If a criminal was caught at the scene, the royal guards could decapitate them based on individual judgment, and if the crime was ambiguous, they were taken to court for on-the-spot sentencing.
The days of wrapping their heads in thought for several days to avoid punishing innocent people were long gone.
“Open the door.”
Still blocking his nose, Dylan called to the guard standing at the intermediary door.
“Yes!”
He bent his waist slightly and took a key from his pocket to open the door.
Dylan walked briskly through the opening.
Most of the cells were empty.
However, the situation was different for the largest cell located deeper inside.
When Gerard initially brought witches here indiscriminately, this underground dungeon was so overcrowded there was barely room to step.
The repugnant smell from the waste they produced never seemed to dissipate.
However, when food hadn’t been provided for about a week, the young and the elderly began to die off.
With the reduction in numbers, the rate of waste accumulation also slowed.
Thus, after starving them for another week, and yet another week, the number of the dead far exceeded those who were alive, and the dungeon maintained its current state.
There were no more witches or wizards left to capture in the outside world.
Dylan walked up to the front of the cell and peered into the darkness inside.
Then he knocked on the iron bars of the cell with the sheath of the knife he was carrying.
Clang!
A sudden sound triggered some rustling noises from within.
“We urgently need mana. If there’s anyone capable of using mana now, we’ll prepare a lavish feast as a reward.”
There was no response from inside.
“As expected.”
He was about to turn around without any regrets, having had no expectations to begin with.
“Wait a moment.”
A cracked voice came from inside.
Dylan raised one eyebrow and turned back.
“You’re looking for mana?”
A young voice, no, it almost sounded like a child’s.
“Come closer. In front of me.”
From the darkness, a skinny boy slowly walked toward him.
The way his emaciated, elongated legs moved beneath the tattered hem of his pants looked unnatural.
‘Did such a wizard exist?’
Upon seeing the face up close, Dylan’s brow furrowed.
Curly blonde hair, big eyes with double eyelids.
‘Blonde?’
Even the pupils within were golden, concealing a vibrant light.
“Do you really know how to use mana?”
Suddenly, a gust of wind erupted around the boy.
“Ugh!”
A blue wave surged, enveloping the boy and emitting a faint glow.
Simultaneously, the once dark prison was illuminated.
Dyllan’s lips involuntarily parted at the completely unexpected spectacle.
‘Mana manipulation even more extraordinary than famous archmages of the past.’
He had never heard of someone capable of emitting this much mana alone.
“A madman has been living in the prison.”
At Dyllan’s single word, the boy quickly dissipated his mana.
“……Is this insufficient?”
Dyllan let out a sarcastic laugh.
This was enough mana to open four or five portals and still have some left over.
Dyllan gestured to the interior of the prison to the royal guard beside him.
“Come out. This much is more than sufficient.”
The boy stepped forward, trembling.
He hadn’t noticed while in the prison, but he was taller than expected, and his face looked childlike.
The boy crossed the threshold of the prison and walked out.
Dyllan looked at the boy’s hunched back and asked, “What’s your name?”
The boy tilted his mysterious golden eyes and answered, “None.”
The high bridge of his nose, the charming lips, and freckles on his cheeks hinted at how beautiful he could be, were it not for the grime obscuring his appearance.
“I was born here, you see.”
The high bridge of his nose, charming lips, and freckles on his cheeks hinted at how beautiful he could be, were it not for the grime obscuring his appearance.
“I was born here.”
Dyllan swallowed, caught in an inexplicable fascination.
[Star Icon]Lakrahan was sitting across a round table, conversing with members of the knight order.
These were the representatives of the knights deployed in each village, regularly reporting the situation to him.
“The sentiment near the border is increasingly bad. I don’t know why it doesn’t rain there only.”
“The situation isn’t great in our closest village, either. They’re struggling due to drought, and helping them has put a strain on us too. I worry this could start a chain reaction.”
“Hmm.”
Lakrahan rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
Given Bercheria’s instability, it seemed the weather too couldn’t find complete stability.
“Your Grace.”
At Timothy’s entrance, Lakrahan prompted him with a glance.
“He’s entered Your Grace’s chamber now.”
The subject was omitted, but Lakrahan knew exactly whom he was talking about.
“Let’s conclude the meeting here.”
He rose from his seat.
“What about the drought? Shouldn’t we try something different?”
Lakrahan looked at them with a wry smile.
“I’m about to try something different. You all can leave for now.”
Dozens of commanders rose at once and bowed to Lakrahan.
“Yes, Your Grace!”
Lakrahan entrusted the knights to Timothy and headed to his chamber.
He took out his pocket watch to check the time.
“Phew.”
An unnecessary tension swept over him.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
