To Drown in Power(And Re-Emerge Heartless)

All Of The Greed

He could hear the crowd through the heavy oak doors, and they were unhappy.

"Are you ready, your majesty?"

"I have to be."

"No one wanted this to happen, sir."

"And yet it did."

"As you spiritual advisor I am here for you, sir"

"Thank you."

Sepati just handed him a card emblazoned with indigo ink and signaled to the head guard to begin.

The great doors slowly swung open. Too slow. His council shifted behind him. Ready, unlike him.

He was suffocating in his royal robe. He was crushed under the weight of his opulent crown. He was overcome by the indigo ink that somehow ran blood red.

His court filed past, assuming their places around the dias he was to stand on.

"Now, your majesty."

And he went. Trying to stay composed as he moved past the heavy doors. Down one step. The oaks towered above him. Two steps. There was a rope. Three. A block. Four. Many guards. Five. His conniving court. Six. The crowd. Seven. Astus, kneeling and chained before the dias.

The crowd was quiet. Everyone was silent. Too quiet. Not even a murmur. Not even a whisper. Where was the anger? Where was the shouting from moments before? It didn't matter as he read off the card Sepati had given him. He was doing what he had to.

"Astus Infis," he began, voice cracking slightly. That won't do. Take a breath. This is what he had to do. "You were stripped of your lordship when your crimes were discovered. Today you are charged with evading the Tribute, an offense punishable by death. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Astus said nothing.

"You are also charged with encouraging and aiding individuals to evade conscription, an offense punishable by death. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Astus said nothing.

"Let it be known," his voice wobbled, Xien, why did it wobble, a bit as he read the next part, "For his crimes against the crown, and the people of Sivic, I hereby sentence," he can't continue, but it is what he has to do, "I sentence Astus Infis to death by hanging,"

Everyone remained silent, even as Noram dragged Astus to the tree. No one screamed or cheered, as the guard positioned Astus facing the crowd atop the block. No one talked amongst themselves, as he strung the rope over the lowest branch.

"Is it wrong to want a better life?"Astus asked quietly, as Noram finished tying the knot around his neck.