–TING!!!TING!!!
"Gather around!! Gather around!!" The sound of a bell and man calling out sounded in the outer ring of Drucalis.
The man was standing on a wooden platform, bell in hand. And behind him was the intimidating frame of a guillotine.
The blade of the guillotine reflected the shine of the crimson moon hanging overhead. Next to the platform was cages that was covered with a cloth.
"What is going on?" A wrinkled woman asked, her boney frame walking towards the commotion.
"Is there a show going on?"
"Food?" A young girl asked.
"Are they executing someone?" A grizzled old man noticed the guillotine on the platform.
In only a few minutes the area was filled with thousands of people, all of them curious to see what was going on.
"Immediately after their awakening," the speaker began, his voice audible to everyone that gathered. "Saintess Isadora and Crown Prince Julian Dracul sprang into action and investigated the reason why there are starving and homeless vampires in our beloved Empire.
It didn't take them long to find the reason. But what they found left them shocked and heartbroken. It was something that they never thought would've happened and never should have happened in the first place.
Their investigation showed that the funds that was supposed to go towards housing and food was being stolen and used by none other than the Financial Advisors of the Empire."
The crowd didn't have much of a reaction. They knew that heavy corruption was going on in the the Empire. Putting a name and a face to it wasn't going to make much difference to their situation.
"They also discovered that the Financial Advisors was not acting alone. The were several noble houses that helped and benefited from the stolen funds.
They have identified all these noble houses and captured the mastermind behind this scheme.
And that is why I'm standing before you right now. The Saintess and Crown Prince concluded that these individuals and their allies were unworthy of being held accountable in court and they demanded immediate justice for the people and together they reached a verdict: public execution."
A ripple of shock tore through the crowd. Never before has there been a event where nobles were executed for their crimes.
The most they got was a fine. A fine that could never pay for the atrocities that said nobles had inflicted upon their victims.
"Bring them forward." The speaker instructed.
A guard ripped the cloth off one cage, revealing the beaten and bruised figures of the three Financial Advisors.
The guard opened the cage and dragged the fat advisor out. The advisor smiled when he was taken out of the cage.
Grateful that death was finally going to be gifted to him. Prior to this, he was subjected to hours of torture and each agonizing moment of it he wished for the sweet embrace of death.
Even now, when all the torturing was over with, he could still feel the blade that sliced through his privates.
The guard placed the man beneath the massive blade of the guillotine, the Advisors head in place.
"Financial Advisor Mark Crammer, for the crimes of stealing funds meant for the improvement of the Empire and treason: you are sentenced to death." The speaker dropped his hand and at the same time the blade of the guillotine dropped on the Advisors neck.
–SHLICK.
–THUD.
The Advisor's head dropped into the bucket, followed by a spray of blood from his headless neck.
"YEAH!!" The crowd cheered, happy that justice was being served before their eyes.
"Next, Financial Advisor Bert Heaver, for the crimes of stealing funds meant for the improvement of the Empire and treason: you are sentenced to death." The speaker executed the next Advisor.
The crowd cheered when his head dropped into the bucket too.
"Next, Financial Advisor Melanie Meyer, for the crimes of stealing funds meant for the improvement of the Empire, treason and for sharing sensitive information to the Corrupt Cult: you are sentenced to death." The speakers word caused another ripple of shock to spread through the crowd.
They knew that the Corrupt Cult has infiltrated deep into their society, but they didn't know how deep.
And now hearing that a Financial Advisor to the Emperor was a follower of the Corrupt God, caused great shock.
Their shock was amplified when they saw the dark blood oozing from the headless stump of the Advisor.
"Die, you disgusting vermin!" One man from the crowd shouted, followed immediately by a countless number of curses thrown at the lifeless figure of the woman.
"Next," The speaker spoke after the crowd calmed down. "Count Gregory Grant, for the crimes of stealing funds meant for the improvement of the Empire and treason: you and your entire bloodline are sentenced to death."
The crowd watched with bathed breath while House Grant was being executed, finding it hard to believe that the crown was executing an entire noble bloodline.
Julian and Isadora was also watching the proceedings through [Dragon's Eye View]. Lucky for them, the Count only had grown male offspring, otherwise they would've gone with a different family.
Julian draws a line when it comes to harming innocent woman or children.
"Let this be a lesson to all those watching from the shadows." The Speaker's voice echoed again. "Followers of the Corrupt God, corrupt nobles. The Saintess and the Crown Prince are always watching. And so is Luna, the Moon Goddess, and Stella, the Goddess of the Stars.
And once they lay their eyes on you, there is no escape."
********
[Grand Duke Cecil Crimsonfang's Estate]
[Drucalis]
[Vampire Empire]
–Taktaktak
The butler of House Crimsonfang's steps echoed in the corridors of the estate.
He hurriedly passed workers who were diligently cleaning every inch of the already spotless place. They stopped their tasks and bowed in his direction whenever he passed.
The butler paid them no attention today, he had more important matters.
His feet carried him in front of the office door of the the Duke.
–Knock.
He knocked on the door, and a moment later a voice sounded from inside, granting him access.
The butler entered without wasting a second.
"My liege." The butler bowed in a ninety degree angle. "I bring important news and a letter from the Imperial Castle."
Duke Cecil Crimsonfang was seated at his table, scribbling on a piece of paper. His brow arched when he heard about the letter from the Imperial Castle, but he didn't stop writing, not showing proper respect.
"Go on." He ordered.
"The Saintess and the Crown Prince have just publicly executed the Financial Advisors and the entire bloodline of House Grant." The butler relayed.
"What?" The Duke lifted his head, the news the butler delivered taking his full attention.
"It is as I say, My Liege." The butler said.
"All three advisors?" The Duke asked.
"Yes, My Liege." The butler answered.
"On what grounds?" He asked again.
"Funds embezzlement, treason and for sharing sensitive information with the Corrupted Cult, My Liege" The butler informed without a moments delay.
"Do they have evidence?" The Duke asked. "If they have evidence on the Financial Advisors than they might have evidence leading to us too."
"They didn't present any, My Liege." The butler said.
"Mh." The Duke hummed. "Read me the letter."
The butler broke the Imperial seal and opened the letter, he cleared his voice before reading outloud.
"Dear kind Sir Cecil.
I am writing this letter to inform you that I have obtained incriminating evidence that indicates that you have participated in funds embezzlement and tax evasion for the pass 200 years and for a total sum of 1000 platinum coins, 5560 gold coins, 8 silver coins and 9 bronze coins (1 billion 5 million 560 thousand 8 hundred and 90 dollars=105560890).
I demand that you return the exact same amount of money–as mentioned above–within seven days.
And if you don't, or if there is a single coin missing; then I will invade your favila on horseback and kill you, your main wife, your 8 concubines, your 6 sons, your 4 daughters and anyone that is unfit to work.
I promise you, that not even the light of the moon will be able to save you once I lay down my wrath upon your wretched soul.
Your Prince, Julian Valerius Dracul."
The butlers frame was trembling with fear once he finished reading the letter. Thoughts of who will end up suffering because of his master's anger circling through his mind.
"He dares." The Dukes voice was low, but rising in volume. "He dares!!"
His voice could be heard throughout the whole estate, crimson aura erupting from his body causing tremors to run across the estate.
"HE DARES THREATEN ME!! ME?!" The Dukes anger was unleashed in uncontrollable waves, causing several servants to faint from his overwhelming aura.
All over the Drucalis the same letter was sent to every noble, and every noble had the same reaction as Grand Duke Cecil.
Meanwhile the culprit was totally carefree and stroking Midnight, his Pegasus.