One Day, My Fiancé Brought His First Love Along - Chapter 123

The day of the execution came quickly.

From early dawn, the plaza where the execution would take place was already overflowing with a massive crowd. Some citizens of the Empire had traveled from afar, arriving the night before just to witness the downfall of the Hessiden father and daughter.

“Bring forth the traitors.”

The Emperor, seated at a vantage point overlooking the execution platform, issued the command.

Soon, from the dark, damp prison, the two criminals were dragged out, their arms tightly bound.

There was no trace left of the once-mighty presence that had controlled the Empire as they pleased. Filthy and unkempt from days without washing, their appearance was worse than that of common beggars.

“Die! Die, Hessiden!”

“You ruined my child’s life! How will you take responsibility?!”

“Go to hell! Burn for what you’ve done!”

Furious cries erupted across the plaza. Some hurled eggs, others threw stones.

The former Marquess Hessiden could barely walk. He was practically dragged across the ground toward the execution stand. Judith Hessiden, trembling from humiliation, kept her gaze lowered.

“Revart…”

Judith bit her lip, unable to even lift her head to look around. She couldn’t bear to see Aileen and Carlisle like this.

And yet, despite her better judgment, her eyes instinctively searched for the two.

“There!”

Spotting them, Judith shouted impulsively. Aileen was looking straight at her, raising one hand to wave—smiling all the while.

There could be no clearer confirmation that Judith had lost to Aileen Revart. Judith froze in place, but the knight who restrained her arms yanked her forward, forcing her to keep moving toward the execution stand.

‘Farewell.’

Aileen mouthed the words silently. Judith’s eyes widened.

Then she saw Carlisle.

His face held no emotion. It was blank, unreadable. And in that expression, Judith understood everything with painful clarity.

Ah… Carlisle. To you, I was truly nothing more than a bug.

Even facing her death, Carlisle didn’t flinch. The only person who could stir his heart was Aileen Revart.

Judith lowered her head. The screams, curses, and insults hurled at her and her father were endless, but she no longer heard any of them.

“Place them on the platform.”

The Emperor’s solemn order rang out. Hessiden turned his swollen, blood-crusted eyes toward his daughter.

Though it was difficult to distinguish her face through the bruises and scabs, he could still recognize Judith. Her stubbornly pressed lips made his heart ache.

He had never intended for her to end up like this. He only ever wanted to give her everything she desired. He had wanted to make sure she lacked nothing in the world.

If he had known it would end like this, he would’ve told her to give up on Carlisle. He should’ve used the Northern tribes more effectively. He should’ve avoided relying on incompetent men.

He should’ve killed Edys.

A thousand regrets from the past surged through his fading mind. A single tear managed to escape from his dried eyes.

“For the crime of colluding with the long-standing enemies of the Diert Empire—the Northern tribes; for the abduction and murder of innocent imperial citizens; for exploiting the war for endless personal gain… Hessiden and his direct bloodline shall be executed here and now.”

The sentence was delivered with chilling calm, and the execution proceeded.

Both father and daughter closed their eyes, as if resigned. Their final moments were pitiful—nothing like the once-grand family they had been.

“WAAAAAHHH!”

A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. The Empire’s citizens rejoiced at the death of the criminals, whose end couldn’t come soon enough.

Aileen and Carlisle quietly held hands.

From the moment Aileen had first met Judith at the Academy, to nearly losing her life as a knight, to Carlisle’s curse and the arranged engagement with Judith that nearly led to their separation, and finally to the day the truth was revealed and the traitors were brought to justice—

All those moments flashed before them now.

It had nearly all been destroyed because of one terrible choice Carlisle had made. And yet, in the end, here they were. No one had died. They hadn’t been torn apart.

Thinking back to the days they had been deceived and manipulated by the Hessidens filled them with anger—but, if one were to search for it, perhaps it had been an opportunity to realize the preciousness of ordinary life.

If one really tried to find the silver lining, that is.

As for the former Marquess Hessiden, Aileen still thought he had been given too merciful an end. Beheading was far too easy a death, considering the extent of his crimes.

But last night, her father had made a passing comment that helped ease her frustration—at least for now.

“Don’t worry, my daughter. I’ve made sure they paid dearly—for nearly killing you and everything else they’ve done.”

