In a large metal cage, Dean had his head bowed as his emotionless gaze saw the stump of his foot.
Since he could remember, he had never suffered so much, but he was sure that his problems began when he decided to kill his father.
If only he had listened to his mother and saved his father, perhaps at this moment he would not be in that situation.
But he knew that now it did not matter as his fate was in the hands of the emperor and his sadistic daughter.
Adelaide, who was riding in front of the carriage that had the metal cage sneezed so she looked curiously at the sky.
'I suppose my father is quite anxious to see me again.
Do not worry father your revenge will be near you soon, only that we will have to be careful with Duke Hippolyte since if he reveals himself a real civil war will be made.
But I think you can prevent that from happening because if not ... '
Ludovico was sitting admiring the beautiful snowy landscape on the outskirts of the capital of the duchy of Dithmarschen.
He felt a sharp pain in his arm so he gritted his teeth and his gaze of calm became one full of hatred.
"Damn duke, once I finish off your city and all your dukedom, I'll carry on with those damned pagans ..."
Duke Gautier interrupted the hate speech he was giving the emperor and looked at him seriously.
"Emperor a messenger arrived from your daughter, with the information that the alleged duke Dean who had been reported was real.
The messenger also had this information. "
Gautier gave some scrolls to the emperor "It seems that they carried this information to Duke Hippolyte, thus seeking help to achieve that they will rebel against the empire."
Ludovico using his teeth tore off the seal of will that was in one of the scrolls and with his only hand he began to read.
It did not take long to finish reading all the content and added to the pain in the stump of his arm; he showed a completely angry face.
Handing the document over to Gautier he pointed to the city "First I want you to make copies of this document and send them to all the nobles who are loyal to the empire.
With the promise that if those bastards reveal themselves, they could get the lands of the rebels, also send some information to blackmail my children.
They may have my blood but that does not mean that they may be possible threats to the future of the empire, if they want to fight they should do so after I am dead.
At least that way, I can guarantee that my revenge will have been achieved.
As for the second thing, I want you to order all the soldiers to start building siege weapons.
I want that damned city turned into a desolate wasteland where only birds can shit. "
Gautier swallowed some saliva and nodded silently as he looked at the emperor's gloomy smile.
'Great Emperor Charlemagne, your son seems to have suffered from the same evil as the Roman emperors.
It is very likely that the empire he founded will be destroyed by the revenge of his son, but as a faithful duke of the emperor's family, I am willing to see the end of the empire always guaranteeing the safety of the imperial family. '
When Adelaide arrived at the camp where her father was, she was received by Duke Gautier, who was accompanied by some knights.
"Princess, good that you are coming, your father is waiting for you.
I'd also like to ask your troops to help prepare the siege weapons so we can destroy the city. "
Adelaide who was surprised nodded as she assumed that her father had read the scrolls that stupid duke Dean was carrying.
Ludovico, who was eating some meat, looked with joy through the tent as his daughter arrived, taking the carriage with iron bars to where he was.
Wiping his mouth with a silk napkin, Ludovico got up and left the tent so he could see the bastards who had caused his misfortune.
When Adelaide arrived in front of her father, she stopped and got off the horse to guide him to where the prisoners were.
Ludovico felt great happiness to be able to live in that metal cage to duke Dean, who is missing a leg and whose face seemed to be devoid of life because he did not show any emotion.
"My daughter, you have brought your father the best gift you could give him, of all my children I have to admit that you are the only one who only takes care of me because I am your father.
As a reward for your valuable action in capturing this rat, I will allow you to become the ruler of this place after conquering it.
Because most of the nobles would oppose and I appoint you duchess, I will create a new position called the northern regency.
Whose sole duty will be to take care and supervise that none of the lands passing the wall of those barbarians can harbor any life.
All the lands that we take away from those barbarians must be burned and salted, no one must live in that place that will be a message that will continue for generations.
Now beloved daughter, if you'll excuse me, your father has to settle a little quarrel with young duke Dean who seems quite sad about his leg. "
Ludovico walked towards the metal cage and when he got to where Dean was, he used his hand to lift him from his hair and when he had his face raised he gave him a satisfied smile.
"Little Duke, don't be so sad, not much will happen to you. I'm just going to take revenge for all the suffering I felt when that damned barbarian kidnapped me.
But like him, I will not kill you with the only difference that I will take care of taking your body to the limit.
If you can survive, it will depend on your body, but even if you survive, I will not let you die so easily because your crimes against the empire and against me will make you suffer until you die of old age.
As for you who are watching how I treat the duke's shit, tell me one important reason why I don't have to murder you.
The duke is valuable to me but you two can give me, according to the messenger said, your fat man is the chaplain and your old man is a soldier.
Start talking or I'll just order you to hang in front of the city gates. "
Amis who was listening to the threat of the emperor took out his crucifix "Emperor I am just a little chaplain who followed the orders of Bishop Prisco.
Killing me will not help you at all, because my living value is much more important than simply killing me.
If you can assassinate or capture Bishop Prisco, I could show you all the places where he hides valuable information that I am sure will interest you.
Although I will only be able to show him if he is dead since otherwise, he would find a way to prevent all the information I say from being verified.
Well, for the simple fact of being a Bishop, he has many ways of defending himself against accusations.
Also as a sign of good faith, I will tell you a place that you can take to the city from within, which are some underground tunnels.
It is just that the tunnel through which we left has no exit to the city because a collapse ended up blocking our way, but it does send people to that place.
Let me give you the blessing because that place is an entrance to hell, we experience it firsthand when we escape from the city. "
Ludovico put his serious look and after seeing the capelin for a few seconds he nodded happily.
"Very good fat chaplain, you have convinced me and therefore I will allow you to live in this iron cage until you can show me the valuable information.
But now your soldier tells me why I must keep you alive. "
The old soldier looked at the emperor without showing any fear and said confidently.
"Because I was only following orders and my family is being threatened by Bishop Prisco, you as emperor know better than anyone that we commoners have no choice but to follow orders.
But in case this is not enough to guarantee my life, I would like to ask you to avenge my family as they will most likely be assassinated by Bishop Prisco.
This is the request I make of you not as a commoner but as a soldier of the empire who was unlucky enough to have a bad leader who betrayed the empire. "
Ludovico grimaced and sighed, "I will take care of avenging your family, but because your words have convinced me, I will only kill you with my own sword.
As soon as your corpse will be taken to the capital and will be treated with all the honors you deserve because you are a faithful soldier of the empire who had bad luck. "
The soldier who had a rather calm face nodded silently and prepared for his end as possible in heaven as he can reunite with his family.
Ludovico then pointed to his guards, "Take out the soldier because he deserves a dignified death, as for this bastard duke, take him to my tent because I will personally take care of reminding him.
The value of loyalty and the cost of betrayal. Just leave the fat chaplain in the cage and give him water and stale bread.
With that, he should be able to survive until the end of the siege and for the tunnels under the city use slaves or inhabitants of this place to enter inside.
If they survive, it will depend on their luck .... "