Chapter 9 : Steps To Break The Rebellion (Part 1)

The stage was set.

The die was cast.

All we had to do was act.

That's what Lynda told us before we entered the grand hall.

"So, how's the decoration?" Lynda asked me, sitting on her throne near the stage.

I scanned the giant hall. It was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers, and the chandeliers shone brilliantly. Long tables were lined with all kinds of exquisite dishes, neatly arranged for the guests.

"It's great, quite extravagant if I have to say..." I replied. Then, my eyes shifted to Emilia and the others. They were also dressed for the occasion—though their outfits were a mix of armor and lavish clothing.

Soon, people arrived one after another, dressed in extravagant clothing and holding presents—some carrying them personally, while others had their servants do it for them. Each bore their house insignia, a mark of their noble lineage.

"Hilbert, start counting," Lynda ordered.

Hilbert nodded and began counting the number of families entering the hall, while many others subtly did the same.

Once all the guests had arrived, Lynda stepped onto the stage. She glanced at one of the rings on her fingers—a blue one, enchanted with sound-based magic. It would amplify her voice, ensuring that every word reached even the farthest corners of the hall.

"Greetings to all… and welcome to the grand celebration of my 28th birthday!"

She raised her arms wide, her voice echoing through the grand hall. As she spoke, the maids stationed nearby began tossing flower petals into the air, adding to the spectacle.

"Greetings and best wishes to Your Majesty!" all the nobles said in unison.

"Yes, yes," Lynda replied with a dismissive wave. "Normally, I would begin with the celebrations—dancing, entertainment, and, of course, opening the gifts you've so graciously brought me." She began pacing slowly, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "But unfortunately, that won't be happening today. Well, not immediately, at least. There is a very important matter at hand—one that must be addressed right now."

With a snap of her fingers, the soldiers stationed at the entrance moved swiftly, sealing the grand doors of the hall with a heavy thud.

"Wait, what?! Why are the doors closing?"

"Your Majesty, what is going on?!"

Panic spread through the nobles. Murmurs and worried whispers filled the air as they exchanged anxious glances, some shifting uncomfortably while others instinctively took a step back.

"Now, now, don't be scared... well, actually, you should be," Lynda said, pausing to lick her lips. "However, we'll take our time—slow and steady. After all, what's the fun in you all trembling just because a few doors have been shut?"

The nobles swallowed hard, their nervousness growing.

Lynda clapped her hands together, the sharp sound echoing through the silent hall. "Great. Now, let's begin…" Her eyes scanned the crowd, a smirk forming as she noticed sweat trickling down the faces of many.

"You see, I am quite aware of how much many of you despise me," she continued, her voice calm yet laced with amusement. "Now, before anyone starts making excuses—please, don't. Spare yourself the meaningless effort."

She took a step forward, her gaze sweeping across the room, as her face twisted into something unhinged—a look of pure amusement mixed with menace. "I believe you all know just how much I despise betrayal—whether intentional or not... It truly pains my fragile little heart to think that my dear subjects are supporting a group that wants me dead."

She let out a dramatic sigh. "Tell me, why? Why do you all do such bad, naughty things?" Her voice dripped with mock disappointment. "I care for you all so much. Like how I never interfered with your little games—your exploitation of the common people, your indulgence in power. I let you enjoy yourselves, never once stepping in… And yet, despite my kindness, you repay me like this?"

She suddenly pointed at a man in the crowd—an old noble with graying hair and glasses. His face drained of color as every pair of eyes in the room locked onto him.

"For example… the Viscount of Melornei." Lynda's smirk widened. "Our dear viscount here has quite the habit of exploiting the women who work under him… and not just them, but their young daughters as well. Some of them so little, so innocent, they don't even understand what he's doing to them. I never interfered in his work, and yet, so cruelly, he betrayed me—supported the rebels, funding them in secret."

She chuckled. "Now, I know what you're all thinking, 'Oh dear, how horrifying!' But please, let's not pretend you're any different."

A few gasps escaped the crowd, whispers of disbelief spreading like wildfire.

"Shocking, right?" Lynda said, pressing her index finger to her chin in mock thought, eyes twinkling with wicked amusement.

