Lucy rubbed the back of her head and laughed, the sound light and easy, like she was talking about something small instead of something that clearly carried weight.

"You know," she said, drawing out the words as if she were remembering it all again, "when the previous king died."

She paused there, still smiling, eyes half-lidded with that calm look she always had when she thought she already knew how the conversation would go.

The hallway around us was quiet, and the air felt still, but her laughter kept it from feeling heavy.

"Some rebels used the chance to attack some far territories," she continued, waving one hand in a loose motion, "and they took wealth from the lords there."

"Gold, food, anything of value they could get their hands on."

She leaned closer as she spoke, lowering her voice a little, as if sharing a secret even though there was no one else around.

"The lords didn't like that at all."

"They came running to us soon after, demanding we make a move."

I stopped walking.

The sound of our steps died out, and I turned my head slightly toward her.

One eyebrow lifted on its own.

"Is that all to the story?" I asked, my tone flat, already knowing the answer.

Lucy looked back at me and smiled wider, almost pleased.

"Of course not," she said easily.

"That's only the part they wanted us to hear."

She straightened a bit, her voice still calm but more focused now.

"After a check I did on my own, I found out those rebels are actually citizens."

"People who lived under those corrupt leaders for years."

As she spoke, she didn't rush.

She chose each word carefully, like she wanted to make sure nothing was missed.

"They waited for a long time," she went on.

"And when the previous king died…"

"Well, you see, the previous king supported those corrupt nobles."

Her smile faded just a little, turning thoughtful.

"That's why the citizens couldn't do anything back then."

"Every complaint was ignored."

"Every problem was buried."

"But when he died, everything changed."

She looked straight ahead now, as if seeing the picture clearly in her mind.

"So they started moving."

"They took back their territories."

"What they believe was stolen from them in the first place."

I felt my expression harden as her words sank in.

My jaw tightened, and my voice dropped when I spoke.

"And those nobles had the guts to come here and demand I save their asses?"

The air felt colder the moment the words left my mouth.

I didn't bother hiding the edge in my voice.

I turned my head fully toward her this time.

"Are they still here?" I asked, each word sharp, chilling.

Lucy glanced at me, then smiled sweetly, like she had expected nothing else.

"I know you would say that," she replied softly.

"That's why I told them to wait."

For a brief moment, there was silence again.

Then I nodded once.

"Good," I said.

"Lead the way then."

I turned around without another word, and Lucy followed beside me as we made our way toward them.

The walk felt longer than it probably was.

With each step, my thoughts grew heavier, darker, but my face stayed calm.

Before coming here, I had changed into my normal clothes.

Nothing royal.

Nothing that showed status or power.

I wanted to see their reaction.

I wanted to see how they treated someone they thought was beneath them.

When we reached the doorstep, I didn't slow down.

I didn't knock.

I barged in and opened the doors roughly, the sound echoing through the room.

Inside, the sight waiting for us was almost laughable.

A group of five fat, filthy pigs sat around a table, stuffing their mouths with sweets.

Crumbs covered their clothes.

Cream smeared their lips.

They laughed loudly, acting like they owned the place, like nothing in the world could touch them.

One of them stopped chewing and turned toward me.

His cheeks were full, his mouth messy.

With his mouth still full of cake, he shouted, "Who are you?"

"And how could you let in here?"

The arrogance in his voice was thick.

He didn't even bother standing at first.

I smiled.

The pig who spoke finally stood up and waddled toward me.

His face twisted with anger, eyes narrow, like he thought he could scare me.

He raised a hand, moving closer, as if he meant to push me or grab me.

Before he could touch me, I moved.

I grabbed his head easily, my fingers closing around it without effort, and clenched my fist.

There was no struggle.

No time for him to react.

The next moment, his head exploded like a watermelon, and his limp body fell to the ground.

The room went silent.

I let go and looked at the body for a brief second before lifting my gaze.

The other four pigs were frozen, their faces pale, eyes wide with shock.

Pieces of cake dropped from their shaking hands.

I turned fully toward them and spoke, my voice calm but filled with cold promise.

"You filthy pigs," I declared, "coming to my home and acting arrogant."

I took a slow step forward.

"I will kill you in the most horrible way," I continued, "to make you an example."

One of them moved suddenly.

He was thinner than the others, his eyes sharp despite the fear.

Most likely the smartest one.

He rose from his seat and bowed deeply, his body shaking.

"Take my deepest apologies, my king!" he shouted.

"I don't belong with this group!"

His voice cracked as he spoke.

Without waiting for an answer, he dropped down and ran toward me, kneeling at my legs, begging without words as the room remained deadly quiet.

I looked at him coldly, my eyes fixed on his shaking form.

When I spoke, my voice sounded like metal clashing together, hard and sharp with no warmth left in it.

"I know all about you," I said slowly, making sure every word landed.

"And that pig's wrongdoings."

"Every single one of them."

He flinched at my words, his shoulders trembling harder than before.

I didn't raise my voice.

I didn't need to.

The silence in the room made my words heavier, pressing down on him like a weight he couldn't escape.

"I would make sure," I continued, my tone steady and cruelly calm, "you get the same treatment you inflicted on the poor people."

The moment those words left my mouth, his body broke down completely.

He dropped lower, his knees scraping against the floor as his hands shook.

His breathing turned uneven, desperate, loud in the quiet room.

Then he slammed his forehead against the ground.

Again and again without lifting his head.

"Please, my king," he cried, his voice cracking and hoarse, tears dripping onto the floor beneath him.

"Please."

"I will never do it again."

"Never."

"I swear it."

"I'll change."

"I'll do anything."

His words poured out in a rush, messy and panicked, as if saying more would somehow save him.

He stayed bent low, not daring to look up.

His entire body shaking as though he might fall apart right there.

I watched him in silence for a long moment.

Then I smiled.

It wasn't a kind smile.

It was slow and dark, curling at the corner of my lips.

The moment he sensed it, his shaking grew worse.

I lifted my hand calmly and gestured toward the guards standing nearby.

"Take them to prison," I said, my voice firm and final.

"I will hang them publicly tomorrow."

There was no hesitation in my words.

No room for mercy.

No space left for begging.

The guards moved at once, their armor clinking softly as they stepped forward.

Strong hands grabbed the kneeling man and dragged him up despite his weak protests.

He cried out again, his voice breaking as he was pulled away.

His hands reached out uselessly as his feet dragged across the floor.

The room filled with his sobs for only a few moments before he was dragged out.

His voice faded with every step.

The rest of the nobles were taken as well.

Their earlier arrogance long gone.

Replaced with pale faces and trembling bodies as they were hauled toward the door.

Soon, the room was quiet again.

I turned away without another glance and walked toward the exit.

The door opened, and I stepped out.

The air outside felt cooler against my face.

Lucy followed closely behind me.

Her steps light but steady.

Her expression calm as always.

We walked side by side down the hall.

The sounds of the room behind us disappeared as we moved farther away.

My mind was already shifting.

Moving forward.

Away from what had just happened.

We headed toward Maria.

Already planning the budget.

But little did I know, that debts the kingdom had, were so big enough to feed a small nation for a full year.

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