Chapter 3
Chapter 3
He claimed to be there to collect a debt, but Gunther's steps were directed toward Maria. Maria, collapsed beside her parents' corpses, unconscious, resembled a swan that had been brutally hunted. He simply stared at her in silence.
"Empress."
Nancy and her court ladies, who had been weeping beside Maria, slowly raised their heads when an ominous shadow fell over them.
"……!"
"Oh! God!"
Nancy and the other court ladies exclaimed in unison and stepped back. Looking up from their seated position, the man wearing the Red Dragon Mask was not human in form. He was like a massive stone statue. The shadow he cast seemed to choke the very air.
"Move."
His voice echoed in the air, yet it felt detached from reality. Gunther slowly bent his large frame downward, and everyone followed the spectacle with slow gazes. Then, they began to chatter amongst themselves.
"Gunther Paisley, were he and the Empress acquainted?"
"Impossible! The Duke of Stuart would never associate with such a lowly person."
"There was a rumor circulating in the capital a long time ago. That the Duke of Stuart helped a mercenary who was a slave."
"Come now, it couldn't be the same person, could it?"
Rumors were just rumors, and people didn't seem to believe them, as if they lacked a sense of reality. Most people knew that the mercenaries had stumbled upon Helland by chance, where they discovered vast quantities of Magic Stone and Gold, becoming instant millionaires. They weren't particularly interested in how they had built a kingdom and worked tirelessly to create a place to live.
"A man with incredibly good luck."
"Speaking of which, even with all that Magic Stone and Gold, how can they live in Helland?"
"Exactly. It's like living with beasts."
"Money isn't everything. For people like us, honor and dignity are as precious as life itself."
"But the problem is that he's been trampling on the honor and dignity of various imperial families with money these days, isn't it?"
"Tsk, tsk, how did the world come to this, where such barbaric people can throw their weight around with money?"
"I agree. It's a waste of land."
Even if the development of Helland was true, it was irrelevant to them. What mattered was their regret that various imperial families and nobles had failed to recognize the gem that was Helland. And the nobles were busy disparaging Gunther Paisley, saying that he had accumulated wealth by engaging in usury with the money he had obtained from there, like the lowly person he was. Of course, there was some truth to it. However, regarding Gunther's liberation of serfs and slaves oppressed in various kingdoms with money, and then having them immigrate to Helland, they spread ominous rumors that he had kidnapped people through coercion.
"Unless my eyes deceive me, it looks like Gunther is trembling?"
"Indeed, he's trembling after seeing the unconscious Empress."
Henry was as surprised as the nobles. Gunther suddenly appearing and being so flustered in front of Maria. The Gunther he knew was someone who wouldn't bat an eye even in front of the Emperor of a powerful continent. Moreover, he vividly remembered Gunther looking directly at Pope Liberio, whom everyone praised as a manifestation of God. For such an ignorant man to be so flustered in front of Maria. Henry chuckled.
The words he had heard beforehand were indeed credible. It was as if he could see the face behind the Dragon Mask that Gunther was wearing. A man who desperately desired Maria, yet couldn't lay a finger on her body. That must be because the desire filling his heart had exceeded its limit. Otherwise, there was no way such a barbarian would tremble over a single woman.
"Ten."
Gunther finally spoke after a long silence. Soon, Nancy's gaze shifted back and forth between him and Maria. He seemed to have counted the number of scratches on Maria's face.
"Who did this?"
At his question, Nancy stared at Monica, who was sitting on the high seat in the distance. Then, Gunther rose and approached Monica.
"Why are you coming to me?"
Monica unfolded her fan and partially covered her face. Just looking at him gave her goosebumps, as if he wasn't human. She trembled with fear.
"How much for this woman? Emperor."
Gunther asked Henry, looking at Monica.
"That is disrespectful. She is my mother, the Empress."
"The Emperor's mother?"
In an instant, Gunther's sword drew a trajectory toward Monica. With a flash, the blade gleamed, and the fan she was holding was cut in half. Only then did Henry understand why Gunther had asked for Monica's price. If he had stated a price, Monica's head would have been rolling on the floor by now. Of course, Monica's head was safe. Instead, it was as if Monica's mind had been cut off by the sword; she rolled her eyes and collapsed.