Her voice was sharp as she turned on her heel and walked back a few steps. Then she stopped and looked over the crowd. "Normally, I would have had you all executed by now for such heartbreaking acts of betrayal—cutting your limbs off, feeding them to your children, and vice versa… pouring hot molten lava into your eye sockets, etc., etc.," she said coldly. "But someone advised me not to. Someone said that there might still be those among you who are loyal to me—a man who possesses knowledge like no other…"

She raised her hand and pointed straight at me.

Every noble in the hall turned their gaze toward me.

I let out a small sigh. Guess it was my turn now.

Steeling myself, I stepped forward onto the stage, feeling the weight of their stares.

Lynda snapped her fingers, and a glowing magic circle briefly appeared on the stage before vanishing.

"This man you see here," she said, gesturing toward me, "is one of the reasons you're all still breathing right now." She paused, then smirked. "He is also my... nah, forget that."

"I am what?.." I said.

She turned to me. "Continue."

"So, I know you're all wondering—who the hell am I, right?"

The entire hall nodded.

"I am Sitri Navex, from a land beyond your continent—a land that no longer exists. I am also what you might call… the soon-to-be husband of your dear and beautiful Captain Emilia."

That single sentence sent a ripple through the crowd. Whispers erupted among the nobles—not just them, but everyone present, including Lynda, Hilbert, and the other captains. As for Emilia, she was staring at me, her face burning red.

"Okay, cut the last part. That was a joke. I like messing with dear Emilia." I chuckled before clearing my throat and stepping forward. "Now, back to the main point."

I let my gaze sweep over the nobles. "The queen has decided to offer a pardon to those who come forward and confess. We all know that many of you have been funding the rebels—not necessarily out of loyalty or a desire to kill your queen, but simply to save your own skins. You feared punishment for your crimes at the rebels' hands and believed their false promises that they would spare you once the queen was dead."

I gestured toward the viscount of Melornei. "Like our dear viscount here—a coward who neither had the strength to fight the rebels nor the courage to tell the queen the truth."

Lynda stepped forward, her voice sharp and commanding. "I already know that around forty percent of you are working with the rebels—nobles such as the Counts of Viskor, Elreik, Rukih'ruk, and the Earls of Eiba, Tsuzik, Tensiek, and more."

She let the words settle before continuing, her piercing blue eyes scanning the room.

"Most of you are in the same position as the Viscount of Melornei, blackmailed into betraying me. We already have all the names."

Her lips curled into a smirk. "So, step forward and receive a pardon… or die here and now."

Then, around 47 nobles, along with their families, stepped forward and bowed before Lynda. Among them were several viscounts, earls, counts, and barons.

Lynda turned to Hilbert. "Did you count how many are missing?"

"Around 23 families are not here," he reported.

"23…" Lynda repeated, tapping her finger against her arm. Then she turned back to the gathered nobles.

"Those who are not here, their estates will be seized, and their wealth will be distributed among the citizens. That is my decree."

Gasps filled the hall, but before anyone could speak, she continued.

"As for those who confessed… your properties will also be seized."

Shocked murmurs rippled through the group.

"But they will be handed over to the nobles who have remained loyal to me. I will personally decide how much each will receive, based on how well they assist me in crushing the rebels."

A noble suddenly shouted, "B-But that's not fair!"

"Why?!" Another noble exclaimed. "We confessed!"

Lynda smirked. "I only promised you a pardon. I never said anything about what I would do with your estates and wealth."

"I won't accept this!" one of the nobles shouted.

Before he could say anything else, I pulled the trigger and fired a bullet straight through his head. He collapsed instantly, blood pooling beneath him as gasps and shrieks filled the hall.

Lynda barely flinched. Instead, she smirked. "Thanks, but you know I was going to do that eventually..."

Even though Lynda could have done it herself with ease, we had planned this in advance.

Now, I know what you're thinking—why waste a bullet on him? Simple. It was to strike fear into them.

This was something Lynda and I had discussed during our dance practice. We knew there was a chance that one of the nobles might lash out, and we needed something unexpected—something loud and terrifying—to keep them in check. My gun was the perfect option.

Plus there was a wise man who once said, "If one wants to put the fear of God in men, then one must use a gun."