"...Therefore, this man shall be sentenced to capital punishment. Your Majesty, what form of capital punishment do you wish to impose upon this wretched individual? Prior to your arrival, there were discussions among the court members, with some suggesting that he should be fed to a sea creature," the duke averted his gaze from the empress, seemingly uncertain about his words.

"Feed him to a sea creature? That would be too merciful," the empress remarked, displaying her lack of enthusiasm for Duke Walchelin's suggestion. 

"I am considering three options. Firstly, a public burning at noon, lasting approximately three hours, followed by impalement of the remains for two days, ensuring the entire Marrossi witnesses the consequences. Alternatively, we could opt for scaphism or flaying. We must also include his family. Which punishment do you believe would be most fitting for them?"

My stomach churned at the sound of her proposals.

Death by burning, scaphism, and flaying are indeed severe punishments for those who commit treason. While I understand the need for a serious consequence, I believe that the empress's proposed punishments have crossed a line.

As always.

After all, she wouldn't have earned the title of 'the blood empress' without reason.

"May I speak?" I stood up, bowed to the empress, and raised my head. "I understand that those who commit treason deserve a slow, humiliating, and painful death, but I humbly request Her Imperial Majesty to reconsider. The family of the accused is innocent, especially the children. They deserve the mercy that is rightfully theirs." I pleaded, hoping that she would consider my suggestion. She broke eye contact and turned to face the other nobles.

"Very well. Spare the wife and children," I felt a sense of relief upon hearing her decision, until she continued, giving me a piercing look that conveyed the message, 'we will discuss this later.'

"...but erase their memories. The same goes for the children. One of them is a mere baby, completely innocent in all of this. As for the man, let scaphism be his fate. Prepare a mixture of milk and honey and force him to consume it. Cover him in milk and honey to attract wasps, bees, and flies. Strip him naked and place him on a wooden boat by noon tomorrow. Let him suffer the torment of exposure and decay. Lastly, bring his family here. His Highness knows what he must do. You are all dismissed."

The empress rose from her seat, and the nobles filed out of the room, leaving only the empress and me. I exhaled deeply as everyone departed, but I do not regret the words I spoke.

Justice must be served, but the innocent deserve mercy. If only I could rise as the next emperor, things would not be like this.

Therefore, it is not a choice but a necessity.

"If you weren't my beloved son, I wouldn't have paid any attention to what you said," the empress responded, her voice icy cold.

"You have no idea how difficult it was for me to utter those words. Surprisingly, a part of me felt that following your suggestion would be the right thing to do. Initially, I felt that you were disrespecting my judgment, but upon reflection, I realized that your words held reason. I sensed that following your lead would not lead me to reckless decisions. Moreover, the way you expressed yourself did not sound like a mere request, but rather an order, delivered with politeness to honor my position as empress."

"I am honored. Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty," I replied, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "I will ensure to erase her memories before her husband's execution. It would not be wise for her to witness such a gruesome death."

"You are still too kind. Whether she witnesses it or not, you would have erased her memories regardless. As the crown prince, you must make wise decisions and not allow others to exploit your kindness. I do not expect you to be a ruthless leader like myself, but there is a reason why I am the way I am," she said, leaving me with a mischievous smile before turning to leave the room.

I couldn't help but remember the circumstances that led her to become this way, and I couldn't entirely blame her for everything.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

The golden sun greeted me as I stepped out of the palace gates, and the sky displayed a breathtaking shade of blue. Nature has always been my refuge, a way to ease the tension in my mind.

If I were not a prince, my life would be simple, free from the burden of following the empress's commands.

I couldn't help but wonder, what would it be like if my father were still here? My mother now stands as both the emperor and the empress of the Ruivenfiere Empire.

"Do you think... that man deserves such a harsh sentence?" I pondered aloud, feeling disturbed by the thought of the man's punished by scaphism.

It is not only a public humiliation but also a gruesome kind of death. However, I realized there was no point in mourning for someone whose destiny had already been decided. 

He is not a relative, and though he is a stranger to me, I still feel a sense of sadness.

"You have a compassionate heart, Your Highness. I admire that about you, even though you are the opposite of Her Majesty. You will make a great emperor one day," Ruford's words of admiration for my compassion toward people were accompanied by a blank facial expression, which is typical of his stoic nature.

It made me question whether he truly meant what he said, as he rarely expresses his emotions.

It could be perceived as empty flattery, considering his role as my loyal servant. However, despite his seemingly emotionless demeanor, Ruford has proven himself to be the most dependable and trustworthy among my men, earning his position as my right-hand man.

"Anyway," I said, attempting to change the subject. "I want you to send spies to Eurhyia. I need them to search for the woman who decimated more than half of our army. She was the only woman on their battlefield during our last siege of Eurhyia's borders. Only a few are aware of the existence of alexandrite Izavenes, and since her power is lightning, it is likely that she is the last alexandrite Izavene alive. We need to gather more information about her."

Most people have forgotten about the existence of the Izavenes because their rings were used to create a shield for Marrossi, preventing any human from entering.

When an Izavene's ring is removed, their existence is forgotten, and the entire race of Izavenes like her is wiped out. I need to understand how she managed to survive and if there are any other alexandrite Izavenes in Eurhyia.

"What are you planning, Your Highness?" Ruford inquired.

"When I witnessed her lightning, it gave me a glimmer of hope, despite the tragedy it brought upon us. Although the empress used all the alexandrite Izavenes here as a sacrifice to protect the nation, the fact that one still exists means that her race can once again thrive as they did before. It suggests that she never set foot in this place and grew up elsewhere. Her appearance is distinct from that of a typical citizen of Eurhyia, so it should not be too difficult to find her."

There is also the possibility that she perished after that battle. I believe she expended a significant amount of life force that day, and if my assumption is correct, no one would remember her existence.

"How many spies should I send, Your Highness?" Ruford asked, without questioning my orders and plans.

"Five Poudretteite Izavenes should suffice. Eurhyia is not a large kingdom, so this mission can be completed swiftly. I expect to receive the information within seven days. Understood?"

Ruford bowed in response. Poudretteite Izavenes can expedite the process, as they have the ability to transform into birds or any other animal. If they choose to become birds, they can reach Eurhyia in a day or even less.

"Then you are dismissed."