章 120: CHAPTER 120
"It looks like Killian has a good relationship with that woman, but the Duke's punishment shouldn't be swayed just because of that!"
"Killian is more sentimental than we've seen from him, but he's not the type of person who would ruin family affairs with trivial feelings."
"But. . . . !"
"You're looking a little emotional right now. Lizzy is back safely, so don't get excited. It'll only make Killian more annoying."
In the end, Cliff couldn't push his opinion any further and took a step back. While the Riegelhoff family and their colleagues were kneeling in the middle of the execution site, Killian entered the execution site and approached Duke and Cliff.
"You are here."
The duke greeted Killian with a heavy voice. At first glance, Killian, who returned after a while, didn't look good at all. There were dark circles under his eyes and his beard was messy. He also appears to have lost weight, his cheekbones and jaw are more defined.
"Where's Edith?"
"She will be here soon."
At that moment, the door of the execution site opened, and Edith walked in, followed behind the knights. At the same time, Killian's shoulder flinched when he saw Edith.
'Edith!'
He couldn't confirm her condition properly because the distance between him and her was far and she was behind the knights, however, when he saw her appearance couldn't walk properly, he was sure that she badly injured. Edith must have been assaulted or tortured at the Wellesley villa, so he was surprising that she still stand on her own. Killian wanted to tell everyone there immediately that Edith had been attacked by Riegelhoff's people, but because the atmosphere at the execution rooms was so heavy, Killian couldn't go out carelessly without permission. Then the duke spoke to the Count Riegelhoff family's who were kneeling at the execution site.
"If it had ended in a territorial battle, I wouldn't have bothered to kill you with my own hands."
If that happens, the duke family will not be given the right to dispose of Count Riegelhoff familty. It is the emperor's power to deal with families who involved in treason. But they tried to kidnap those vulnerable women and use them as a hostage. So, because of that reason, the emperor who has the right to dispose this family dropped off right away and allowed duke Ludwig's family to dispose of the Riegelhoff Family.
"Those who know the honor of the nobles, cowardly kidnap a women? Do you have the right to complain that the Duke title have been taken away from you?"
With a clanking sound, Duke Ludwig's sword was pulled from its sheath.
"Everyone who bear the name Riegelhoff will be beheaded! Send their beheaded heads to the imperial palace to hang their heads on the wall with the other rebels, and let the rest of the corpses be thrown into the mountains and let the beasts eat them!"
As the thundering order was given, the executioners standing on one side of the execution site took up new sharp axes and screams and cries broke out among the criminals who knelt there. The duke, who was looking down at the scene, turned his gaze and looked at Killian. Then he made one exception.
"However, I will leave Edith's punishment to Killian. It's true that Edith is a sinner, but it's also true that she is Killian's wife."
At that words, Cliff called him again 'father!' in low voice. The duke looking alternately at Cliff, who had a disgruntled expression, and Killian, who had a cold expression. The he said again.
"I think Killian would be rebell if someone else decided Edith's punishment. So even if Killian decides to save Edith, I will respect his decision. Of course Killian must take responsible for his actions as well."
After said that, the duke took a step back and gave Killian a way. Killian grasped the handle of his sword tightly and slowly approached Edith. As if waiting for this moment, the knights who brought Edith made her knelt on the spot. Of course, they seemed to believe that Killian would strike Edith. Only then Killian was able to see Edith properly. She were wearing a plain in shabby clothes that only commoners would wear, and her head and face were roughly covered with a cheap scarf. Only her forehead, eyes, and nose were visible through the scarf, but he could seen that her complexion was pale.
"Edith. . . . "
Killian called her but Edith didn't even look at him.
She looked into spaces without any expression on her face, neither crying nor laughing, and gathered her hair that fell outside the scarf to one side, exposing her white nape. The stern look didn't look like someone who scared to death. In the meantime, he would teased her not to be naughty or lewd in front of him, but at this moment Edith showing her elegance as a noble woman.
"Edith! Just say no, told him it's a misunderstanding. Please speak up!"
As Killian took a step closer to Edith. Lizzy, who was watching the scene while stamping her feet nearby, urgently urged Edith again. But Edith didn't even move. At the sight of not expecting anything from him, made Killian felt hurt inside.
'Why you didn't cling on me?'
