They decided to ambush the carriage that was transporting Alaric. However, they didn’t anticipate that even the carriage was heavily guarded.

Four carriages were heading to the public execution platform. They didn’t know which carriage was carrying Alaric.

’Damn! This rescue mission is very difficult.’ Caleb lamented to himself.

Meanwhile, Commander Kevin gathered the army as they waited for Captain Alucard.

"Commander Kevin! Our Captain is finally here!" A knight reported.

The warriors immediately kneeled upon seeing Alucard.

"Greetings to our Captain!"

"Stand up. Just tell me the situation!" Alucard’s authoritative voice echoed in their surroundings.

The knights obeyed him as they stood up. Commander Kevin approached the old Captain.

"We need to go to the capital. Princess Esmeralda’s daughter is taken by the enemy!"

Alucard’s eyes widened upon hearing that. "Princess Eve is here?!"

Commander Kevin was surprised. "Do you know her? Have you met her already?"

Captain Alucard bobbed his head. "Yes. I met her. What are we waiting for? We should depart now to save her. Tell me everything while we travel back to the capital."

"Okay, Captain. The horses and the carriages are ready!" Commander Kevin replied.

They were on their way to the Capital. They sent messages all over the kingdom, informing their allies who were hiding.

"We need to mobilize all our manpower. This will be an all-out war," Captain Alucard said.

"I understand, Captain. I already sent the secret messages to them," he reassured them.

"Now, tell me what happened when I was gone. Why is Princess Eve here in Kingdom Zephyra?" Captain Alucard looked at Commander Kevin with a questioning gaze. He was curious about what happened.

"A group of warriors from Averion, headed by General Alaric, tried to assassinate King Zaraki. However, they failed. Some of them were seriously injured, one died, and Alaric was captured. Chancellor Gustav will execute Alaric if Princess Eve does not surrender."

Alucard’s face turned pale instantly. Kevin continued telling him what happened.

"I was supposed to stop Princess Eve. But I was too late. I saw her riding a horse with Gideon!"

"Damn it!" Alucard cursed. "Gideon cannot be trusted. Why did she go with him?! This is not good! We need to hurry!"

Captain Alucard increased the speed of his horse.

"I’m not certain, Captain. I even thought that Princess Eve was an imposter and they were just trying to use her to lure us. However, she possessed the jade necklace given by King Arthur. Maybe she wasn’t aware of Gideon’s identity. What do you think, Captain?" Kevin had his suspicions.

Captain Alucard fell silent for a moment.

"It’s my fault. I should have warned her when I met her in Kingdom Averion. However, I didn’t have enough time to talk to her and reveal everything. I was very cautious because she was in an enemy’s territory." He regretted his past actions.

"Let’s not dwell in the past, Captain. We just need to protect her."

"Have you talked to her about Princess Esmeralda?" Alucard asked him expectantly.

Commander Kevin was rendered speechless at the mention of Princess Esmeralda. He didn’t know how he would deliver the bad news to him.

"Why are you quiet?" Alucard frowned.

"I’m sorry, Captain... but Princess Esmeralda is gone. She died ten years ago." Kevin revealed the truth.

Captain Alucard froze the moment he heard those words. It felt as if his heart had been crushed into tiny pieces.

’What? Princess Esmeralda is dead... No! This can’t be.’

"Captain! Be strong! We need to support Princess Eve. She wanted to reclaim the throne!" Kevin tried his best to divert Alucard’s attention to comfort him.

He knew that their leader wouldn’t be able to accept Princess Esmeralda’s death easily. It would take time for him.

"Yes. You are right. We need to focus on protecting and supporting Princess Eve."

Meanwhile, Princess Eve and Gideon were on their way to the execution platform. They needed to stop Chancellor Gustav from killing Alaric.

"Do we still have time?" Eve asked him worriedly. She held Gideon’s body tightly as the horse moved so fast.

"Yes. Don’t worry. We will be there on time." He reassured her, easing her worry.

Eve silently prayed for Alaric’s protection. They could finally see the capital’s gate.

’Please wait for us, Alaric. I’m going to save you.’

Back in the capital, Caleb, Randolf, and Miles were about to attack the carriages when suddenly, Rolando’s group intervened.

"Stop!!!" Rolando shouted.

"Why are you here?" Caleb asked him.

"Don’t act recklessly! Alaric is not there!" Rolando informed them.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Randolf asked him in confusion.

"These carriages are just bait to lure us... targeting the rebel group. According to our spy, Alaric is already here in the capital. They transported him using a normal carriage to deceive us." Rolando explained.

"We should go back to the Execution Platform. Alaric is there!"

The four of them didn’t waste time as they proceeded to the execution platform. Rolando was right. Alaric was now being put on the execution platform.

"General!" Miles gasped in shock upon seeing Alaric’s sorry state.

His entire body was covered with cuts and bruises. He was tortured hard by the enemy. He was barely alive.

Caleb and Randolf clenched their fists. They were enraged to see their wounded general.

Chancellor Gustav stepped into the execution platform.

"Now is the time to execute this criminal. Is his wife here? If you are here, you should surrender now! This is your last chance to save this man!"

Chancellor Gustav searched the surroundings, waiting for Eve to surrender. King Zaraki, Prince Leonard, and the other officials were watching the platform with anticipation.

’Will Princess Eve show up?’

"Damn it! We should move now!" Caleb whispered to his comrade as they grabbed their hidden weapons.

Miles, Randolf, and Caleb exchanged glances with one another, getting ready to jump and rescue Alaric.

However, before they could move, they heard the galloping sound of the approaching horse. The citizens immediately cleared the path for the horse.

"STOP THE EXECUTION!" The man riding the horse shouted.

The royal guards and archers were about to attack the man when Chancellor Gustav stopped them.

"Hold your fire! Don’t attack!"

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