Chapter 1068 Punishment
Noel slammed open the door, finding two people inside. He recognized Count Lesen, but not the woman.
After seeing her by using the Affection Medal, he could see her name, which proved her identity.
Noel didn't even bother with courtesy. If it were his ally, he would have apologized for making them wait.
But Noel only gave them a cold gaze as if meeting them was an unpleasant time he had to spend.
"Should I call you brave or hypocritical? You were the one starting this war, but now, you are right before me." Noel looked down upon him.
His daughter only hung her head low as her body shivered. Count Lesen was similar, but there was still some life in his eyes.
He bit his lips and said, "As you said, I have no right to ask for your forgiveness. However, I'm still a lord. Even if I'm a sinner, I still have the obligation to bring closure to this war."
"You should have realized that if I'm the one losing to you, what happens to me will be worse than this, right?"
Count Lesen froze. Of course, he was aware of that fact. If Noel lost, his territory would be destroyed, his rune technology would be seized, and his life would be taken. Even worse, his wife would be sealed and even controlled by the royal family.
In other words, it would be total annihilation. If Noel asked for forgiveness, he might even lead a life much worse than death.
Count Lesen clenched his hands into fists. He dropped to the ground and kneeled before Noel. His head hit the floor so hard that it started bleeding.
"It is as you say. I'm shameless… And this shameless person would like to ask the Marquis for forgiveness. I've given my authority to my son and we will never raise our arms against you anymore. My daughter will be your slave. But please… Please end it with only my head."
Noel's expression remained unchanged. In fact, his voice became even colder. Every word struck deep in his heart. "How do I know that your son won't do the same thing? You are still related to the royal family. And do I look like someone lacking in people that I need your daughter to be my slave?
"What can your daughter even do other than be a tool of political marriage? Having her beside me will just increase the potential of her turning into a spy. And your life? You are bound to die sooner or later, Count Lesen. It doesn't have to be me who kills you."
His words might be ruthless, but that was the fact.
If this continued, a revolt would appear sooner or later. If other territories used this chance to wage a territorial war, his life would be over.
In fact, giving his daughter to him was kind of acting as her own protection.
"Spirit Oath! We can use the spirit oath!"
Noel snorted. "A spirit oath is a good binding contract, but you have to remember that you are only a noble. The spirit oath is better used by someone like me because I have much more to lose. You and your son are not even Spirit Wielder, you think I will believe that you uphold your promise?"
The Spirit Oath could take away the owner's spiritual energy and all their strength. The stronger a fighter was, the more effective it was because they had more to lose. But Count Lesen wasn't even a fighter. Even if he lost his strength, he could still control his soldiers and territory.
*Bang!*
Count Lesen's daughter suddenly kneeled down next to her father. "I… I can do everything. I can learn things fast. If you—"
"Shut up. This is not your place to speak." Noel's eyes emitted a bit of killing intent, freezing her. "Do you think I don't know what kind of person you are? I should just execute you and display your head on the city gate."
She shuddered, but she banged the floor with her head once more as if trying to show her determination. "Please… give me a chance. If you aren't satisfied, then you can punish me in any way you want. Kill me, burn me…"
Noel looked at her coldly. "Determination, huh? I should probably hang you on the city wall and let that cold wind freeze your body and the sun dry you up like a jerky. Or maybe I should give you to the soldiers to satisfy their desire. One month is enough, let's see if you still have the nerve to ask for that chance."
Both of them were terrified. Even though it wasn't winter yet, the temperature had become a bit chilly. If he hung her on the city wall for a month, she wouldn't even last for a week.
No, even in a warm temperature, she would only last for two weeks without water since she had been given Demon Crystals to reach the Spirit Practitioner level. Even someone like Noel would still struggle to last for a month without water.
This was just a way to torture her to death.
Count Lesen wanted to say something, but his daughter opened her mouth first.
"If that can pacify your anger, I'm willing to do it."
"!!!" Count Lesen looked at his daughter in shock.
"Hmph. Empty words. Dimitri. Kick her out! Tell anyone not to give her anything and let her kneel until she's dead."
Dimitri suddenly opened the door and appeared behind her.
"Yes, Master." He politely bowed before disappearing from this room after devouring her with his shadow.
It only took him two seconds to reach the gate and he threw the woman in front of the mansion's gate.
