In the Throne Hall, the warmth left by the departing merchants had not yet dissipated when a guard knocked on the grand doors from the outside.
"Come in," Lacey said.
A young guard pushed the door open and entered. He first saluted everyone present, then walked quickly to Lacey, reporting with a strange expression on his face:
"Lord Lacey, a convoy has arrived from the capital, Trullinczentyr. They are asking to see you specifically."
"The capital?" Gertrude immediately became alert. "Are they from the Twin Empresses?"
The guard shook his head. "The man leading them claims to be Count Dominic Austin."
"Austin?" Gertrude quickly searched her memory for the surname, but it didn't ring a bell. Evidently, they were not a prominent noble family.
However, when the surname "Austin" reached Lacey's ears, he couldn't help but let out a cold sneer.
Dominic Austin.
He would not forget that name.
A year ago, at the gates of the Trullinczentyr Academy of Arts, the arrogant young man who had used his family connections to steal Lacey's admission spot was precisely this count's son.
And the subsequent tragedy of his parents was inextricably linked to this very count.
Although it was the bribed Bach who had directly carried out the deed, the invisible hand behind it was undoubtedly the power of the Austin family.
Lacey had originally thought that the reckoning with this count would come after he had completely seized power in Leithanien.
He never expected the man to deliver himself to his doorstep.
"Let them come up," Lacey said flatly.
Gertrude asked, puzzled, "Your Excellency, you know this Count Austin?"
"You could say that."
Lacey replied nonchalantly, "An... old acquaintance."
A few minutes later, the sound of footsteps approached, and the doors of the Throne Hall were pushed open again.
A tall, thin, middle-aged man, impeccably dressed with his hair meticulously combed, walked in.
This was Count Dominic Austin. He wore a carefully rehearsed, humble smile.
"Oh! Your esteemed Excellency, Lacey!"
"Allow me, Dominic Austin, to offer you my most sincere congratulations and… my deepest apologies!"
The moment Dominic entered, he strode forward and gave Lacey a deep bow, his posture extremely deferential.
Behind him followed a young man whose face was ashen-white, his body trembling uncontrollably.
The young man kept his head down, not daring to meet Lacey's gaze.
Lacey's eyes passed over Dominic and landed on the young man's face.
Draco Austin.
He remembered the boy's past arrogance and disdain.
A year later, when this face appeared before him again, all that remained was fear.
Ever since the news that Lacey had taken Wasser Fief without bloodshed and been ennobled as an Elector by the Empresses had spread throughout Leithanien, Draco had been trapped in a nightmare.
He suffered from insomnia day and night, his mind constantly replaying the scene at the gates of the Trullinczentyr Academy of Arts, how he had publicly humiliated that poor boy from the frontier.
He had thought he was just crushing an insignificant ant, never imagining that the ant would one day become a colossal dragon capable of obliterating his entire family.
His unusual behavior was eventually noticed by the shrewd Dominic.
Under his father's harsh interrogation, Draco tearfully confessed his "great deed" from that year.
Upon hearing the story, Dominic had slapped him twice across the face, hard enough to make him see stars.
But after the shock and anger, this old fox, who had navigated the capital's noble circles for half his life, immediately calmed down.
He knew this matter could not be easily resolved.
Having offended an Elector, especially a madman Elector who had risen with such lightning speed, the Austin family could face utter ruin at any moment.
But then he had another thought: perhaps this was also an opportunity.
Everyone knew that the newly established Wasser Fief was in dire need of reconstruction, and what it lacked most were funds and resources.
If he could arrive with lavish gifts and a sufficiently humble attitude to atone for the offense, there was a high probability that the Elector, who had climbed his way up from the bottom, would accept his apology for the sake of practical benefits.
As long as he could resolve this enmity, he could even use the opportunity to become the first noble from the capital to invest in the fertile new ground of Wasser Fief, seizing the initiative.
And so, he immediately prepared extravagant gifts, dragged his son who was nearly scared out of his wits, and traveled day and night to Wasser Fief.
"Your Excellency Lacey!"
Dominic's voice rang out again.
"Upon hearing of Your Excellency's ascension to the rank of Elector, I have brought some humble gifts from Trullinczentyr as a token of my esteem," he said, his face wreathed in smiles.
"Some gold bars, a few paintings from a previous dynasty, and some inexpensive jewels. I hope they can contribute in some small way to the reconstruction of Wasser Fief!"
After speaking, he abruptly turned and kicked Draco squarely in the back of the knees.
With a thud, Draco's knees slammed heavily onto the stone floor, making a dull sound.
"And this scoundrel of a son!" Dominic's expression instantly switched to one of heartbreak and indignation, his voice filled with grief and anger.
"It was only a few days ago that I learned that this beast had committed such a treasonous act against Your Excellency! This is the greatest shame of the Austin family!"
His performance was flawless, as if he truly were an old father driven to distraction by his unworthy son.
