A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 420 The King Must Die

Imperial war theory holds that victory usually has a limit, and "annihilation of the enemy" or "total destruction of the army" are extremely rare occurrences. As the battle continues, it becomes increasingly difficult for the winning side to expand its gains, while the damage caused by its own casualties and logistical shortages will increase.

As for the defeated army, whether they can stabilize the situation or be completely crushed after a defeat depends on the quality of the generals and the army itself. As a professional army, the Imperial Army must "retreat like lions" even after defeat. They will try their best to pull out the troops that still have fighting power to harass and contain the high ground controlled by the Valois, and cover the retreat of others.

It can be clearly stated that the National Guard was the victor in this battle.

Both sides were exhausted after the battle. The Imperial Army held its camp, suffering heavy casualties from both the initial setbacks and the subsequent defensive battles. The National Guard also suffered heavy losses. Therefore, the victor was unable to pursue, and the vanquished was unable to launch a counterattack.

Although the Empire's main offensive force was not wiped out in one fell swoop, the Empire's plan to quickly occupy the capital failed. The Imperial Army will withdraw from the outposts and retreat to the Condi region, relying on the occupied fortresses and the eastern section of the Sene River for defense.

The turtle shells built by Lieutenant Colonel Turtle were ultimately only temporary. By the end of the battle, they had been completely filled with rainwater, and the inner walls of the trenches collapsed from the soaking.

Therefore, holding the outpost became an impossible option. For the first time since entering the territory of the Kingdom of Valuwa, the Imperial Army considered a strategic retreat—no, a "contraction."

News of the Imperial army's retreat reached Valuana, but it wasn't the sole focus of the citizens' attention. Valuana could no longer be called the capital. Of course, the homeland defended by the National Guard hadn't been defeated; it had simply been transformed.

The Mountain Faction, which controlled the situation, pushed for the enactment of a new charter. After obtaining a majority vote, Valois would no longer be a monarchy, a "sacred kingdom" with the religion of Light and Order as its state religion, but a republic that upheld equality, fraternity, and freedom.

Under the republic, Valois no longer needed a king. Charles and his spouse stood before the National Assembly as citizens, but he was not a glorious citizen representative; rather, he was a subject of a special trial.

The National Assembly Hall is currently hosting a public trial for treason against Charles and his wife, open to all Valois citizens. All national representatives will take turns voting in public before the crowd to decide the life or death of the former monarch.

On the stage, the speaker, acting as the judge, excitedly read out the charges against the former king, listing one by one the various acts of treason he committed after losing power in order to restore the king's authority.

Then, the assistant brought news from the front lines, and the presiding judge changed his closing remarks on the spot, reporting good news to the entire audience: "I have just learned that our army has achieved a glorious victory in the battle in the northern part of the Valuana region! Soon we will liberate the entire territory!"

"Charlie, the Imperial army you're counting on is already retreating. Your schemes and dreams will vanish, leaving only the rage of patriots!"

The delegates and the crowd cheered upon hearing the victory announcement, a tremendous roar sweeping through the hall. When the shouting and clapping subsided, Charles XVI, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke:

"I offer my congratulations to our fallen comrades. Regardless of my stance, I am jubilant at the enemy's defeat. I maintain my innocence, but I will calmly accept the wrath of all. May the Lord of Order forgive you!"

Charlie's speech only angered the crowd, who booed loudly and threw shoes and stones at him. It took the guards a lot of effort to restore order.

The vote began, and the club members naturally and resolutely supported the execution of the former king. The royalists, on the other hand, trembled at the sight of the jury, especially the angry poor people blocking the entrance to the trial.

"I oppose the execution of His Majesty the King! This trial is driven by too many other motives, especially the Mountain Faction's strong desire to dominate the conference and the country, which has robbed the trial of its impartiality!"

"I am not exonerating the king, but rather calling for and considering whether our laws are still functioning properly, and whether the legitimate rights of those on trial should not be swallowed up by the blind hatred of the majority."

However, despite the immense public pressure, some members of the "royalist faction" persisted in their opposition. Undeterred by the boos and scrutinizing gazes of the crowd, one of them declared: "Remember my face. Even if I walk out of the hall today and am subjected to lynching by the mob, I will still uphold civilization and justice."

With the first step taken, the members of the "Royalists" finally rallied. They were not alone. In fact, during this period, the trial by media and vigilante justice had gradually spiraled out of control. Most property owners were afraid that one day they would be put on the guillotine. While seeking protection, they demanded that the legislators representing them take down the "Mountain Faction" as soon as possible.

The king was the focus of the "guillotine panic," and those respectable people could easily realize that if the king's head could be sent up there, what did they matter?

The vote became extremely close, with the crowd cheering and gritting their teeth at times. Reporters rushed in and out, eager to report the current results and who was in favor and who was against. The delegates seized the opportunity to give speeches, trying to win over the undecided swing voters who hadn't yet voted.

The outgoing queen was crying so hard she was almost fainting, tears streaming down her pale face, her makeup ruined. Charles remained calm, even when his cousin, "Mr. Equality," who had abandoned the honorable surname "Merovingian," cast his vote in favor, Charles XVI merely gave him a cold look.

What a clown! You've severed the honor of the nobility, severed your brother's honor, and sooner or later, someone will come and cut off your head! It wasn't exactly a curse; Charles XVI was merely silently prophesying for "Mr. Equality."

Surprisingly, the vote count was tied!

Fortunately, the last voter was a club member. The young man had curly blond hair and a handsome face that exuded a melancholic and feminine air when he was not speaking. He wore a simple light-colored linen dress, and combined with his perfect face, one might wonder if he was an angel or a saint who had stepped out of a painting in a cathedral. His melancholy also turned into a look of pity for the world that flowed from his eyes.

However, when the young man spoke, his gentleness vanished, and his melodious voice turned icy: "I support the execution of the traitor Charles and his wife!"

He paused for a moment, then cast his final vote, which caused a huge uproar. The cheers of the "Mountain Faction" and the general public, and the angry and desperate shouts of the "Royalists" tore through the hall.

The "Holy Son" spoke again: "I support the execution of Charles. The King must die, because the Republic must live!"

"Great! Great!" "Well said!" "Long live the Republic!"

As he was swept by the crowd to the square, Charles XVI squinted in the sunlight. The throngs of people lining the streets and the indistinct roar of voices seemed to transport him back to the day of his coronation, to the glory of the Lord of Order and the adoration of the people.

May the Lord forgive.

The guillotine fell, and the first crown on the continent of Feloren hit the ground.

(End of this chapter)