Tyrant? No, I am the Villain
Chapter 24: The right choice

Chapter 24: The right choice

Estefan sat back down on the couch, leaning against the soft cushions, attempting to relax. One of the guards who had accompanied the now-dead commander still stood frozen in place as he was completely shocked, pale, and overwhelmed by the chaos he had just witnessed.

"You there." Estefan said casually, not even bothering to look at him. "What’s your name?"

The guard flinched, trembling, and immediately prostrated himself. "My name is Frejlurd, Your Grace." He replied, keeping his forehead pressed against the polished floor.

Estefan raised an eyebrow. "That is... such a weird name." He said rather weirdest out while being concerned about the literacy of the people of this City due to their naming choice.

"I-I apologize, my lord." The guard stammered. "I had strange parents. I’m willing to change my name if it would bring you comfort when calling for me."

"Oh? Bold of you to assume you’ll be leaving this palace with your head still attached." Estefan chuckled cruelly and leaned forward, his attention drawn to the coffee and cookies that had just arrived.

He reached out and picked up a cookie from the silver platter, examined it closely, then took a bite. A moment passed. "Not good enough." He muttered before placing it back. He then took a long sip from his coffee cup, savoring the bitter brew.

After a brief pause, Estefan turned his eyes back toward the trembling Frejlurd. "So, Frejlurd. You are now the Commander of the City Guard. Rejoice." He announced while enjoying the coffee even though he doesn’t like much as it doesn’t even compare to what his mother made him before.

The entire hall fell into stunned silence. Even Frejlurd looked up, shocked beyond comprehension. Had he heard correctly?

"I... I don’t know what to say, Your Grace." Frejlurd whispered, forehead still pressed to the floor.

Estefan was unmoved by the humility. He waved a hand dismissively. "I’m not giving you this title as a favor. You bent the knee because you knew who your true master was, unlike that stray dog." He said, gesturing lazily toward the bloodied corpse of the former commander. "But make no mistake, loyalty isn’t proven with words. I need action."

Frejlurd nodded vigorously. "What must I do, Your Grace?"

"It’s simple." Estefan replied. "Return to your command center. Assemble the entire City Guard. Announce your new position, which has been given to you by me. Surely, there will be dissenters but I want you to kill them."

Without lifting his head, Frejlurd responded, "It shall be done, my lord."

"Good." Estefan said as he leaned back. "The ones who serve me may remain. The rest... don’t need to exist. Purge them all. I don’t care how it’s done, as long as the end result is a loyal guard willing to bleed for me without hesitation."

Frejlurd began to rise, but Estefan raised a hand to stop him. "Oh, and take the bodies with you. Let them see the price of disobedience. Let their rotting faces be a lesson burned into every one of their memories. A new dawn is coming to this city... and yes, it will be bloody. But sometimes blood is the only way to water the seeds of greatness."

Frejlurd nodded and bowed once more before turning to leave. As he walked away, Galliard stepped forward.

"Galliard." Estefan said. "Go with him. Once he finishes the purge, instruct him to prepare fifty of the best soldiers. I want to see my City and the people. They must see the strength of the Baron instead of thinking that I am some kind of a puppet of my father."

Galliard, composed yet visibly affected by the violence earlier, bowed in obedience. "It shall be done, my lord."

As Frejlurd departed with the bloodied corpses in tow, Estefan observed the servants and maids moving methodically. They were disturbingly efficient in cleaning blood and gore from the palace floors, as though it were a daily occurrence but for now he didn’t try to give it attention instead he stood and quietly made his way to his quarters.

On his way, Frejlurd has already sent a message through methods of mana communication that alerted the command of what happened and his subsequent promotion. He also gave an order for the immediate assembly of all City Guards there as well.

Some hours later...

Frejlurd had arrived at the City Guard’s command center, a massive fortress-like building with tall walls and iron gates. Inside the courtyard stood hundreds of guards, all gathered for what they assumed was an address by their superior.

Chatter filled the air until a horn was blown and an announcement rang out: "The Commander is arriving!"

But instead of the usual obese, mostly angry superior, it was Frejlurd who stepped onto the pavilion. Confusion washed across the crowd. Some assumed he was there on behalf of the commander while others whispered of a possible mutiny.

"At ease." Frejlurd said as a magical circle formed in front of his mouth, amplifying his voice. "I come with the orders of the Baron."

Two wagons rolled into view, and from them, the broken, bloodied corpse of the former commander and his two elite guards were unveiled. The murmurs turned to gasps.

"The former commander has been directly executed by the Baron of Rammstein." Frejlurd announced. "He was found guilty of treason and conspiring against the Baron along with the City and its people.."

The crowd erupted in disbelief and rage.

"TRAITOR!" someone shouted from the ranks. "YOU HAVE BETRAYED US!"

Frejlurd stood firm. "You may feel anger. You may feel fear. But hear me now, this is no longer a city run by cowards and swindlers. This city has a new master. A true ruler. The Baron demands loyalty and purity within the Guard. This is his will."

He let the silence simmer for a moment, then added, "This is your ultimatum. If you are loyal to the Baron, stand on the right side of this courtyard. If you oppose him... then stand on the left."

He paused before continuing. "I hope you all make the right choice."

[To be Continued]

This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.