Aileen smiled faintly as she recalled her father’s confident face.

“What’s wrong?” Carlisle asked.

“It’s nothing, Carlisle. Let’s go.”

He didn’t question her further. Instead, he gave a small nod and stood, holding her hand tightly.

Before turning away completely, Carlisle glanced one last time at the remains of the executed Hessidens, taking in the sight of their final end.

Following the Hessidens’ execution, punishment for other nobles connected to them continued in succession.

Confiscation of titles and estates, imprisonment, forced labor, fines—various sentences came down in rapid order. The number of fallen houses quickly grew, as more nobles had been involved than anyone expected.

Most were from the anti-imperial faction, though a few from the imperial and neutral factions were implicated as well.

Siran was one of them.

“I’m… truly sorry.”

Aileen looked silently at Siran, who knelt before her. Her family had already accused and condemned him more than once.

They had been close for a very long time, which made the betrayal all the more painful. Aileen still vividly remembered the pale, shocked face of the Duchess of Revart.

The only reason Siran had not been executed on the spot was because the House of Revart understood—his family had been taken hostage.

It wasn’t by his own will that he’d raised a blade to Aileen. That was the only reason they could manage to hold back their rage. Still, regardless of his reasons, he had tried to kill her.

And that couldn’t be undone.

They could never return to how things used to be.

“I heard about your situation. If it had been me, trying to protect my family, I might have made the same choice. I understand.”

“Aileen…”

“But the memory of the blade at my throat still feels fresh. I did enjoy the time we shared, Siran. Goodbye.”

Aileen turned away after leaving only those few words. Siran couldn’t lift his head to watch her go. He simply bowed it low.

Soon after Aileen left, Ashite entered. Siran had no choice but to raise his head again.

“You should be thankful we didn’t kill you on the spot.”

Ashite’s cold voice struck like a dagger in his ear. His own voice trembled as he responded, barely audible.

“Thank you… Ashite. For saving my family.”

The moment she learned the truth, Ashite had sent people to locate the place where Siran’s family was being held. She had ordered them not to launch a rescue immediately, so as not to raise suspicion. Instead, they quietly monitored the situation until Marquess Hessiden’s crimes were fully revealed—then they acted.

“Live like someone already dead. I… really am sorry.”

His voice was thin and wet with guilt. Ashite looked at him for a moment, then turned away.

“Get out of my sight. Don’t ever come back.”

Though Siran had cooperated as a witness and his family had been used against him, he was stripped of his title and exiled from the capital.

He lost all his honor. But what hurt more than anything… was losing a friend he had cherished for so long.

“You’re here! Our hero, our hero!”

“Look who’s back—the new vice-captain herself!”

“Stand straight, everyone! Greet her properly!”

As soon as Aileen stepped into the training grounds of the Khan Knights, cheerful noise broke out from all directions, quickly followed by loud, respectful greetings.

“Congratulations, Vice-Captain!”

“Welcome, Vice-Captain!”

Caught in the flood of energy and attention, Aileen smiled a little shyly.

Not long ago, once most of the postwar matters had been settled, Emperor Edys officially appointed her as the new Vice-Captain of the Khan Order. The somber atmosphere that had taken hold after Siran’s disgrace had lifted, replaced by a growing sense of hope and excitement.

Though Aileen hadn’t been with the Order long compared to others, no one objected to her rapid promotion.

After all, they had all witnessed her performance during the Battle of Renzi Fortress.

“How about taking the day off to celebrate?”

“Let’s rest! The war’s just ended, and there’s a banquet coming soon—just one day off!”

Shouts echoed from every corner of the training grounds. Aileen let out a soft laugh. Honestly.

“Just for today. And don’t tell Captain Cylas.”

“Wooohooo!”

Fortunately, Captain Cylas was away on business that day, so Aileen had the authority to grant them a break.

Normally, she would’ve refused outright—but things were different now. The peace treaty with the Northern tribes—the Empire’s long-standing enemy—was just around the corner.

More importantly, Aileen knew how much the knights had endured during the last battle. The sorrow of losing comrades still hung heavy over them, even now.

“How about we share a drink later?”

Tanil and his group, who had been chattering off to the side, crept over and asked cautiously. His slightly flushed cheeks suggested he was hoping for a yes.

Aileen gave him a warm, amused smile.

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