Hero's Dead Brother

44. Execution

Princess Caroline was sitting in her room, being prepared. Her hair was being beautifully decorated with flower hairpins and she couldn't help but ask herself why she should look beautiful on such a day.

"Take them off", she ordered her maid.

"Ye...yes, Your Highness!"

She got up and felt nauseous. She barely could hold herself on her feet. As she came out of her room, she was met with warming blue eyes.

"Greg..."

She barely managed to hold back her tears as he took her in his arms.

She has to be strong now. For the Empire. For every one.

As he helped her come down, she saw his family, sitting in silence as well as his friends. Greg is surrounded by great people. She looked at them and her eyes stopped on his younger brother.

He seemed to be lost deep in his thoughts and had a very serious expression, one that didn't suit his young face.

Since the day he had sacrificed his life to save Greg, she knew that she could trust him fully. Unlike her siblings, the Leonheart brothers were a real family.

She was happy to have him as a brother-in-law and now that he was officially an empirical knight, she wanted him next to her as a reliable person. She needed a reliable person... she needed someone who would serve her and Greg loyally.

She couldn't take betrayal anymore.

As she had those dark thoughts, every one stood up to accompany her and Greg to the carriage.

As they got there, she took time before getting in and said in a strict tone:

"I want Amiel with us. We need reliable people around us right now."

Greg lift his head in surprise as he was holding her hand to help her get in.

She looked at him coldly and he understood what was the meaning behind her words.

Her own brother killed their father and a spy couldn't be disguised as a guard that easily. There was another traitor in the Royal Palace. Someone who could help an intruder bring a weapon to the cell.

She needed people around her to be able to take the reins but she couldn't trust anyone anymore.

He glanced at his brother, who was very confused but didn't let it show on his face. As always, his stoic face, really hard to read.

"Ami", he said and his brother nodded and silently got in the carriage.

Once inside, Caroline decided to take everything under her control. The entire power. If there were Wisingham's rats in the palace, she needed to make sure they get caught or, at least, are replaceable.

"I need people we can trust with us," she suddenly spoke, which made the two siblings straighten their backs like soldiers receiving an order.

"We're going to take the power under my control. This wasn't a simple assassination." The King wasn't announced dead yet but she knew well what Elisanthem in the heart meant. By the time she arrived to the castle, her father wouldn't be no more.

"This is the moment we have to strike. My younger brother isn't experienced enough and some powers may want to use it at their advantage by trying to pass him the throne."

She looked down at her fingers resting on her lap in nervousness "His Highness had the intention make me queen after Tarem's betrayal. Te made me the Crown Princess but never explicitly made me the sole candidate."

After a short silence, she knew that her next words would bring tears to her eyes but she still spoke "His Highness didn't predict that such a thing would happen so fast."

Greg was holding her hand to support her and Amiel was looking out of the window not to make her feel uncomfortable while crying next to him.

As they arrived to the Royal castle, her tears had dried and a strong, cold woman came out of the carriage, accompanied by her husband and a knight.

She had an important goal that day, Tarem's execution.

As she entered the noisy room, full of nobles and the Royal advisor, it suddenly turned silent.

"Where is Prince Maximilian?" She asked.

"Your... Your Highness, His Majesty the King... has passed away."

"I asked you a question."

Her voice send shivers down Amiel's spine. She must be in so much pain right now but she has to appear strong and imperturbable in front of all these people. He admired how strong she was.

"Your Highnesses brother had left the city to pursue his training. He must have received the news and should be heading this way, your Highness."

This is good, it gives the Princess the priority as the only royal member available.

"Organize the execution right now. I want it to be public."

"Your... Your Highness...".

"Was my order not clear?"

"Yes, yes it was, Your Highness," another man spoke "but, you see, His Majesty never wished..."

"His Majesty is no more!" She glared at every one in the room "are you trying to defend the traitor who betrayed our Empire a second time and is the culprit of your King's assassination?"

The man visibly shivered.

"N...no, Your Highness."

"Good. I want it ready in half an hour."

"But... but... Your Highness!"

She had already left the room with the two men.

In exactly half an hour, people were gathered to see the execution of their beloved king's murderer.

They were all looking with disgust at the man who had killed such a great father for both him and all of them.

They all only could ask one question: 'why?'

As if listening to their whispers, the Crown Princess asked her older brother:

"Tarem Ragnor, answer before you head falls, why did you commit such an atrocious crime?"

Her brother looked at her with disdain. His face twisted and his ugly expression made Amiel frown from it's familiar look.

"Because he didn't listen to me! I didn't betray this kingdom! I did it for peace!"

He turned to the people that had gathered. "I did it for you! All of you idiots are gonna die! If he just let me conclude an agreement with King Wisingham, we could live! But now he'll destroy our kingdom because you refused his offer!

His face was then turned to his sister. "Your pride will kill you all! Just surrender and you'll live!"

Her cold eyes pierced through him. "Coward" was all she said before she saw her brother's head fall to the ground.

Thank you for reading!