195 The old order
From one of the windows of Aritreia Palace, Henry watched as Latrel's burnt head was hoisted into the air, placed at the center of the plaza for all to see. Though far away, he seemed to be able to make out the hushed murmurs spreading through the restrained crowd, their eyes wide with horror.
"It was supposed to be your husband's head up there."- Henry said coldly, turning his gaze away from the crowd to the golden-haired woman standing behind him. She clutched her two sleeping children tightly. Leier, standing silently behind her, rested a hand on the hilt of her short sword, ready to strike at the slightest sign of resistance. At those words, the former queen's body tensed, her grip tightening around her children. Her eyes, wide with desperation, fixed on Henry's face. She tried to speak, but only garbled sounds escaped her.
"In order to guarantee a new order, the old one must be eradicated," - Henry said, his voice calm, as if he was talking about breakfast - "The future can't thrive where the past lingers. So, for a new order to rise, the old one must be destroyed." His gaze returned to the plaza, where the crowd still watched in horror as the execution continued. "What do you think is the best way for people to understand that a new order has arrived?"
The woman stared back at him, terrified and mute. He knew she couldn't answer, she had no tongue to make a sound. Nôv(el)B\\jnn
"The best way," Henry continued, gesturing toward the scene below, "is exactly what you're witnessing. By severing the head of the one who ruled...or thought to be ruling...the people are left without a symbol, without a connection to the old regime. Over time, they will forget. The old names, the old faces, they'll fade. In a few short years, no one will even remember your husband's name, or the family that reigned over these lands for centuries."
Henry paused, turning back to the woman and her children. His eyes settled on the child missing an arm, then rose again to meet her frightened gaze. "After I destroy the statues, burn every banner, every painting with your family's crest on it, the only remnants of your fallen dynasty will be you and your children." His words were deliberate, sharp, and he watched the horror spread across her face.
She couldn't speak, but her actions spoke clearly. She was offering herself and her children as subjects, acknowledging Henry's authority.
Henry smiled, a small, satisfied smile. "Good choice."
Relief washed over him. His heart, it seemed, had won this battle. He wouldn't need to kill a defenseless woman and her children. They were no threat, not anymore. And, perhaps more importantly, they could still be useful. The former queen held knowledge about this kingdom's lands that he could use for the next phase of his conquest.
"Yes," he thought to himself. "I can use her."
The woman remained on her knees, her children pressed close to her side. Henry nodded to Leier, who removed her blade from the woman's throat, though she remained on guard. His eyes returned to the window, but this time, he wasn't looking at the people, but at the horizon.
The only thing left was Luak and he would be sure to take it down rapidly.