Edith always been like that. Even though the only person who could save her was Killian, she never ask him to help her.
'Am I still that bad? Don't you want anything from me?'
Every time he thought about that, he felt like his insides were boiling and about to explode. He felt so sorry for Edith who kept her pain by herself, couldn't even cry out and asked him for help. So it made him felt like he's going crazy.
"Edith! Ask him to save you! Please, Edith!"
"Lizzy!"
When Lizzy shouted Edith's name again, Duke Ludwig opened his mouth to stop Lizzy from talking.
Meanwhile, Killian looked at Edith, who was unwavering, and opened his mouth.
"All those Riegelhoffs, deserve to be punished to death, not only for their treason but also for the heinous crimes they committed."
Duke Ludwig nodded with satisfaction, and Edith. . . .smiley slightly. Killian felt even more upset by the pale smile that only he noticed. So, he continued talking as if he want to stabbed Edith heart.
"By the way my wife name has been Edith Ludwig ever since
she married me. So if someone calls her Edith Riegelhoff,
isn't that an insult to Duke Ludwig family?"
"Killian!"
Cliff yelled, but Killian didn't stop.
"What wrong brother? If you don't believe me, do want me to bring it and show it to you, the wedding pledge we used when we got married?"
Then this time, the Duke Ludwig spoke in a heavy voice.
"Can you take responsibility for your actions?"
"Father, why aren't you take responsibility for this? It's was you who forced me to marry her, and now why are you trying to take her away from me?"
Killian could believe, even though it was himself who said those words. His father proceeded the marriage that he hate so much under the pretext of 'for the sake of the family and the Emperor' and the marriage oath that sealed the marriage still remained in the archives of the duke's and the royal family's noble. And on in it stated that Edith Riegelhoff's name will be pronounced as Edith Ludwig at that time. He didn't have to hesitate anymore.
"Why are you sitting on your knees like a criminal? If you're not trying to insult me and my family, wake up, Edith Ludwig."
It was only then that Edith's eyes turned toward Killian. Killian almost burst into laughter because of her eyes saying, 'This can't be possible'.
Then suddenly.
"If you want to kill all the Riegelhoff family member, you have to kill her too!"
Count Rigelhoff, who was sitting in a loss, screamed. Then Shane, who was sitting next to him, shouted along.
"That's right! If you want to kill all the Riegelhoff's, kill her too!"
Everyone in that room was surprised by their desperate attitude except Killian and Edith. Killian has a feeling that Edith wasn't a beloved daughter of the family, but the rest of his family, still think that Edith is famous as Count Riegelhoff's 'beloved daughter'. Despite there's rumors that he has abandoned Edith, but the sight of Count Riegelhoff struggling as if he had defeated his enemy was unexpected. Even the rest of his family sitting behind Count Riegelhoff were looking at Edith with venomous eyes. At that moment Duke Ludwig realize something was wrong.
"Shut up! It seems you still haven't realized the reality yet. That the death penalty decision, prisoners can disobey?"
Duke Ludwig, who scolded loudly, looked at Edith in silence and gave an order.
"I will respect Killion's decision. But there should be an interrogation in the kidnapping case, so put Edith in a prison first."
"Father!"
Killian yelled at the duke.
* * *
'What going on?'
I turns my head and looking between the Duke Ludwig and Killian and tried to understand this situation.
"I'll leave Edith's punishment to Killian."
The duke's lines were same as the original lines. Until I was brought to my knees by a knight and Killian approached me, I thought that all the stories allowed to me were finally over. I was afraid that the hair would make it difficult for the sword to cut though it and cause a lot of pain, so I quickly removed my hair and exposed my neck. I didn't even look at Killian's face because I'm afraid my heart would be shaken.
'If I die here, where will I wake up after this? Or will it all end like this?'
Thinking of that, I'm just waiting for Killian to kill me without pain at once. However Killian said something different from the original.
". . . . All those Riegelhoff deserve to be punished."
Yes, it was the same as the original until there. Now, the line should be, 'Including Edith Riegelhoff, who was never be a part of the Ludwig family!' . . . .
"By the way, my wife's name has been Edith Ludwig since she got married into this family."
At first, I thought I heard something wrong. After that, I wondered if there was a part I forgot in the original.
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