"Lord Lacey, I have failed in my duty to raise him. I am willing to accept any punishment you see fit!"
Before his voice had even faded, he drew the sword from his waist with a clang.
He raised the sword high, aimed it at the neck of the kneeling Draco, and roared:
"Today, before Lord Lacey, I will cleanse my own house! To appease the hatred in your heart!"
The blade was sharp, pointed directly at Draco's nape.
Draco shuddered violently. A warm, wet sensation spread from his crotch, and the foul stench of urine instantly filled the Throne Hall.
Dominic's expression changed. Fighting back his disgust, he secretly observed Lacey's reaction out of the corner of his eye.
As he saw it, his performance had been pushed to the absolute limit.
He had given Lacey all possible face and deference. As an Elector, Lacey would have to consider his status and couldn't possibly watch him kill his own kin for the sake of justice.
As long as Lacey spoke up to stop him, the matter would be considered closed.
However, the "spare him!" he had anticipated never came.
Upon the master seat, Lacey just sat there with an amused smile, watching him quietly.
One second, two seconds, ten seconds…
The Throne Hall was deathly silent, broken only by Dominic's heavy breathing.
The arm holding the sword aloft began to feel sore and numb.
Cold sweat trickled down his cheeks and dripped onto his collar.
The atmosphere became incredibly awkward.
Time seemed to stretch, each second an agony.
Dominic held the ceremonial sword high, the muscles in his arm beginning to twitch involuntarily from the prolonged tension.
The tip of the sword trembled slightly, reflecting his own face, which was etched with shock and panic.
He couldn't understand why the script wasn't playing out as he had imagined.
Why wasn't this Lacey fellow playing by the rules?
Wasn't he supposed to rise immediately, magnanimously declare that "ignorance is no crime" or "your son was young and foolish," and then grasp his hand to enact a scene of reconciliation where past grievances are forgotten with a smile?
But now, Lacey just sat there, a smile playing on his lips.
Gertrude and Leinia beside him also watched with expressionless faces, as if they were watching a play.
Sweat had already soaked the back of his shirt.
Dominic was in an impossible position, unable to lower the sword or keep it raised.
He could even feel the mocking gazes from the guards behind him.
Just as he was cornered and about to buckle, Lacey finally spoke.
"What is it, Count Dominic? Can't bring yourself to do it?"
Lacey leaned forward slightly, the smile on his face widening.
"That's understandable. He is your own son, after all."
"How about this? My guards are rough men with no such scruples. They can do it for you."
He gave a slight lift of his chin, gesturing to the guard behind him.
"Sir!" The guard stepped forward, his hand already on the hilt of his blade.
The sound of the blade scraping against the scabbard sent a jolt through Dominic.
"No! No, no, no! I wouldn't dare trouble you! I wouldn't dare!"
Dominic practically shrieked. He retracted the sword with lightning speed, sheathing it with a clatter. The motion was so fast it was almost comical.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and forced a smile that was uglier than a grimace, stammering an excuse, "Y-Your Excellency misunderstands. I… I just wanted… to scare this worthless creature!"
"Yes, just scare him! To teach him a lesson!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Lacey raised an eyebrow and gave a noncommittal smile.
"It seems Count Dominic has quite a unique method of education."
This blandly sarcastic remark made Dominic's face turn the color of liver.
He knew his meticulously planned first move had been a complete failure.
Not only had he failed to win himself any dignity, but he had also been played for a fool, like a pathetic clown.
He didn't dare linger on the topic and quickly changed the subject.
"Your Excellency jests." He bowed, his posture even lower than before.
"Let's talk business. I came here this time not only to apologize, but also… with the sincerity of the Austin family."
He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound more genuine.
"I have heard that Wasser Fief is currently implementing new policies with great vigor, preparing for massive construction projects to revitalize the economy. This is a great deed that benefits the country and its people!"
"I imagine that in this process, there must be a great lack of capital, technology, and experienced management personnel, correct?"
He carefully watched Lacey's expression. Seeing that he wasn't interrupted, he grew bolder.
"The Austin family operates several textile mills and building material workshops in Trullinczentyr. Though not large in scale, we have some expertise in technology and management."
"If Lord Lacey would not disdain it, we are willing to relocate our family workshops to Wasser Fief, or invest directly in building new factories here!"
The more he spoke, the more excited he became, as if he could already see a bright future.
"Your Excellency, just imagine! We provide the money and technology to help build Wasser Fief and solve the workers' employment problems!"
"As for the profits from the factories, we can negotiate a reasonable split with your government!"
"This… this is a win-win situation!"
"The Austin family can become your most loyal partner! We can help you make Wasser Fief the most prosperous grand region in Leithanien!"
He spread his arms, spittle flying as he painted a magnificent blueprint, trying to move Lacey with the promise of enormous commercial benefits.
In his mind, no one could refuse such a temptation.
