Xavier_Hughes_9568

Emperor Ian Veroshion, the first noble mage, was betrayed and executed. Cursed to never be reborn, he awakens a century later as the illegitimate son of a disgraced ducal line, destined to be a hostage in a barbaric land. Stripped of his magic and his throne, he must navigate a world vastly different from the one he ruled, facing political machinations and a resurgent monster threat. But the embers of his past life still burn, and Ian will not surrender his legacy. He will reclaim his name, his magic, and perhaps, even his empire.

A Mage Reborn: Legacy of the Fallen Emperor

The villagers of the territory, gathered in the square, buzzed with hushed whispers, their eyes fixed on the gallows. Having lived their entire lives on the fringes of civilization, such a grotesque and terrifying instrument of death was a novelty. Behind it, perched atop the hill, the Bratz estate stood in its usual serene stillness.

"Tax evasion is a serious crime, and he even resisted."

"Gods. How did it come to this…?"

"Wait, so he was taking all that money from us in taxes, but not sending it up to the crown? Where did all that money go, then?"

"Probably lined his fat belly, judging by the size of it."

"He's a fucking bastard! We had to sell our house to pay his damn taxes. My daughter's been working the fields since she could walk, and now her back's all hunched over!"

"Hey, keep your voice down. You want to get us all in trouble?"

Chapter 52. Execution