"U…" The woman was shocked for a second before realizing what happened. She looked at Dimitri and remembered what Noel had said earlier. Without warning, she hurriedly kneeled in front of the mansion as if asking for forgiveness.
"What's this?"
"Who is she?"
"Her clothes… Is she a noble?"
The people were curious and kept glancing at her.
Dimitri shouted, "She is the daughter of one of the four nobles who banned everyone from trading with us. In other words, she is also responsible for the material shortage not long ago.
"If the Marquis is not as great as he is, the rune technology will be seized and you won't have any way to use it anymore, the Marquis will be reduced to below that of a commoner, the lady will be living a life worse than death, and this land won't have anyone to take care of anymore. In other words, all of you will have to face a condition much worse than the one when the Marquis first came to this place.
"The marquis has given her the punishment to kneel until he forgives her. No one is allowed to help her."
Dimitri's declaration was like a shock wave.
The people never thought that they would have to suffer because of this woman.
When Dimitri disappeared, the people couldn't help but say, "What is the deal with that woman?"
"She is the one waging the war, but she ends up begging for forgiveness."
"If she wins, we would have to endure the life of livestock."
"The Marquis is a good lord… Why would they even want to attack the marquis?"
The woman had no change of expression until a boy shouted while throwing a stone at her. "You evil witch."
The rock hit the side of her head, causing her to bleed. She wanted to scream in pain, but she still remembered her mission. She bit her lips and tried to endure the pain as much as she could.
Because she was unresponsive, the people looked horrified.
The mother of the boy had stopped him, while the others became a bit hesitant. Since the Marquis had punished her, they should just let her be.
Meanwhile, Count Lesen couldn't say anything when his daughter was taken away.
"Here is my demand. The Lesen family will pay for the damage caused by the trade ban to the Ardagan family, for a total of 400,000 gold coins.
"The Lesen family has to announce that their action has been instigated by the royal family and that your loss is due to the royal family abandoning you.
"If the Lesen family points their finger at the Ardagan family once more, the Ardagan family will spare no efforts in exterminating the entire Lesen family.
"As the head of the Lesen family, who is responsible for the war, Count Lesen shall retire from his position and be reduced to a commoner. You shall live the remainder of your life on the country's side.
"Eva Lesen, the daughter of Count Lesen, shall be reduced to a commoner and be punished."
"What?!" Count Lesen gasped. Four hundred thousand? Even if it was his territory at its peak, they could only pay it off in eight years by taking all the revenue the family made. In other words, there would be no development during those eight years, not counting inflation.
With the current capacity of his family, they might need twenty if not thirty years to even settle this debt.
In addition, denouncing the royal family was the same as cutting them off. Even if they tried to rekindle their relationship with the royal family, people would be skeptical about it. In fact, the royal family might not accept them because they are ashamed.
But the Lesen family might escape the worst. The Lesen family could still continue their bloodline. Once the debt has been paid, they might be able to rise again. After all, Noel was like that after his father was executed.
This kind of punishment actually made sense if he took into account Noel's past like his parents' execution, the royal family's plot, and even the Supreme Devil Organization's relationship with the royal family.
If he didn't accept this, a revolt would happen. The Lesen family would disappear from this world, and around a hundred thousand people might die during the revolt and the winter.
Count Lesen remembered how his daughter was determined to preserve the Lesen family. He bit his lips and answered with a shaking voice. "I accept."
Noel looked at him before snorting. "Dimitri. Throw him out of this city. Tell our allies to stop the sanctions… only after he fulfilled the agreement."
"Yes, sir." Dimitri nodded as he watched Noel leave the room.
He wrote down the contract and had Count Lesen sign it before throwing him out of the city.
Noel was sitting down on the balcony of his room as Dimitri appeared next to him.
"Master…"
"What's wrong? Are you going to say I'm too cruel?"
Dimitri shook his head. "I believe you're too lenient. We should have just rejected them right away and they will die sooner or later in the rebels' hands. It's not weird to exterminate your enemies thoroughly so that there won't be any future revenge. Is there a reason why you're too soft on them?"
"I'll be going back to the main city." Noel didn't bother to answer that question and simply leaped into the sky. His eyes glanced at the woman kneeling in front of the mansion before turning forward.
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