"Former Empress!"
The court ladies rushed over to support Monica.
"Gunther, what are you doing?"
When Henry burst out in anger, Gunther's large hand grabbed his collar and lifted him into the air. The people who witnessed the scene gasped and gaped.
"Ugh!"
Henry struggled, kicking his feet, as if he were suffocating. Just then, the Imperial Guard aimed their swords at Gunther in unison, and the Red Army once again surrounded them in a circle. A touch-and-go situation where a bloody battle could break out at any moment.
"Ten million Gold, pay it back."
"!?"
To pay back ten million Gold immediately. Henry felt faint. Rumor had it that Gunther would retaliate on the spot if the money wasn't repaid. He was known for never doing anything that would result in a loss, whether it was gutting the debtor, taking the kingdom's historical treasures, or seizing an island. But the problem was that he didn't have the means to pay back ten million Gold right away.
"Give... give me a little time."
Henry's face turned red as he was suffocating. The veins on his forehead bulged as if they would burst, and he thrashed his limbs, disregarding the dignity of the Emperor.
* * *
Two people dying, engulfed in soaring flames. The blades of the ruthless soldiers were hacking James and Emma's bodies to pieces.
'Aaaagh!'
The two were killed by the Emperor's soldiers without even being able to resist properly, and Maria only screamed as she watched the horrific scene.
'Father! Mother!'
Maria cried out like a madwoman. She had to run and save them right away, but her cursed body wouldn't budge.
'Aaaagh! No!'
Then, Henry ran over with a sword and mercilessly struck her parents' necks. Thud—their heads fell off, and crimson blood splattered everywhere.
'Just! Kill me!'
Maria sat down on the spot and sobbed. Such a horrific sight of her parents being mercilessly butchered before her eyes. This must be what it felt like to have her heart hacked to pieces with a knife.
'Henry! You vile human! You're not even human!'
Just as Maria came to her senses, someone grabbed her collar and shook her. The person who came into her blurry vision was Henry Coburg, the enemy who had killed her parents.
"Ugh!"
Maria's head shook weakly like a cosmos with a broken stem.
"Maria, you know Gunther, right? Then go and plead with him. Since I can't pay back ten million Gold, ask him to give me three years, no, even just one year!"
Thanks to Gunther, Maria had avoided imprisonment, but she was not in good condition, either physically or mentally. To shake such a person until their neck was about to fall off.
"Please stop. How can you treat the Empress so cruelly?"
Nancy, who couldn't bear to watch any longer, stopped him.
"Get out of the way!"
Monica, who had come with him, roughly pushed Nancy away.
"Aha! Now I understand."
Monica said in an absurd tone, and Henry looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"Mother, what is it?"
"Isn't it strange that those red beasts showed up just in time?"
"That's because of the imperial family's debt..."
Henry was frustrated. The money that Monica had spent without Maria's knowledge was all money borrowed from Gunther.
"No, why would they come to collect the debt now of all times? Besides, it's suspicious that Maria is involved in this as well. Surely, she was trying to bring that man in to take over the Imperial Palace, wasn't she?"
Henry sighed at Monica's words. It was a typical idea for her. But now was not the time to write such a third-rate novel. If he didn't pay back the debt he owed Gunther right away, he could suffer greatly.
"Be good, Maria. Please ask Gunther nicely."
Henry said, barely controlling his emotions.
"Then I'll at least spare your life. Okay?"
Despite Henry's repeated persuasion, Maria showed no reaction.
'Please! Stop it!'
Nancy looked at Henry with resentment. But she couldn't blame him entirely either. It was a situation that could no longer be reversed.
"Say something! Maria!"
"Uh... uh..."
Maria kept moving her lips, but no sound came out. Nancy carefully examined Maria's pale face. Dilated pupils and a tongue that wouldn't move properly. Something seemed wrong. Just then, the corners of Monica's lips twisted, and she spat out harsh words.
"So, this cripple can't even talk anymore? She's completely useless."