This upstart Lacey needed exactly this kind of partnership, and the Austin family was perfectly positioned to provide it.
He believed that as long as Lacey nodded, their past unpleasantness would vanish into thin air.
In the face of profit, so-called hatred was not worth mentioning.
He looked at Lacey with great expectation, awaiting an ecstatic reply.
However, after listening to his passionate speech, Lacey showed no sign of joy. Instead, he began to laugh.
At first, it was just a few soft chuckles.
But soon, the laughter grew louder, more resonant, until it became an unrestrained, hearty laugh.
"Haha… Hahahahahaha!"
Lacey laughed so hard he bent over, his laughter echoing through the empty Throne Hall.
Dominic's smile froze on his face. He watched the roaring Lacey with unease, a deeply ominous premonition rising in his heart.
"Y-Your Excellency, why are you laughing?"
After a long time, Lacey slowly stopped laughing.
He wiped away a tear of mirth from the corner of his eye, looked at the bewildered Dominic, and shook his head.
"I'm laughing at how beautifully you've imagined things." Lacey's eyes instantly turned to ice.
He slowly stood up and, step by step, descended from the dais of the throne.
"The man who murdered my parents is standing right in front of me, bold as brass."
"Not only does he expect me to forgive him, he wants to be my partner?"
Lacey took another step forward, his face almost touching Dominic's.
"Tell me, Count Austin."
"Where in the world did you get such nerve?"
Faced with Lacey's relentless advance, Dominic's legs gave way, and he collapsed to the floor, all color draining from his face.
He finally understood. He had been wrong from the very beginning, terribly wrong.
This was not a conflict that could be resolved with profit.
"No… it wasn't me! I didn't do it!"
He scrambled backward on his hands and feet, trying to get away from Lacey.
"It was Bach! That bastard acted on his own! I just… I just wanted to teach you a lesson, I didn't want to kill anyone! I really didn't!"
He babbled incoherently, trying to shift all the blame.
Even at this point, he still thought that as long as he hadn't directly ordered the murder, there was still room to argue.
Lacey couldn't even be bothered to listen to another word.
For him, this conversation was over.
He was not a judge; he did not need to hear the defendant's final statement.
He waved his hand, and the four guards standing by immediately understood and strode forward.
Two guards flanked Dominic and hauled him up from the floor as if they were grabbing a chicken.
Dominic's feet dangled and kicked helplessly in the air, muffled wails escaping his mouth.
"Your Excellency Lacey! Lord Elector! Spare me!"
"My money! You can have all my money!"
"Everything the Austin family owns! All the manors, factories, and works of art to my name, I'll give them all to you!"
"I only beg you to spare my life!"
Tears and snot streamed down his face. He was a pathetic wreck, without a shred of a count's dignity.
The other two guards moved toward Draco.
Draco let out a piercing shriek, and a foul-smelling liquid once again gushed from his trousers, leaving a conspicuous stain on the polished stone floor.
"Let go of me! You bunch of peasants!"
"Commoners! Do you know who I am? My father is a count!"
"If you dare touch me, Her Majesty the Empress will not spare you!!"
Extreme fear, paradoxically, had ignited the pathetic spark of noble arrogance within him.
He began to curse wildly, using every vicious word he knew.
Leinia watched the chaotic scene, her brow furrowed.
She walked to Lacey's side and spoke urgently in a voice only they could hear, "Your Excellency, you can't kill him here!"
"He is a hereditary count from the capital. Though his family isn't large, he is still part of the old nobility."
"If you kill him here, it will bring us endless trouble!"
Her words were not without reason.
But Lacey only turned his head to glance at her.
"The reason I founded the Workers' Party was so that no one, by virtue of their so-called noble blood, could trample on another's dignity or take another's life at will."
"Today, if I spare him because he is a count, then what is the difference between me and Otto, or the very people I have sworn to overthrow?"
With that, he paid Leinia no more mind, turned around, and waved his hand at the four guards.
The guards understood perfectly.
The four guards dragged the father and son pair toward the floor-to-ceiling window.
Dominic and Draco's eyes bulged, their eyeballs protruding with fear, the corners of their eyes looking as if they might tear.
The guards worked together to push open the large window, and a biting, cold wind instantly flooded the Throne Hall.
Outside the window was a panoramic view of Eisenwald.
In the distance, new buildings were rising from the ground, and people bustled through the streets.
Dominic would see none of it.
He struggled desperately, his throat emitting whimpering cries of despair.
The guards exchanged a look and, without further hesitation, placed the father and son by the window and sent them flying with a kick.
"Down you go!"
Accompanied by the tearing sound of the wind, Dominic and his son plummeted.
With two heavy thuds, the crowd in the square outside the Tower fell into a brief moment of chaos at the sudden development.
But soon, when someone recognized that the two mangled corpses were dressed in the attire of capital nobility, a cheer erupted from the crowd.
For these people who had suffered so much oppression, the death of any old noble was a cause for celebration.
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