Reign of Terror

After staying two days in Varna to honor Janos and the fallen Crusade soldiers, Laszlo finally began his journey home. His entourage soon arrived in Tarnovo.

Laszlo had intended to cross the Danube River here and tour the Gyurgyovo Fortress in Wallachia, but news from across the Danube River nearly made his jaw drop.

Let's go back to a night half a month ago, when the darkness was as thick as ink, pressing heavily on the ancient castle.

Deep within the castle, in a secret room, candlelight flickered, casting distorted shadows on the walls, like specters lurking in the darkness.

This was in a castle near Târgoviște, the capital of the Prince Vlad, where a group of Wallachian nobles were gathered in the castle's secret room.

Two fierce-looking guards stood by the door of the secret room, clad in heavy armor, wielding battle-axes, and with curved knives at their waists.

Their emotionless gazes sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the room.

Inside, several figures sat around a long table, each with a solemn expression.

The noble sitting at the head was named Dan. His brow was furrowed, and he unconsciously gripped his wine glass tightly, his knuckles white.

"Gentlemen, I believe you all know why I have summoned you here today," he broke the silence, his voice low but filled with anger. "One of our companions, the generous Galles, is no longer with us."

Everyone's gaze simultaneously turned to the empty seat at the round table.

Then, several of them collectively stood up, silently praying in their hearts for their departed ally, interspersed with prayers for their own future fate.

Once everyone was seated again, Dan continued, "That damned Vlad! It's only been six years since the Emperor had Janos, the executioner, release that mad dog back into Wallachia, and he has already slaughtered hundreds of nobles!"

As he spoke, he even began to grind his teeth, partly out of anger, but more so from the lingering fear that enveloped his heart.

The remaining nobles also showed expressions of fear on their faces.

Another noble, Peter from Severin, snorted and interjected, "His rule is becoming increasingly unbearable. His iron-fisted methods pose a great threat to the power and wealth of each of us.

Galles, just for saying one wrong word, is now accompanying those rotting Ottoman in the forest of impalement stakes in Gyurgyovo."

Another noble, Andrei, nodded slightly, a hint of cunning in his eyes: "If we don't act soon,"

"That madman's butcher knife will eventually fall on our heads!

I think he intends to kill everyone who doesn't obey him. Are you willing to just sit back and wait for death?"

"How could we be willing?" Maria, the only female noble present, was also worried. "Vlad wants more power, which is why he suppresses us like this. We have lost our former freedom in our own territories. If this continues,"

"What dignity will we have left?"

In the past, the Wallachian government changed hands very frequently; replacing the Prince Vlad was as common as eating and drinking.

It was common for the flags on the city walls to change, with the Ottoman crescent flag flying one day and the Hungarian Arpad flag the next.

But no matter who held the Prince Vlad's throne, these local magnates always lived the most comfortable lives.

Years ago, Vlad II served twice as Prince Vlad of Wallachia. During his first term, the Wallachian nobles were submissive and dared not cause trouble.

In 1442, Vlad II defected to the Ottoman and was captured by Janos in a battle.

Janos appointed a new Prince Vlad of Wallachia, but this new Prince Vlad had no ability to control Wallachia.

Thus, the Wallachian nobles, lacking strong control, began to exercise almost independent lordly rights in their respective territories, forming the nascent stages of noble fragmentation.

Unexpectedly, a year later, in 1443, Vlad II conceded to Albrecht II and swore eternal loyalty.

Consequently, the Hungarian army escorted their captive, Vlad II, back to Wallachia, and the "temporary Prince Vlad" appointed by Janos was unceremoniously ousted.

Under the militarily strong Vlad II, the nobles' lives became difficult again.

Who knew that everything would take another turn?

A few years later, Vlad II again succumbed to the Ottoman threat, sending his two sons into the Sultan's palace.

This incident greatly angered Janos, who led his army into Wallachia, killing Vlad II and his eldest son, Mircea, in a battle in 1447.

Subsequently, under the decree of Albrecht II, Vladislav II was supported to power.

This was another weak Prince Vlad, and the Wallachian nobles celebrated.

In the same year, Vlad III, supported by the Ottoman, made a comeback.

Subsequently, Janos led his army to decisively defeat Vlad III's forces, allowing Vladislav to firmly secure the Prince Vlad's throne.

By the time Laszlo ascended the Hungarian throne, Vladislav II was no longer entirely loyal to the King of Hungary.

Consequently, Vlad III, who had previously been driven out by the Hungarian, was sent back by the Hungarian, and Vladislav II lost his Prince Vlad's throne due to his weakness.

Thinking of the tragic experiences of Prince Vlad Vlad during his childhood, who only returned to his homeland nearing the age of thirty, the nobles thought they had welcomed another weak Prince Vlad, and could continue to brazenly rule their territories.

However, this time, they were terribly wrong.

Vlad III's butcher knife spared no one, whether old or young, Wallachian or Ottoman, noble or commoner; anyone who disobeyed his will could not escape death.

Even Mehmed II's envoys were enthusiastically given a hat by Vlad that they could never take off, let alone these separatist nobles who only dared to lord it over their own territories.

"You speak resolutely, but Vlad has an army, and behind him stands the even more terrifying Emperor.

If we act rashly, what are our chances of winning?"

Adrian, the old man who had been silent, reminded everyone present in a hoarse, grating voice.

A ruthless glint flashed in Dan's eyes. He slammed his wine glass heavily onto the table with a loud bang: "We cannot sit idly by and wait for death! I have contacted a mysterious ally, and he has promised to support us.

As for the Emperor, you should also know that the stingy Vlad hasn't taken his subordinate relationship too seriously. If we can promise the Emperor better terms of submission and prove our loyalty, the Emperor will likely become our strong backing."

Peter frowned slightly, then suddenly lowered his voice and said, "The ally you mentioned, it wouldn't be Hung—" "Hmph." With a look from Dan, Peter immediately closed his mouth, sensing his mistake. The remaining few were still in the dark; none of them had clearly heard what Peter had just said.

"Is the Emperor really that easy to appease?" Maria frowned. How could such a grave matter as rebellion, which could cost them their heads, be based on such a slim possibility?

"Do we have any other choice now?" Dan again motioned for everyone to look at the empty seat. "You have all personally witnessed the taste of impalement.

It's a matter of dying sooner or later, so it's better to strike first.

As long as we can kill Vlad, even if the Emperor doesn't want to agree to us, he will have to!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

In the secret room, the atmosphere of conspiracy grew thicker, as the wolves hidden in the darkness awaited an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to their liege, Vlad III.